​Kincardine joins Southwestern Ontario Isotope Coalition

The Southwestern Ontario Isotope Coalition (SOIC) marked another significant milestone as it welcomed new regional collaborative partners at its inaugural meeting, Dec. 11, in Saugeen Shores.

Coalition leads — the City of Owen Sound, the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Coalition (CNIC) and the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) — along with a diverse group of partners, are committed to advancing the SOIC’s priorities in the months ahead.

A warm welcome was extended to the following new partners who will further enrich the collective expertise and collaborative spirit of the SOIC:
 

• Municipality of Kincardine
• Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health
• Municipality of Brockton
• Town of Saugeen Shores
• Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus

The workshop focused on three key areas critical to the SOIC's vision: workforce, research, and health care. Attendees engaged in lively discussions, sharing insights, capabilities and aspirations. The collaborative exchange aimed to forge a comprehensive road map of action that the SOIC will undertake in the coming year.

“Workshops like today’s demonstrate the SOIC’s ability to bring the region together deliberately and collaboratively,” said Jessica Linthorne, chief operating officer at NII and SOIC co-chairperson. “We have the talent in southwestern Ontario to grow in all aspects of isotope production, and our partners across the industry are dedicated to working together with a common goal.”

The addition of these valuable partners strengthens the SOIC’s capacity to address challenges and build on opportunities across its focus areas of workforce development, research innovation, and health-care advancements.

“As we heard from our regional collaborative partners during today’s discussion, with isotopes already being produced in our region, we have an incredible opportunity for growth,” said Owen Sound mayor Ian Boddy, SOIC co-chairman. “As a coalition, we can cultivate a stronger local supply chain and workforce to support the future demand of isotopes.”

Looking ahead to 2024, the SOIC remains committed to transforming ideas into action and fostering collaboration across traditional boundaries. The commitment of its partners and the inclusive nature of the SOIC promise a year of exciting developments and shared accomplishments.

“As demand for isotopes grows, Canada is on the verge of a transformative opportunity,” said James Scongack, chairman of of the CNIC and co-chairman of the SOIC. “By strategically uniting through initiatives like the SOIC, regional isotope communities can situate themselves not just as contributors to isotope production but as drivers of Canada’s growing role as an isotopes powerhouse.”

Learn more about the work of the SOIC at southwesternontarioisotopecoalition.ca.



The Southwestern Ontario Isotope Coalition (SOIC) welcomes new regional collaborative partners at its inaugural meeting; from left, are Kincardine mayor Kenneth Craig, Brockton mayor Chris Peabody, SOIC co-chairperson Jessica Linthorne, Saugeen Shores mayor Luke Charbonneau, Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus chairman Glen McNeil, SOIC co-chairman Ian Boddy, and Gwen Devereaux, president of the Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health; photo courtesy of the NII