Ontario’s Nuclear Energy Career Strategy
YAAACE’s Hire Learning approach connects education to employment, helping students build a place in Ontario’s nuclear energy sector.
01 / Ontario’s nuclear landscape
In 2025, nuclear supplied 48.2% of electricity generated by resources connected to Ontario’s high-voltage grid.
The document highlights nuclear’s contribution during planned reactor refurbishment shutdowns. Its career strategy connects that energy landscape with education and workforce development.
Ontario’s transmission-connected electricity output
Independent Electricity System Operator2025 · transmission-connected resources
Biofuel, solar, and storage each contributed less than 1%. The PDF labels the 8.7% share as “Other”; IESO identifies it as wind. Read the IESO data (opens in a new tab) ↗
02 / International capacity
The document compares operating and prospective nuclear capacity across selected countries. Figures are shown in gigawatts (GW), using the document’s 2026 comparison.
Scale: 0–200 GW
The document’s 22.3 GW figure includes six nuclear plant refurbishments, four small modular reactors (SMRs), and 14 build-out projects.
| Country | Operating | Prospective |
|---|---|---|
| China | 60.9 | 124.9 |
| United States | 102.5 | 15.4 |
| France | 65.7 | 9.9 |
| Russia | 28.6 | 32.2 |
| Canada | 12.7 | 22.3 |
| India | 8.2 | 31.5 |
| South Korea | 27.1 | 5.6 |
| Ukraine | 13.8 | 8.4 |
| Japan | 13.3 | 6.6 |
| South Africa | 1.9 | 10.0 |
| Uganda | Not specified | 18.0 |
| Poland | Not specified | 15.6 |
| Kenya | Not specified | 5.0 |
Source cited in the PDF: Global Energy Monitor, 2026, modified visual. All 13 displayed countries are retained. Operating figures are not specified for Uganda, Poland, or Kenya. Prospective figures describe the projects listed in the document.
03 / Workforce projections
Ontario’s nuclear workforce spans engineering, skilled trades, technical services, and support roles.
The document presents 20 occupational projections for 2025–2050, citing the Canadian Nuclear Association’s 2026 workforce report.
Showing the first 6 of 20 projected occupation rows
Figures are the document’s workforce projections. “Engineering managers” appears twice, at 14,968 and 13,198; both rows are retained. The supervisor labels are also reproduced as supplied.
04 / Ontario projects
The document connects nuclear refurbishment and new builds with opportunities in construction and long-term operations. The figures below reflect its project snapshot and projections.
Nuclear generating station
Projected operational and construction careers associated with refurbishment.
Nuclear generating station
The document also identifies a $250M medical isotope investment.
Nuclear generating station
Refurbishment is described as complete. The PDF lists $3B; OPG publishes $12.8B including interest and escalation, which is the figure shown here.
Projected construction and operations careers shown in the document.
10 reactors
Proposed site development
Province of Ontario4 reactors
Projected construction and operations careers
Bruce Power / Ontario Chamber of Commerce4 SMR reactors
Projected construction and operations careers
Durham Post, as cited in the PDF
Small modular reactors
The document identifies four SMRs at Darlington and connects the project with future career pathways.
Project sources cited in the PDF include the Province of Ontario, Bruce Power, Ontario Power Generation, the Toronto Star, and Durham Post. Career estimates cover different project scopes and time horizons. Read current Darlington project information (opens in a new tab) ↗
05 / Who we are
The Youth Association for Academics, Athletics and Character Education works with the Province of Ontario to connect students with careers in nuclear energy.
Through Hire Learning, YAAACE focuses particularly on Black, Indigenous, and equity-denied students, with an approach that connects education to employment.
The document sets a goal of reaching 25,000 students over 10 years through nuclear and related career pathways, describing that ambition as a 20% expansion of Ontario’s nuclear workforce.
Our 10-year student pathway target
25,000Students in nuclear and related career pathways
Including skilled trades and engineering
Including long-term reactor operations and support
Economic estimates stated in the document
These figures describe the strategy’s stated economic ambition.
The document does not provide a calculation method for the GDP estimates or a specific time horizon for the cumulative $60B figure.
06 / Why YAAACE
YAAACE reports engaging more than 15,000 students across priority economic industries and sectors through Hire Learning.
Its Labour Market Intervention Strategy is delivered collaboratively with the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism through the Black Youth Action Plan.
The approach builds academic capacity early and connects students with education, workplace experience, and industry opportunities.
Elementary & high school
Build academic proficiency and introduce Hire Learning at the elementary and high school level.
Postsecondary & sector exposure
Introduce students to postsecondary education and opportunities in the nuclear sector.
Experience in the workplace
Connect learning with co-ops, internships, and job placements through work-integrated learning.
Entrepreneurship
Create a pathway to entrepreneurship and participation in emerging industries.
Events & industry connections
Bring students into experiential learning through summits, forums, and conferences.
Learn more about programs and education-to-employment pathways.
07 / Read further
The page is based on the supplied Website_Kurtis document. These links lead to the organizations and reports cited in its energy and workforce discussion.
Generation by fuel type and the scope of transmission-connected data.
Opens in a new tabGlobal Energy MonitorThe tracker cited for the international capacity comparison.
Opens in a new tabCanadian Nuclear Association · 2026 Data ReportThe workforce report cited in the document.
Opens in a new tabOntario Power GenerationOfficial project information, reports, and completion updates.
Opens in a new tabStudent numbers for the nuclear strategy are targets. GDP and career figures are stated estimates or projections. The existing 15,000+ student engagement figure covers priority sectors broadly. Project figures reproduce the PDF’s snapshot; the linked organizations provide their own updates.