Durham College reports more than 1,500 visitors at WattNext Nuclear Career Expo in Oshawa

More than 1,500 students, families, job seekers and education professionals attended Ontario Power Generation’s WattNext Nuclear Career Expo at Durham College’s Oshawa campus at 2000 Simcoe St. N., according to a Durham College post published Oct. 29.

The event comes as Ontario’s electricity demand is projected to rise 65 per cent by 2050, according to the Independent Electricity System Operator. Durham College said the expo was intended to connect attendees with information about jobs and training tied to nuclear energy and related fields.

Durham College said the expo highlighted careers in skilled trades, engineering, technology and operations, and included information on education and training pathways.

Durham College, Ontario Power Generation and Ontario Tech University jointly hosted the expo.

According to Durham College, the event included interactive exhibits and demonstrations, along with conversations with industry experts about nuclear energy and jobs that support the sector.

Durham College power engineering student Peter Sasso said he attended to learn about potential employers.

“I wanted to see all the different employers and places I might work in the future. That’s the main reason I came out,” Sasso said.

Sasso said the event reflected what he has been learning in his program. “It’s a lot of stuff I’ve learned about in the program,” he said. “We’ve covered a lot of the technology in our program already.”

Durham College said staff from its Faculty of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship were at the expo to discuss training for nuclear-related work.