Bruce Power and the County of Bruce announced November 16 the Ontario’s Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) Local Education Development Fund, which will provide financial and in-kind resources to enhance educational opportunities for local students.

In a joint media release, Bruce Power will provide $100,000 in 2019 to enhance local education, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as environmental and Indigenous cultural awareness. Through fundraising and strategic partnerships, the fund will provide an additional $400,000 through 2024 for approved projects.

“The Nuclear Innovation Institute won’t just be for the leading minds in the nuclear industry,” said Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power’s President and CEO. “We want the youth of the region to benefit from this initiative, which we expect to become an international centre of excellence. These innovative research facilities and think-tanks are almost always found in cities, so we’re excited to bring these educational opportunities to the youth of our rural area.”

The Institute presents a unique opportunity for the region to be a global host for innovative technologies, while also linking to local elementary and secondary schools, post-secondary institutions, and training centres, to provide the next generation of innovators with educational, career and learning opportunities close to home, Rencheck added.

The fund will be accepting formal applications in early 2019 and seeks to support multi-year programming from 2019 to 2024. Projects that are aligned with the Institute’s focus on youth opportunities around STEM, environmental, and Indigenous cultural awareness will be given preference during the selection period.

Bruce County Warden Paul Eagleson said the county is strongly committed to education and innovation in the region.

“To spur economic growth, we must allocate resources to research, grow talent and incubate business development,” Eagleson said. “This is a great step to fostering an innovative climate in Bruce County by supporting and empowering our youth. The continued partnership between Bruce County and Bruce Power will create opportunities for our youth by growing, attracting, and retaining talent locally. Providing the pathways to success for our youth while building Bruce County as a regional hub of innovation is a shared priority for our organizations, and we are excited by this announcement.”

Applications that outline suggested programming, how it will positively impact students, how it fits within the Institute vision, and the amount of funding being requested, can be emailed to BNPDSponsorship@brucepower.com.