All of us who work at the Nuclear Innovation Institute were shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden death over the weekend of Frank Saunders, NII’s first chief executive officer and president.
Frank was a builder in the nuclear industry who believed that nuclear energy should play a leading role in creating a better future for Canadians. That belief guided him throughout his long, successful career at Bruce Power, and he brought that conviction to NII as its founding president.
Establishing NII was a lasting expression of Frank’s commitment to the industry and to creating greater opportunities for people to learn and work in our rural communities. After retiring last November, he remained active with NII as a Member of its Board of Directors, as well as focusing on advancing Small Modular Reactor technology in Canada and continuing as Chair of the Canadian Nuclear Association.
As his successor at NII, I had the benefit of Frank’s generosity with his time and extensive knowledge. Though he often joked about ‘being retired,’ he was anything but, and I came away from every conversation with Frank having learned something new, and deeply impressed by the wide range of things that animated him.
We are dismayed at his too-early passing and extend our deepest condolences to Sherrill and his children.
Bruce Wallace, President and CEO
Nuclear Innovation Institute