Port Hope has officially opened a new hub designed to educate and engage the public on Ontario’s ambitious plan to build the world’s largest nuclear generating station. The Port Hope Nuclear Discovery Centre is set to become a focal point for learning about Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) proposed Wesleyville project — a clean energy initiative that could generate up to 10,000 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 10 million homes.
The media received a preview of the centre on Monday, ahead of its public opening on Tuesday, October 14. Visitors will be able to explore interactive exhibits on nuclear power, energy demand, and the scale of the Wesleyville project, which is expected to create 10,000 Canadian jobs and inject $235 billion into the GDP.
“This nation-building project will be the frontline for learning, jobs, and economic growth as we lead the largest nuclear expansion on the continent,” said Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce, calling the opening of the centre “a significant step forward in Ontario’s clean energy future.”
The province first announced its support for the Wesleyville project on January 15. Since then, OPG has been holding consultations with residents, stakeholders, and the Michi Saagiig of the Williams Treaties First Nations, as well as the Municipality of Port Hope. The new centre represents the next phase in this ongoing engagement.
“OPG is committed to building strong, collaborative partnerships with both the local community and the Michi Saagiig First Nations,” said Kim Lauritsen, OPG’s Vice-President of Enterprise Strategy & Growth. “The Nuclear Discovery Centre will act as a welcoming space for information-sharing, meaningful participation, and open dialogue that guides the project’s progress.”
Located at 115 Toronto Road in Port Hope, the centre has already drawn praise from local leaders. “This is a place where residents can come to learn, engage, and ask important questions about nuclear science and technology,” said Mayor Olena Hankivsky. “By fostering transparency, dialogue, and understanding, this space will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be informed and involved in shaping our energy future.”
The Wesleyville site itself has a storied history. Once earmarked for an oil-fired power station, construction was halted in 1979 following a recession, leaving the property dormant for decades. With existing infrastructure such as transmission lines, rail access, roads, and cooling water — and its proximity to the Darlington nuclear facility — the 1,300-acre site is now poised to play a central role in Canada’s energy transformation.
For more details about the Port Hope Nuclear Discovery Centre and the Wesleyville project, visit opg.com/wesleyville.