Bruce Power vice-president receives Nuclear Excellence Award from WANO

A 35-year veteran of Bruce Power has received the Nuclear Excellence Award from the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).

Pierre Pilon, who is currently Bruce Power’s vice-president, Life Extension, received the award from the industry’s oversight organization in South Korea last month.

Pilon began his career at Bruce B as a technical engineer and was promoted throughout the department, before assuming the top role in the station, before recently moving to his new role with the Life-Extension Program.

“An industry champion for nuclear safety, Pierre (Pilon) led a transformation in the operational performance of the Bruce B nuclear fleet,” said Len Clewett, chief nuclear officer, who nominated Pilon for the award. “His strong technical and leadership capabilities, coupled with uncompromising high standards, have been the driving force behind Bruce B’s success.”

Under Pilon’s guidance, Bruce B’s safety and reliability increased dramatically, helping the station achieve world-class standards. Bruce B also hosted a successful International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) Mission in 2015, and he led the station through a positive, in-depth safety review where nuclear experts analyzed the business and compared the work to international safety standards.

Under Pilon’s leadership, Units 6 and 7 experienced record runs – Unit 6 for 556 consecutive days between 2011-13, and Unit 7 which ran 487 consecutive days in 2015-16.

“As operations manager, plant manager and later as senior vice-president at Bruce B, Pierre (Pilon) provided the vision and set the standards under which these results were achieved,” Clewett said. “His passion for operational excellence and loyalty to his team resonate across the organization. Above all, his focus on safety is clear as he encourages workers at every level to internalize Bruce Power’s No. 1 value of Safety First.”



Pierre Pilon (third from right) Bruce Power vice-president, Life Extension, has received the Nuclear Excellence Award from the World Association of Nuclear Operators; with him, from left, are Christine Kelly; Kevin Kelly, Bruce Power executive vice-president, corporate services; Francine Pilon; Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power president and chief executive officer; and Carol Rencheck; photo courtesy of Bruce Power