Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA)

SPEA's History

SPEA, A Strong, Proactive, Effective Association committed to building respect for our members.

The Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA) is an independent union representing over 900 engineers and scientists and 300 technologists and tradespeople who work for Candu Energy Inc. (formerly Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) Candu division) in Mississauga, Ontario and abroad (excluding AECL Chalk River Laboratories). Formed in 1974, SPEA is one of the oldest professional unions in Canada. Collectively we represent most of Canada's nuclear power reactor design expertise.

We play an integral role in new nuclear reactor builds. In the last fifteen years, hundreds of our members have helped in designing and building new reactors in South Korea, China and, most recently, Romania. Currently we are refurbishing reactors in Ontario (Bruce Power), New Brunswick (Point Lepreau), Korea (Wolseong) and Quebec (Gentilly-2) to extend their operating lifetime. For our refurbishment projects over 100 members have been stationed in the various cities. Hundreds of our members are currently working on finalizing the design details of the EC6, Generation III+ reactor. We hope that Ontario Power Generation and the Government of Ontario will choose our cutting-edge technology for construction at the Darlington, Ontario site. It will pave the way for Canada's entry into the worldwide nuclear renaissance.