Nuclear Pioneers Pass
Our industry lost two important people recently. John Runnalls, a former president of the Canadian Nuclear Association, and Jim Harvie, a past president of the Canadian Nuclear Society. Both men made significant contributions the development, safety and promotion of nuclear in Canada and will be missed by their contemporaries and all who knew them.
Our thoughts are with the Runnalls and Harvie families.
Below is John’s obituary from the Globe and Mail, and a summary of Jim’s many positions over his career.
John Runnalls, Ph.D., F.R.S. C, F. C.A.E., P.Eng
John passed away peacefully on October 14, 2012 in his 88th year. Cherished and devoted husband of Vivian Constance (nee Stowe) for 65 years. John is survived by his sister Corinne Holtby of Thunder Bay. He was an exceptional father and will be deeply missed by his children David (Brenda) and Catherine (Don). All the grandchildren Angela (Lindsay), Sean (Sheila), Christopher (Karen), Jeffrey (Stephanie), Laurel (Michael); step-grandchildren Melissa, Lachlan (Natasha); and great grandchildren Sophie, Jack, Murray, Haley, Hannah, Logan and Harper were blessed to have such a wonderful grandpa and papa John. Truly a ‘gentleman and a scholar’ with a reputation as ‘the lawyer’ to the female contingent of the extended family, John mentored many and was respected by all including not only family and friends but the scientific community.
He began his career in 1951 in Chalk River with Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. and held various senior research and development positions over a 20-year period. During his last 2 years with A.E. C.L. he served as Chief Liaison Officer, Europe . From 1971-1979 John was the Senior Advisor of Uranium and Nuclear Energy for the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources in Ottawa and was Executive Vice-President of Uranium Canada Ltd. from 1974-1979. In 1979 John was appointed the 1st incumbent of a new Chair in Energy Studies with the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto and in 1983 became Chairman of the Centre for Nuclear Engineering. When he retired in 1989 at 65 he continued to consult internationally in the energy field.
John was on the Board of the Canadian Energy Research Institute, Canadian Nuclear Association, Ontario Hydro, URANERZ, and was the Canadian Representative on the International Advisory Committee of Nuexco. He was recognized by a number of prestigious awards, medals and fellowships for his contribution to the energy field throughout his career. John was also a very avid boater, loved cottage life and had talents as a woodworker which seems to run in the family! The family express their deepest appreciation for the compassionate and caring support provided by staff of Sunrise of Erin Mills. In memory of this gentle man with the ‘kind eyes and beautiful soul’ the family would appreciate donations to the Alzheimer’s’ Society of Ontario for research (www.alzheimer’s.ca). The family will receive friends at Skinner and Middlebrook Funeral Home, 128 Lakeshore Road East; Port Credit Mississauga on Saturday November 3, 2012 from 1-4 pm. John will be interred in Deep River, Ontario. The immediate family will hold a celebration of his life this summer.
Jim Harvie
President, Canadian Nuclear Society, 2008 – 2009.
1966 – 1974: Researcher in Thermalhydraulics, Chalk River Laboratories.
1974 – 1979: Project Officer at Bruce Generating Stations “A” and “B”, Atomic Energy
Control Board (subsequently Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission).
1979 – 1991: Manager of various divisions in AECB responsible for safety and licensing
of nuclear reactors.
1991 – 1996: Director General, Research and Safeguards Directorate.
1996 – 2002: Director General, Reactor Regulation.
2002 – 2007: Chair, Ottawa Branch, CNS.
2003 – Present: Member, CNS Council.
2005 – 2007: Treasurer, CNS.
2007 – 2008: Vice-President, CNS
