The Darlington Nuclear Generating Station just outside Toronto has a capacity of 3,512 MW and generates about 20 percent of Ontario’s electricity needs, enough for roughly two million homes. The facility came online in 1990, and was in operation when we lived in Toronto between 1986 and 1997. Three of the four reactors are now back online after a major refurbishment project that began in 2016. The final reactor is scheduled to be refurbished and back online in 2028.

James recently toured the facility on a quick business trip to the area, and we took the opportunity to spend some time in nearby pub-filled Whitby. It was our first time back in the Toronto area in a couple of decades, and we managed to catch sight of the apartment we lived in when we first moved there full-time in 1987.

Below are highlights from Dec 16th through 18th, 2024. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a map with our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.

12/16/2024

Toronto Position: 43°45.05’N, -79°21.80’W Our first view of Toronto in at least a decade as we arrive into the area for James to tour the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.

First Apartment Position: 43°46.03’N, -79°20.71’W When we first moved to live full-time in Toronto in 1987, we lived for a year at the intersection of the 401 highway and Don Mills Rd in the white building at the center of the photo. We don’t remember exactly what floor we were on, but it was near the top and facing south, so is visible in the picture.

12welve Bistro Position: 43°52.68’N, -78°56.49’W A great meal at 12welve Bistro, one of the many pubs and restaurants in downtown Whitby, Ontario.

12/17/2024

Darlington Nuclear Generating Station Position: 43°52.58’N, -78°44.97’W At the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station where James will be taking a tour of the facility. Darlington has four CANDU nuclear reactors with a total output of 3,512 MW and provides about 20 percent of Ontario’s electricity needs.

Darlington Refurbishment Position: 43°52.57’N, -78°44.98’W The Darlington Nuclear Generating Station came online in 1990, and was in operation when we lived in Toronto. Three of the four reactors are back online after a major refurbishment project that began in 2016. The final reactor is scheduled to be refurbished and back online in 2028.

Flow Element Position: 43°52.59’N, -78°45.61’W Cutaway of a flow element at Darlington, used to monitor the pressure and flow rate of the heavy water coolant circulating through the nuclear reactor core, crucial for maintaining safe and efficient reactor operation.

Reactor Vault Position: 43°52.15’N, -78°43.54’W Looking down to the reactor vault for Darlington’s Unit 2. The first reactor to be refurbished, it came back online in 2020. Each reactor and its four accompanying steam generators are enclosed in separate buildings with heavily-reinforced 6-ft-thick (1.8m) concrete walls.

Turbine Generator Position: 43°52.21’N, -78°43.57’W The steam turbine generators for Unit 2 reactor. The generators for all four reactors are housed together in a massive turbine hall measuring 1900 ft long, 450 ft wide and by 146 ft high (580 m by 137 m by 45 m). The color-coding for the generators—red for Unit 1, yellow for Unit 2, green for Unit 3 and purple for Unit 4—extends through all systems for the unit and into the control room. The three larger housings at left cover the turbine blades that spin at 1800 rpm to turn a shaft that connects to the generator in the smaller housing at right.

The Vault Position: 43°52.77’N, -78°56.52’W Another great Whitby meal at The Vault Gastropub after James’ tour of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station

Vaults Position: 43°52.77’N, -78°56.54’W The Vault Gastropub is built into an old bank and the old vaults have been converted to private rooms with the doors still in place.

12/18/2024

Portly Piper Pub Position: 43°54.13’N, -78°50.59’W A final great pub meal in Whitby, this one at the Portly Piper, before flying back home to Seattle.

De-Icing, Toronto Position: 43°40.22’N, -79°37.26’W Our plane being de-iced at the airport in Toronto prior to take-off for Seattle.

Seattle Stadiums Position: 47°35.78’N, -122°19.03’W Evening view to the two Seattle sports stadiums as our flight from Toronto arrives into the Seattle area. T-Mobile park on the left is home to the Seattle Mariners baseball team and Lumen field on the right is where the Seattle Seahawks football team play.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map. And a map of our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.