This post has been sponsored by Bruce Power. My opinion is all my own and it is alway truthful.
Pretty much every summer of my life I have visited Bruce Peninsula with family. Sometimes it astonishes me that there’s anything I have not yet seen up there. But occasionally I am reminded there’s a lot left to learn about the area even still.
So, when I read about Bruce Power’s bus tours and educational Visitors’ Centre I thought why not?
There are many free day trips in Ontario and there’s much to do within driving distance of London and Southwestern Ontario. But, this is one short trip that’s extremely educational and eye opening. For us, the drive from London to Bruce County or Saugeen Shores up Highway 21 is an easy and pleasant one. I can practically do it in my sleep. To Kincardine, or Tiverton to be precise, where Bruce Power is located, the drive is 2 hours from my home. You could also make it a day trip from Toronto or Kitchener.
Most parents hope their kids maintain curiosity and an interest in learning over the summer months. And with STEM education being extremely important right now Bruce Power Visitors’ Centre and bus tours are a natural fit. This trip would also be perfect for homeschool groups and school field trips. I’d recommend it for ages 7 and up though. In Ontario while the early grades touch on energy slightly, conservation and generation and types of energy fit into Ontario school science curriculum around grade five and six.
My youngest daughter, 14, and I both made the trip to the Visitors’ Centre to do a tour on a Friday morning. The first bus load of the day was full. Quite a few families with school aged children were on board. Clearly, they had the same idea I did.
Bruce Power employs over 4,000 people. When there is an outage that number can be as high as 10,000. Many students work here and do co-op placements here. Our tour guide Emma is a student at Waterloo’s Wilfrid Laurier University working through the summer at Bruce Power. Throughout the year Bruce Power entertains many school groups.
This power plant is one of the most educational of all the free day trips in Ontario we have done. I found it fascinating to hear about the green nature of nuclear power. Nuclear is one of the cleanest forms of energy production. It is carbon free and in fact if you take the tour you will see for yourself that Bruce Power also walks the walk with car charging stations in the parking lot and a branded electric car.
Ontario’s first ever wind farm – consisting of five turbines – is also visible from the parking lot.
The Bruce Power Plant Environmental Footprint
In and around the sprawling property on Lake Huron’s shoreline there are 235 species of plants, 200 species of wildlife including 150 bird species, 15 kinds of reptiles and amphibians, 20 types of mammals and 90 varieties of fish. In the last ten years Bruce Power has planted 10,000 trees and takes its environmental footprint very seriously. It’s not uncommon to see deer on the land when employees are out walking at lunch or on break.
The Bruce Power bus tours begin at the Visitors’ Centre. You will need government issued identification in order to board the bus. Security and safety are taken extremely seriously here. Get there at least half an hour before your tour to check in and read all of the displays in the Visitors’ Centre. There’s a brief video before the bus tour.
Formed in 2001 Bruce Power has transformed its site returning four units to service through billions of dollars of private investment. It has invested in new hiring and training and strongly supports the surrounding community. For instance, when hiring they seek out students and indigenous people. When contracting for the upcoming refurbishment Bruce Power has engaged local companies and further encouraged them to hire indigenous people. Recently Bruce Power signed a long-term agreement to provide a reliable and carbon-free source of affordable energy to Ontario through 2064. To do so Bruce Power will refurbish six of its eight units over the next two decades. That process is creating thousands of jobs as well.
The Bus Tour
The bus tour drives by both Bruce A and B generating stations with four units each, and the historic Douglas Point generating station (which shut down in 1984). Both Bruce A and Bruce B have 4 CANDU reactors (Canada Deuterium Uranium Technology). Each site is virtually identical. Bruce Power is almost a small city within the greater community containing a works department, fire department, emergency response team, learning centre and medical staff. There are 56 kms of road over 2300 acres.
Waste here is minimal and the waste management program is robust. Much of it is simply things like gloves that are incinerated and stored in impenetrable containers above and underground. The entire organization is committed to minimizing generation of radioactive and non-radioactive waste.
Things We Did Not Know About Bruce Power:
This is the world’s largest operating nuclear generating facility.
Ontario’s grid is the cleanest grid in North America.
Bus tours have been going every summer since 2014.
In 2005, Ontario had 53 smog days. Since Ontario shut down its coal plants in 2014, mostly thanks to the return of Bruce A Units 1-4, there has only been one.
There are 15,000 annual visitors to the Visitors’ Centre.
Bruce Power was the site of Ontario’s first wind farm.
Expect the Unexpected
What you might not expect to see is the beautiful green space that surrounds the power plant. The Visitor’s Centre overlooks 2,300 across of green space. That’s enough forest to hold the Metro Toronto Zoo, Canada’s Wonderland, Exhibition Place, Ontario Place and African Lion Safari.
Know Before You Go
Bring Government issued identification with you.
Pro Tip: Book the Bruce Power bus tours on line. They fill up fast.
So interesting. I love taking the kids to places they can learn something!
Christy – thanks for reading and commenting. I think we are very similar in that regard.
Wow, that tour sounds awesome! I had no idea that Bruce Power bus tours existed, but that sounds right up our alley for discovering cool stuff in Ontario through weekend/day trips over the summer.
Thanks for the link to the schedule, am checking it out now for when we’re finally visiting Bruce County. 🙂
Hope you have a chance to do one still!! Thanks for reading.
I think it is great that Bruce Power would set up tours like this for people to become more educated about where their energy comes from. It is also great that they are so careful about the waste they generate. I agree with trying to leave as small of a footprint on our environment as possible.
Lian: Thanks for reading. I really was taken with a few things there and the waste management and commitment to safety and environment was something that left a lasting impression on me.
Such a great idea for a day trip! Love tours like this, not only are they educational, but they’re also lots of fun!
I was there last week and loved it. My mother-in-law from BC was so impressed with the whole tour and my son just loved the bus tour! I cannot say enough about how educational this day trip was. Highly recommend this if you are in the Grey, Bruce or Huron counties!
I love that you can go and visit and see how the power system works. I had no idea you could do that.
Would love to take the boys – looks like the perfect place to explore and learn more about how Ontario receives power. And, it’s free = best family day trip ever!
I am all into the free day trips! And this sounds so interesting. I haven’t been to the area in many years and I didn’t know about the Bruce Power tours! Have to add it to my road trip list!
This type of day trip can be fascinating for the whole family My town (Elliot Lake) does a closed mine tour once a year, and they’ve recently advertised a geological tour.
It’s nice to have those places that you visit as an annual tradition. In BC we visit the Powerhouse at Stave Lake quite regularly. Educational field trips/adventures are my favourite.
I love Companies like Bruce Power that set up tours so people can become more educated on how things work.Thanks so much for sharing !
That’s a unique idea for a day trip! I love when you can combine education with a fun experience.
oh wow that is too cool! i didn’t know they had a visitor center and not too far from our place in Kitchener
I had no idea that they had a visitor;s center. What a great idea.
such a great idea – thanks for the tips.
That is very interesting. This is the first time I am hearing of this tour.
Thanks for sharing. I hadn’t heard that they did tours there before.
I didn’t know they had free tours but it’s a great way to learn how we get power etc.
It would be a wonderful educational experience for families. The tours would be fun for everyone.
Now this looks like an interesting place to visit! I would have to wait til my kids are older but I could see them really enjoying it!
I didn’t know that there were Bruce Power day trips available until this blog post
Really opens your eyes .. definitely learn a lot about power there.. It’s a nice idea and good to understand the source.
This is a great opportunity for families and schools to tour the area.
This is awesome! I wish we could do this here in Nova Scotia!!
Moving here some 12 years ago, I like learning of all the places and interests here in Ontario….So interesting and I’d love to visit Bruce Power Plant too!!
I think my youngest son would love this. My oldest not so much… lol
This is great! I wish we had more things like this in my province. Good work Bruce Power!
Great information for those in Ontario…I live on the West Coast but I know the Water Shed area here have free bus tours. I bet there are Power Tours as well. I’m going to have a look. Thanks for the idea!
Really interesting article! A great idea for kids too – maybe they will turn the lights off more often 😉
What a neat idea. It is great to show them how the world works!
Love day trips, with a picnic lunch!
I wish BC had neat things like this!
This is pretty cool, day tours are nice and a great way to get out and also meet new people and learn new things!
I visited the power plant as a teenager in high school. I would love to visit again with hubby.
What a fantastic way to see the sites in Ontario! I’ll have to check it out the next time I’m there.
That looks both interesting and educational. Great idea for a summer day trip!
Wow, I never knew they had tours. I’m definitely taking my cousin!
I love that they are trying to educate by doing tours. What a great idea.
That’s so cool! I actually had no idea that they have tours. I think this would make a great family summer day trip.
Looks like fun and educational.
Very cool! This looks like a fun place to to visit and learn at the same time 🙂
Wow, very thorough story.
I love that a company offers free educational day trips. I love day trips because they can be a fun way to see and learn new things.
I went on a fieldtrip to our province’s power plant in junior high & it actually was pretty fascinating to learn all about our electricity.
Great idea for a day trip! I love educational tours. I have never been to the Bruce Power Plant. I I will put this on my “to do” list!
Oh i didnt know they had tours! Sounds like a trip when my kids get a little bit older
Wow,tours how great is that.Here in Newfoundland talking about Power is a touchy subject!
Kathy: Really? It shouldn’t be. I feel like we should all know some of the basics about how we get our power and where it comes from and what we can do to conserve too.
This would be such a wonderful educational experience.
I never knew you could take this trip!
What a great idea! Such an interesting and educational day trip.
We’re in BC but this sounds like such a great thing! I agree that it’s the perfect field trip!
this sounds like a great day trip would be great for the kids
This makes a great educational field trip. I remember going to Bruce Power for a tour when I was in high school with one of my classes.
These are great ideas for when we visit Ontario next year on Spring Break!
This sounds lime the perfect place for a school trip. My boys are really into science, macines and how things work and would really enjoy a visit to the plant.
really interesting and educational place to visit!
This sounds interesting.
What a great opportunity for bonding and education and fun!
I didn’t know that power stations took visitors. It could be very educational.
That is interesting! I love taking my granddaughters to places they can learn. This summer when we babysat them we took them to a bird farm and the museum!
This would be a great tour to learn about our power and something for the kids to learn about!
This would be an excellent school trip for kids. I think it’s fascinating.
I used to love tours like this as a kid – even better as an adult! I wonder if we have something like this in BC!
Great idea for getting to know your community better. My town (Elliot Lake) does tours of decommissioned uranium mines in the summer.
Oh that’s really cool. I would do that.
Sounds like a great place to educate kids and ourselves.
Yet another place to go to on my list when I make it out to Ontario. I think it is so important to see how much work is involved in items, like hydro, which we take for granted everyday.
It looks like a fun day trip with lots of cool things to see
Wow I really like this and had no idea about this. My son would be so impressed with a trip here. SO this is on our list of things to do with my son
Very interesting! It would be very cool to see this in person – very much something I don’t know a lot about!
Sounds like it would be a very interesting your!
I mean tour!
This looks so very interesting ! you have done a great job explaining it and showing it to us , I am actually going to bookmark this post because if I ever get out that way Bruce Power is going to be a place I stop for some educational fun ,
I think it’s great that this company does this. Our family loves day trips and having free opportunities to do them is even better.
This is a great day trip for a family.
I love the idea of a day trip.This sounds like a great, interesting one and educational.
Looks like a fun and educational outing for the family! I’ll keep this in mind for when we visit Ontario.