This March, National Engineering Month (NEM) Ontario is celebrating leaders in Ontario’s engineering community. These professionals are shaping the future, driving innovation, and making a difference in their fields. In this feature, we speak with Danielle La Croix, P.Eng., Senior Director of Environment, Sustainability & Net Zero at Bruce Power, to discuss her journey, the impact of engineering, and Bruce Power’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Tell us about yourself and your organization. What inspires your work, and how does your mission align with the values of National Engineering Month?
I was born and raised on the island of Trinidad where I lived and thrived until I was eighteen, when I left my family behind to pursue my undergraduate studies in Ontario. Life in Trinidad and Tobago was vibrant and social, but we also had a very hard-working culture when it came to education, even from very elementary levels The demanding academic environment prepared me well for my engineering studies and my career.
I moved to Canada in 2000 and enrolled in Systems and Computer Engineering at the University of Guelph. While I excelled in my studies, I found my passion in environmental engineering, prompting me to switch programs in my third year. That decision, although exceedingly difficult at the time, validated that it’s okay to take a detour on your path, which may be more challenging at the time (extra course load) if it leads to a more fulfilling career. I loved environmental engineering, and my life at U of G so much that I pursued a master’s degree in the field.
After completing my education, I began my career in consulting before transitioning to industry. I joined Bruce Power in 2011 as a temporary system engineer at Bruce B and later found permanent employment in the Environment team in 2012 where I continued to grow my career and develop my leadership. Fast forward to 2025, I am married, a mother of two children (12 and 15), and the Senior Director of Environment, Sustainability & Net Zero at Bruce Power.
I am proud to work at Bruce Power which is a major nuclear generator located on the shoreline of Lake Huron in southwestern Ontario. Bruce Power produces about 30% of Ontario’s electricity, non-emitting electricity generation, and plays a crucial role in the production of medical isotopes used for sterilization and cancer treatment worldwide.
I am inspired to work at an industry that produces clean, reliable electricity, and whose mission is to do so while supporting our community and protecting the environment to secure the future. These values align very closely with my own and the commitments of professional engineers.
NEM 2025 begins with P.Eng. Day on March 1. How does your organization celebrate the contributions of professional engineers, and what does being a P.Eng. mean to you?
To me, being a P.Eng. signifies a commitment to enhancing our quality of life, protecting the environment, which is clearly important to me, and upholding a code of ethics that aligns with my personal values.
At Bruce Power, we celebrate engineers and promote youth STEM education through partnerships with organizations like the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) and sponsorships of programs such as FIRST Robotics and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. We also support entry into skilled trades through collaborations with Skills Ontario and Build a Dream, hosting events that introduce younger demographics (grades 6-12) to opportunities in STEM fields.
Bruce Power has also partnered with Ontario Tech University to create an internship program designed to attract women engineers to the nuclear sector. This program offers three consecutive summers of internship experience, along with development workshops and networking opportunities with women in nuclear.
Innovation is key to the future of engineering. How is your organization embracing new technologies, trends, or disciplines to stay ahead?
Bruce Power is embracing innovation in several ways. Through our Major Component Replacement (MCR) project, we are systematically refurbishing reactor units to extend the facility’s life until 2064. As part of this effort, we have developed innovative tooling to conduct reactor component inspections more efficiently and expediently, whilst also reducing radiation exposure for our workforce.
We are also expanding our medical isotope program, focusing on increasing the production of cobalt-60 and lutetium-177 to meet growing global demand. Additionally, we have partnered with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation to market medical isotopes, offering an equity stake and revenue-sharing program that directly benefits the community.
What role does sustainability play in your work? Could you share any initiatives or projects that reflect your commitment to building a greener future?
As Senior Director of Environment & Sustainability, sustainability is a core part of my role. My mission is to support the continued reliable and safe generation of nuclear power while protecting the environment and supporting local communities.
Bruce Power was the first nuclear operator in North America to set an ambitious Net Zero commitment by 2027, targeting Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. In 2024, we met our 37.5% reduction goal without relying on offsets. Our efforts included optimizing standby generator testing programs and improving heating efficiencies, resulting in over 2,000 tons of Scope 1 emissions reductions.
While we may rely on Clean Energy Credits and offsets in the early years, we continue to drive innovation to reduce emissions from support operations on-site, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.
Professional growth is essential in engineering. How does your organization support learning, development, or mentorship for engineers at all stages of their careers?
Bruce Power is committed to being a learning organization. We provide:
- Comprehensive onboarding: Employees undergo general training, followed by stream-specific training tailored to their roles.
- Ongoing education: Engineers must stay current with equipment, policies, and procedures through continuous training, seminars, and self-directed learning.
- Advanced education support: We encourage employees to pursue further education and obtain their P.Eng. license.
- Mentorship programs: A formal mentorship program and leadership development initiatives help engineers grow throughout their careers.
What inspires your team to make an impact through engineering? Share a project or initiative that you’re particularly proud of.
Our role in the Environment department is always interesting and stimulating because we get to work cross-functionally with operations, engineering, and maintenance teams to provide station support and solve problems or develop innovations to improve efficiencies every day. One challenge we are currently addressing is high levels fish impingement at our cooling water intake from Lake Huron which could result in a blockage to our cooling water flows. We suspect that prolonged cold weather conditions have led to an unusually high volume of gizzard shad being drawn into our intake system. We are actively developing short-term solutions, such as deploying nets and deterrents, while collaborating with industry partners to design long-term strategies to further protect the station and reduce our potential environmental impact.
Engineers solve critical challenges. Could you share an example of how your organization has used engineering expertise to make an impact?
Bruce Power’s Major Component Replacement (MCR) project is a testament to our engineering expertise. This initiative ensures a reliable power supply for decades while implementing innovative solutions to improve efficiency. Notably, our Unit 3 refurbishment marks the first use of automated robotic tooling on a CANDU reactor refurbishment, setting a new global standard for the industry.
31 days. 31 Reasons to Get Involved in National Engineering Month.
National Engineering Month is your chance to connect, learn, and be inspired by the incredible work happening in Ontario’s engineering community. Attend events, engage with industry leaders, and discover how engineering shapes the world around us. Find an event near you and join the celebration.
