SNOLAB receives $28.6 million from ‘CFI’

SNOLAB is expected to create around 20 new jobs over the next year thanks to $28.6-million in federal government funding to help support its operations over the next three years.

The funding announced today will sustain scientific excellence at SNOLAB and ensure the facility maintains a leadership role in the global deep underground research community. “SNOLAB is delighted to be a recipient of operational funding through the CFI Major Science Initiative Fund”, said Dr. Nigel Smith, Director of SNOLAB.

“Coupled with support from the Province of Ontario and in-kind support from Vale, our mining hosts, the $28.6M award from CFI will secure the next three years of operational support for SNOLAB. These funds will be used to employ the 96 staff at SNOLAB and support the operations and maintenance of our world-leading facilities, allowing Canadian researchers and their international partners to undertake world-class research into astroparticle physics, nuclear and particle physics, astronomy, genomics and mining innovation.”

“This award will enable SNOLAB to maintain and develop its world-leading ability to host world-class experiments in deep underground science, and I look forward to many exciting results over the next five years” expressed Dr. Ken Peach, Chair of the SNOLAB Board of Directors.

CFI’s MSI Fund is a program that ensures Canada’s large, complex research facilities that serve communities of researchers have the support they need to continue to operate at the cutting edge. “As science becomes more complex, major science initiatives are crucial to make sure bright minds from Canada and abroad are able to explore the frontier of science and find answers to some of the most pressing issues of our time,” said Gilles Patry, President and CEO of CFI.

Agencies/Canadajournal