Canadian Light Source Synchrotron

What is the Canadian Light Source?

Saskatoon is home to Canada's only synchrotron research facility and one of the biggest national scientific projects in three decades. The Canadian Light Source Inc. is lighting the way into a new era of science and innovation for academic, government and industrial research in Canada. The structure creates beams of light that are millions of times brighter than sunlight and act as a "super microscope." The light beams are guided into workstations where they are capable of isolating the microscopic nature of matter down to the level of an atom.

Officially opened in October 2004, the $174-million Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron is part of a new class of synchrotron light sources in the world. It enables Canada's synchrotron light users - in fields as diverse as biology, chemistry, geology, materials science, physics and medicine - to compete internationally. Using powerful magnets and radio frequency waves, the synchrotron accelerates electrons to nearly the speed of light, producing intense light beams for probing matter with unprecedented precision. It creates endless research opportunities across industrial, economic and social fields. With this high-tech tool, scientists will be able to design new drugs and medical treatments, improve food products, manufacture more powerful microchips and discover ways to clean up the environment.

What's the WD connection?

Western Economic Diversification Canada acted as a catalyst for the project, contributing over $29 million and helping bring together a consortium that includes the Saskatchewan, Ontario and Alberta governments, the City of Saskatoon, academia and industry.

Other federal partners include the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the National Research Council, Natural Resources Canada and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

WD has further invested $19 million into the CLS since its opening. The funding has gone towards construction of the Phase II and Phase III beamlines, operating expenses and a first user program.

What's been accomplished?

An estimated 500 jobs were created through the five-year construction of the CLS. The CLS has focused the efforts of 38 universities from across the country, major industry partners and three levels of government. The facility currently operates seven beamlines, seven others in the late stages of testing and another five under development.

In April 2009, the CLS welcomed its 2,000^th research visit. Brian Bewer, a University of Saskatchewan (U of S) graduate student is working on a Ph.D. in physics with U of S Canada Research Chair Dean Chapman. Bewer crossed the 2000 mark while conducting experiments imaging prostate cancer on the BioMedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) beamline. The national synchrotron facility welcomed its first researcher from an outside agency, Dr. Allen Pratt of Natural Resources Canada's CANMET Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories in Ottawa, in May 2005.

What's on the horizon?

When the facility reaches full capacity, more than 200 scientists, technicians and operational staff will work at the CLS. More than 2,300 academic and industrial researchers from across Canada and from other countries are expected to use the facility each year.

The CLS is globally unique with its focus on private-public partnerships and service to industrial researchers. CLS targets set for industrial participation, and resulting revenue, are the most aggressive of any synchrotron facility. The CLS is committed to being the world leader in synchrotron industrial utilization.

Key Contact

Western Economic Diversification Canada
P.O. Box 2025
Suite 601, 119 4th Avenue South
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 3S7

Telephone: (306) 975-4373
Toll Free: 1 888 338-WEST (9378)