As Canada considers nuclear expansion on a scale unheard of in generations, it's tempting to invoke shades of Canada's golden new-build era from the 1960s to the 1980s.

There are number of updated tones of course, from the variety of provinces expressing interest to the variety of technologies and investors on the table – but something entirely new in the palette this time is stakeholder engagement.

It's been almost 30 years since Canadian mining executive Jim Cooney coined the phrase "social licence" – still the best way to describe the trust that modern megaprojects need from their ultimate sponsors: the citizens living with the project, and paying for it (figuratively if not literally).

Meaningful public engagement didn't just become good business; it's good manners. Gone are days of site-build-explain: board rooms have come to understand the value of explain-site-build.

And importantly: ... build-operate-decommission, while safely and transparently managing waste production throughout.

It's also approaching 30 years since the Seaborn environmental assessment panel, in its review of Canada's original geological disposal concept, concluded that a project can be safe from a technical perspective, but not from a social one – i.e., "social safety": a seismic paradigm shift that seeded the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), one of the world's first technical entities with social engagement in its DNA.

The nub of social safety is this: a person isn't truly safe until they feel safe.

It's a notion as obvious as it is overlooked. Perceptions can harm, perceptions can kill, and perceptions can deep-six an objectively safe project.

Every major nuclear accident to date exemplifies this in spades: most recently Fukushima in 2011 led to hundreds of unnecessary deaths due to decisions made in a fog of fear and mistrust, while radiation releases at the time were relatively innocuous.

Historically many more people have been harmed by fear and mistrust of nuclear technology than through radiation releases: quantitatively it is the single biggest safety risk of the industry.

The wake-up call for the nuclear industry is this: fear and mistrust are not the people's fault. Feeling safe, or unsafe, is a popular vote on the effectiveness of communication, and ultimately – trust in the industry.

Realistically, success means more than social licence – it means social buoyancy: folks feeling so integrated in the process, so listened to, so intimately aware and understanding of the facts that they become citizen ambassadors, freely sharing their enthusiasm with family and neighbours.

Social buoyancy is earned, not given, and takes enormous commitment.

The payback is enormous as well, albeit not obviously so to traditional corporate planners and economists. It's what keeps an industry afloat when things go sideways: imagine a world where nuclear power doesn't go on life support every time an accident occurs anywhere in the world.

It means really, really good public information centres and websites: hands-on, interactive, geared to children as much as adults.

It means listening to public concerns – transparently and free of bias or ego – and answering in clear language at the level of the person asking the question.

It means meaningful support for STEM education and generational engagement, with attention to indigenous peoples and women. Women, especially, are not just 50% of the population but the glue that holds society together (the strong nuclear force, if you'll pardon the metaphor).

It means empowering young people – the voters and builders of tomorrow. They have the energy, the ideas, and the lack of baggage.

It means standing proud of our history: consider not tearing down ground-breaking facilities – turn them instead into museums. Build and support other museums, like the amazing Nuclear Heritage Museum in Deep River, Ontario, created and staffed by volunteer retirees.

Show the public what Canada achieved, and what Canadians paid for. Light the fire.

In short, it should be clear that a nuclear renaissance will not be handed to the industry. To borrow from Tom Hanks at the end of "Saving Private Ryan": earn this.