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Community Partnerships

At HOPA Ports, we take pride in developing and supporting initiatives that directly contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of our communities of operation. Whether big or small, we try to develop programs and campaigns that will have a clear and lasting social or environmental impact. We work with local partner organizations, charities, not-for-profits, conservation groups, post-secondary institutions and school boards across Oshawa, Hamilton and Niagara.

As you can see below, our outreach and partnerships focus on three key areas: youth & education, environment, and marine advocacy & infrastructure.

Youth & Education

From K-12 to post-secondary and beyond, we’re investing in the future of Hamilton, Oshawa, and Niagara by supporting their most important asset: people!

We have developed new programs, provided scholarships, and do our part to help our community’s most vulnerable members.

Mohawk College

City School by Mohawk
Ship Repair School
Careers at the Port
Supply Chain Management Graduate Program

McMaster University

Brock University

Niagara Industrial Association

Innovation Education Council

CityKidz

Welcome Inn

Simcoe Hall Settlement House

Liberty for Youth

Marine Advocacy & Infrastructure

As stewards of ports and marine assets across Southern Ontario, we are naturally obliged to demonstrate the value of this industry to local residents beyond mere commercial success (although we like that too!). We work with a variety of groups that contribute to health of seafarers, and the recreational enjoyment of marine heritage and public space along our waterfronts. Our partners provide an important light into the maritime history of each community and trade on the Great Lakes, and experiences that connect residents of all ages to what life is like on the water.

Beach Canal Lighthouse

Mission to Seafarers

Royal Hamilton Yacht Club

Brigantines 

Oshawa Museum

Fisherman’s Pier

Environmental Sustainability

We take environmental conservation, maintenance and management very seriously. We strive to be an active partner in the protection of Hamilton Harbour, Oshawa’s Second Marsh, and ecosystems along the Welland Canal.

We view all of our activities through a ‘green’ lens, including: greenhouse gas and dust reduction, energy savings, pollution prevention and positive stewardship of the land and water.

Bay Area Restoration Council

Hamilton Conservation Authority

Harbour West Marina’s Seabin

Team Up to Clean Up

Tree Planting

Smart Commute

Royal Botanical Gardens

Community Contact

If you’re interested in partnering with HOPA Ports, on a new initiative or community event, please reach out to [email protected] 

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Larissa Fenn

Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Larissa Fenn is Vice President, Corporate Affairs at HOPA Ports, leading a team responsible for communications and government relations, sustainability reporting, corporate governance and corporate culture.

Previous positions included communications and public policy roles at the Canadian Bankers Association, Credit Valley Conservation Authority, and the Regional Municipality of Halton.

Larissa holds a B.A.(Hons) in Political Science from Queen’s University. She holds the APR designation from the Canadian Public Relations Society, and completed the Senior Public Sector Leaders program at the University of Western Ontario, Ivey School of Business. Larissa has served as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Royal Botanical Gardens, and as a member of the Policy Council of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

Bill Fitzgerald

Vice President, Strategic Development

Bill assumed the role of Vice President, Strategic Development in 2024, after having served as HOPA’s Vice President, Operations since 2008.

Bill joined the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority in July 1995 as Project Engineer. He previously worked with the Regional Municipality of Ottawa’s Transportation Department, as well as for the Toronto Transit Commission and the City of Waterloo.

Bill received a Bachelor of Applied Science, civil engineering / water resources, in 1995 from the University of Waterloo and registered with the Professional Engineers of Ontario in 1997.

Jeremy Dunn

Vice President, Operations

Jeremy assumed the role of Vice President, Operations in 2024 after having served as HOPA’s Commercial Vice President since 2019. Prior to joining HOPA, Jeremy served in successive leadership roles at The Miller Group, one of Canada’s leading transportation construction and infrastructure maintenance companies. Jeremy has managed multiple business groups in the heavy construction, asphalt paving and aggregates sectors driving results through business restructuring, service improvement and strategic growth. In his most recent role, Jeremy served as General Manager of Miller Maintenance, responsible for managing and growing Miller’s highway maintenance business in Ontario.

Previous to The Miller Group, Jeremy held the position of Director of Operations for the Dunn Group of Companies.

Jeremy earned his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) through Queen’s University. He also holds a Master’s Certificate in Project Management.

Janet Knight

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer for the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority since 2008, Janet joined the HPA in 1998 as Accounting Supervisor and subsequently served as Controller.

Prior to joining the HPA, Janet held the position of Financial Analyst with St. Joseph’s Hospital, as well as various positions, including Marketing Communications/Research Lead with Zeneca Agro. Janet graduated from McMaster University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Commerce. She attained the professional designation of Certified Management Accountant in 1992.

Ian Hamilton

President & CEO

Ian Hamilton is President & CEO of HOPA Ports (Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority). He assumed this role in 2017, after serving as the Port Authority’s Vice President of Business Development and Real Estate since 2008. Ian has been instrumental in developing working waterfronts in Hamilton, Oshawa, and Niagara by attracting new business and private investment, and creating an integrated marine network across Southern Ontario.

Ian possesses more than 25 years of experience in international transportation and logistics in Europe and North America, and has held progressively senior positions in the liner shipping industry, including Transatlantic Trade Director (Europe) for CP Ships and Business Development Manager for Hapag-Lloyd. Ian is Chairperson of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, and holds positions on various other boards, including: the Chamber of Marine Commerce, the Hamilton Club, and Brigs Youth Sail Training.

Ian holds an MBA from Aston University (UK) and a BSc in business administration and economics from the College of Charleston, South Carolina.

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