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City and Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority bring Lifejacket Loaner Program to Oshawa’s beach

OSHAWA – The City of Oshawa, in collaboration with the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA Ports), is offering a new Lifejacket Loaner Program at Lakeview Park Beach. Community members are reminded to check the Region’s posted beach closures at Durham.ca/beaches prior to their visit and to follow safe swimming guidelines.

With the Lifejacket Loaner Program, visitors have free access to a wide selection of lifejackets in various sizes and styles (both vest and keyhole designs) while enjoying the beach.

Lifejackets are available both during and outside lifeguard hours. To borrow one, just look for the Lifejacket Loaner Station sign near the beach hut. Lifejackets must be returned after each use. For more information, visit Oshawa.ca/Lifejacket.

Beach goers should note that while lifejackets are an important tool, they do not replace the need for direct supervision and Water Smart Education.

Beach safety guidelines:

  1. Check for beach closure at Durham.ca/beaches before visiting
  2. Swim only in designated areas
  3. Always swim while under supervision
  4. Swim with a buddy


Becoming a Water Smart community

Most drownings are preventable in a Water Smart community. Educate yourself and others about water safety to enjoy water activities responsibly.

  1. Supervise children around water at all times
  2. Avoid consuming alcohol while participating in aquatic activities
  3. Always wear a lifejacket while boating


For more information on Drowning Prevention: the Water Smart® Campaign, visit the Lifesaving Society’s website at www.lifesavingsociety.com.

For City of Oshawa updates, visit Oshawa.ca/NewsCentre to follow us on social media, subscribe to news and alerts, and have your say on Connect Oshawa.

For more HOPA news and updates, visit www.hopaports.ca. 

Quotes:

“Each year, we welcome thousands of visitors who come to enjoy our beautiful waterfront. Their safety is important to us,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter. “With the launch of the Lifejacket Loaner Program, the City of Oshawa and HOPA Ports are making a difference by putting more lifejackets in the hands of those who may not otherwise be able to afford or have access to them.”

“Thank you to our partners at HOPA Ports who through the Lifejacket Loaner Program are helping us provide greater access to life-saving equipment for the many families who visit Lakeview Park Beach,” said Councillor John Gray, Chair of the Community and Operation Services Committee. “A day at the beach should be just that – a fun time where everyone feels safe both in and on the water.”

“We are proud to introduce the Lifejacket Loaner Program to Lakeview Park Beach,” said Councillor Jim Lee, Vice-Chair of the Community and Operations Services Committee. “Together with HOPA Ports, the City of Oshawa is providing more opportunity for visitors to safely enjoy our breathtaking waterfront.”

 “We are proud to collaborate with the City of Oshawa to enhance water safety through the Lifejacket Loaner program,” said Larissa Fenn, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at HOPA Ports. “We celebrate all the ways people enjoy the Great Lakes, including getting out for a summer swim at Oshawa’s beautiful Lakeview Park beach.”

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Media contacts:

Mayor Dan Carter

City of Oshawa

905-436-5611;

[email protected]

Councillor John Gray

Chair, Community and Operations Services Committee

905-436-5605;

[email protected]

Councillor Jim Lee
Vice-Chair, Community and Operations Services Committee
905-436-5616;

[email protected]


Jim Naumovski

Director, Recreation Services

905-436-3311 ext. 5006; 

[email protected]

Larissa Fenn
Vice President, Corporate Affairs

HOPA Ports
[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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