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HOPA Ports partners with Crime Stoppers of Hamilton and Hamilton Police Service to strengthen crime prevention through new awareness campaign

Hamilton, ON – Today, HOPA Ports, through its Harbour Master’s Office/Port Patrol, joined Crime Stoppers of Hamilton and Hamilton Police Service to launch the “Crime Doesn’t Anchor Here” campaign, an initiative designed to enhance crime prevention efforts across port lands in Hamilton. The campaign is part of a broader, city‑wide effort led by Crime Stoppers of Hamilton, building on the successful “Crime Doesn’t Fly Here” initiative launched with John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

The initiative includes awareness training, employee and partner engagement, new signage and posters across port properties, and public‑facing safety messaging to help identify and report suspicious or criminal activity.

“Our port community spans dozens of industrial tenants, hundreds of vessel calls and thousands of workers annually,” said Vicki Gruber, Director, Safety & Security / Harbour Master, HOPA Ports. “While the Port operates with robust security measures, this campaign adds another layer of vigilance, empowering our workforce and the public with tools to report suspicious activity and contribute directly to community safety.”

“This campaign is an important step in strengthening community awareness and a shared responsibility across our waterfront,” said Ali Fahad, ICPS, SAS®, Chair of Crime Stoppers of Hamilton. “Encouraged by this strategic partnership and the continued support behind it, we are reinforcing simple, anonymous ways for people to speak up when something doesn’t seem right. Together, through this city wide initiative, we are helping to keep our waterfront, and our city as a whole, safe, secure, and welcoming.”

The Crime Doesn’t Anchor Here campaign is part of a broader, province‑wide initiative developed originally by Toronto Crime Stoppers to target transnational and organized crime networks. The program is designed for adaptability across different transportation hubs; including ports, airports, and logistics facilities.

“Partnerships are essential to preventing and reducing crime in our community,” said Chief Frank Bergen, Hamilton Police Service. “We are proud to expand our collaboration with HOPA Ports and Crime Stoppers to support this initiative and safeguard the people who work, travel and do business along Hamilton’s working waterfront.”

Every time a tip is submitted to Crime Stoppers, it provides police with another opportunity to prevent or solve a crime, while giving the community a safe and confidential way to take action. Tips can be made completely anonymously by calling 1‑800‑222‑TIPS (8477) or visiting www.crimestoppershamilton.com.

ABOUT HOPA PORTS

As an integrated port network, the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) offers port and marine assets in Hamilton, Oshawa, and Niagara to support Ontario industries and facilitate trade. By investing in high-quality infrastructure and prioritizing sustainability, HOPA helps build prosperous working waterfronts in Ontario communities. Overseeing more than 1,400 acres and more than 180 tenant companies, 40,000 Ontario jobs are connected to the cargo that passes through HOPA’s integrated ports.

ABOUT CRIME STOPPERS OF HAMILTON INC.

Crime Stoppers is a community-led program driven by the dedication of local volunteers who believe in safer, stronger neighborhoods. The program empowers residents to play an active role by sharing information anonymously, while fostering strong partnerships between the community, local media, and law enforcement. Founded in Hamilton in 1983, Crime Stoppers continues to be a trusted, community-driven approach that brings people together and strengthens collective responsibility for community safety.

ABOUT HAMILTON POLICE SERVICE

Hamilton Police Service is an innovative police service dedicated to working in partnership with our communities to make Hamilton a safe and healthy place to live and work. Established in 1833, Hamilton has one of the oldest police services in the world. Today, 855 sworn members and 331 civilians provide service to Hamilton’s residents and manage over 400,000 calls for service.

For more information, please contact:

Kelly Noseworthy
Communications Advisor
[email protected]

Stay connected:

Facebook: @HamiltonOshawaPortAuthority
Instagram: @hopaports
LinkedIn: @Hamilton-Oshawa-Port-Authority
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheHamiltonPort
#HOPAPorts

Renee Bulger, CPA, CGA

Vice President, Finance

Renee assumed the role of Vice President, Finance after having served as Director of Finance since 2023.

Renee joined the Hamilton Port Authority in 2006 as a General Accountant and was promoted to Controller in 2018. She was previously a member of the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Conservation Foundation from 2017 to 2020.

Renee received her Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Larissa Fenn

Larissa Fenn

Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Larissa Fenn is Vice President, Corporate Affairs at HOPA Ports, leading a team responsible for strategic initiatives, public affairs, sustainability reporting, corporate governance and culture.

In progressive roles over 14 years, Larissa has helped to define and execute the strategy that has grown HOPA Ports into Ontario’s largest and most dynamic port authority. Her previous experience includes policy and communications management roles in financial services and municipal government.

Larissa holds a B.A. in Political Science from Queen’s University, and an MBA from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. A champion for the Great Lakes and vibrant waterfront cities, Larissa serves as a Board Member of the Ontario Marine Council and is former Vice Chair of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton/Burlington, Ontario.

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.

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.