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Author: Larissa Fenn

Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority welcomes the first vessel of the 2023 shipping season

HAMILTON, ON – The first vessel of the 2023 shipping season has arrived at the Port of Hamilton. The vessel MV Florence Spirit arrived from Detroit for delivery to Pier 21, ArcelorMittal Dofasco. The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) celebrates the start of each shipping season with the ceremonial presentation of a Top Hat to the […]

HOPA Ports records strong season despite ongoing global supply-chain uncertainty

Agri-food is strongest growth sector, reaching 33 per cent of overall tonnage. HAMILTON, ON – At the conclusion of the 2022 shipping season, Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) saw a total of 10,366,810 metric tonnes (MT) of cargo transiting the ports of Hamilton and Oshawa combined. A total of 628 vessels visited its two ports during […]

The Thorold Multimodal Hub doubles in size with addition of new 170-acre property

The BMI Group, through its subsidiary Bioveld Canada has purchased a new industrial complex in Thorold, ON The new 170-acre facility adds 500,000 sq.ft of available space, multimodal services, and greenfield lands for redevelopment/new building In partnership with HOPA Ports, the Thorold Multimodal Hub is creating supply chain capacity, reactivating industrial space and facilitating trade […]

HOPA Ports signs head lease with Max Aicher North America for industrial lands on Hamilton’s working waterfront

Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority completes head lease with Max Aicher North America Agreement permits extensive investment in supply chain capacity with the development of 60-acre, multimodal parcel at Pier 18 on Hamilton Harbour The site is suitable to be used for flexible storage of steel, forest products and manufacturing components, warehousing and rail transloading of materials […]

Cole Horncastle

Vice President, Commercial

Cole assumed the role of Vice President, Commercial in 2026 after serving as the Executive Managing Director at the Hamilton International Airport.

Cole brings more than 15 years of leadership experience across transportation, commercial strategy, business development, and real estate development.

Cole received his Honours Bachelor of Accounting from Brock University and is a Charted Professional Accountant.

Jonathan Wetselaar

Vice President, Capital Projects

Jonathan serves as Vice President, Capital Projects, bringing over two decades of dedicated leadership to the role.

Since joining HOPA in 2002 as a Port Technologist, he has steadily advanced through key positions, including Design Construction Manager (2010) and Director of Capital Projects (2018).

Throughout his tenure, Jonathan has spearheaded the organization’s most strategic capital initiatives, leveraging innovative approaches to consistently drive value for HOPA’s stakeholders.

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.

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.