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Category: News

HOPA Ports Welcomes Building Canada Strong Act to Accelerate Infrastructure and Growth

HOPA Ports welcomes the Building Canada Strong Act (Bill C-39). We are aligned with the Government of Canada’s ambition to get major projects built, strengthen our trade infrastructure and create a more competitive Canadian economy. HOPA is advancing major infrastructure projects across our port network. We see real value in a more coordinated and predictable […]

Canal Piers – Hamilton Side Now Open

HOPA Ports is pleased to welcome the community back to the Hamilton side of the Canal Piers. When it appeared the Canal Piers could close permanently, HOPA stepped in to take ownership of the piers, with a commitment to work with the cities of Hamilton and Burlington to preserve public access. HOPA addressed acute surface […]

STATEMENT FROM Ian Hamilton, President & CEO, HOPA Ports

This weekend brought bad news, but not new news — not to HOPA, nor Ontario’s port cities. We put our response into action when it became clear the future would look very different. Where we’re from, in Ontario’s industrial heartland, we know resilience and hard work. And we know that economic success belongs to those […]

HOPA Ports and partners commit $35,000 to RBG student program

https://youtu.be/qbbuu8P5B4w HOPA Ports and partners contribute $35,000 to RBG Summer Student Program supporting Hamilton Harbour Longstanding partnership advances conservation work, including habitat restoration and species protection Program provides hands-on experience for students while improving harbour health Partnership connects industry, environment and education on Canada’s busiest Great Lakes port HAMILTON, ON – HOPA Ports (Hamilton-Oshawa Port […]

The PIER Innovation Ecosystem Grows with Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority Joining Membership

The PIER has welcomed the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) as its newest ecosystem member, further strengthening its global network of ports, technology companies, supply chain partners, researchers and startups. Through this new partnership, the organizations aim to advance port innovation and the adoption of practical supply chain solutions to strengthen supply chain resilience and […]

HOPA Ports Achieves Top-Level Environmental Recognition through Green Marine

HOPA Ports has earned the highest possible rating, Level 5, in the Aquatic Ecosystems indicator through the Green Marine environmental certification program, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable port operations. Green Marine is the maritime industry’s leading voluntary environmental certification program, designed to help ports and terminal operators go beyond regulatory requirements. Participants are evaluated annually […]

CHCH Morning Live returns to HOPA Ports, taking viewers behind the scenes of Hamilton’s working waterfront

https://www.hopaports.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CA42408694_MorningLive_HOPA-Promo-June-18th-6-to-10am_15_AirsAsScheduled_2026_Cochrane.mp4 Join us June 18 from 6:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. as CHCH Morning Live returns to HOPA Ports! Hosts Annette Hamm and Rick Zamperin, alongside Adventure Reporter Emily Vukovic, will explore the people, operations and partnerships powering one of Canada’s most important transportation hubs. From marine shipping to manufacturing and agri-food, the broadcast showcases the scale […]

Port of Hamilton Welcomes New Sucro Can Sugar Refinery

Sucro Can Canada and HOPA Ports celebrate the opening of a next‑generation sugar refinery, strengthening Canada’s agri‑food supply chain A $135-million sugar refinery has opened at the Port of Hamilton, adding new domestic food-processing capacity to Canada’s agrifood sector. The facility is designed to receive raw sugar by vessel and distribute refined products to customers […]

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.