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 in southern Ontario

Thorold, ON – A new industrial property has been added to the Thorold Multimodal Hub, a growing industrial complex in Niagara Region. The newly-acquired property adds 170 acres of land and over 500,000 sq.ft of warehouse space, creating room for industrial, manufacturing and logistics businesses to locate, grow or build new facilities.

The new addition is a former automotive parts plant, which closed its doors in 2008. The facility’s new owner, The BMI Group, through its subsidiary Bioveld Canada, specializes in redeveloping and adapting brownfield sites for modern industrial uses. The BMI Group already owns a 155-acre site with over 600,000 sq.ft of buildings within the existing Thorold Hub. “We see incredible potential in this new space,” said Justus Veldman, The BMI Group Managing Director. “Our success in attracting users to the first phase of the Thorold Multimodal Hub, through our partnership with HOPA, gives us the confidence to expand our investment in the Niagara Region.” As part of HOPA’s Niagara Ports network, The Thorold Multimodal Hub has already created marine, rail and conventional logistical supply chain solutions for Hub tenants.

Additional warehouse space and outdoor areas widen the service offering, and help to address the industrial supply chain challenges in Ontario. The newly-acquired facility offers up to 55-foot ceiling heights, overhead doors, loading docks, multiple spray booths, rail transload capability and multiple heavy cranes.

The space can be configured to the needs of large or small-footprint businesses and offers a variety of options for new-build construction of industrial spaces as well.

The new addition brings the space available at the Thorold Multimodal Hub to 400 acres of land and over 1 million sq.ft of indoor space, in multiple configurations, located immediately adjacent to the Welland Canal, with access to the CN rail line via rail service provider Gio Rail. The Hub is also uniquely suited to support companies focused on energy transition. Hub tenant Char Technologies recently announced more than $11 million in investment in their facility.

Partner HOPA Ports developed the Thorold Multimodal Hub model to bring together users who can benefit from the marine, rail and highway connections, as well as the facility’s proximity to the US border. “Now more than ever, companies are looking at how they can streamline their supply chains and lower their costs,” said HOPA Ports President & CEO Ian Hamilton. “By nurturing this industrial ecosystem, and making the most of Niagara region’s valuable transportation assets, we’re able to strengthen Canadian supply chains and facilitate Canadian trade and competitiveness.”

Following the launch of the first phase in December 2020, more than a dozen companies have already made the Thorold multimodal Hub home. “We’ve been able to address a pressing demand out there for industrial space in Ontario, and proven that these older, large-scale industrial facilities can be adapted to the needs of modern industry,” said Veldman. 


Quotes

“We’re very excited to see our vision, and collective enthusiasm and investment in employment lands contained within the Niagara Ports Multimodal Trade Corridor resulting in the development of an exciting job and prosperity-creating enterprise in Niagara. This is strengthening the new economy of the Niagara region following some challenging times and our government will continue to be committed to the Corridor’s economic growth.”  

  • Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre

 “The purchase of the former Hayes Dana Property by the BMI Group thru its subsidiary Bioveld Canada is of major significance. The vision of a Thorold Multimodal Hub that is being developed in partnership with HOPA continues to take shape along the Welland Canal Trade Corridor. The investments being made today will attract new businesses, create new jobs, as well as, contribute to the prosperity and success not only in the City of Thorold, but the entire Niagara Region.”

  • Terry Ugulini, Mayor, City of Thorold

About Thorold Multimodal Hub:

The Thorold Multimodal Hub is a 400-acre multimodal industrial complex in Niagara, adjacent to the Welland Canal. Unique to Niagara, it features marine, rail and highway access, as well as 1,000,000 square feet of indoor warehouse and outdoor storage space, which can be configured to a wide variety of industrial, cargo handling and ancillary operations. 

About The BMI Group and Bioveld Canada:

The BMI Group, developer and owner of Bioveld Canada, is a venture development company specializing in structuring public-private partnerships to activate the emergent potential of the natural, built, and social environment. From new housing development to multi-modal infrastructure, the BMI Group brings together multidisciplinary teams to finance, plan, design, and manage a growing and diversified portfolio of projects.

About HOPA Ports:

As an integrated port network, HOPA Ports offers port and marine assets on the Great Lakes. We are developing multimodal spaces, including in Niagara, to support Ontario’s industries and facilitate trade. By investing in high-quality infrastructure and prioritizing sustainability, we build prosperous working waterfronts in Ontario communities.

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Media contact:

Larissa Fenn
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
[email protected]
Tel: 905-667-3292
Cell: 905-518-7632
www.hopaports.ca

Commercial inquiries:

Kurt Vos
Commercial Leasing & Property Manager
[email protected]
Cell: 365-336-4976

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

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.