Hamilton Port Authority has released its second annual sustainability report. The report reflects HPA’s commitment to transparency and explores what the port does, how it interacts with its community and how decisions are made to support social, environmental and economic sustainability.
Environmental Sustainability
As a founding member of the Green Marine Program, HPA continues to use the program’s rigorous framework to help reduce its environmental footprint.
In 2018 HPA undertook a number of initiatives to protect and enhance air quality, including investing over $500,000 to pave and reduce dust on port properties.
In 2018 HPA continued building the pollinator corridor across port lands with a second pollinator garden, located on the northwest side of HPA headquarters. 12 Hive boxes were installed at a new bee yard adjacent to Sherman Inlet on the Port’s Pier 15, in partnership with urban beekeeping company Humble Bee.
Social & Community Sustainability
HPA participated in a several community events and festivals as well as hosted tours and open houses to help build awareness about the port, its history and its role in the local economy.
HPA continued its commitment to charitable investing, with more than $268,000 in cash & in-kind donations for local not-for-profit organizations in 2018.
This year HPA partnered with Mission to Seafarers Southern Ontario on a new initiative to help seafarers visiting the Port of Hamilton and HPA port tenants combat the effects of critical incident stress. The Seafarer’s Critical Incident Stress Program is first program of its kind and offers immediate support after a traumatic incident to help mitigate the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Careers at the Port
With funding from the Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation (OCWI), City School by Mohawk explored employment demand at Hamilton’s Port, in partnership with HPA and Workforce Planning Hamilton. From this research emerged a new initiative, a free ‘try college’ course for local residents, called Careers at the Port. This non-credit course offers students workplace readiness skills, awareness of careers at the port, educational pathways, information about the skilled trades, and soft skill development.
Financial & Economic Sustainability
Financial sustainability at the Port of Hamilton allows for reinvestment in new port infrastructure, proactive stewardship of the land and water, and positive economic impacts within the community.
In 2018, $11.4 million was invested into new infrastructure and ongoing maintenance at the port. These investments are critical to the long-term viability of the port as part of the regional transportation network.
The port of Hamilton supports the local and regional economy, employing more than 2,100 people at approximately 130 tenant companies. The port is one of the single largest tax contributors to the City of Hamilton, paying more than $6 million in city property taxes annually.
HPA works closely with local economic development partners, including the City of Hamilton’s Economic Development division and the Hamilton International Airport to attract new business to the city, in shared priority sectors such as agri-food, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and goods movement.