HOPA Ports and BMI Group renew strategic partnership
0HOPA Ports and The BMI Group have renewed their strategic partnership, building on a proven model that has transformed one of Ontario’s largest brownfield sites into a nationally recognized industrial hub.
Launched in 2019 under the Niagara Ports banner, The BMI Group transformed the former Norampac paper mill in Thorold, Ontario into the Bioveld Niagara Multimodal Hub — a 600+ acre, multimodal-served industrial complex now home to more than 30 tenants in manufacturing, clean energy, and logistics. With HOPA providing on-site property management, development services, and active tenant recruitment, the once-idle site is now a catalyst for job creation, innovation, and resilient supply chains, earning national recognition for environmental remediation and adaptive reuse.
“The success of our first project exceeded expectations,” said Ian Hamilton, President & CEO of HOPA Ports. “We knew there was strong market demand for multimodal-served industrial space — and today, Bioveld Niagara stands as proof that vision, speed, and strategic partnerships can deliver transformative results.”
Scaling a Winning Model
BMI Group’s ready-stating and re-futuring approach has driven the development of more than 25 industrial and commercial sites in Ontario, Quebec, and Michigan — from Red Rock and Fort Frances to Baie Comeau and Port Huron. Specializing in the revitalization of legacy industrial lands, BMI transforms underutilized properties into high-value, modern industrial assets.
“We’ve seen the economic ripple effect in Niagara, and know how to put this model to work,” said Paul Veldman, CEO of BMI Group. “With the right partners, we can deliver wherever communities are ready to reimagine their industrial future to create jobs, attract investment, and build stronger supply chains.”
HOPA Ports brings deep expertise in high-value industrial cluster development, connecting tenants to Ontario’s integrated marine, rail, and highway network. At Bioveld Niagara, tenants benefit from: Direct water access to the Welland Canal; Active rail service for efficient freight movement; High-capacity hydroelectric power ideal for energy-intensive manufacturing; Tailored tenant buildouts enabling infrastructure efficiencies.
In 2021, the Hub expanded with the acquisition of an adjacent 500,000 sq. ft. former automotive facility, unlocking new space for high-value manufacturing tenants.
In parallel, The BMI Group has invested in scaling the success of innovative tenants. These include CHAR Tech, a rapidly scaling cleantech company converting solid organic residues into renewable energy and biocarbon products, and Destiny Copper, a cleantech firm specializing in sustainable copper recovery from industrial waste streams and mine tailings. These scale-ups represent the next generation of industrial innovation, leveraging Bioveld’s infrastructure, connectivity, and collaborative ecosystem to advance clean technologies with global potential.
With a growing roster of industrial, civic, and Indigenous partners, the BMI–HOPA partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration to unlock Canada’s industrial potential. As Canada works to rapidly strengthen its domestic industrial capacity, BMI–HOPA is delivering measurable value for businesses, communities, and the national economy.
HOPA Ports and The BMI Group have renewed their strategic partnership, building on a proven model that has transformed one of Ontario’s largest brownfield sites into a nationally recognized industrial hub.
Launched in 2019 under the Niagara Ports banner, The BMI Group transformed the former Norampac paper mill in Thorold, Ontario into the Bioveld Niagara Multimodal Hub — a 600+ acre, multimodal-served industrial complex now home to more than 30 tenants in manufacturing, clean energy, and logistics. With HOPA providing on-site property management, development services, and active tenant recruitment, the once-idle site is now a catalyst for job creation, innovation, and resilient supply chains, earning national recognition for environmental remediation and adaptive reuse.
“The success of our first project exceeded expectations,” said Ian Hamilton, President & CEO of HOPA Ports. “We knew there was strong market demand for multimodal-served industrial space — and today, Bioveld Niagara stands as proof that vision, speed, and strategic partnerships can deliver transformative results.”
Scaling a Winning Model
BMI Group’s ready-stating and re-futuring approach has driven the development of more than 25 industrial and commercial sites in Ontario, Quebec, and Michigan — from Red Rock and Fort Frances to Baie Comeau and Port Huron. Specializing in the revitalization of legacy industrial lands, BMI transforms underutilized properties into high-value, modern industrial assets.
“We’ve seen the economic ripple effect in Niagara, and know how to put this model to work,” said Paul Veldman, CEO of BMI Group. “With the right partners, we can deliver wherever communities are ready to reimagine their industrial future to create jobs, attract investment, and build stronger supply chains.”
HOPA Ports brings deep expertise in high-value industrial cluster development, connecting tenants to Ontario’s integrated marine, rail, and highway network. At Bioveld Niagara, tenants benefit from: Direct water access to the Welland Canal; Active rail service for efficient freight movement; High-capacity hydroelectric power ideal for energy-intensive manufacturing; Tailored tenant buildouts enabling infrastructure efficiencies.
In 2021, the Hub expanded with the acquisition of an adjacent 500,000 sq. ft. former automotive facility, unlocking new space for high-value manufacturing tenants.
In parallel, The BMI Group has invested in scaling the success of innovative tenants. These include CHAR Tech, a rapidly scaling cleantech company converting solid organic residues into renewable energy and biocarbon products, and Destiny Copper, a cleantech firm specializing in sustainable copper recovery from industrial waste streams and mine tailings. These scale-ups represent the next generation of industrial innovation, leveraging Bioveld’s infrastructure, connectivity, and collaborative ecosystem to advance clean technologies with global potential.
With a growing roster of industrial, civic, and Indigenous partners, the BMI–HOPA partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration to unlock Canada’s industrial potential. As Canada works to rapidly strengthen its domestic industrial capacity, BMI–HOPA is delivering measurable value for businesses, communities, and the national economy.