Ontario Shipyards

ST. CATHARINES — Ontario Shipyards Inc., the owner of shipbuilding and repair facilities in St. Catharines, Hamilton and Thunder Bay, is receiving $10 million from the provincial government to train workers.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement Wednesday in St. Catharines, saying all levels of government need "to step up and recognize the extraordinary potential of this industry and its workers by ensuring that much-needed Canadian vessels are built in Ontario, by Ontario shipbuilders."

A lack of skilled labour was one of the key reasons cited by Ontario Shipyards when it suspended operations at its Thunder Bay facility earlier this year.

Information about how the provincial funding might impact the Thunder Bay shipyard was not immediately available, and the company has not released details.

However, the government announcement stated the company will deliver training, re-skilling and up-skilling programs for careers in the millwright, welding, electrical and painting trades in St. Catharines, Hamilton and Thunder Bay.

It said courses will include shipbuilding, ship repair, shipyard orientation, and health and safety procedures, along with professional development, leadership training and mentoring to recruit and retain the next generation of workers.

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Hamilton- For more than thirty-five years, the name “Heddle” has been synonymous with hard work, determination, perseverance and the “mettle” it takes to fix and build ships in Canada. It is important to respect and understand the past in order to ensure a successful future. On January 1^st, 2024, Heddle Shipyards became Ontario Shipyards to reflect the next phase of our company’s growth and future success.

“We must never forget where we have come from, but it is important to always be forward-thinking and strive for a better future,” said Shaun Padulo, President and CEO.

“The rebranding of our company to Ontario Shipyards marks a significant shift. It is a poignant signal that our company will activate and harness the capacity, capabilities and output of Canada’s industrial heartland to build and fix ships. We will always maintain the core values that have made us successful – Ontario Shipyards is Where Water Meets Mettle.”

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THUNDER BAY — Ontario Shipyards, formerly known as Heddle Shipyards, has idled its Thunder Bay plant.

Ted Kirkpatrick, director of business development and government relations, told The Chronicle-Journal that they have decided to temporarily idle operations at its shipyard largely due to market conditions and the availability of skilled labour.

"Despite these challenging conditions, we remain committed to revitalizing Ontario's shipbuilding and ship repair industry, including in Thunder Bay," Kirkpatrick said, adding their organization has no plans to divest from the Thunder Bay shipyard and will remain committed to the city community.

"We continue to actively pursue a number of high-potential shipbuilding opportunities for the Thunder Bay Shipyard, and we still see the Thunder Bay shipyard as playing a key role in supporting shipbuilding activities in Ontario and across Canada."

He said they are confident that the situation they are facing is temporary and plan to bring shipbuilding back to the city in the "not-so-distant future."

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