Heddle Shipyards, the largest ship repair and construction company on the Great Lakes, is investing more than $107 million to tackle complex Vessel Life Extension (VLE) projects at it’s Port Weller Dry Docks in St. Catharines and the Ontario government will contribute more than $3.4 million.
VLEs are designed to significantly extend the life of marine vessels. With its $107 million investment, Heddle will implement the processes, engineering, training and equipment needed for VLE projects, including on-the-job training for skilled trades and support staff, automated manufacturing technologies and the use of 3D scanning for manufacturing projects. The investment will create 30 new, good-paying jobs in the region.
As part of this investment, the Ontario government is providing Heddle with over $3.4 million through the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness stream of its Regional Development Program. Through this program, Ontario is investing $140 million to help companies like Heddle grow.
These kinds of Investments and partnerships will allow Ontario to once again be a frontrunner in the Canadian shipbuilding and support hundreds of high-paying skilled-trade jobs in St. Catharines, Niagara and other communities across the province.
More from the blog
Why St. Catharines is the Place to Invest, and Why Now is the Time
As Niagara’s largest city, St. Catharines is transforming into a hub of culture, innovation, and growth — and right now, the momentum has never been stronger. With unbeatable connectivity to the GTA and U.S. border, new infrastructure like expanded GO Transit and cross-lake hovercraft service, and powerful financial incentives for development, this is the perfect moment to build and grow here.
What Lenders Are Looking For
April 29, 2026Learn how financial institutions assess small business loans.
Imposter Syndrome: Why Success Still Doesn’t Feel Like Enough
April 2, 2026Many business owners quietly wrestle with self-doubt and question whether they’re truly cut out for this work.