Toronto (April 4, 2017) – PortsToronto Harbour Master Angus Armstrong “crowns” MV Brant Captain Sergii Kurash with an antique silk and beaver top hat at the 156
th annual Beaver Hat Ceremony at Redpath Refinery. The annual ceremony dates back to the mid-1800s and celebrates the arrival of the Port of Toronto’s first ocean-going vessel of the season. This year, the MV Brant won the race to be the first ship to Port, bringing more than 19,692 metric tonnes of sugar from Nicaragua’s Corinto to Redpath Sugar, a company that has been crafting quality food products in Canada for more than 160 years.
“Since 1793, the Port of Toronto has served as Toronto’s gateway to the St. Lawrence Seaway and to marine ports around the world,” said Geoffrey Wilson, President and CEO, PortsToronto. “From the sugar we use to sweeten our coffee to the salt used on our roads to keep drivers safe during the winter months to the concrete used to support Toronto's booming construction industry, the goods delivered through Toronto's Port have a significant impact on the people, projects, and industries of Toronto.”
“Canfornav Inc. has been carrying bulk sugar into Toronto on behalf of Redpath Sugar for some 16 years,” said Mr Knud Jensen, Executive VP of Canfornav Inc. “During this period our ships have brought in about 4 million tonnes over the course of some 190 voyages to Toronto, so this is not the first time that one of our vessels has opened the navigation season in the Port of Toronto. We value our relationship with Redpath and the Port of Toronto and we look forward to years of continued co-operation and many more of our Captains being crowned with the antique Beaver Top Hat.”
About PortsToronto (http://www.portstoronto.com)
For more than 100 years PortsToronto has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomed more than 2.7 million passengers in 2016; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada's largest freshwater marinas; and, Terminals 51 and 52, which provide transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port of Toronto. PortsToronto is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has invested more than $9 million since 2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto's waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by a nine-member board with representation from all three levels of government.
Redpath Sugar
Redpath Sugar Ltd, who markets and sells sugar products in Canada under the Redpath brand, is a part of ASR Group, the world’s largest refiner of cane sugar. Redpath Sugar has been headquartered in and operating on the waterfront in Toronto, Ontario for more than 50 years where it crafts quality sugar products for consumers, food service outlets and food manufacturers throughout Canada. The company also operates a dry blending and packaging plant in Belleville, Ontario. This location co-manufactures major retail brands and private label products, such as sweetened iced tea, hot chocolate, and other sugar containing products for Canadian and export markets. Redpath is proud to provide more than 275 jobs in Canada.
Canfornav Inc (owners and operators of the M/V Brant)
Founded in 1976 with its headquarters in Montreal, the company's beginnings were in the lumber trade, which gradually extended to steel and bulk commodities. Presently Canfornav operates 45 vessels of which 42 are owned ranging in size from 27000 dwt to 64000 dwt.
-30-
Media Contacts: