The BMI Group

🎁 BMI Wrapped. Our non-exhaustive list for 2024: - Progressed work on the Critical Mineral Corridor (CMC) developing shipping routes and logistical nodes to advance Canada’s energy transition. - Helped attract and developed land for Japan’s Asahi Kasei to establish a $1.6B EV Battery separator plant in Port Colborne. - Launched O’Clay, a sustainable food supply chain for remote communities in Northern Ontario. - Crossed the border into the US with the acquisition of Port Huron Multimodal Hub. - Closed the Northern Participation Fund with our Investors Business EQ for $20M dedicated to redeveloping the Iroquois Falls Mill. - Broke ground on several adaptive re-use projects in Stratford. - Expanded into Quebec with the launch of Norderra, gateway to the Atlantic. - Received a nomination for a Brownfield Award for our transformative remediation work on the Red Rock Mill Site. - Hosted an unforgettable Annual General Meeting in Red Rock, ON. Whatever 2025 brings, this year will be hard to top! Thanks again to all who helped get us there. 

As we near the end of an extraordinary 2024, we can't help but express our gratitude to the incredible BMI team, dedicated investors, and valued partners. Thank you for your unwavering support. Wishing you all a peaceful and joyous holiday with your friends and loved ones. We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store! 

It is with deep respect and heartfelt sympathy that we share the news of the passing of Justus, John, and Paul’s father. He passed away peacefully and was laid to rest December 14th. He will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

L’Histoire de Deux Statues : L'une se trouvait à Thorold ; l'autre à Baie-Comeau. La première dans un bâtiment administratif, la seconde dans les bureaux du maire. Les deux représentent le Colonel Robert Rutherford McCormick, magnat de la chaîne d’approvisionnement en papier et éditeur du Chicago Tribune. McCormick visita plusieurs sites avant de choisir Thorold, en Ontario, pour sa papeterie, combinant pâte de bois et papier journal. L’emplacement stratégique sur le canal Welland offrait une connexion directe à Chicago grâce aux lignes ferroviaires à proximité. La région comptait également d’une main-d’œuvre qualifiée, tout comme Thorold aujourd’hui. Cependant, Thorold manquait de ressources naturelles pour pouvoir répondre à la forte croissance de papier journal. Au milieu des années 1930, le Chicago Tribune et le New York Daily News nécessitaient plus du double de la capacité de production de l'usine de Thorold. Déterminé à sécuriser une chaîne d’approvisionnement fiable, McCormick s’est tourné vers les vastes réserves forestières détenues par l’entreprise le long de la côte nord du Québec. Son ambition a mis la fondation de la papeterie en 1937, devenant l’un des piliers économiques de Baie-Comeau, une communauté créée pour les ouvriers et leurs familles. L’usine ultramoderne adjacente a ouvert ses portes en 1938. Depuis leur création, les usines de Thorold et de Baie-Comeau ont maintenu une chaleureuse camaraderie à travers des échanges de connaissances et de compétences, des célébrations communes, et même une rivalité amicale au baseball. Aujourd'hui, unies sous le portefeuille du Groupe BMI, leur patrimoine commun est honoré par les statues du Colonel McCormick, symboles durables d'innovation, de communauté et de connexion. #BMIHistory #BaieComeau #Thorold

The Tale of Two Statues: One was in Thorold; one was in Baie-Comeau. The first in an administrative building, the second at the Mayor's offices. Both depicting Colonel Robert Rutherford McCormick, paper supply chain magnate and publisher for the Chicago Tribune. McCormick visited several prospective sites before he chose Thorold, Ontario for his combined wood pulp and newsprint paper mill. The advantageous location on the Welland Canal seamlessly connected to Chicago by nearby railway lines. The area was also home to a skilled labour workforce—similar to Thorold today. However, Thorold lacked the natural resources to meet the rising demand for newsprint. By the mid-1930s, the Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News required more than twice what the Thorold mill could produce. Determined to secure a reliable supply chain, McCormick turned to the company’s timber-rich holdings along Quebec’s north shore. His ambition led to the establishment of the papermill as one of they economic pillars for the town of Baie-Comeau in 1937 as a community for the mill workers and their families. The adjacent state-of-the-art mill opened in 1938. Since their founding, the Thorold and Baie-Comeau mills have maintained a warm camaraderie through knowledge and skills sharing, combined company celebrations, and even a spirited baseball rivalry. Now united under BMI's portfolio, their shared heritage is honoured by the statues of Colonel McCormick, standing as enduring symbols of innovation, community, and connection. Source: https://lnkd.in/gJCzp7w5 #BMIHistory #BaieComeau #Thorold

BMI Group Launches Norderra, a Multimodal Industrial Hub, with Strategic Acquisition of Baie-Comeau Paper Mill Site in Quebec. With regional stakeholders, including its strategic partner the Port of Baie-Comeau, BMI commits to maximizing the site’s potential to advance regional industrial development. "Norderra will play a pivotal role in Canada's Critical Mineral Corridor (CMC), linking the resource-rich regions of Ontario and Quebec to the Great Lakes-Atlantic Seaway and global markets," said Paul Veldman, CEO of BMI Group. The move strengthens Canada's resource supply chains while improving local economies. This premier industrial site offers 784,000 square feet of indoor space and 82 acres of outdoor leasable land that can scale for future growth. Built on established infrastructure with robust power supply, onsite rail connectivity, and efficient port access, Norderra delivers compelling advantages for diverse industrial and logistics operations. Source: https://lnkd.in/g3DK_VkJ

Le Groupe BMI lance avec l'acquisition stratégique du site de l'ancienne papeterie de Baie-Comeau, Québec, Norderra, un hub industriel multimodal. En collaboration avec ses partenaires régionales, y compris son partenaire stratégique, le Port of Baie-Comeau, BMI s'engage redévelopper l’ancienne papeterie et de maximiser le potentiel du site pour favoriser la diversification du développement industriel régional. « Norderra jouera un rôle central dans le Corridor des Minéraux Critiques (CMC) du Canada, reliant les régions riches en ressources de l’Ontario et du Québec à la voie maritime des Grands Lacs, l’Atlantique et aux marchés mondiaux », a déclaré Paul Veldman, PDG du Groupe BMI. Cette initiative renforce les chaînes d'approvisionnement des matières stratégiques du Canada tout en stimulant les économies locales. Ce site industriel de premier plan offre 784 000 pieds carrés d’espaces intérieurs et 82 acres de terrains extérieurs disponibles à la location, et une capacité d’expansion pour soutenir la croissance future. S’appuyant sur une infrastructure établie et rénovée, un approvisionnement d’énergie solide, une connectivité ferroviaire sur site et un accès portuaire efficace, Norderra propose des avantages convaincants pour diverses opérations industrielles et logistiques. Source: https://lnkd.in/gRfVh3eD

Swipe to see progress on our newly minted Paint Shop Office Space in Fort Frances, ON. #FortFrancesON #BeforeAndAfter #BuildingTransformation

For anyone who missed the TedX event, Mike Moffat presented an eye-opening perspective on why smaller cities like Stratford are suddenly seeing rapid population growth. We highly recommend a watch.

COMPANY NEWS ALERT! We are proud to unveil our new website! It's fresh, streamlined, and complete with everything you need to know about BMI. Explore it now at www.thebmigroup.ca and discover: - Our full range of expertise and capabilities - Highlights from our transformative projects - Why we’re trusted industry leaders Take a look and let us know what you think – we’d love your feedback #WebsiteLaunch #TheBMIGroup #ExploreBMI