History

For more than a century, Hamilton has proudly borne the title Steeltown. Its cultural fabric, economy, and physical environment were dominated by two primary steel manufacturers, Stelco and Dofasco. Originally named The Steel Company of Canada, Stelco began operations on the subject lands in 1910 and operated on the site for over a century. Hugh Hilton became the president of Stelco in 1945, and under his leadership, operations tripled in size by 1966. In honour of Hugh Hilton, Stelco's Hamilton plant was renamed Hilton Works in 1964.

The lands have a long history of being used for steelmaking by Stelco, which continues to operate on-site today. However, over time, the steel industry has evolved and much of Stelco's operations have been relocated, resulting in a majority of the site sitting vacant and underutilized. Stelco's current operations consist of a single remaining coke battery scheduled for relocation in several years and the cold rolled still mill which is intended to remain for the foreseeable future.

Slate acquired the subject lands in 2022 with the intent of redeveloping them into a modern, master-planned employment area.

Steelport will host the next generation of high-growth manufacturing and technology, innovation, and culture – including thousands of workers and visitors from hundreds of start-ups, industrial enterprises, and associated creative industries, along with their adjacent amenities.