The Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Wesley (Wes) Newton, Executive Vice-President of Strategy and Business Development for Algoma Central Corporation as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. Mr. Newton’s appointment was confirmed at the Annual General Meeting held on June 26, where he succeeded Allister Paterson, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer for CSL Group after more than eight years of board leadership.
The CMC takes this opportunity to extend congratulations to Mr. Newton on his new appointment, and to extend thanks to Mr. Paterson for the significant contributions he has made to the chamber over a long and distinguished tenure as Chair.
Mr. Newton is joined by two more new board members as of the most recent Annual General Meeting – Kevin Beardsley, Executive Director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority; and Chantal Picard, Chief Operating Officer – Canada, Americas, and Australia for CSL Group.
“First, a huge thank you to Allister for his dedication over the past eight years; he has been an instrumental in making the CMC a leading advocacy voice for the marine industry across North America,” said Mr. Newton, CMC Chair. “As the new Chair of the CMC, I’m honoured to build on that strong foundation to advance the priorities of our members, strengthen our voice with governments, and champion the essential role marine shipping plays in national and global economies. Growth in the marine mode represents a compelling solution as we look to diversify markets for our goods and improve the reliability and competitiveness of our supply chains,” continued Mr. Newton.
The Board of Directors gives strategic direction to the Chamber’s activities, thereby playing a vital role in supporting the work of an industry association that includes all the links in the marine supply chain. Specifically, the membership includes producers of vital commodities, ports, terminals, ship operators, and support organizations including firms specializing in vessel repair and technology, with member organizations operating in both Canada and the United States of America. The full board includes representation from each of these diverse groups, and a list of all 2025 CMC Board Members follows.
Chamber of Marine Commerce 2025 Board of Directors
| Carsten Bredin | Richardson International |
| Keith Fowler | Redpath Sugar |
| Jack Frye | Southwestern Sales |
| Tyler Kohut | Lafarge Canada |
| Danielle Lewis | ArcelorMittal Dofasco |
| Brendan Marshall | Rio Tinto |
| David Morse | Compass Minerals (Sifto) |
| Paul Simon | Stelco Holdings |
| Fernando Sternberg | Cargill Limited |
| Jim Reznik | St. Marys Cement |
| Denis Wilson | Viterra |
| Louis-Marie Beaulieu | Groupe Desgagnés |
| Scott Bravener | McKeil Marine |
| Jean-Philippe Brunet | Groupe Ocean |
| Wes Newton (Chair) | Algoma Central Corporation |
| Chantal Picard | CSL Group Inc. |
| Jim Athanasiou | St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation |
| Kevin Beardsley | Duluth Seaway Port Authority |
| Julie Gascon | Montréal Port Authority |
| Ian Hamilton | Hamilton Port Authority |
| Patrick Robitaille | Québec Port Authority |
| Steve Salmons | Windsor Port Authority |
| Frank Robertson | Logistec Stevedoring |
| Michael Fratianni | Montreal Gateway Terminal Partnerships |
| Marc Isaacs | Isaacs Odinocki LLP |
Key Facts
The Chamber of Marine Commerce advocates for safe, sustainable, harmonized, and competitive policy and regulation that recognizes the marine transportation system’s significant advantages in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Coastal, and Arctic regions.
As the safest, most efficient, and environmentally sustainable way to move bulk freight, marine shipping is a strategic advantage for Canada. It alleviates highway congestion, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and supports good jobs across the country. The CMC is committed to working with governments, partners, and stakeholders to expand trade, strengthen supply chains, and drive sustainable growth, ensuring marine shipping remains competitive and is fully leveraged as part of Canada’s economic future.
In July of 2023, an independent study by Martin Associates was released, confirming the tremendous importance of marine shipping on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway and coastal and arctic regions to the North American economy. The study revealed that the industry:
The Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC) is a bi-national association that represents diverse marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as Canadian domestic and international ship owners. The Chamber advocates for safe, sustainable, harmonized and competitive policy and regulation that recognizes the marine transportation system's significant advantages in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Coastal and Arctic regions.
Media Contact:
Jason Card
Chamber of Marine Commerce
jcard@cmc-ccm.com
(613) 447 5401