Major Upgrades Planned for Hamilton’s Naval Reserve Division

Hamilton, Ontario (18 April 2026) – The Department of National Defence (DND) has confirmed that HMCS Star, the Royal Canadian Navy’s land-based Naval Reserve Division in Hamilton, is in line for significant upgrades. Construction on the planned redevelopment is expected to begin in 2029, marking the first major project at the facility in more than three decades.

HMCS Star, located at 650 Catharine Street North near Eastwood Park and the Hamilton waterfront, serves as a key training and recruitment hub for the Naval Reserve. The “stone frigate” (a land-based naval establishment) is home to more than 300 part-time sailors and reservists. It also shares the site with Canadian Army Reserve units, including elements of the 23 Field Ambulance and 31 Service Battalion. The base plays a vital role in generating trained personnel and teams for domestic operations, international deployments, and community engagement across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

Planned Upgrades Include:

• Building Upgrades: Extensive renovations to the 37,000-square-foot facility at 650 Catharine St. N.
• Infrastructure Improvements: Utility and perimeter security upgrades.
• New Construction: Development of a new HMCS Star boatshed.
• Life Expectancy: The improvements are expected to add 25 to 40 years of life to the base.

HMCS Star’s roots stretch back to the early days of Canadian naval volunteering. The Hamilton Half Company of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve was stood up in March 1923. It was formally commissioned as HMCS Star on November 1, 1941, and quickly became a major recruiting and training centre during the Second World War. At its wartime peak, the division trained thousands of sailors in radio, electrical engineering, and other essential skills, while operating from temporary facilities in Eastwood Park that included medical and dental services for nearly 1,000 personnel.

After the war, the unit continued as an active reserve division. The original Second World War-era buildings were replaced in 1997 with the current facility—the last major redevelopment before the upcoming project. In 2003, the historic destroyer **HMCS Haida** (now a National Historic Site and museum ship) was berthed directly in front of the division at Pier 9, creating a powerful visual symbol of Canada’s naval heritage right on Hamilton’s waterfront.

Today, HMCS Star remains one of 24 Naval Reserve Divisions across Canada. Its personnel train with rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), participate in joint exercises, and support everything from search-and-rescue operations to fleet readiness. The division’s motto, *Diligentia* (“Diligence”), reflects its long-standing commitment to professional development and service.

The timing of the project aligns with broader Canadian Armed Forces investments in infrastructure and defence modernization.

The upgrades will help sustain Hamilton’s long-standing connection to the Royal Canadian Navy and reinforce the city’s role as an important inland naval centre on the Great Lakes.