Frederick Dryden receives Hamilton Citizen of the Year honours, while Cole Horncastle, Executive Managing Director of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, named Hamilton CEO of the Year.

Hamilton, ON – The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2025 ‘Citizen of the Year’ and ‘CEO of the Year’ awards, ahead of the Chamber’s 41st annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards (OBAA), presented by RBC Royal Bank. Tickets are on sale now for this year’s awards gala, hosted at Carmen’s Banquet Centre on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

Youth mentor and advocate Frederick Dryden, Founder & Executive Director of Liberty for Youth, has been named Hamilton’s ‘Citizen of the Year’. Cole Horncastle, Executive Managing Director of John C. Munro International Airport has been named ‘CEO of the Year’.

A total of 11 awards will be presented on March 26^th, celebrating the best of Hamilton’s business community. Finalists in the following categories were announced last week, with the Tourism Champion of the Year Recognition Award to be announced at a later date:

Hamilton Citizen of the Year

• Frederick Dryden

Hamilton CEO of the Year Award

• Cole Horncastle

Century Award Recipients: Celebrating 100+ Years in Business

• Coca-Cola Canada Bottling
• Black & McDonald

Large Business Award Finalists: 50+ Employees

• AIM Recycling Hamilton
• The Other Bird
• Scarfone Hawkins LLP

Mid-Sized Business Award Finalists: 10-50 Employees

• Revelry Beauty Bar
• Undefined
• Dynamic Heating & Cooling

Small Business Award Finalists: 1-10 Employees

• Pisa Pizza
• Empire Mortgage Group
• Ctrl + F

Not-For-Profit Organization Award Finalists

• 541 Eatery & Exchange
• Tune In Foundation
• Mathstronauts

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Award Recipient

• Hamilton Folk Arts Heritage Council: It’s Your Festival

YEP Award Finalists: Entrepreneur Under 40

• COOCO Corporation
• Rental Rescue
• Ancaster Chiropractic and Laser

2025 Judging Committee
This year’s nominees were evaluated by a local and diverse set of business experts, ranging from private and public sector, including representation from large and small business.

• Maria Artuso – VP, Commercial Financial Services at RBC Royal Bank
• Peter Ipema – Sales Representative at GFL Environmental Inc.
• Lohifa Pogoson Acker – Owner of LoDidThat & Chamber Board Member
• Tej Sandhu – Founder MERIT Brewing & Chamber Board Member
• Norm Schleehahn – Director of Economic Development for the City of Hamilton

Quote from Greg Dunnett, President & CEO of Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
“The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is honoured to recognize Frederick Dryden as Hamilton Citizen of the Year and Cole Horncastle as CEO of the Year.

Frederick’s unwavering dedication to at-risk youth in the city of Hamilton has transformed countless lives since 2004, providing mentorship, support, and pathways to success for those who need it most. His commitment to building bridges between youth and law enforcement, as well as his work in employment programming, is truly inspiring.

Cole Horncastle’s exceptional leadership at Hamilton International Airport has played a pivotal role in its growth and modernization. His vision, strategic planning, and ability to navigate complex challenges have positioned the airport as a key economic driver for our region. His commitment to operational excellence and team empowerment sets a high standard for business leadership in Hamilton.

Both Frederick and Cole embody the values of innovation, dedication, and community impact that define Hamilton’s business and social landscape. We look forward to celebrating their achievements, along with the rest of this year’s finalists, on March 26^th at Carmen’s Banquet Centre.”

About Frederick Dryden – Hamilton Citizen of the Year
Frederick Dryden is the Founder and Executive Director of Liberty for Youth, an organization dedicated to supporting disadvantaged, marginalized, and at-risk youth. Established in 2003, Liberty for Youth provides mentorship and resources to youth aged 12-25 in the Hamilton area, helping them develop life skills, build resilience, and navigate a positive path in life.

Through various programs, including the “Trading Up” employment initiative in partnership with Liuna, Frederick assists youth in gaining access to skilled trades opportunities. He is also passionate about fostering positive relationships between at-risk youth and police, notably through an annual Liberty and Justice basketball game between Hamilton Police and the youth in the Prodigal Sonz team.

Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and later moving to Collingwood, Ontario, Frederick’s personal experiences with abuse as a teenager inspired him to create Liberty for Youth in 2004. His dedication to youth empowerment has earned him numerous accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Award (2012), Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award (2011), and the John C. Holland Award for Community Service within the Black Community (2011).

In 2016, Frederick completed a 3-week marathon from Ottawa to Hamilton to raise awareness and funds for at-risk youth, covering over 700 kilometers and conducting 72 speaking engagements along the way. He also authored his first book, Running For Their Lives (2018), which chronicles his challenging teen years and the transformative journey of his “Run for Youth.” Frederick’s passion for guiding youth is reflected in his belief: “I believe that young people are constantly in search of the truth, the right way to live, and have the capacity to do so with proper guidance.”

About Cole Horncastle – CEO of the Year
Cole Horncastle has been a leading member of the Hamilton International Airport team since 2013, joining the organization as a Manager of Financial Reporting and moving through progressively senior roles, including Controller, Director of Finance, Operations and Corporate Services and his current role at Executive Managing Director.

Cole’s progression through the company has been a direct result of his leadership, strategic planning and operational efficiency and his ability to inspire his team, while maintaining profitability and growth of the Airport for its tenants, partners and the City of Hamilton.

Cole has been the brain behind numerous key projects that have contributed to the strategic growth and expansion of John C. Munro International Airport with his most recent success being the ongoing Gateway Expansion and Sustainability Project as well as the Airport Rehabilitation and Modernization project. Together, these projects improved the efficiency, reliability and safety of airport operations, accelerated investment to accommodate the increasing use of larger wide-body aircraft for domestic and long-haul traffic, and alleviated current constraints being experienced on domestic and international trade and ensured just-in-time goods are moved from coast to coast without delay.

Cole’s colleagues nominated him for the CEO of the Year Award due to his exceptional leadership qualities, including his calm, strategic, and resilient approach to managing the organization through both prosperous and challenging times. His ability to remain level-headed under pressure has instilled confidence within our team, fostering a positive and productive work environment, in which employees feel supported and empowered to lead and deliver on their respective objectives.

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