Elsie Dowdle (second from left) receives an Honorary Life Member award
at the Belleville Agricultural Society’s Volunteer Appreciation event Sunday.
Also pictured, from left to right, Belleville councillor Mitch Panciuk, Society Secretary-
Treasurer Marty Cousins, Society President Donnie Jarrell, and MPP Todd Smith.(Photo/Quinte News).
It was a celebration for the many volunteers who make up the Belleville Agricultural Society and a celebration of the recent agreement between the City of Belleville and the Society on the Ben Bleecker property on the east side of Sidney Street.
The city acquired the property for $600,000 from the Agricultural Society.
Belleville councillor Mitch Panciuk quoted councillor Jack Miller’s recent comments on the deal.
Panciuk said the agreement was particularily gratifying for those involved because there were some that had said a deal would never be reached.
Negotiations will begin in the new year between the city and the Society with the goal of having the Society move to another permanent location and
the city taking over the entire fairgrounds property to open it for development.
Winning awards from the Belleville Agricultural Society were Elsie Dowdle, William McGee, George MacDonald, Carl Huffman, Jack Caddick, Don Empey, and Ross Parks.
