Media Release
July 1 Events and Acknowledgement
BELLEVILLE – Due to recent events and the ongoing implications of COVID-19, this year’s July 1 event will differ from previous years.
The Belleville Chamber of Commerce will move ahead with their second annual Drive-By Procession and Recognition Event to pay tribute to frontline workers and local community heroes.
The small procession will pass by local long-term care facilities and the Belleville General Hospital along its route, in recognition of residents, patients and frontline workers in Belleville. Participants will include fire, EMS and police vehicles, as well as corporate representatives and private individuals.
Also returning this year is the Chamber’s celebration of local community heroes – an event that was first introduced in 2020 to honour frontline workers who dealt with the challenges and impacts of COVID-19 daily in their places of work. Recipients will receive commendations from Mayor Mitch Panciuk, MP Neil Ellis and MPP Todd Smith during a small ceremony in front of the BELLEVILLE sign at West Zwick’s Park.
“It’s a small way to give tribute to people in the community who, through their work, have made our lives as close to normal as possible,” said Belleville Chamber of Commerce CEO Jill Raycroft. “We hope that residents along the way will cheer the procession on from the safety of their front yards.”
Details on the timing and route will be shared closer to the event.
The flag at Belleville City Hall will be lowered to half-staff for the duration of July 1 in support of the victims and families of the residential school system in Canada.
“Residential schools for Indigenous children existed in Canada from the 17th century until the late 1990s,” The Residential School System National Historic Event, Government of Canada. “It is estimated that at least 150,000 First Nation, Inuit, and Métis children attended residential schools during this period. The system was imposed on Indigenous peoples as part of a broad set of assimilation efforts to destroy their rich cultures and identities and to suppress their histories. The accounts of residential school survivors provide critical insight into the devastating experiences children had at residential schools, and the long-term impact of these experiences not only on survivors, but also on their families and communities.”
As we reflect on recent and ongoing discoveries, and the repercussions of this tragic part of our country’s history, we are encouraged to take time for further education and awareness.
June is National Indigenous History Month. This year’s event is dedicated to the missing children, the families left behind and the survivors of residential schools. There are a number of resources available online including reading, watching and listening materials for those who would like to learn more.
The City of Belleville recognizes that the July 1 holiday is a challenging time for many residents in our community, and stands by those who do not wish to celebrate.
“When we recognize Canada Day, it is important that we think about all aspects of our country’s history and that we listen to the voices of all those who have been impacted by our current institution,” said Councillor Sean Kelly, Chair of the City of Belleville’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “While there is a lot to celebrate about the country we live in, there is also a lot of tragedy, pain and suffering that needs to be addressed. Whether you are celebrating July 1, taking time to reflect or mourning, we ask that you keep in mind all of the events that have led us to where we are today.”
