Former Belleville city councillor Egerton Boyce was honoured at a small event Friday for the launch of the Egerton Boyce Bike Lane.
Boyce served four consecutive terms on Belleville council from 2003 to 2018 and was a strong advocate for cycling as transportation in the city.
He pushed for the city to institute bike lanes to make it safer for cyclists on the roads and to encourage people in the city to live a healthy, active lifestyle.
Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Bay of Quinte Member of Provincial Parliament Todd Smith, former and current Belleville council members and others were on hand Friday afternoon to see the reveal of the plaque honouring Boyce and his dedication to cycling in the City of Belleville.
Mayor Panciuk, who sat on council with Boyce from 2014 to 2018, spoke about Boyce’s accomplishments as a councillor.
“He followed in the footsteps of his father, Gerry, who served seven years on city council from 1991 to 1997. Edge Boyce went on to carve his own path and was a quick learner going on to serve and chair several committees including the Belleville planning committee, heritage, social services, the committee to establish the Parrott Riverfront Trail, the downtown improvement association and several cultural exchanges with our sister cities in Lahr, Germany and Gunpo, South Korea.”
Mayor Panciuk also declared the day Egerton Boyce Day in the City of Belleville and presented Boyce with a Canadian flag that was flown at city hall.
(Photo: Ryan Peddigrew/Quinte News)
The trail links Loyalist College to other areas towards the east of Belleville and, in the near future, will feature an arch entrance.
At Friday’s event, Boyce, his mother and Mayor Panciuk unveiled a plaque featuring Boyce’s face and an explanation of his work for cyclists in the community.
Boyce credited his mother as his inspiration for the work he did on council and said he was honoured to have the trail named after him.
“For the citizens of Belleville, this is something that I have hoped for for many years. It’s a humbling experience today to be recognized but there are so many people that made this possible. I am just one person and I certainly appreciate this. Belleville, we have come leaps and bounds in the last 20 years in making it a healthier community and these types of things, bike lanes, multi-purpose lanes, make it possible to keep one’s health and increase the quality of life.”
When asked how he felt seeing the plaque bearing his face and commemorating his work, a choked-up Boyce summed it up in very few words.
“… It’s truly an honour.”
The entrance to the Egerton Boyce Bike Lane as well as the plaque can be found on Avonlough Road directly behind Loyalist College.
The trail runs to Meagher Place and construction will soon allow the path to lead directly to Loyalist College campus.
Boyce (R) poses with his mother, Bev, (C) and Mayor Mitch Panciuk after they revealed the plaque commemorating Boyce’s work for cycling. (Photo: Ryan Peddigrew/Quinte News)
