A longtime employee of the Belleville Chamber of Commerce retires this week and has received a special honour from the city for her dedication to the organization.
Special Events Coordinator Susan Walsh began working on a contract basis with the Chamber in 2007, organizing that year’s Waterfront Festival and Santa Clause Parade, and became a full-time employee in 2008.
Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis presented Walsh with a key to the city at Monday’s meeting of council.
Mayor Ellis said Walsh made the city a better place to live, calling her “Mrs. Belleville.”
“Your creativity, your passion, your commitment, your hard work. The Chamber has grown so much under your leadership with special events gone from, you know, two to, can’t count on two hands now. You know – not only helps bringing our community together but tourism in general.”
Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis presents Chamber of Commerce Special Event Coordinator Susan Walsh with a key to the city at Belleville City Council, March 27, 2023. Walsh retires Friday, March 31. (Photo: Alana Cameron/Quinte News)
Speaking to council, Walsh called it an honour to serve the community from the Chamber’s headquarters, the Log Cabin.
“We see people come in that just wanna have fun. We have, see people come in that live here but have never been in the log cabin. They drive by every day but they never knew what was inside. There are visitors, there are retirees that want to move to the area and it’s so much fun to stand there and tell them why they should pick Belleville.”
Walsh says there are too many people to thank for mentoring and helping her along the way.
“They helped me get started. I had nothing. I had no templates to start with. I had no books. I had no policy and procedure manuals. It was all just from the heart and the brain. And, uh, luckily it’s all worked out. And 16 years later, here we are.”
Chamber CEO Jill Raycroft mused that Walsh never took a sick day in 15 years.
Walsh’s last day of work at the Chamber is this Friday.
