The City of Belleville held an appreciation event for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation for the contributions made to the community from the Shorelines Casino Belleville.
A cheque for $3,462,716 was presented to the city representing the money raised from the 2023 fiscal year.
“We are proud to host this community recognition event to recognize another amazing year of investing OLG funds into this community,” Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis said in a speech.
“City council intentionally allocates these funds to select projects in our city by reinvesting this revenue in our community.”
Ellis says the money raised through the agreement with OLG helps with infrastructure projects
“This includes projects such as the Sidney/ College Street intersection expansion, turf replacement at Mary Ann Sills Park, phase two of the BMX pump track and several replacements and repairs throughout the city.”
A portion of that money, about $337,400, goes towards local non-profits in the area through a social infrastructure grant fund. Representatives from those groups that received money were in attendance for the event.
One of the organizations that receives funding is Bridge Street United Church.
Volunteer head chef at the church, Rick Hammond, outlined that money received goes towards helping to cook thousand of meals.
“Every year we’re close to the line, we still have to heat the place and turn on the gas and heat the water and all these things. But this really helps make it happen. So we were quite appreciative of the funds that we’ve received.”
Since the partnership began in 2017, the city of Belleville has received over $18 million from OLG.
Volunteer Head Chef at Bridge Street United Church outlining the benefits from the funding they receive from the social infrastructure fund from OLG. March 20, 2024. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
