The Rotary Club of Belleville has recognized the contributions of four members of the community as the 2025 Community Paul Harris Fellows.
The Paul Harris Fellowship is the Rotary’s highest award, recognizing non-members of the Rotary who exemplify Rotary’s guiding principle of “Service Above Self.”
The 2025 recipients are the late Connie Carson, Ian Clark, Richard Hammond, and Lorne Holditch, who were each nominated by members of the Rotary Club of Belleville.
Ian Clark was honoured for his generous financial support of numerous local organizations since moving to the area in 2016, including the Belleville General Hospital Foundation, YMCA Strong Kids, the Children’s Foundation, the Humane Society, and the Rotary Club of Belleville.
Richard Hammond was celebrated for his extensive hands-on volunteer work supporting refugee families, food security programs, and social service initiatives. His leadership has supported organizations such as Inn From the Cold, the Salvation Army, the John Howard Society, and downtown revitalization efforts.
Lorne Holditch was honoured for creating and hosting the annual Deadnersville Hallowe’en Display, a free community event that has raised over $100,000 for the Belleville General Hospital Foundation while engaging thousands of visitors and volunteers each year.
The late Connie Carson was honoured posthumously for her lifelong dedication to community service, historical preservation, and civic engagement. Her grandson, John Ross Parks, accepted the award on her behalf.
