Like for all municipalities, 2022 was an election year in the City of Belleville. There were some changes throughout council, including in the mayor’s chair.
We chatted with former Mayor Mitch Panciuk about some of the challenges and accomplishments for the year that was.
He says this past year was about the resumption of activities in a more normal capacity.
More than 153,000 vaccinations were jabbed into people’s arms during the pandemic at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre, including many thousands in 2022.
Panciuk says a number of activities came online or returned to Belleville in 2022 as well.
“For example the Humane Society, the disc golf course, the new BMX Pump Track, but we also brought back a lot of services. Quinte Ribfest, the Mayor’s Week for the Arts was back in person, we had our first ever Caribbean Festival and we had the resumption of a more normal Waterfront Festival.”
He says a delegation from our Twin City Lahr Germany, the Quinte Ex and Canada Day were also back in a big way.
Panciuk says it was not just activities that were a focus, also major announcements.
“The Black Bear Ridge Village, the $1.5 billion announcement of that proposed development. The Belleville East Arterial Road, another interchange on the 401, to support the growing industrial park and the needs of the city.”
Panciuk says the community said goodbye to strong people such as Dr. Anne Marie Vaughan at Loyalist College, the retirement of former MPP and MP Daryl Kramp. We also lost Eugene Melnyk, who brought professional hockey to Belleville.
He finished by stating he believes Belleville Council helped put the city in good shape.
