Belleville

The building that currently houses the Mission Thrift Store has served the local community for generations. After sitting vacant for several years, it became a Mission Thrift Store in 2014. Donations are either re-sold to the public or to recyclers. Very little goes to landfill. For Doors Open, take a guided tour and see their staff and volunteers at work.

The Belleville Masonic Temple was built in 1950 to provide a new meeting place for community events for the then-four active lodges and their concordant bodies. This hall can seat up to 150 guests and contains a fully serviced kitchen and a fully licensed bar. During Doors Open, enjoy this rare opportunity to explore inside a Masonic temple.

The Army, Navy and Air Force Duke of Edinburgh Unit 201 is a local service club that has many activities for members and is open for everyone to enjoy. They have been an active organization since 1840 — and in this building since 1932. Come in during Doors Open Belleville and check out the club and its many activities.

This fascinating, modern fire station houses administration, communication and fire prevention services. There is a museum attached that shows the history of Belleville fire services, where you can explore memorabilia and view the interesting Loyalty, Tradition and Progress exhibit. You can also see the Firefighter Memorial Rose Garden outside the main entrance, which was unveiled on September 11, 2022.

Zone Athletics, home of Pegasus Cheer Athletics, was founded in 2014. Now in their 11th year, they operate in two sections of the building — with programming available for all ages, from newborns to adults. They offer recreational cheerleading, tumbling and parkour, day camps, birthday parties, pre-school classes, gym rentals and much more. They also offer Quinte’s only all-star cheerleading program.

Meyers Creek Brewing took possession of this building in the fall of 2018. Over the course of the next five years — through the pandemic — they slowly peeled back the layers of renovations, ultimately uncovering the original 1884 brick building and its rich history. This beautiful space is now their taproom, with additions housing the brewery production business.

Ameliasburgh Heritage Village has grown from one building (a Wesleyan Methodist Church built in 1868) into a complex of museum buildings and displays. Come and visit a log cabin, display barns, an operational blacksmith shop, a carpenter’s shop, a sap shanty, dairy and beekeeping buildings, a stone building housing the Goldie Corliss flywheel and the de Vries Natural Heritage Collection.

Join this unique tour of Belleville sites that have had new power systems installed and learn more about these renewable power sources – such as solar panels and new power systems. We start with the Meyers Pier and the Water Treatment Plant, which boast rooftop solar panels. Next is the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre, which has both an extensive solar rooftop array as well as power converters that send AC back to the grid. In addition, the Centre uses Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems – which produce both electricity and heat from a single fuel source onsite. In addition to reducing emissions, CHP systems also improve energy efficiency (up to 90 per cent in some locations), which also means lower costs. Finally, check out Belleville Transit, the Sewage Plant and the City of Belleville’s Human Resources building for more examples of renewable power sources. Learn more about CHP systems here. And, as part of Digital Doors Open, explore these sites – with their aerial views and photos.

The Community Garden Program was initiated by the City of Belleville Green Task Force in 2012. It gives residents a place to grow vegetables and flowers in designated parks. Anyone living in the Belleville area can apply. No special skills are required. The gardens include the Bayview Heights Community Gardens, the Ponton Park Community Gardens and the West Hill Park Community Gardens. Garden beds are awarded in March each year by lottery. Each name drawn will be assigned a garden bed and given exclusive use for the season (May to October). The program is free. Each garden bed provides 3.7 square metres (40 square feet) of growing space. Learn more about the gardens and the rules of the program and COVID-19 guidelines here. And, for Digital Doors Open, take a virtual tour of these community gardens here.

The Belleville Wastewater Treatment Plant is located by the Bay of Quinte in Belleville’s east end. It deals with wastewater that goes down drains in our homes, public buildings and commercial facilities. Wastewater travels through the city’s sanitary sewer system to the Water Pollution Control Plant at the same complex. Wastewater then goes through an extensive treatment process and is returned to the Bay of Quinte. Biosolids are used as fertilizer for agricultural purposes. As of 2020, city water staff have been testing a new odour-control product to break down and control sulfur compounds that can fill the autumn air surrounding the city’s wastewater treatment plant. A storm sewer is a pipeline designed to direct stormwater to a stormwater management pond or receiving stream or body of water. Stormwater is rainfall and melting snow that soaks into the ground or runs off surfaces into storm sewers and nearby waterways. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this treatment plant here.

Most of Belleville's drinking water is treated at the Gerry O'Connor Water Treatment Plant, located in the west end overlooking the Bay of Quinte. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and treats 72 million litres of water daily, which is enough to fill Belleville's water tower 24 times over. Its distribution system serves over 40,000 residents and businesses every day through 224 km (139 miles) of water mains. Energy projects have been done at the plant. Old boilers were replaced with new models to reduce natural gas consumption. Roof insulation was upgraded to R18. And new solar energy products were brought online. Belleville was recognized as a leader in energy conservation in 2015 and 2017 by Save on Energy and Veridian, now Elexicon Energy. As part of Digital Doors Open, you can take a virtual tour and learn more about the Water Treatment Plant here.

This building was the office for Henry “Harry” Corby Jr. and the operations of Corby Distilleries. It has a dressed stone lower storey designed in the Italian Renaissance, with a carriageway through the centre. In 1891, Corby added stone window pediments and carved classical detail in high-Victorian fashion. Today, an innovative health and wellness centre occupies the site.

This paved and lit trail is 1.6 kilometres long (1 mile), travelling along the Moira River behind the historical downtown. Along this trail is a footbridge, opened in October 2022 to replace the early 1800s original. To the north, it connects to the Riverside Trail. To the south, it connects to the Zwicks Trail and the Kiwanis Bayshore Trail.

The Islamic Society of Belleville is opening its doors during Doors Open to showcase this masjid, Islamic centre and school. Throughout the year, they offer regular Quran classes for kids, regular Fajr and Isha prayers, Friday Juma, Taraweeh Salat in Ramadhan and Eid prayers. Explore the architecture and culture of this centre and learn more about the Islamic faith.

The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Museum is located on the main floor of the Belleville Armoury. The museum preserves the history of the militia, specifically the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, through the collection and preservation of military artifacts and documents of historical significance to the Regiment and its antecedent units.

Glanmore is one of Belleville’s historical gems. Now a community museum, Glanmore was built for banker J.P.C. Phillips and his wife, Harriet Dougall Phillips. The grand house features beautifully restored interiors, period-room displays, European fine art and decorative objects. Artifacts related to local history are also included as part of the restored rooms in this historical house.

The Corby Park Rose Garden is in the old east village of Belleville, a great area for exploring heritage homes, just a few blocks from the Bay of Quinte. The garden has a stunning water fountain and, at the centre of it all, you get a beautiful view of the entire garden — perfect for a family outing or wedding.

Constructed in 1872-73 by architect John D. Evans (the builder was John Forin) as Belleville’s market building and town hall, this attractive structure — with its tall clock tower — has dominated the downtown landscape for over 150 years. Architect Bill White’s imaginative renovations (1987-88) preserved many original interior architectural features, while adding 929 square metres (10,000 square feet) of new space.