Belleville Chamber of Commerce Unveils New Sign

 
(from Left - Jill Raycroft, John Grieve, Michelle Lochan, Mayor Neil Ellis, Lisa Comerford, forward - Cristina Cadavid, Melissa Haig, Mark Kirkpatrick, back - Dean Tindale, Tyler Kelly, Bryan Cribbett, Abhi Surabhi, Chris Auger)

Belleville, ON – November 7, 2025 — The Belleville Chamber of Commerce proudly unveiled its new sign on Friday, November 7^th marking the longstanding collaboration between the Chamber and the City of Belleville, and a testament to what can be achieved with local partners.
 
The Log Cabin has been a recognizable landmark in Belleville for over 40 years. Originally transported from the Ottawa Valley to serve as the committee headquarters for Belleville’s Centennial Celebration in 1978, it was located across the river from City Hall.  When the celebrations concluded, it was designated as the Visitor & Information Services Centre and relocated to its current site at 5 Moira Street East with the help of numerous local businesses and service partners. The Belleville Chamber of Commerce, established in 1864, has been actively involved with the promotion of the City for more than a century and has been grateful to call the Log Cabin Home since the early 1980s. In 2018, the Chamber redesigned its logo, and in 2020, DiscoverBelleville was launched to connect an online audience to these services.  The original wooden sign was not only outdated but needed to be taken down for safety reasons in 2022.  
 
The catalyst to moving forward was a suggestion from Loyalist College President Mark Kirkpatrick to work with the college’s Welding and Fabrication Techniques Program for the fabrication of the sign’s frame. This led to a connection with Professor and Coordinator John Grieve and students in the class of 2024-25, who, under Grieve’s direction, designed and manufactured the steel frame for the new sign. Their craftsmanship reflects the real-world application of local training and the value of community partnerships. Recent graduates Ali Leavey and Turner Kelly were able to attend the unveiling and Kelly, who placed in the top 10 at this year’s Skills Ontario Competition, commented “it looks great and felt really good to work on a project like this.” Grieve also acknowledged the contributions of students Travis Alexander, Chukwuekwu Benson, Blayne Clifford, and Kurtis Vandesteeg.
 
The new steel sign is a modern update of the original blue wooden frame featuring the iconic “i” for information as the centre post.  The panels help create a vibrant identity with clean lines, enhanced visibility, and a welcoming aesthetic that aligns with both services.
 
This project was made possible with the combined skills and resources from Loyalist College, the City of Belleville, Taskforce Engineering, Kool Koatings and Allegra Belleville.
 
“This sign represents more than who we are in this space. It embodies the diversity of skills and services available to our community and the value of supporting local.” said Jill Raycroft, CEO of the Belleville Chamber of Commerce.
 
Bryan Cribbett of Kool Koatings applied the blue Cerakote protective coating. Ian Wilson of TaskForce Engineering and Chris Anderson from the City of Belleville were instrumental in the installation of the foundation and sign frame. Melissa Haig of Allegra Belleville provided the resilient sign panels, which can be easily replaced if further updates are required.
 
These key partners were joined by guests attending the ribbon cutting facilitated by Mayor Neil Ellis including Dug Stevenson, Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board; Michelle Lochan, Belleville IQ; Mark Kirkpatrick, President & CEO & Dr. Amanda Baskwill, Senior Vice-President Academic and Chief Learning Officer, Loyalist College; Belleville Chamber Board President Lisa Comerford and Directors Chris Auger, Cristina Cadavid, Abhi Surabhi and Dean Tindale along with family and friends of the students.
About the Belleville Chamber of Commerce
The Belleville Chamber of Commerce, established in 1864, is one of Ontario’s oldest Chambers and continues to serve as a vital connector between business, community, and government. From advocacy to visitor services at the historic Log Cabin, the Chamber supports a vibrant local economy and a diverse business landscape.

About Discover Belleville

Discover Belleville is the tourism brand of the City of Belleville, responsible for promoting the city’s attractions, events, and experiences through the Visitor Information Centre at the historic Log Cabin and the website discoverbelleville.ca . The program connects visitors and residents alike to the best of Belleville — from its vibrant downtown and waterfront to its restaurants, shops, events & attractions, and local trails.

About the Loyalist College Welding and Fabrication Program
Loyalist College’s Welding and Fabrication Technician program is delivered in the state-of-the-art Bay of Quinte Skills Centre, where students gain hands-on experience in welding processes such as GMAW, SMAW, GTAW, and FCAW. Students learn to interpret engineering drawings, fabricate and inspect components, and prepare for real-world applications through projects that serve the local community.
 
The program is actively involved in the Skills Ontario and Skills Canada competitions, where Loyalist students have competed in welding and related trades, earning provincial and national recognition. In recent years, students have applied their skills to a variety of community projects, including the fabrication of bike racks along the Millennium Trail in Prince Edward County and campsite fire pits for Parks Ontario, demonstrating how classroom learning translates directly into contributions that benefit the region.