It was a chilly wet day when the Belleville and District Shrine Club Nobles of John Neil, Barrie Willis, Doug MacLauren, Jim Preston, Ken Campbell, Calvin Thomas, Bill Richardson, Leonard Bedford and Clarence Stevenson set up at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre on Sunday, 22 November 2020, for the first ever Belleville Santa Claus Display. Photographer Noble Stephen D. Shirk was on site to do his normal thing taking these pics of history.Due to COVID-19 the Belleville Chamber of Commerce decided that it was best to avoid large crowds standing on the side of the roadways to view the Santa Claus Parade floats as they passed in procession. This year they reversed this idea by having the people of Belleville stay safe in their vehicles to drive by the many floats on display.

Belleville and District Shrine Club’s last Back-Door Kitchen takeout dinner was held on Friday, 25 September, 2020. A big thanks to all who enjoyed the briskett dinner and to those Shrine Club Nobles and Ladies who ran this event smoothly respecting the COVID restrictions for our patrons. This was our third and last Back-Door Kitchen event for the year. We appreciated everyone’s support.

July 21 Thank you Drive part 1 – click on the link to see photos

July 21 Thank you Drive – Part 2 – click on this link to see the photos

Considering that the members of our Belleville and District Shrine Club and their families have been staying at home trying to stay safe since mid March of this year during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, President Noble Jim Preston with 1st Vice President Noble Ken Campbell, Secretary Noble Stephen Shirk, Ambassador Noble Leonard Bedford, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Canada Vice Chairman with the Board of Directors Noble John Neil and Trustee Noble Clarence Stevenson visited some of our essential services in Belleville to show the appreciation of the Shriners.  Visited were the Belleville General Hosptial, Bellville Police Station, Hastings Manor and Belleville Fire Station No. 1.

As many of you are aware our Shrine Club is currently looking at selling our building/property at 51 Highland and looking for a more modern facility that will help reduce our costs and provide easier access for our aging membership and visitors.  Here is a look at the promotional video by EKORT Realtors of our building:

We had a great evening with lots of appetizers during the social time as we celebrated the installation of Noble Jim Preston in the President’s Chair for 2020 as joined by his new Executive.  Present were 69 to include family, friends ,and guests who helped share in this memory for Noble Jim and Lady Mary as well as his brother and his children and grandchildren who were present.

The new Executive are shown in the group photo as:  Front Row: Treasurer Noble Ron Carter, 2nd Vice President Noble Bill Black, Potentate Illustrious Sir Noble Bill Sweet, President Noble Jim Preston, Past President Noble Kenneth Campbell, Ambassador Noble Leonard Bedford, Secretary Noble Stephen D. Shirk. Back Row: Director Noble Brian Cook, Director Noble John Bonnin, Trustee Noble Calvin Thomas, Chairman Noble Lloyd Kellett, Trustee Noble Roy Todd, Director Noble Brian Brian Kauk, Chaplain Noble Bruce Ferguson, Trustee Noble Clarence Stevenson, Director Noble Wayne McFaul, Chairman Noble Bill Bedford, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Shriners Hospital for Children – Canada Noble John Neil.

There were so many happy and familiar faces at the Potentate’s Ball on Saturday, 13 April in Toronto at the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport Ballroom.  The food was excellent and the evening entertainment with a country and western band only added to the enjoyment of the evening.  Hopefully these photos will make you want to attend next year’s Ball so that you can create your own memories.  The photographer recognized many faces but wishes he could remember all of their names.   With so many pictures taken we have to publish this event in two parts.  Here is the first half of the photos.