Community Profile

Arts and Culture

Creativity, culture and quality of place are major drivers of a thriving community, with unique history and heritage as the bedrock of our culture.

Residents and visitors to Belleville can expect professional performances year round at the seasoned community Pinnacle Theatre or at the state-of-the-art Empire Theatre, both located in the heart of Downtown Belleville. Restaurants located throughout the City play host to musicians of all genres. The downtown Gallery District features unique works of art by local artists and artisans, and events celebrating our regional artists can be enjoyed all year round.

The Belleville Public Library and John M. Parrott Gallery offers customers a wide range of collections and services in an exciting modern building. Our Library and Gallery is the place to go for children’s programs, book clubs and author visits, room rentals, Gallery exhibitions and art related programs, free internet and wireless access, an excellent collection of materials to borrow and a great space to relax and enjoy yourself.

Education

Belleville schools offer a wide range of educational opportunities, allowing you and your family to engage in lifelong learning. Learn more about Education in Belleville.

Getting Around

VIA Rail Belleville

VIA Rail passenger service provides connections to all major cities. Customers can experience new efficiencies as a result of our modernized station facilities and amenities as well as increased high speed rail service.

Belleville Transit

Belleville's transit service runs 7 days per week and travels to most urban areas in the community. Convenient bus stops and times have been carefully planned to ensure the most efficient and user friendly service possible.

A mobility bus service is also provided to ensure those with physical challenges can readily travel throughout the community.

The City has also launched an on-demand service on select routes.

Transit App

Track your bus in real-time using the new Transit app. Upon launching the app, riders see nearby options and departure times in big text and bright colours. Users can easily navigate the region, aided by accurate real-time estimated time of arrival for each bus, trip planning, step-by-step navigation, and crowdsourced real-time information with Transit’s GO feature. 

Healthcare

Belleville is a hub for healthcare services in the region and offers diverse and specialized health services to residents of the region and beyond. Learn more about healthcare in Belleville.

History and Heritage

With its strategic location at the meeting of the Bay of Quinte and the Moira River, Belleville has a long history of attracting people looking for a better life. Our heritage assets include:

Glanmore National Historic Site

Built in 1882-3 for wealthy banker J.P.C Phillips and his wife Harriet Dougall Phillips, Glanmore was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in recognition of its exceptional 2nd Empire architecture.The grand interior has been restored to its 1880s appearance and includes beautiful hand-painted ceilings, ornate woodwork and reproductions of the original Wilton carpets. The exterior and grounds have also been accurately restored. Glanmore National Historic Site also serves as Belleville’s community museum. Local history exhibits and travelling exhibits are often featured Winner of 2016 Peter Stokes Restoration Award from the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and open year-round.

Hastings Regimental Museum

The United Empire Loyalists who settled in the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward organized the first Militia units for self-defense. The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment is the modern descendant of those Militia units and the Regiment's on-site museum showcases interactive displays, photos, equipment and much more.

Walking Tours

Belleville has 33 designated heritage sites, all with their architectural history preserved. Learn more about our history through these three self-guided walking tours listed in our Heritage Guide – City Hall, Designated Sites and Places of Worship.

For more history and visitor assets, visit Discover Belleville

Housing

Belleville offers affordable and elegant living in rural and urban settings, options include Victorian homes, traditional family dwellings, condominiums, subdivisions, waterfront estates, rental properties and many options for retirement and student living.

Current multi-residential developments:

• Bell Creek Estates – 60 units constructed in Phase 3
• Canniff Mills Estates – 47 units constructed in Phase 10
• College Street West Apartment Complex – Located east of Quinte Gardens, this 95 unit luxury apartment complex has received site plan approval.
• Crates Marine Project – 303 condominium units
• Hastings County Housing – The second phase of affordable housing units has been completed at 450 Sidney Street with a total of 104 units. A three-storey building is underway at 468 Sidney Street immediately north of College Street. This development will feature 40 affordable units.
• Fair Trade Works Development – This development is located at the northeast corner of Pinnacle Street and Bridge Street East on the former Quinte Hotel property and will feature 100 unit condominium developments with main level commercial units.
• Potters Creek Estates – 106 units constructed in Phases 8 & 9
• Settlers Ridge – 64 units constructed in Phase 5
• Station/ Albion Street – 103 unit retirement residence
• Yeomans Street (south of College Street) – 64 unit townhouse complex

Recreation

Known for its hundreds of acres of parks and kilometres of scenic trails, Belleville is the ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts. The City maintains over 500 acres of parkland at 55 locations, as well as over 45 kilometres of well-groomed trails that are maintained for year round activities.

Belleville’s unique natural features can be enjoyed along our beautiful waterfront trail – which can all be seen by bike! Over the past several years the City has opened our first on-street bicycle lanes, constructed a new path along a major arterial road, paved and lit existing paths and begun construction on the first phase of an active transportation path connecting Loyalist College to our newly revitalized downtown.

Whether you are inside or out, Belleville provides a healthy lifestyle setting. The Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre is a state-of-the-art 330,000 square foot recreation complex that provides four ice surfaces, three swimming pools, a running track, gymnasium, community recreation, leisure, social and cultural spaces.

Shopping

No matter what area of the city you visit, you’ll find stores brimming with interesting finds and welcoming shop owners. Belleville's historic Downtown District features a diverse selection of independent boutiques and restaurants, in a setting predominated by charming 19th century brick architecture. Shop the aisles of the region’s largest shopping centre, the Quinte Mall, with over 125 stores and services.