Belmont & District Historical Society elect executive
On April 28th, the Annual General Meeting of the Belmont and District Historical Society was convened at the Belmont Museum.
To commence the meeting, Dennis Myers delivered the President’s Report, beginning with the introduction of the Executive Board Members for 2025: President: Deb Alcock (stepped down, with Dennis Myers to assume the role until the 2026 election); Vice President: Dennis Myers; Treasurer: Bruce Sharp; Secretary: Vicki Gillingham. Curator: Tracy Manning/Deb Durham.
Throughout the year, the committed volunteers amassed an impressive 634 hours of service, and the museum was open for 45 days, totalling 242 hours of operation. We had the pleasure of welcoming 328 visitors, ensuring each visit was memorable.
Among the many highlights of the past year, Annual Appreciation Day in July stood out as a resounding success, while the August Yard Sale attracted a wonderful turnout. Additional exciting activities are in the works for the museum, details of which will be shared in the Curator’s forthcoming report.
Tracy Manning enthusiastically presented the Curator’s Annual Report, detailing significant renovations and activities at the museum. The Board has made commendable progress in enhancing the facilities, including completing basement renovations. Pouring a new floor, constructing a storage/work room, refreshing the walls with paint, and installing new directional light fixtures. We are now in the final stages of developing new display areas focusing on schools, recreation, laundry, and the noteworthy Belmont jail.
In our commitment to preserving local history, we have explored the closed public school and Belmont Rink, salvaging valuable items that will enrich our museum’s collection.
Our engaging Programs & Special Events included:
* BBQ Appreciation Day
* Children’s Pioneer Day
* Family-friendly hands-on activities
* A military display during our Remembrance Day Service.
We actively pursued fundraising initiatives, successfully running our Progressive 50/50 and yard sale. Although we attempted to join Mitchell’s Company for a fundraising effort, all slots were filled for 2025, however, we are excited to be registered for Fall 2026!
As we look ahead, we are eager to achieve several goals this year:
1. Complete the establishment of the new basement display areas.
2. Introduce a new upstairs showcase dedicated to local groups and organizations.
3. Celebrate the Anglican Church’s 125th anniversary with special events this summer.
4. Organize Barnyard Races for a delightful, old-fashioned family event.
5. Revamp our Annual BBQ Appreciation Day to encourage greater community involvement.
6. Begin compiling information to offer visitors a self-guided walking history tour of our town.
To keep the community informed and engaged, we plan to post updates regularly on our Facebook page.
We are excited about the improvements made to our building and grounds, which include:
* Installation of new lights in the newsroom
* Complete renovation of the basement
* A new 22-foot plate rail in the upstairs area
* Repairs to the church’s damaged plaster
* Refreshing the water pump, stairs, church sign, and newsroom floor with new paint
* The donation of a newer laptop, which has enhanced our file and folder organization
* New steps added to improve accessibility in the caboose area.
In terms of curated items, we proudly welcomed twelve new items, including two sets of old theatre seats that once served our community during curling and hockey games at the Recreation Centre.
The 2026 Board election concluded successfully with the following results: President: Deb Durham; Vice President: Dennis Myers; Treasurer: Bruce Sharp; Secretary: Vicki Gillingham; Curator: Tracy Manning.
While the challenges of operating a museum are considerable, the steadfast solidarity and commitment of the Belmont and District Society’s Board are truly commendable as they continue to work collaboratively to preserve the community’s rich history and heritage.
Note: The Board is seeking any information on time capsules in Belmont. If you have any information or ideas where they may be located, please contact Tracy Manning at 204-523-0101.
Belmont Museum annual general meeting. Back row (l. to r.) Dianne McLean, Tracy Manning, Bruce Sharp. Front row (l. to r.) Vicki Gillingham, Deb Durham, Dennis Myers. PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK
