Hockey Night returning to downtown Belleville

By John Moodie

BELLEVILLE – Hockey Night in Downtown Belleville is returning.

The Belleville Downtown Improvement Association (BDIA) will be hosting the event on Dec. 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The event is a partnership between the BDIA and the Belleville Bulls in an effort to attract shoppers to the downtown core for the Christmas holidays. Bulls players will be at different stores where the public can meet them.

On Monday, Nov. 10 Belleville council granted a request from the BDIA to close Front Street for the event.

Councillor Garnet Thompson expressed some concern. He said the last time the event was held he received complaints from downtown merchants that they did not receive adequate notification of the street closures.

“Can we be guaranteed they are going to be notified?” asked Thompson.

City clerk, Matt MacDonald, said the media would be notified. He also ensured that the BDIA’s members would be notified of the upcoming road closure.

The BDIA office and events co-coordinator, Erica Holgate, said all BDIA members are made aware of all street closures through their weekly newsletter.