Chamber News

The board of the Children’s Safety Village Belleville is pleased to announce the hiring of Bill Glisky as the new executive director for the Village.

Bill becomes the fourth executive director of the Village, which has been a landmark in Belleville since 2004, and takes over oversight of the Village as it begins to move into exciting times, preparing to reopen programming after than pandemic as well as preparing to move to a new location.

The Village is currently located beside the former Belleville police station but that property has been donated by the city to Habitat for Humanity for its new Habitat Horizons Centre. The Village is slated to move to the former Hillcrest School property as part of the city’s development of that area.

Board chair Matt Howell said the board was intent on making sure it had the right person at the helm moving into the next few years as the Village prepares for major changes.

“Everything is more challenging coming out of COVID, but the challenges of moving the Village as well takes that up a notch,” he said. “We wanted to make sure we had someone who was recognized and respected in this community, who could communicate what we are doing and how we are going to get there. Bill is absolutely that person.”

Bill has been a journalist, editor and manager of newsrooms for more than 30 years. For the past seven years, Bill has been the managing editor of Inquinte.ca and the voice of From the Cheap Seats on 95.5 Hits FM and Cool 100. Since late 2020 he has also been the afternoon news anchor for the radio stations as well.

Prior to joining Starboard Communications, Bill was managing editor of the Belleville Intelligencer, during which time he was also a regular member of the Round Table on the Lorne Brooker Show on CJBQ 800.

He says he is excited by the opportunity at the Children’s Safety Village, noting the Village provides a unique service to the entire Quinte region.

“They say it takes a Village to raise a child, and Hastings Prince Edward literally has one that is helping keep our children safe,” he said. “And it does it without government funding, with just the generous support of sponsors and donors. The chance to be a part of that important work is very exciting.”

The Belleville Children’s Safety Village, located at 129 S. John Street in Belleville, is an interactive educational organization that delivers relevant safety programs to youth of all ages and abilities to empower them and provide the necessary tools to make informed decisions and play an active role in community safety.