The Belleville Chamber of Commerce and DBIA representatives joined the Belleville Pregnancy and Family Care Centre for a ribbon-cutting ceremony this past Saturday morning opening the Centre’s new home in Downtown Belleville at 180 Front Street.
The Centre’s Grand Opening and Supporter Appreciation Tour was attended by City of Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis, Board Chair Elizabeth Palmer, and the many tradespeople, volunteers and community partners who helped bring the new space to life.
The morning’s program opened with a welcome from Board Chair Elizabeth Palmer, followed by remarks from Executive Director Heather Tapp thanking all those who have helped in the project. Since being established in 1989, the Centre has served more than 5,500 individuals and families in Belleville and the surrounding area.
In 2024, after two years of continued growth and a 30% increase in client visits, the Centre’s Board of Directors made what they describe as a bold and visionary decision: to form a steering committee and begin searching for a larger space.
That search led them to 180 Front Street, a property offering greater visibility and accessibility for the community they serve and the Capital Campaign “A New Home for Hope” was launched to expand the Centre’s facilities and enhance its programs.
The Centre began seeking lead support for the $1.7-million campaign in June 2025 and more than 35 tradespeople, contractors, and volunteers have since donated their time and expertise to make the Centre’s new home a reality.
The John M. and Bernice Parrott Foundation provided a lead gift that helped propel the campaign forward, and the wider community has continued to rally behind the project ever since. To date, $1,350,000 has been raised toward the $1.7-million goal, leaving the Centre just $350,000 away from reaching it in full.
The ribbon and scissors used for the ceremony carried special meaning for the Centre. Both were gifted at the very start of the capital campaign by supporters, prayerfully encouraging the team to push forward with its ambitious fundraising goal.
“A wonderful couple came in with the scissors and ribbon and said they were praying for us and knew the goal would be met,” said Heather Tapp, Executive Director of the Centre. “In one year, over $1,350,000 has been raised towards our $1.7-million goal, to date.”
“After years of planning, fundraising, and support from this community, we are so grateful to open the doors of our new home and welcome the people we serve into a space built with them in mind,” said Liz Palmer, Board Chair of the Belleville Pregnancy and Family Care Centre.
“This new space allows us to offer more privacy, more programming, and more room to care for the individuals and families who come through our doors,” added Heather Tapp, Executive Director of the Centre. “We can’t wait to show the community what’s possible here.”
Guests had the opportunity to tour the new facility, meet staff and volunteers, and enjoy light refreshments throughout the open house, which ran from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Centre used the occasion to thank the donors, contractors and community partners whose generosity made the project possible.
