🎇 Canada Day plans, pickleball prize pots, and cinnamon buns worth lining up for

Together With

Gooood morning Bay of Quinte!

Happy Hump Day, cool moms (and everyone else). We’re not like a regular Wednesday—we’re a cool Wednesday (especially since you get back to back newsletters!). Channeling Regina George’s mom vibes, we’re here with snacks, sass, and a little midweek pick-me-up.

PS: We asked how everyone spent the long weekend. 79% of you stayed home (respect). But two responses really stood out:

“Literally couch rotted and watched all the Harry Potter movies.” - Hagrid would be proud.

“Fell asleep by the fire and melted my new shoes.” - These had to be Crocs, right?

Let’s dive in!

The Market Is Shifting

Presented by Tara Lyons Real Estate Team

Interest rates? Flat. Affordable homes? Flying off the market. Tara Lyons breaks it all down in her latest local market update, covering Belleville, Quinte West, and PEC.

News Notes

🧼 United Way HPE Launches Hygiene Product Drive United Way Hastings & Prince Edward is running a hygiene product drive from May 20 to June 6, collecting essential items like toothpaste and deodorant for nine local food banks and service organizations, responding to a critical need as food bank usage in Ontario has increased by 86% since 2019.

🏓 Quinte Pickleball Tournament Coming May 30-June 1 The Quinte Pickleball Association is hosting a three-day tournament featuring men's and women's doubles for various age groups and skill levels, culminating in "Gold Medal Sunday" with a grand finale co-ed open match offering $250 VISA gift cards to winners.

🌳 Geertsma Homes Donates $45,000 for Riverstone Park Upgrades Belleville's Riverstone Subdivision will receive significant park enhancements including a 3v3 basketball court, 64 new trees, and trail development, with tree planting already underway and court completion expected this summer. The park is located along Riverstone Way between Essex Drive and Nipigon Street in the growing northeast Belleville development.

Local Biz

🧁 Frankie's Snack Shop back in full swing The cutest little shop on Picton's main street is serving up what many call the best cinnamon buns in town, but you'll need to arrive early as they're open from 9am until their delicious pastries sell out. Not to forget their amazing donuts, scones, cakes, butter tarts… you get it, they’ve got something for everyone.

🍺 Belleville's Pier Pub Set to Open May 23 Local favourite, The Pier, returns for the season with its grand opening day on May 23. Visitors can enjoy an all-new menu while taking in waterfront views and live entertainment, which will be featured every Friday and Saturday night throughout the season.

Local business reader recommendations are welcome, go here.

City

📬 Quinte West Announces Alternative Payment Options Due to Postal Disruption
What you should know: Quinte West residents are urged to avoid mailing payments and documents due to an upcoming Canada Post disruption in May 2025. Sign up for e-billing at quintewest.ca/e-billing or pre-authorized payments at quintewest.ca/payments.

🏠 Belleville Launches New ADU Incentive Programs The City of Belleville has announced two new financial incentive programs to encourage accessory dwelling unit construction. These programs offer $5,000 rebates per unit for both newly built homes and existing properties.

The ALCDSB ranks in the top 20 of Board graduation rates of the 72 Boards in Ontario

Presented by ALCDSB

The ALCDSB's four-year graduation rates surpassed the province again this year with the four-year grad rate of 89.5% and a five-year grad rate of 90.9%. The Board is pleased to celebrate the success of our students and Catholic school communities!

Events

Millennial Movie + Craft Nights | May 21 | 6:00 PM | Quinte West Public Library
Relive your golden teen years with free crafting supplies, snacks, and the iconic film "Mean Girls" while connecting with other millennials in a casual creative atmosphere.

Fefe Dobson | May 23 | 7:30 PM | Sergeants Mess Hall, PEC
Catch the multi-platinum pop/rock artist known for hits like "Bye Bye Boyfriend" and "Stuttering" with tickets ranging from $39-$59 plus fees.

Burgers and Brews | May 23 | 5–8 PM | Burger Revolution, Belleville
Enjoy free beer samples from MacKinnon Bros. with food purchase, tasty burgers, and live music by Mason Forsey-MacKinnon at this Friday evening gathering.

Announced

Celebrate Canada Day 2025 at West Zwick's Park Belleville's annual Canada Day celebrations return on July 1st with a packed schedule including a pancake breakfast, live music, an inflatable village, food vendors and spectacular fireworks at dusk, with festivities running from 9:30 a.m. until late evening.

SMP Cup Racing Weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park | May 31-June 1 | 9AM-5PM | Shannonville, Ontario
Experience wheel-to-wheel racing action with 100 cars competing across five classes for the CASC-OR Race Championship. Tickets are $15 per adult or $30 per family, with paddock access to meet drivers and see the cars up close.

4th Annual POCnic | May 31 | 11 AM - 2 PM | 1271 County Rd 7, PEC
A free picnic celebration for the BIPOC community and their friends with local food from vendors like Cookie Mama and Tikka Chaat—just bring yourself and enjoy the connection!

_{Note: Events may be cancelled or have changed times. Be sure to see our event calendar and reach out to the venue before going.}

Hosting an event? Submit it here.

Looking to feature an event? Go here.

The National Stage

💼 Statistics Canada hiring for 2026 census jobs with $57k+ salary Statistics Canada is currently recruiting for administrative support roles for the upcoming 2026 census in several provinces and territories, with positions paying between $57,217 and $61,761 that require basic computer skills but no college degree. Narcity

U.S. Tax Returns for Canadians—Done Right.

PRESENTED BY STATESIDE TAX

Whether you're a dual citizen or investor in U.S. real estate, you have U.S. tax obligations. Let our cross-border tax specialists handle the complexities. From 1040s to FBARs, we take care of it all. Serving clients across Canada, we offer remote service with real expertise—so you don’t have to worry about complex cross-border laws.

Wellness Wednesday

• ☕ This 1 Coffee Preparation Can Lead to Better Heart Health

• 💪 Scientists Find Protein May Combat Muscle Loss in Certain Groups 

• 🧘 5 mini mindfulness meditations for everyday scenarios

• 🛒 Promote your biz for just $50. Our a la carte storefront makes it easy to get seen by thousands—no contracts, no fluff. Start here.*

Weather

Wednesday
High 14°C 🌡️ Low 7°C | ☁️/🌧️ | Cloudy with a touch of rain in the afternoon

Thursday
High 11°C 🌡️ Low 8°C | 🌧️ | Breezy in the morning; cool with periods of rain

🌡️ View current weather here.

🚗 See live traffic here.

⛽ Check out local gas prices here.

Signing Off

You won’t hear from us tomorrow (probably) but we’ll be back here on Friday with more. Go get yourself a little treat today - you’ve earned it. Oh and send this to someone else who deserves one too!

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