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Have you heard of Pickleplex Social?
Loyalist forced to scale down, Winterfest, week-end plans and more...
Shane Brady
January 31, 2025
TOGETHER WITH
🗳️ Early Election called for Ontario. Find more details at elections.on.ca. 🗳️
Gooood morning everybody! Welcome to the 211 subscribers who just joined us. This is BOQtoday, and just like Bourbon St Pizza, our news is fresh, fast, and piping hot.
Today Around The Bay:
Loyalist forced to make some major cuts
Pickleplex Social
Week-end plans
and much more…
But first: What are those!?!
Source: Paul Lantz, Local Photographer
Mother Nature decided to pelt us with snowballs overnight Tuesday, or so it seemed. It seemed like there were millions of these snowballs. They’ve been dubbed locally as “snow rollers” but as for what they really are? The best answer we found was on Facebook.
A rare meteorological phenomenon struck the area as a thin layer of packing snow fell on an existing harder layer of snow and was met with winds. The winds then took the imperfections in the snow layer and rolled them across open spaces, growing as they go.
Thanks for the explanation Michael, now let’s get to it!
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WEATHER
Friday, February 2
High 🌡️ 0°C Low -6°C | ☁️ | Precipitation 60% | Wind: E 18 km/h
Saturday, February 3
High 🌡️ -9°C Low -16°C | ☀️/☁️ | Precipitation 0% | Wind: N 14 km/h
Sunday, February 4
High 🌡️ -3°C Low -8°C | ❄️ | Precipitation 70% | Wind: NE 12 km/h
THE DIGEST
TOP STORY
Major Program Cuts & Layoffs Hit Loyalist College
Loyalist College is making some big changes—30% of its programs are getting the axe, staff reductions are coming, and the Toronto campus is shutting down. Why? A $40M budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year. The college is forced to make these changes after international student applications dropped nearly 90% (due to the new federal rules), and domestic tuition fees have been frozen at 2015 levels. The financial crunch means 25+ programs won’t accept new students this fall. It's Not Just Loyalist — St. Lawrence College in Kingston and Fleming College in Peterborough are also scaling back.
Loyalist fuels about 4% of the region’s GDP, but this shake-up could cut that by a full percentage point. Workforce numbers could drop by 1,000+ people, and all construction projects (except ongoing ones) are on hold. More here InQuinte
Make Happy Tummies Campaign Supports Food for Learning
The Make Happy Tummies campaign is raising funds for the Food for Learning program, which provides nutritious meals to students in Hastings and Prince Edward counties. Running through February 14, you can donate during checkout at Metro and Food Basics stores. Last year, over 1.3 million meals were served to more than 6,000 students daily. Every dollar raised stays within the community, ensuring local kids have the fuel they need to succeed.
Sponsored By Local Care Hearing Centre
Is it time for an ear health checkup? Start the New Year with peace of mind! Local Care Hearing offers comprehensive ear examinations, with clear explanations and no referral necessary. Whether you have concerns about your hearing or just want to ensure your ears are healthy, give us a call at 613-961-1180 or visit localcarehearing.ca.
Local Business
Have you been pickleballin’? This sport swept the nation recently and to no surprise. It’s fun, easy to play, and social. Well, guess what Bay of Quinte? From the looks of it, we’re going to have a brand new place to play the beloved pickleball. Where? Per the Pickleplex Social website, it’ll be located at 366 North Front Street, Unit 250a, Belleville — the old Bed, Bath and Beyond building. When? Not sure — yet. The first Pickleplex franchise recently opened in Barrie. What we do know from the Barrie location is this place has the sport figured out. They’ve got state-of-the-art courts, a social lounge (fully licensed), leagues/tournaments/programs, and much more. You can check it out for yourself in the video of the opening below. Stay tuned with us, we’ll keep you updated.
Foodie Friday - Restaurant Of The Week!
Today we’ve got another lunch spot, this time in Trenton. Nestled on the water with a patio over-looking the river in downtown Trenton you’ll find The Counter Restaurant. This cozy lunch spot serves up soups, sammies, wraps and more. But don’t listen to us, listen to Megyn T. A Trenton local who had this to say about The Counter Restaurant:
Hey BOQtoday, I live in in Trenton and the Counter on Front St is hands-down my new favourite spot in the city. I am a vegetarian so my go-to is the veggie sandwich but my husband has probably tried almost every sandwich and you can’t go wrong. If you haven’t been yet, you’re seriously missing out!
So… See you all at the Counter around... noon?
Did you know? You can now send in business recommendations to be featured in BOQtoday. Go here to submit yours today!
Sponsored By The Bay of Quinte Clothing Club
Have you heard of the Bay of Quinte Clothing Club? Check out this new apparel line made by people from the Bay of Quinte, for people from the Bay of Quinte. Shop now to get yours but hurry, the originals are almost sold out! Free local shipping.*
FOR THE PARENTS
It’s a PA day, so check out our families and parents section or our events calendar for some things to do!
📚 Kindergarten Registration is Now Open!
Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year is officially open for the ALCDSB to enroll their little one and get all the details. Start the journey here: ALCDSB Kindergarten Registration.
✈️ Travel for Credit - Summer 2025!
Grade 9 students, earn a Grade 10 Civics and Careers credit while exploring Ottawa, Montreal, and NYC this summer! Join the online info session on February 3, 2025, from 6:30-7:30 PM to learn more. Register here: Travel for Credit Info Session. For details, contact Maria Morris at [email protected] or apply at Travel for Credit.
WEEK-END PLANS
🐾 Stoco Lake Sled Dog Derby
📅 Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 | 9:00 AM
📍 Stoco Lake
💵 Free entry
🎉 Watch thrilling sled dog races at this family-friendly event on Stoco Lake! Enjoy exciting races and cheer on teams of mushers and their dogs.
🐕 Fun for all ages, with activities for the whole family to enjoy!
🍻 Prince Eddy's Stout Fest
📅 Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 | 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 Prince Eddy's Brewing Co, 13 Macsteven Drive, Picton
💵 Free entry with optional donations for the Back the Build Fundraiser supporting Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital
🎉 Celebrate the 3rd Annual Prince Eddy's Stout Fest with local craft beverages and food! Enjoy tastings from breweries like Parsons, Matron, and more.
🍴 Food from Order Up Caribbean will be on-site!
🎭 The ROC Opening Night
📅 Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 | 7:00 PM
📍 Pinnacle Playhouse 256 Pinnacle Street
🎉 Celebrate the opening of The ROC, a special event showcasing community talent and the spirit of the region!
🌍 Africa and the World
📅 Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 | 7:00 PM
📍 Centennial Secondary School, 160 Palmer Road, Belleville, ON
🎉 Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and culture of Africa with this special performance that highlights diverse traditions.
🥗 Chef Bailey Kennedy's Plant-Based Pop-Up
📅 Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 | 6:00 PM
📍 Josh's Diner 2544 County Rd 64 Carrying Place, ON
💵 Ticket info on the website
🎉 Join Chef Bailey Kennedy for a delicious evening of plant-based dishes that showcase the best in sustainable and healthy eating!
❄️ Winterfest
📅 Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 | 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
📍 Macaulay Village Park, The Heights, Picton
💵 Free entry
🎉 Join the community for a day of winter fun including chili, hot chocolate, crafts, free books for kids, and a performance by the ABC Choir!
Note: Events may be cancelled or have changed times. Be sure to see our event calendar and reach out to the venue before going.
🔗 To see more info on these events and many more, hit the button below
LOCAL SPORTS INSIDER
Quinte Bay Gymnasts Steal the Show at Provincial Qualifier
The Quinte Bay Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team just flipped, tumbled, and soared their way to a pile of medals at the Emerald Cup in London—talk about a power move!
Claire Murray was unstoppable in Level 4 Age 10, snagging gold on vault and floor. Over in Level 6, Aliana Brinklow and Bradlee Chambers owned the beam in their age groups, each taking first place. Zyrah Walsh absolutely crushed it in Level 6 Age 15, winning vault and all-around (AA) like a total champ. Not to be outdone, Erica Brown nailed gold on beam in Level 7 Age 16+, and Chloe Rightmeyer soared to first in vault for Level 8 Age 14-15. ! Full results here: Read more. The Intelligencer
CIVIL NEWS
BELLEVILLE
Belleville recently celebrated the grand opening of a new 375,000 sq. ft. warehouse in the industrial park, operated by Mikhaiel Group for Rolf C. Hagen Inc. The facility, purchased from the city in 2023, has created around 90 new jobs, contributing to the community’s growth. Welcome to Belleville! Read more InQuinte
QUINTE WEST
Quinte West's council meeting on February 5, 2025, will cover a range of topics including updates on city infrastructure projects, new community initiatives, and discussions on improving local services. Read more City of QW
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY
Prince Edward County Council is considering a new partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce to combat the impact of U.S. tariffs on local businesses, with a proposed $50,000 annual contribution for three years. Read more QuinteNews
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