By Vivian Collings
Board members of the Haliburton Business Improvement Area (BIA) met on Thursday, Feb. 9 for their AGM and celebrated the return of nearly all their signature events in 2022.
2022 was Luke Schell’s final year on the board following his retirement from Haliburton Framing and Photo. He stepped down as chair at the meeting after more than 20 years on the executive.
“This committee is just a joy to belong to. Every meeting we work closer towards the vision that we all have,” Schell said at the end of the chair’s address during the AGM. “It’s just been a phenomenal committee to belong to and one of the greatest joys of my life, honest to goodness. Thank you all so much for the years that I spend with you at these tables.”
Ward 1 Councillor Pat Casey gave an address on behalf of Dysart council and thanked Schell for his years of commitment to the BIA.
“Dysart council thanks Luke for being chairman of the BIA for so many years, and thanks for your accomplishment, your time put in, and your ideas and dedication. We collectively thank you for your work and best of luck to you,” said Casey.
The committee highlighted all initiatives and events that took place in 2022 when most hadn’t happened during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think the only event that didn’t run was Frost Fest, but other than that we had all our events. We had Midnight Madness, ColourFest, the Santa Claus Parade, Ladies’ Shopping Night. All were great events with large turnouts,” Schell said.
The committee looks forward to a year filled with some new projects in addition to their well-loved events.
With Schell and Brad Park stepping down from the board, Nelly Ashworth re-joined as treasurer and Andria Cowan-Molyneaux was welcomed as a first time member.
David Zilstra took over as chair and Brandon Nimigon as vice chair.
“It’s just an amazing community to be involved in an organizational manner that everybody in this room is right now. It’s amazing to have been part of it for me,” Schell said.