In May of 1928 the founding Navy League of Canada - Belleville Branch and their sponsored Sea Cadet Corps, RCSCC Quinte were formally recognized. Over the past seventy-five years the Branch and Corps have evolved. This evolution has taken place on three fronts, through various locations around the city of Belleville, through numerous Commanding Officers and Area Cadets, as well as through the many hard working Branch Members that have supported this local Youth Movement.

Two years ago the current Belleville Branch formed a 75th Anniversary Committee under the Chair of Bill Morrissey. Its mandate, to explore opportunities to celebrate Seventy-Five Years of Youth Development, that have become our Corps and Branch history. This ten person committee is diverse:

- Chair, LCdr. Bill Morrissey (Ret.), Cadet Detachment and friend of Quinte for twenty-five years
- Col. Don Irish, friend of Quinte for twenty-five years
- Sally Mott, Admin Officers for the past twenty years
- LCdr. Barry Bevvan, active in Cadets for the past Forty Years
- Lt. (N) Dwight Koshman, XO of Quinte for the past four years
- Jim Canty, former President of Belleville Branch
- Justin Verner, Officer Cadet with Quinte
- Jim Galway, President of Belleville Branch for the past five years
- Janet Rhode & Rob McGall, former Quinte Sea Cadets

Various projects were identified; including 75th memorabilia, a booklet outlining the history of Quinte, an Admiral to Review our 75th Annual, a Branch & Corps Website, a Sport Center Banner, a Marching Band Banner and Base Drum, a Compact Disc with Quinte music, and the planting of Oak Trees on the front lawn, just to mention a few.

Memorabilia was very popular and has been used both to identify our Cadets and Branch Members but also to provide PR souvenirs within the Community. The Booklet has involved hundreds of hours of research but is being looked at as a significant historical document. There are plans to have it completed by the Spring of 2004. We were pleased to have R Admr. Morse officiate during our 75th Annual Inspection of RCSCC Quinte, held in May of 2003. The Website www.navyleaguebelleville.ca is up and running and in a state of constant change. The Banners and Base Drum have been major public awareness tools and have been widely viewed as our best advertisement during these 75th Celebrations. The White Oak trees have been elusive and their source has yet to be determined.

This has been a period of reflection and celebration for both the Corps and the Belleville Branch. There are very few Quinte Area Youth Groups that can lay claim to Seventy-five Years of Youth Development. This is a rare milestone in any Community today and we are very proud of this accomplishment and the Leaders it has produced.

Jim Galway, Branch President