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Bruce Bedell Town Crier of Belleville Writes and performs one-man shows as characters in Canadian history (613)968-4130 165 Macdonald Ave., Belleville, Ontario K8N 3Y5 bwbbedell@yahoo.ca

On March 14, 2005, the City of Belleville proclaimed Bruce Bedell as the official Town Crier.  It had to be.  After many years in Northern Ontario and South Western Ontario, Bruce came back home to Belleville to carry on the tradition of the Ancient Order of Bedellii.  The name, Bedell, means “officer of the parish whose principle duty was to keep order, also was the town crier.”

What exactly is a Town Crier?  According to Bruce’s book, The Book of Cries (available at the Belleville Public Library), it is an eccentric extrovert who dresses up and runs around yelling at people.

In the past a Town Crier was an important messenger – it was the fastest way to get the word out.  So what is the use of a Town or Formal Crier today?  According to Bruce, they “add a touch of elegance to important occasions such as weddings, festivals, visiting dignitaries.  At a wedding, for example, a Formal Crier can lead the bridal procession, introduce the wedded couple to the assembled guests, announce members of the bridal party, and lead a parade down the main street.”

Bruce has won numerous awards as a Town Crier.  In addition to his 'crying', he writes and performs in costumed historic one-man shows.  Bruce is also a teacher, an historian, a writer, a poet, and a liar (he won first prize at the Quinte Arts Council’s 2004 Liars’ Contest).