Celebrating Lorne Holditch: Deadnersville’s Community Hero

Last night, Lorne Holditch was honored as a Community Paul Harris Fellows Recipient by the Rotary Club of Belleville, recognizing his extraordinary dedication to the community and Belleville General Hospital.

More than two decades ago, Lorne and his late wife Sheila shared a love of Halloween that would grow into something extraordinary. What started as a neighborhood celebration on Rednersville Road blossomed in 2013 into Deadnersville, a community event that has become a local tradition.

In 2018, tragedy struck when Sheila suffered a massive brain hemorrhage. Grateful for the exceptional care she received at Belleville General Hospital, Lorne chose to continue Deadnersville, finding comfort in bringing joy—and a few playful scares—to the community in her memory.

Over the years, Deadnersville has grown into a true community effort, with neighbors, volunteers, and visitors from near and far coming together each October. Lorne has the faithful support of his neighbours, Carl and Vicki, who were also in attendance at the January 9th award ceremony, helping make the displays a success year after year. In 2025 alone, 25,000 people visited Deadnersville, and over the years, Lorne has raised $106,920 to support patient care at Belleville General Hospital.

Despite recently celebrating his 80th birthday and surpassing the $100,000 fundraising milestone, Lorne is already planning for Halloween 2026, proving that his commitment to the community and the hospital that cared for Sheila remains unwavering.

We are deeply grateful to Lorne, Carl, Vicki, and all the volunteers who help bring this magical tradition to life. Their efforts are a shining example of how one person—and a supportive community—can make a lasting impact.