YEAR IN REVIEW: 2024

Thousands of country music fans packed into the Paris fairgrounds in July for the inaugural Rivers ‘n’ Roots Music Festival. Not even the threat of a severe storm could keep fans away as music lovers gathered to catch headliners Dallas Smith and Russell Dickerson

Photo by Michelle Malvaso

July

-Brave Waves Swim School opens its state-of-the-art indoor swimming pool at its Rest Acres Road home facility.

-Paris moms support Campfire Circle fundraiser to the tune of $3,500

-Frustrations mount in south end of Paris after 14-month long construction project on Hillside Ave and Race Street. Some area residents voice concerns over length and execution of project, headed by BEECH Infrastructure Group

-Paris Optimist Club unveils Paris skatepark expansion plans during open house.

-Paris Firefighters busy with two early morning fires on July 14th; on by the CN railway in the Junction part of town, the other in the new development behind the arena on Pottruff Road.

-Garlic Gallop and Music Festival debuts in Paris; aims to promote healthy living and raise money for

Brantford General Hospital Emergency Room renovations.

-Mayor of Brantford announces his resignation, with intention of returning to his roots, accepting an appointed as a provincial member of the License Appeal Tribunal A week later he rescinds his resignation and states he will remain Mayor of Brantford.

- July 28th marked the 150th Anniversary of the first long distance phone call so the County of Brant curated and support a program of events to commemorate the milestone.

-A new batch of honorary firefighters graduated from Camp Phoenix, an immersive camp designed to educate and empower the next generation of female firefighters in the County of Brant

-A big congratulations goes out to the Paris Youth Softball Association’s U17 Team for bringing home the Gold medal from the Kitchener-Waterloo OSSTA tournament.

Continued on page 14

Mid-July storm brings high winds and a sudden rainfall that left many streets flooded. The GRCA issued flood warnings in some parts of the watershed. Commuters opted for easy modes of transportation!