COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

The book makes Salah’s love for Paris, Ontario clear and I asked him, what first made him fall in love with Paris?

“My house,” he exclaimed. To be fair, it’s one of Paris’ gems so there’s no surprise there but much like his own gardens and landscape around his treasured home, he also loves the wonderful greenery and flowering beds throughout the town.

“My favourite spots are my front garden, back garden and side garden,” - we laughed gleefully –“Oh and anywhere on the river” Plus, not to mention, all the wonderful small businesses and programs Salah and his husband Jacob support

“We love to visit our friends at Elberta Farms, Jiggs & Reel for the best fresh seafood and the

Cobblestone Common.”

Perhaps you don’t know the beautiful fountain/water sculpture in Cobblestone Common is dedicated to Salah’s father and is one of the many community projects Salah Bachir has supported in Paris.

When I asked Salah about the future of Paris, what changes he’s witnessed in his 30+ years living here and what he would like to see for Paris in the future, he replied, “More diversity! In the people, the restaurants and the attractions,” noting he’s seen an improvement, but he’d like to see even more, and I agree on both counts.

It’s amazing that Bachir is thinking about the future of Paris while simultaneously honouring and preserving the history of the town too I asked him what his dream would be for Paris, a hundred years from now and he paused, took a breath, and said steadily, “Maybe changing the name to Bachirville with a forty-foot monument?” We both laughed loudly, and he waved in the air, “No, no, but really, more acknowledgment and inclusion of Indigenous peoples and culture in Paris, plus my mortgage finally paid off… ” We laughed boisterously again.

He may be a legendary Canadian business executive, guardian of one of the most stunning art collections in the world, a member of the Order of Ontario, possessor of enough stories and memories for many memoirs and living in a dream house but at the end of the day, he’s an ordinary - absolutely lovely and generous person who just happens to be famous

To the left, an exclusive art of Salah created by his husband Jacob. To the right, Salah in his rose backdrop promo photos for his newly released book ‘First to Leave The Party’ is available now. Click here to purchase!