The Paris Independent for Saturday July 1st, 2023

Paris

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

Emergency: 9-1-1

Police Department: 519-442-2242

Fire Department: 519-442-4500

Willet Hospital: 519-442-2251

County of Brant Office: 519-442-6324

Paris Public Library: 519-442-2433

Paris Public Schools:

Paris High: 519-442-4477

North Ward: 519-442-2311

Paris Central: 519-442-4163

Cobblestone: 519-442-2500

Paris Catholic Schools:

Holy Family: 519-442-5333

Sacred Heart: 519-442-4443

Paris Councillors & Mayor:

Mayor - David Bailey

Ward 2 - Steve Howes

Ward 2 - Lukas Oakley

Ward 3 - John Bell

Ward 3 - John Peirce

Paris Customer Service Office 66 Grand River St. N. 519-442-7268

Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Main Services include:

- Accounts Receivable invoice payments

- Blue Boxes and Composters (pre-arrange pick up of composter)

- Brant Transit punch cards purchase and pick up

- Building Permits may be submitted and Building staff consulted

- Calendar pick up (free)

- Commissioner of Oath is by appointment only

- Dog license and tag

- Dog Park membership and key

- Parking ticket payment

- Property Tax payments and inquiries

- Public Works permits may be submitted

- Use the computer to meet with a virtual Planner to ask questions.

- Water testing sample bottles may be picked up. Drop off water testing samples on the last Wednesday of the month before 2 pm at the Burford Customer Service Office

Brant Sports Complex & Other Facility Booking

519-442-1944

226-387-2490

519-442-4955

226-216-3037

519-209-2277

519-442-7134

Administration & Bylaw: 519-442-7268

Open Monday - Sunday, 8:30 am - 8:00 pm.

Main services include:

- Dog Park membership and key

- Dog license and tag

- Tennis Court membership and key

- Camp registration and recreation program registration

Articles, Events & Story ideas, please submit by email to:

stories@theparisindependent.com

Publisher

Managing Editor

Advertising Sales Photographer

News Reporter

News Reporter

News Reporter

Chris Whelan

Casandra Turnbull

Chris Whelan

Michelle Malvaso

Carolina Saenz

Bailey Zimmer

Rubyyy Jones

Paid email subscriptions available by writing to: subscribe@theparisindependent.com

STATEMENT

We are an independently owned organization made up of like minded volunteers from within our community with the main purpose of providing Paris and area with a trustworthy and reliable source of local news. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of everything we publish, we regret any errors that may occur. We limit our liability to that of printing a retraction upon notification of such errors in the next available publication. Our mail and Email addresses are listed below:

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

CHURCH IN THE PARK – Sunday, July 2nd at Lion’s Park in Paris. Follow the music and go to the outdoor theatre. The service will begin at 10:30am followed by games and a BBQ. Invite some friends and we will see you there! PSBring your own lawn chair, drinks and finger food to share Hamburgers and hotdogs provided Hosted by Paris Presbyterian Church

MONSTERS IN PARIS – The Return of the popular Monster Trucks at the Paris Fairgrounds July 8th with the pit party at 4 pm and the show at 5 pm and July 9th with the pit party at 1 pm and show at 3 pm Tickets available now online.

OPEN RIDE NIGHT –Friday July 14 from 5 pm to dusk at the Paris Fairgrounds. Bring your own horse, $10 to ride.

FOOD TRUCK

NIGHTS – July 18th from 5 pm to 7:30 pm at Sojourn Church, featuring Foo Cheesie and The Funnel Cloud. The trucks return August 22 featuring Foo Cheesie, Los Rolling Tacos and The Funnel Cloud Donations for the Little Free Pantry will be collected.

CRUISE NIGHTS – Every Sunday from May until October, from 4 pm until dusk at Tim Hortons, 151 Dundas St E, Paris. Everyone welcome to participate or attend.

CANADA DAY

BRANTFORD’S CANADA DAY

CELEBRATIONS – Saturday July

1st at Lions Park in Brantford from 11 am to 10 pm You won't want to miss live music on the OLG Main Stage with performances by: Frank DiFelice Band with special guest David McKee at 12 pm; Three Legged Horse at 1:20 pm; Backburner at 2:30 pm; Mystic Highway at 4 pm; Jace Martin & the Pace at 5 pm; Sass Jordan at 6:30 pm and KIM MITCHELL at 8:30 pm. The Young Canadians Area opens at 12 pm with family fun activities including Barry O’ Kids Show, PAW

PATROL Chase and Deputy Chief Saunders storytime, TEAM T&J performance and Meet and Greet, and Blue’s Clue’s Interactive Storytime and Meet and Greet.

BILLY BASH CANADA DAY

WEEKEND – An action-packed weekend full of demolition derby, live music and fireworks! At the Burford Fairgrounds for the BILLY BASH on

July 1, 2, & 3. Tickets : $15/Adult, $10/ child 5-12 years old, and Children under 5 free! For more info contact Ron at rmcclungs@live ca

RIDE WITH FIRE – Join County of Brant Fire Fighters on Canada Day for a century bicycle ride spanning the 8 fire stations to raise money for Boots on the Ground. See more details on page 19.

CITY OF CAMBRIDGE CANADA DAY

CELEBRATION – Saturday, July 1, 1st all day and evening at Riverside Park, 49 King St W, Cambridge. Celebrate Canada’s Birthday with a midway, food trucks, vendors, a KidZone, beer garden , fishing derby and the parade (see below) and fireworks at 9:45 pm. More info online

CAMBRIDGE

In St. George

Don’t throw away those little Canada Day Flags

We’re so fortunate to live in a community with such pride and patriotism. Maybe one day this week you pulled into your driveway and there was a thoughtfully placed flag poking out of the ground?

It’s welcoming sight and a lovely gesture to celebrate Canada’s birthday. Perhaps you keep the flag, or maybe only for a few days. If you don’t plan to tuck it away for another year, there’s a local man who collects these flags for an honourable cause and is willing to take what you plan to discard.

Kevin Allan, along with his girlfriend Sherry Ashby, have been sending flags to Belgium for the past six years He ships the flags to his good friend Steven Van Eyck, who lives near the Schoonselhof Cemetery, the final resting place for many young Canadian heroes. Days before Remembrance Day, Van Eyck places the flags on the graves of Canadian Soldiers who died during World War 2

In 2019, Allan collected and shipped 126 flags; in 2020 Covid hampered the flag donation, so they kept the flags in stock for 2021 when they were able to send 277 flags overseas. In 2022, for the first time ever – and thanks to the support of so many Paris residents- Allan shipped 500 flags, more than enough to cover all 346 Canadian graves. Allan sent a special thank you Bill Doyle and Linh Chao, and Brad ‘the Lego guy’ for their generous donation of flags.

Allan said he finds it very important that we recognize the efforts of these young men, whose lives were cut very short to ensure our freedoms.

If you’d like to ship your flag to Belgium, Allan has a donation box set up at 28 Unit C Griffiths Dr, Paris

Brant County Council gives green light to new main branch library plans

After two hours of debate and discussion, council approves the $37.7 million project that’s ready to move forward

The main entrance to the building will be through the new addition, not the Bawcutt Centre. As you step into the main entrance (below right), you will have a beautiful atrium view that shows open concept through both levels, with a breathtaking view that accentuates where the new building meets the old building. The ground floor of the Bawcutt Centre will hold library collections, lounge space and a reading area. The main entrance to the Opera Hall will be utilized for after hour events, such as theatre performances, banquets, awards ceremonies, etc. Continued on page 7

By Casandra Turnbull

The New Main Library Branch in Paris received Brant County Council’s stamp of approval this past week as the project will take some big steps towards getting a shovel in the ground With this approval, the county will now issue requests for tender from prequalified contractors to construct the sleek looking 27,800 square foot facility that comes with a $37,770,000 price tag.

“We are thrilled to have Council’s support to move the new Main Branch Library to the next steps,” says Kelly Bernstein, Library CEO. “This library will be a cultural anchor where the community can gather, learn, and grow. It’s an honour to have the opportunity to preserve a vital piece of our community’s heritage for future generations."

To help cover some of that cost, which is subject to change throughout the construction process, $13,489,000 will be included in the 2024 Capital Budget with funding components from reserves and development charges while the New Library Steering Committee hopes to see $10 million covered through Heritage and other Federal and Provincial Grants and local fundraising The Steering Group will now shift its focus to fundraising in the months ahead Of the total estimated costs, $12 8 million is designated to heritage restoration of the Old Town Hall and Opera House while $15 4 million will be earmarked for the new addition.

DPAI Architect Inc, of Hamilton, was awarded the project last summer. They were chosen to create designs for the project that oversee the full restoration of the Gothic-

Revival-style building and its opera hall They spent time researching the location and the building itself. Drones were used to take aerial pictures of the land; geo technology was used to test the soil, as well as extensive site surveys; lidar lighting was used to scan the building and that scan was translated into a 3D digital model. The building info model (BIM) is the next revolution of Autocad, explains lead architect David Premi This gave designers a unique look at the barebones of the building so they could see what required restoration or renovations It allowed them to examine how they would preserve the heritage and best utilize the stunning space as the cornerstone of the new branch.

“We wanted the Bawcutt Centre to stand on its own as the most prominent piece,” said Premi during the public open house earlier this year He added once finished, the Bawcutt Centre will be restored to its original beauty. So, the architects purposely designed the new addition to stand back from the Bawcutt Centre, allowing it to be the focal point of the project

During Brant County Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors, at the request of the library Steering Committee, directed staff to investigate parking opportunities on adjacent streets Site preparation, including the demolition of a 1964 addition, will begin in July. Designs will be finalized and put to tender this summer and return to Council for approvals this fall. Once approved, construction is anticipated to take approximately 24 months

The upper level of the new addition will house more collections, meeting rooms and a teen space. The upper level of the Bawcutt Centre boasts the beautiful, original Opera Hall features and will serve as a quiet space for library users during the day but events in the evening. All shelving and tables will be portable and easy to put away when the library closes.

Provincial & Federal governments contribute $3 Million in funding towards Trillium Away Affordable Housing project

The new affordable Housing Project on Trillium Way received a $3 million funding boost this week. The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, alongside Bryan May, Member of Parliament for Cambridge, Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Will Bouma, Member of Provincial Parliament for Brantford-Brant on behalf of the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for Ontario announced a combined $3 million investment that will help fund 49 new affordable homes coming to Paris. The funding contributions are as follows:

* $2.45 million from the federal government through the National Housing Strategy’s National Housing Co-Investment Fund

* $260,000 from the provincial and federal governments through Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI).

* $340,000 from the provincial government through Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF)

In March 2022, the City of Brantford and the County of Brant approved the creation of a new affordable housing build on Trillium Way in Paris, Brant

one of the collaborative projects being implemented to achieve the deliverables set out in the Mayors’ Housing Partnerships Task Force Affordable Housing Action

Plan The Trillium Way housing development will be occupied by singles, couples, small families, and seniors.

The new, four-storey apartment building, estimated to cost $15 million, has a total of 49 units specially designed for people experiencing sensory loss, such as low vision and hearing The apartment building also includes affordable rentals for survivors of domestic violence, Indigenous people, and small families with mixed-income levels. Some households are also receiving rent assistance and subsidies. This week’s funding, part of the province’s Social Services Relief Fund, was announced by Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to the

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant, on behalf of Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

“Our government remains committed to ensuring everyone, regardless of income, can find a place to call home,” said Parliamentary Assistant, Matthew Rae “I’m pleased to see this investment through the Social Services Relief Fund being put to work to create safe, accessible homes in the community of Paris This is one of many ways our government is working with our partners to better meet the needs of vulnerable Ontarians.”

Left to right, Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma, Brant County Mayor David Bailey, Matthew Rae, parliamentary assistant to Steve Clark, Ontario's minister of municipal affairs and housing and Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis at the ground breaking earlier this week

Photo credit Mayor David Bailey Office

Paris High School student selected as a 2023 French for the Future Ambassador

By Carolina Saenz

Thirty-five Grades 10 and 11 bilingual students from across Canada will gather for a National Ambassador Youth Forum in Halifax this summer and one Paris District High School (PDHS) student will be among the group. Grade 10 student Trudeau Gulati applied for the prestigious French for the Future Ambassador program and was selected to attend the six-day event this August 13-18 where he will sharpen his French language skills, and gain valuable leadership and project management skills.

The Gulatis, Trudeau and his parents Justin and Krista Gulati, shared more about this famed educational and social opportunity. Truly motivated to become fully bilingual by the end of his high school years, the FNJA program will be a valuable part of his goal. But how did Gulati learn about the program and what experience motivated him to apply?

It was a school trip to St. Donat, led by PDHS French Department Head Tanya Govedarica back in February of this year, where students shared special moments that ultimately encouraged Gulati to apply for FNJA.

“While on this trip, Mme. Govedarica had our entire group do a song circle where we were introduced to francophone culture through Quebecois folk music. I’m not a singer, and if you heard my voice, you would likely tell me to stop, but the experience of the class recording a song by Bernard Ouellette called Roche Percé was the catalyst to applying for FNJA. One of the questions an applicant had to answer was what activity would you bring back to your community as an ambassador? When I saw this question, I knew the answer would be a song circle or to get a musician to help

Trudeau says he’s studied French since Grade 2, but really started to take the subject seriously when he took Mme. Thomas’ Grade 9 French Class because she emphasized the importance of French and made the classes a great deal of fun, he says Mme Thomas has recently retired

Submitted photos

communicate or introduce francophone culture to my school community. I answered this in the short essay and video competition on YouTube The support I received from my teachers at PDHS in applying for FNJA can’t be understated, and I can’t wait for the experience,” explains Gulati.

As a former PDHS student herself, Tanya Govedarica, is passionate about making a positive impact on the school and is confident Trudeau will make an excellent francophone youth ambassador Continued

“This is only his second year at PDHS, and he's already been quite the trailblazer with his fresh perspective, passion for social justice, and involvement in various clubs and extra-curricular activities We know he's going to continue to do some great things moving forward and we can't wait to see what kind of positive impact he's going to make on Francophonie within the school, community, and beyond,” said Govedarica.

Gulati spent his elementary school years at North Ward School before graduating to PDHS two years ago He is a very active member of his school as a part of the Student Council Executive, and plays on several sports teams including soccer, tennis, and badminton. He has big goals for the near future which include not only advancing his bilingual skills but eventually applying for the Student Page position at the Parliament of Canada upon his Grade 12 graduation

“My goal is to pass the oral French exam required, whether or not I get the position. I want to communicate in both languages as I advance my career after high school. Visiting Paris, France, last summer with my parents made me feel that I want to communicate the same way I do in English if I ever get the chance to be amongst French-speaking people,” he writes

by email to the Paris Independent. This story, however, wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the incredible support and inspiration PDHS teachers provide their students everyday, and sometimes this support leads to truly remarkable stories like Trudeau’s.

“I have studied French since Grade 2, but I only started to take the subject seriously when I got to Grade 9, where I had a very inspirational teacher in Mme. Thomas (she recently retired) – she emphasized the importance of French and made the classes a great deal of fun,” shares Gulati

As for the proud parents, Justin and Krista Gulati are very thankful for the recognition FNJA has placed on their son. “He has some big ambitions, but organizations like this can help shape the development of a civicminded young person in today’s world and essentially assist them in understanding the possibilities for their futures and giving them a road map with guidance on how to get there. We are excited for him and the rest of the youth ambassadors,” they said.

Both parents hope Trudeau will gain inspiration to be a good community member who shares the experience with others as he enhances his French skills.

“We appreciate the teachers at PDHS and the opportunities they

make possible for young people, as the teachers at the high school have changed how our son thinks and acts in the community. We hope other young people recognize the teachers working in our community to enhance the lives of young people - like our son has been lucky enough to be a part of,” they concluded

Founded in 1997, French for the Future was originally a two-day conference bringing together students from the Toronto area. Its objective was to demonstrate the value of a bilingual or Frenchlanguage education and to create continuity between secondary and post-secondary education. Today, French for the Future is a national non-profit organization that aims to inspire a passion for Canada’s official bilingualism among youth from grades 7 to 12. To do so, it has created 7 programs since its foundation, which are accessible to all Canadian students.

Campers rise to the Challenge to raise funds for Camp Phoenix!

By Casandra Turnbull

Mounties Report

Camp Phoenix is just under two weeks away and this year’s campers got a little taste of what to expect during a fundraising event hosted in coordination with Pure Impact Athletics last Friday night at the Cainsville Fire Hall.

Seventeen of the 20 campers selected to partake in this year’s Camp Phoenix, along with seven alumni from last year’s inaugural camp, met to participate in the Pure Phoenix Challenge to raise money for the camp which takes place July 12 -16 at the Cainsville Fire Station

The June 23rd fundraiser was a joint effort between some of the camp organizers/instructors and Amber Tait, owner of Pure Impact Fitness. They created a DEKA-inspired fitness challenge at the fire hall that not only tested the girls’ strength and endurance but also solidified some bonds as they prepare to report to camp later this month.

“They were absolutely amazing! They pushed hard and gave it everything they had,” said Lisa Herbert, a County of Brant Firefighter and one of the lead coordinators/instructors for Camp Phoenix For the challenge, the girls were divided into two teams and competed in decathlon style fitness course spread out over 10 different zones. DEKA strong fitness is a type of training geared toward functional movements, pushing limits and is truly accessible for people of all fitness levels, describes Herbert. “Amber is so passionate about community and meaningful impact, she jumped right in when I shared the idea with her,” Herbert added. Tait confirmed her excitement when it came to collaborating on this event. “We were very excited to partner with Camp Phoenix because we know that fitness can create a bond and community like no other,” said Tait Continued on page 12

To serve and rescue effectively and successfully, teamwork, communication and physical fitness are essential, she said. “It is critical as a first responder that all involved are working together towards a common goal for the best possible outcome and that's exactly what this alignment is all about. Empowering the Phoenixes to work together towards a common goal, while challenging physical fitness and mental toughness,” said Tait. Herbert noted that the fitness challenge also gave the campers’ families an opportunity to see what kind of community exists within a fire hall, which only adds to the excitement leading into Camp Phoenix.

It wasn’t just upcoming and alumni campers taking part in last Friday’s fundraising challenge. Two County of Brant Firefighters decided they wanted to participate in the fun, so they donned full firefighting gear, including air tanks, to complete the challenges!

Camp Phoenix, an immersive camp offered to girls 14-18 years of age with a keen interest in pursuing firefighting as a career, is funded entirely by community donations. This year’s fundraising goal was $3,000 but to the surprise of organizers, campers have exceeded that goal with more than $4,000 collected through pledges, social media campaigns and the Pure Impact Athletics challenge Herbert said the new goal is $5,000 and

anything in excess will be used to fund the camp, hopefully, for years to come

“With only 5% of career firefighters in Canada being women, Camp Phoenix shows campers that they have the physical and mental abilities to be successful as firefighters,” said Herbert. “During the 2022 experience, campers successfully rescued a firefighter in full gear (approx. 300lbs) from a threestorey fire tower in record time.”

Eight of the 2022 Camp Phoenix alumni are welcomed back as Leaders-in-Training for the 2023 camp where they will invest in the next generation of Phoenixes while building leadership skills and furthering their experience in the Fire Service. This year’s camp will run in similar format to last year’s

– offering the girls a hands-on experience all areas of fire prevention and suppression, search and rescue, auto extrication, basic first aid skills and an overview of all variety of first responder roles from OPP to paramedics and dispatch communications

“We end camp with what we call the Phoenix Fit Challenge (similar to a Fire Fit Challenge) where they complete a fire obstacle course in platoons, using skills they learned through the week. They finish it off by pulling a fire truck across the finish line,” said Herbert. And new this year will be the addition of the Paris Station#1 aerial truck, which will be on site during of the camp days.

It’s not too late to contribute If you’d like to make a financial donation or sponsor a camper, the website remains open until July 14.

Canada Week Memories from Paris Past

Canada Day, formerly known as Dominion Day, has been celebrated in Canada since 1867, when the British North America Act was passed, creating the Dominion of Canada. For many years, Paris, Ontario had one of the best Canada Day celebrations in the County of Brant. The festivities in Paris began a week or so before Canada Day with the annual garden party at Sacred Heart Church filled with events like square dancing, bingo, strawberries and ice cream, hamburgers, crown and anchor games for the adults and lots of games and prizes for kids. The week-long celebrations in Paris included a Miss Canada Day pageant held at the Paris Optimist Club hall, a three-day bicycle rally, many sporting events such as the annual Canada week golf tournament, a pet show and a soap box derby race down Broadway street hill. The celebration culminated in a huge parade that started at the Paris High School parking lot and marched down Grand River Street to the Syl Apps Arena for fireworks.

Continued on page 14

1984 Miss Canada Day Princess Leanne Cochrane, runner up Charmaine Webb, Photo: Glenn Kelley

2019 Sacred Heart Garden Party lined up for food

Photo: SHC Twitter

I remember it was always perfect weather, thousands of people lined the streets of Paris to watch the Canada Day parade, a tradition since 1973. The parade included antique cars, horse-drawn carriages, the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club, the Miss Canada Day Princess & her runner up, an antique pumper from the volunteer fire department. Ontario Treasurer Robert Nixon rode in a fancy car, Smokey the clown was always the highlight as he was well known from the demolition derbys at the Paris Fair and he would hop on and off the hood of his derby car, he was such a character and he delighted kids and parents alike! Other crowd-pleasers were the Galt Kiltie Band, the Brant County Junior Farmers' float, and the Shriners Club of Brantford always had a float with a dozen characters making music in a very colourful float, one of them waving a big menacing sword nearly missing the artificial palm tree. Children were treated to free candy, balloons, & flags to wave and many parents took their children to watch the event Adults also came out for the fun, many loved seeing the sports teams and classic cars The parade lasted about an hour and ended at the Paris arena, where spectators were entertained by the St. John's Drum and Bugle Corps and the Ayr-Paris Band. The festivities ended with incredible fireworks display out over the river downtown.

Over the years, the Canada Day celebrations in Paris grew in size and scope, attracting visitors from all over the area. However, in 2007, the Paris Canada Day Committee announced that it could no longer afford to organize the event due to rising costs and declining volunteer support. As a result, the parade and fireworks were cancelled, marking the end of an era.

1967 Canada Day Parade Paris Pumper Photo: Nancy Rowley-Panasiuk

Paris man swimming across Lake Ontario to raise funds and awareness for mental health

Kloss2Cross journey takes place this summer, August 11-12

By Casandra Turnbull

A Paris man is training his body and mind for what will be an intense journey across Lake Ontario later this summer to raise money for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation.

The gruelling challenge started out as a simple way to find himself in the pool again and swim through some of his own mental health challenges. As he rediscovered his love for swimming, his morning swims became longer and longer until one day it hit him – he needed to use his strength in the water to help support mental health and raise awareness to the fact that not everyone’s struggles are visible

Now swimming across a Great Lake seems like a wild idea to raise money for mental health, but it wasn’t entirely a new idea. In fact, this 51-kilometre swim across Lake Ontario will be his second longest swim to date, compared to his 2011 journey across Lake Huron in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Jason Kloss’ love for swimming dates back to his childhood and is instrumentally tied to his grandfather Dick

who also swam across Lake Huron in 1991. Kloss spent a lot of time growing up with his grandparents, visiting them in the deep woods of Florida where they would canoe, hike and swim with the manatee. He described his grandparents as amazing people who were not only there for him but also hundreds of other kids they fostered over the years. So, when Kloss showed a keen interest in swimming and declared he would swim across Lake Huron to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society –a loving tribute to his grandmother Bert who was a two-time cancer survivor –naturally it was his grandfather who stepped up to coach and train him for the crossing. Kloss completed the Lake Huron trip in August 2011. It took him 26 hours and three minutes of non-stop swimming to complete the 61-kilometre trek, in which he raised $22,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society

“It was long and treacherous and almost killed me. I fell asleep several times and woke up under water, puked, hallucinated, popped my shoulder...” explained Kloss.

“But deep down I knew the cause at the time that I was raising money for and the people affected by it were going through much worse and my pain was temporary, so I had to keep going.”

Continued on page 16

Paris man, Jason Kloss, is preparing mentally and physically for the 51kilometre journey across Lake Ontario in August.

Despite the gruelling obstacles

Kloss did not give up and became the youngest swimmer to cross Lake Huron – the second person in the family to accomplish the trek, joining the record books alongside his grandfather who was the oldest person to the complete the crossing at 50 years old in 1991. After that swim, Kloss stepped back from the pool as life took him in different directions. He met his wife Avery Moore Kloss through the swim and the two eventually relocated to beautiful Paris in 2015 and welcomed their daughter Audie five years ago When Kloss found himself in a rut at work, he quit his job to pursue his lifelong dream of running his own business

SoloSquid. While all this was happening, Kloss’ idol and mentor, Dick, was struggling with dementia Alzheimer’s was taking away the man he knew and loved, and it was a difficult journey to witness. In the midst of the pandemic Dick passed away and his death was a devastating loss for Kloss

“His death hit me harder than I could have

father’s death, really shifted Kloss’ perspective on mental health

own daughter, nieces and nephews, his parents and friends and thought, what can I do to draw more awareness and attention to mental health?

“One day in the pool while I was swimming and thinking about all of this, I hit 5 km. Even during training for my Like Huron swim, I never hit 5 km in a pool. Then it hit me, I can swim another lake.” And that’s how this summer’s Lake Ontario swim, dubbed Kloss2Cross, was born. Kloss set a $50,000 fundraising goal to support the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation, money that will go directly to research for mental health, dementia andAlzheimer’s.

“Having a reason to swim that is bigger than ourselves is important to accomplishing a goal, especially one where you have to dig deep mental,” said Kloss, adding that his ‘why’ is to help at least one person get through a tough time.

in the work

and

and I definitely

and

said Kloss. During those dark, difficult days, Kloss also received news that a close friend had died by suicide

That, combined with his grand-

“It made me wake up and realize how real Mental Health is and how we are all at risk because Mike (who took his own life) was absolutely the last person you could have imagined was struggling with any kind of mental health issues,” said Kloss So, in that moment, he decided he needed to make some big life changes. He quit his job to pursue his own business and after a 10 year break, he dipped back into the pool again, allowing the familiar feel of the water to soak up his daily struggles.

“As I swam more laps for my own mental health, I kept seeing billboards on my drive home from the pool with statistics about mental health and kids,” he shared. He thought of his

To prepare for the August 11th swim, Kloss started training three days a week for 1-3 hours each session at the Laurier Brantford YMCA pool, in addition to a fourth day of training in open water, as well as dryland activities for strength and endurance Since a large aspect of any Lake crossing is mental, Kloss said he looks for different ways to push himself to get inside his own mind and overcome what might seem like impossible obstacles.

imagined

felt lost

uninspired

I was doing, but I did what I had to

pushed through,”

“I look for opportunities to push myself. It can be little things like getting up at 5:30 am on -20 February morning and just making myself get out of bed and scrape the car off to drive to the pool or it can be more intense things like cold plunges and pushing myself to stay in 4C water for extended periods of time.”

During each training session it’s important to remember mind over matter and consistency always wins.

The Kloss2Cross team will be with him as he plunges into the waters of Lake Ontario in the afternoon of August 11th . He said he plans to get the night portion of the swim over with first, as it was the hardest aspect of his swim across Lake Huron. “It’s very dark and cold and it’s hard to swim through fatigue. During my Huron crossing I feel asleep a couple of times and woke up in pitch black under water This is a mental game I know my body can do it, it’s my mind that needs to be strong and centred.”

Kloss will stop to drink water every 15-20 minutes to stay hydrated. Members of the crew will hand him food and water on a stick or by tossing it to him every 45-60 minutes. To ensure the trek is successful, Kloss does not get out of the water to eat, he does so while

treading water.

With the crossing scheduled just six weeks from now, Kloss is looking for volunteers to join his Kloss2Cross team. Specifically, they are looking for a paramedic or doctor to ride alongside him on a boat in case of an emergency They’re also looking for anyone to volunteer their boat for the swim. “The goal is to raise money for CAMH so getting volunteers to help is crucial and would be a huge help, so we don’t have to pay to rent a boat or hire a doctor/paramedic. Those expenses eat into how much we can raise for the CAMH Foundation,” he said. Kloss was at the Administration and Operations Committee Meeting last week to drum up local support for the Kloss2Cross swim. The committee members voted to support Kloss’ journey by offering the Paris pool for free training, but also supporting the idea of Swim-a-Thon at the Paris pool on July 16. Kloss will swim the pool all day while raising money and awareness for the cause. Details of the Swim-aThon are being finalized now.

If you’d like to support Kloss in his journey, both financially or as a volunteer, you can reach out to him at support@kloss2cross.com or follow his journey online.

Jason Kloss pictured at the end of his last swim with his grandfather Dick. Both Jason and Dick have completed the swim across Lake Huron in 2011 and 1991.

Teams participate in Forge FC half time festivities

The Paris FC U12 Girls’ and Boys’ teams headed to Hamilton last weekend to take part in the pre-game and half time festivities. It was a fun experience for the young players as they took in all the action during the Canadian Premier League game Forge FC picked up the win defeating Atlético Ottawa 4-3 at Tim Hortons Field Paris FC Photos

Paris FC U8 Boys team in action

U10 team at Robbie Festival

The U8 boys took part in the Saltfleet U8 festival on Saturday, June 24th .

The U10 girls had a very successful day at The Robbie Festival on Saturday, June 24th against Ajax and Toronto High Park FC

Scott Dammeier’s courageous battle with cancer ends

The community rallied around the local business owner earlier this year as news broke that he was battling terminal cancer.

Scott passed away June 29 after a tenacious fight

Scott Dammeier, owner of Scott’s Family Restaurant in Paris, has passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on June 29th at Juravinski Cancer Centre in his 51st year

Earlier this year, the community rallied around Scott and Kim, to support the duo who’ve built their business here over the last 20 years, serving locals undoubtedly the best eggs benny breakfast around while supporting youth sports clubs and organizations and community events. The Paris Firefighters Club hosted a successful Touch a Truck event raising over $10,000 to help the couple as they tried to keep the restaurant open while navigating a multitude of doctors’ appointments and treatments. Longtime friend and Scott’s Family Restaurant employee Tina Graziano created a Go Fund Me campaign titled Friends of Scott’s Family Restaurant. Money raised helped the pair with day-to-day operational expenses, financial recovery from the Covid pandemic, medical expenses and allowed them to spend precious time with one another, and with Scott’s children Griffin and Devlin. After the page was launched Scott and Kim shared a special message with the community: “We are so grateful for all the support from family, friends, customers and the

community, and as we start this journey, we will fight no matter what Thank-you for your continued thoughts and support.”

Throughout his battle, Scott never lost sight of recovery His focus remained on battling cancer and taking each obstacle as they came, doing what he could to squeeze out extra time with his family, friends and children. It was always his goal to get back in the kitchen of the restaurant he loved Scott was beyond touched to know so many people were thinking of him and wishing him strength and peace. At one point, just before the fundraiser hosted by the firefighter’s club, he said he felt like a local celebrity At the end of it all, he was happy that his dream to start a family restaurant touched so many families over the years.

Scott’s Go Fund Me Page is still active, and donations to the SPCA or Juravinski Hospital in his memory would be greatly appreciated by the family.

A Gathering and Celebration of Scott’s Life will be held Scott’s Family Restaurant (74 Scott Ave Paris) on Thursday July 6, 2023, from 1-5 p.m.

Summer Writer’s Fest provides smorgasbord of storytelling

Arts & Entertainment

Reading can be the perfect past time because it works all year round, in all seasons, in all weather, and I’m happy to report that the same goes for the Riverside Reading Series’ Summer Writers Fest! It was a wet and wild weekend but literary lovers braved the precarious precipitation and were rewarded with a smorgasbord of storytelling, an audience of ardent author honourers and a really bright beginning for this fantastic festival.

Popping up in Lion’s Park on June 24th, the Riverside Reading Series was a multifacetted day centred around literature and leisure A range of radiant reader/authors performed from the Walter Williams Amphitheatre to a seated audience, and a sprinkling of tents surrounded the stage, connecting us to caffeine, yoga and various community groups and companies that support reading (Brant County Public Library,

Book*hug Press, Invisible Publishing, to name but a few).

It was a wonderfully varied event with programming for kids, families and adults. There was energetic book reading in the grass, on blankets, with actions and excitement for the younger book lovers led by - the coolest people in the world - library people! Live from the amphitheatre stage were performances from authors sharing poetry, storytelling and songs and tales for all ages.

When you needed a break there was an opportunity to bend and stretch with Up Yoga + Wellness, which rounded out that real mind, body balance and the refreshments from

Altitude Coffee Roasters certainly perked things up.

The Riverside Reading Series’ Summer Writers Fest was made possible with fantastic funding from Canada Council for the Arts through the Writer’s Union of Canada and through the hard work of the Riverside Reading board of directors comprised of Emma Johnston, James Cairns, Layne Becker-Grime and Alison Fishburn.

There are and were, no doubt, countless people involved in this festival that deserve thanks, so a big fat “Thank You!” to them!

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When the skies opened up and let out all the rain that was threatening the event all day, guests moved underneath the shelter of the amphitheatre to conclude the writer’s fest with one final, yet cozy reading. Photo by Rubyyy Jones

I want to take a moment to give kudos to all the wonderful writer/readers - Farzana Doctor, Bruce Simpson, Tanis MacDonald, Dwayne Morgan, Nic Brewer, Erica London, Jaclyn Desforges, Anthony North, Kim Fahner, Ekiuwa Aire, Robert Priest, Suzanne Craig-Whytock and Fareh Malik; writing is such a dip and dive into your soul and then adding the layer of public performance to that is all the more impressive!

It was a really strong and sweet event and one of the final moments of the day truly encapsulates the energy of the whole shebang As the afternoon was in its homestretch, the sky did what it was threatening to do all day, and opened wide with a deluge of rain, sending book worms into a whirl But, as it was a group of thinkers and creators, a solution took no time at all, and soon the remaining audience had gathered in the shelter of the amphitheatre, bright orange chairs surrounding our readers and finishing off the programme with a more intimate and cozy setting. It was actually the perfect way to end this whimsical day!

Bravo to all involved, and stayyy tuned for 2024

Summer Writers’Fest details; find Riverside Reading Series news on their website www.riversideseries.com or follow on Instagram for more events and opportunities @RiversideSeries

Brant County OPP hand out positivity tickets!

A group of Paris youngsters were ticketed on Thursday….for being awesome and safe at the same time! Brant OPP Officer J. Buckert stopped a ground of kids and handed out positivity tickets to reinforce the message that helmets save lives! The youngsters were more than happy to receive their tickets and took a moment to pose with the officer for a candid photo.

Photo credit OPP West Region

Robert Priest performs during the Summer Writer’s Fest presented by the Riverside Reading Series on June 24th .

Photo by Rubyyy Jones, Big Cityyy Arts

Pet Smart Charities of Canada grant will help Brant SPCA address lack of veterinary care services for Six Nations pet owners

MEDIA RELEASE Brantford,

ON – The Brant County SPCA has received a grant of $60,000 from PetSmart Charities of Canada™ to address challenges in accessing veterinary care for pet owners living in Six Nations. Rising costs combined with geographical barriers have left many communities out of the veterinary care system altogether. This grant program supports innovative and culturally relevant veterinary programs focused on Indigenous communities, which have been historically excluded from veterinary care.

Early in 2023, PetSmart Charities

of Canada, the top funder of animal welfare in the country, announced an $18 million commitment over the next five years toward improving access to veterinary care The “Incubator” grant program, focused on changing how to support veterinary care in historically excluded Indigenous communities, is a significant pillar of that commitment.

“We’re committed to our local community and ensuring all pet lovers can enjoy the unconditional love of a pet We’ve been collaborating with community leaders in Six Nations and the Six

Nations Food Bank for years providing pet food and resources to support pet owners We’re looking forward to continuing to work alongside local community leaders and veterinarians to help create community-driven solutions to overcome barriers to veterinary care,” explains Robin Kuchma, executive director of the Brant County SPCA. Many of the calls the Brant County SPCA receives on a weekly basis are from people who love their pets but are faced with rehoming them because they cannot afford veterinary care or treatment.

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FEBRUARY 23

A PetSmart Charities of Canada grant of $60,000 will help the Brant County SPCA extend veterinary programs/care to Indigenous communities which have historically excluded from care.

Submitted photo

All pet owners want the best for their pets, Kuchma goes on to share, “We’re committed to doing all that we can, with the resources we have, to keep families together and prevent families from having to rehome their pets.” While nearly 60% of Canadian households include pets, access to basic veterinary services has not kept pace. This is particularly felt in Indigenous communities that have additional barriers beyond cost, including cultural barriers and a lack of veterinary services in the vicinity. In Indigenous regions, pets play important roles in their communities, but accessing resources to keep animals healthy can be challenging.

With reconciliation considerations integrated into the approach, grantees will build relationships and assess specific needs before helping to design long-term veterinary services This ensures that communities that have been left out are deliberately included in deciding how and when they will access the healthcare they need for their pets.

“Nearly 1 in 5 Canadians struggle to access even basic preventative care such as spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations and annual exams,” said Kate Atema, director of community grants & initiatives at PetSmart Charities of Canada. “While this issue affects families in nearly every community, those who have been historically excluded from human social services are most in need of pet services. We’re proud to support an innovative approach that meets the unique needs identified by those with lived experiences that have struggled to gain access to veterinary care themselves ”

Dawson Atkinson, 8th Grade graduation, North Ward School. Dawson received the Music Award, was the Valedictorian and received his Diploma with Honours.

~ 2023 Graduates ~

Gavyn Schell, 8th Grade graduation, North Ward School

Hailey, 8th Grade graduation, North Ward School

Kimberly, Kindergarten graduation, North Ward School

Wesley, High School Graduation, Paris District High School

Sophie Sidebottom, 8th Grade graduation, North Ward School. Sophie graduated with honours and was presented with the Academic Proficiency Achievement and Language Arts awards.

COMMUNITY GRADS

~ 2023 Graduates ~

Logan, High School Graduation, North Park Collegiate & Vocational School

Andrew, 8th Grade graduation

Brady and Mackenzie, High School Graduation – with Honours, Holy Spirit School

Taylor, Graduation from Conestoga College Bachelor of Early Learning Program Development (Honours)

Jacob & Abigail, 8th Grade graduation, Cobblestone Elementary school

Maya, High School Graduation, Brantford Collegiate Institute Good luck at Wilfrid Laurier University!

First step to better health and weight loss is proper nutrition

Just for the Health of It with Coach Shell

So many times we have clients tell us that they can't focus on their nutrition and workout routine because they have stress from work or home life. They may be working late hours, dealing with a sick parent, or have a child who is going through a tough time at school

Although we understand that life can get in the way of your personal goals, we always remind our clients that all of the things that they are doing right now to lose weight are also the best practices for your health and wellness when under stress.

If you eat well, you will have the energy needed to work late hours or care for a loved one

If you move your body through exercise or walking this will give you the mental break needed to focus on the extra work or family commitments demanded of you at this time. These practices of a sound nutrition plan, a consistent workout routine and the concerted effort to get your water in will help you deal with

all of life's challenges and therefore shouldn't be seen as something you do only in times of calmness in your life. Because in reality as a normal human being there is always going to be something causing you stress in some way and therefore there never really is a perfect time to just commit to you So, if you commit to you in troubled times, not only will it help you get through the challenges that you are facing, but then when you have the moments of calmness in your life then your consistent eating and workout routine will already be in place and second nature to you.

The good news about this is that it is never too late to start. We have clients who are 18 and 81 and even making small changes to your daily life will lead to big changes in your overall wellness And when you stop

just making nutrition changes to see a loss on the scale, or exercise commitments to burn more calories than you will be less likely to give up as you will see so many more benefits to your physical and mental health and well-being that you will never want to stop

So, stop waiting for that perfect time in your life that never exists, and start tomorrow and you will feel so much better inside and out.

Shelley Gaudet is the proud owner of GFS Wellness Solutions, an online nutrition coaching business. We offer 1-1 daily or weekly coaching services as well as group wellness solutions.

Please call 519-771-8232 or email gfswellnesssolutions@gmail.com for more information.

Aries: March 21 - April 19 (Fire) –

You have been making a lot of choices and then you are trying to predict the outcome. You're living one step ahead of yourself, instead it is time to take a moment and look at what is right now, that's all you can do right now

Taurus: April 20 - May 20 (Earth) –

Things are distracting you from giving proper attention to your love life, you keep trying to connect, only to be disappointed by all the things you need to be doing. You will focus on your career for the first part of the week, so then you can make romantic plans for the weekend

Gemini: May 21 - June 20 (Air) –Regrets from your past seem to be at the front of your mind, do not stress about these, it is just your soul looking for closure You want to have a great adventure this week, look at ways to include all your loved ones Also, time to step up at work

Cancer: June 21 – July 22 22 (Water) – Your communication skills are going to be amazing this week So, stop and think how to use this to better your life Work or love or friends, they all need attention You are struggling with a strong feeling of wanting more, time to walk to someone who can give it to you The answer is always no unless you ask.

Leo: July 23 - August 22 (Fire) –

You are questioning everything in your life right now. Do not start to self sabotage, instead pause and really think about why you are having so many doubts Your love, your career and even your health are just confusing you and have become stressful.

Virgo: August 23 - September 22 (Earth) – You will be extra moody this week, stay away from anyone who can easily get on your nerves You really do need a vacation away Your health needs some serious attention, find the time to make all your appointments and then actually show up to them all.

Libra: September 23 - October 22 (Air) - Your love life has been starting to have a negative effect on your social life You keep trying to force the two together, but it is unsuccessful, You need to put a clear line between the two or you are going to have drama You should be asking more questions at work on how you can make more money?

Scorpio: October 23 - November 21 (Water) – You have been putting off awkward conversations in your love life, this comes to a head and causes you to lose feelings towards each other If you want to fix this you better start by working on yourself first

Sagittarius: November 22December 21 (Fire) – You will feel very loved and supported all this week. The people in your life really want the best for you, talk to them, tell them all your dreams and then let them help you to get there Even at work you will feel that people want you to do more and succeed

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19 (Earth) – Your love life is going from bliss to disaster very quickly You must focus, you either do something dramatic to fix it or you need to move on There are other people in your love field waiting for you to decide Why are you so confused on making choices lately? This is not like you to let others make decisions for you.

Aquarius: January 20 – February 18 (Air) – You want your love life to be peaceful You love your life right now but are feeling like you need more. You can put all your over thinking into how you can make yourself better. You must find a way to connect to your soul and find true balance

Pisces: February 19 - March 20 (Water) – If you do not find a way to control your recklessness then you will bring drama into your life this week You will be caught in a lie If you need direction, then you must find someone you can trust to talk to about things

Horoscopes with Tina Graziano Energy Reader

Tina Graziano was born an energy reader. She uses her gifts to heal and guide others as a life coach. If you need support and insight in life, contact Tina for an energy reading directly online at https://www.facebook.com/ Tina.Graziano.Energy.Reader

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Showtimes for Galaxy Cinemas Brantford

For Saturday, July 1, 2023

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Standard 12:40p.m. 3:45p.m.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Standard 12:30p.m. 3:40p.m. 6:50p.m.

The

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Standard 11:45a.m.

The Little Mermaid Standard 12:00p.m. 3:10p.m.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold Standard 11:00a.m.

Now Playing at The Oxford Drive-In JUNE 30 - JULY 6

Cash and debit/credit only pay at ticket booth

1 adult ($15.00)

2 adults ($25.00)

3 adults ($35.00)

4 adults ($45.00)

5 adults ($55.00)

1 Adult 2 kids ($16.00)

Now Open 7 Days a Week

1 Adult 3-4 kids ($25.00)

2 Adults 1-2 kids ($30.00)

2 Adults 3-4 kids ($35.00)

gate opens at 7pm movies starts at dusk

Kids are 12 and under - 6 and under are free

Hwy #2 between Paris and Woodstock