The Paris Independent for March 18, 2023

THIS WEEK

The Paris Mounties dropped their first three games to the Norwich Merchants in the first round best of seven playoff series. They stayed alive with a 5-3 victory on home ice on March 14th , but the season came to an end Thursday night with a loss in Norwich. See game details on pages 20-21.

Photo by Michelle Malvaso

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

Emergency: 911

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

Chris Whelan

Casandra Turnbull

Chris Whelan

Michelle Malvaso

Carolina Saenz

Bailey Zimmer

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

PARIS LEGION EVENTS – Friday, March 24th is Trivia Night at 7pm, everyone is welcome to attend. Teams of up to 6 players are eligible to win a $10 gift card per team member. Saturday, March 25th live music with Bobby Banks from 2pm to 5pm.

CRAFT BEER & CAMPFIRES - Experience a campfire the way it’s meant to be experienced, in the forest with friends, snacks & craft beer! Join Paris Independent Columnist Tiffany Martin from Travelling Pint around the campfire for a beer and snack pairing you will not forget! Tiffany will guide you through four classic campfire snacks and beer pairings. Thursday, March 23 at 6:30pm at 301 Jenkins Rd, Norfolk County. Tickets available online.

HINDSIGHT IS 2020 – ACOVID MUSICAL– A true story of Covid and its impact on our youth. April 1st , two shows at 2pm and 7pm at St. Paul’s United Church (side entrance). Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for those under 18 years old. Written by Christopher Mallon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Community Music. Presented by a cast of 12 youth, all of whom were affected by the pandemic in one way or another. This hour-long musical journey spans the entire year of 2020 with a serious yet hopeful tone.

See story in next week’s edition!

SPRING AYR MARKET – Saturday, April 1st at North Dumfries Community Centre in Ayr from 10am to 4pm. This is mainly an indoor event with some outdoor spaces available Please check the website for vendor applications and take a look at our gallery for pictures from last year! www.heretotheremarketevents.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

BINGO, BURGERS & BROADWAYYY!– Saturday, April 1 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at 2Rivers, downtown Paris The event will consist of: four+ rounds of bingo, punchy prizes, pop up performances from live singers, drag artists and dancers, a yummy three course dinner which will be a variety of appetizers and a selection of burgers to choose from. Tickets available online.

PARIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

MONTHLY MEETING - Wednesday, April 5th, Paris Fairgrounds, 7pm. Guest speaker is Kevin Kavanagh, owner of South Coast Gardens and Consulting. His topic is “Rhododendrons and Azaleas” . Time to plan spring planting. This is a great opportunity to connect with other gardeners in your community We cordially invite guests and future members.

MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL –Downtown Paris Saturday, April 8th from 7am to 3pm. Join the fun! Come and get pancakes and syrup, stay for the entertainment and vendors!

TOMORROW - VOICES & VISIONARIES – County of Brant Speaker Series on Sunday, March 19 at Paris Library at 2pm. Featuring Dr. Judy Eaton and Dr. Danielle Law to lead conversations on psychology, the art of the apology, cyberbullying and forgiveness

Submit your Community Calendar Event

List your event, meeting, fundraiser by sending us the details: stories@ theparisindepend ent.com

Legion president puts call out for more elected officials

By Casandra Turnbull

The Paris Legion is in desperate need of volunteers to sit on the executive and help ensure the day to day operations of this long-standing Branch.

Branch 29 President Donald MacLeod put a call out on social media this week asking for people to step forward and volunteer at the Legion’s upcoming elections next month. Currently, there are only four elected officials, which he says, is not sustainable.

“I am asking for your help,” the post reads “ We have just had to pay for a new compressor for the cooler ($3,600) and will need to replace the flat roof next year,” it continues. And with little to no elected officials it’s difficult to commit to any sort of fundraising campaigns or events, which will be required to raise money for these maintenance projects. The post goes on to list all the positions that are open, along with a brief description of what’s entailed. You can find that list below. If you’re interested in filling one of these roles, email parislegion29@rogers.com, leave a message at 519-4423788 or plan to attend the

elections meeting on April 19th at 7:30pm at the Branch. The Legion has been a fixture in Paris for close to 90 years The original house portion of the building was constructed in 1860 and bequeathed to the Legion in 1937 by Franklin Smoke. Over the years, the building suffered from natural wear and tear and deterioration. Plans were already in the works to begin the muchneeded repairs well before Covid. In July 2019 the public fundraising campaign began with an initial goal of $75,000 but it was eventually doubled to $150,000 to cover the cost of the extensive renovations for a new accessible entrance, new fire escape, handicap accessible doors and washroom, renovated washroom and kitchen, fresh coats of paint, electrical upgrades, new custom cabinets and

a central air system.

OPEN POSITIONS

President, treasurer, secretary, membership, poppy campaign, ways and means (organizing events and raising funds for the branch), house (keep facilities in good order), sports (running and assisting in all legion sports), bar chair (monthly inventory, ordering), service officer (assisting veterans in various ways), youth education (school programs, legion contests), sick and visiting (sending out get well cards, making Christmas baskets for veterans), Nevada and lotteries (keeping records of incoming and outgoing), honours and awards and public relations.

Do you have the desire to help keep the Legion open and operating? There are a number of elected positions open, attend the April 19th meeting at 7:30 pm to learn more or to volunteer your time!

Photo: Michelle Malvaso

County appoints new Chief Administrative Officer

MEDIA RELEASE - County of Brant Council is thrilled to announce the appointment of the new Chief Administrative Officer. Alison Newton has been selected to assume this complex and exciting role starting April 3, 2023.

“Ms. Newton has been with the County of Brant for over six years as the General Manager of Strategic Initiatives,” said Mayor David Bailey “Throughout her time at the County, she has demonstrated a strong ability to build and grow her teams, manage a diverse portfolio, and integrate into the community; understanding both the challenges and opportunities that are ahead. On behalf of Council, I would like to thank Ms Newton for accepting this role and I know we will work very well together on behalf of our great community.”

Alison Newton, as the General Manager of Strategic Initiatives, had a portfolio including Communications, Marketing and Public Relations, Economic Development and Tourism, Special Events and Filming, Arts, Culture and Heritage, and Accessibility and Public Transportation.

Prior to joining the County of Brant, Ms Newton held

positions in both the public and private sector as a Capital Markets Consultant. She has worked in the United Kingdom and Canada throughout her career.

Ms. Newton also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Carleton University and a Master of BusinessAdministration from

Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

“The ChiefAdministrative Officer role is a challenging position and I know Ms Newton will do well given her experience and the dedicated team of County Council and staff,” said Darryl Lee, Interim Chief Administrative Officer. “I expect a smooth transition for Ms. Newton as she takes the lead on important County issues.” Ms. Newton is also the Past President of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing

“I am thankful to have the opportunity to serve the community in an expanded role and look forward to working with a passionate and committed Council and excellent workforce,” said Ms. Newton “I would like to thank Mr Lee for all his work and assistance in helping to make this a smooth transition ”

Have you read the One Book One Brant selection yet?

By Carolina Saenz

A new year means that we can again look forward to our favourite yearly events such as the acclaimed One Book, One Brant (OBOB) program

The County of Brant Public Library runs this yearly celebration of great Canadian literature that encourages the community to read a featured book together, discuss it in book clubs, and ends with a guest lecture by the chosen author. For the 18th year of OBOB, the pick is “Ridgerunner” by Gil Adamson, a 2020 Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize Winner and also shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Part literary Western, part historical mystery, “Ridgerunner” is described by the publisher as follows:

November 1917 William Moreland is in mid-flight After nearly twenty years, the notorious thief, known as the Ridgerunner, has returned. Moving through the Rocky Mountains and across the border to Montana, the solitary drifter, impoverished in means and aged beyond his years, is also a widower and a father And he is determined to steal enough money to secure his son ’ s future.

Twelve-year-old Jack Boulton has been left in the care of Sister Beatrice, a formidable nun who keeps him in cloistered seclusion in her grand old house Though he knows his father is coming for him, the boy longs to return to his family’ s cabin, deep in the woods When Jack finally breaks free, he takes with him something the nun is determined to get back at any cost

Set against the backdrop of a distant war raging in Europe and a rapidly changing landscape in the West, Gil Adamson’s follow-up to her award-winning debut, The Outlander, is a vivid historical novel that draws from the epic tradition and a literary Western brimming with a cast of unforgettable characters touched with humour and loss, and steeped in the wild of the natural world

Gary Jermy, Outreach and Community Impact Coordinator at The County of Brant Public Library, shares his thoughts on how this year’s book was chosen. As a well known and respected author in the Canadian literary community, Gil Adamson is a wonderful choice for this year’s OBOB.

“For this year, we wanted to go with a fiction book since we went with non-fiction for the past two years and we generally first look at recent award winners as part of our criteria. Ridgerunner fit the bill and I think it flew a bit under the radar when it won the Writer’s Trust prize in 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic,” explains Jermy

He adds that “Ridgerunner” is not a direct sequel to Adamson’s 2007 novel “The Outlander”, which was shortlisted for Canada Reads. Rather, the book is more of a follow-up novel written as a standalone. “It’s character-driven and descriptions of the historical context and local geography show Adamson did her research. Historical fiction titles are popular checkouts at our branches and I think readers will enjoy our 2023 selection,” he concludes.

To place a hold on your copy of “Ridgerunner”, call the library or visit https://www.brantlibrary.ca/en/services/one-book-onebrant.aspx#Ridgerunner-Book-Club-Paris-Branch

Wait a minute…. Did someone say Tacos?

La Trenza Tacos brings authentic Mexican cuisine to Wincey Mills

By Carolina Saenz

As Paris grows, so does diversity in the area. And in my opinion, one of the best things about culturally-diverse towns is the food. Being able to access authentic dishes from the most flavourful cuisines is an advantage to locals and tourists alike. This spring, a new addition to Paris’ culinary repertoire comes straight to the Paris Wincey Mills Co. La Trenza Tacos will be opening on March 30th , offering an assortment of tacos, empanadas, and all the guac!

La Trenza is a dream come true for my brother Carlos and I We had been playing with the idea of opening an authentic taco shop for a while but finding the right location was not easy. When we moved to Paris in the summer of 2021, we were welcomed and quickly felt at home. Nonetheless, we certainly realized that there was a need for authentic Mexican cuisine in the area. So, when The Paris Wincey Mills Co. advertised their search for new vendors in January, we decided to apply. A (very busy!) month and a half later, we are all setup and ready to start operating And we couldn’t be more excited!

Originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, we grew up enjoying the richness of flavours our hometown offers. From the complexity of a homemade mole to the simplicity of an avocado, lime, and salt taco, we were blessed to savour a wide variety of dishes that inspired us to cook, eat, and eat some more. Needless to say, we are passionate about food. Tacos aren’t just a dish, they are our love language. Speaking of love, that’s exactly what La Trenza is about. “Trenza” means “braid” in Spanish. We chose this as our brand name to symbolize not only our Mexican and Indigenous roots, but also the connections between cultures and different peoples around the world. Continued on page 9

Authentic Mexican tacos made fresh daily. La Trenza Tacos opens on March 30th at the Paris Wincey Mills Co.

Traditionally, braids have been a part of various civilizations and are still an important part of today’s cultural heritage for many. Beyond the practicality braids provide (keeping hair out of the way to perform other tasks), braiding is often a ritual of sorts. Participants bond through this process, connecting not only with each other but also with nature and ancestors. And while each culture is unique in it’s style and meaning, braids are a celebration of love in the world

Therefore, at La Trenza, you can look forward to authentic Mexican flavour with lots of love (no “taco seasoning” required!) From cochinita (achiote marinated pork shoulder) to suadero (brisket), tinga (chicken), and a vegan papa con chorizo (soy-chorizo and potato), all of our tacos are served on soft yellow-corn tortillas and prepared from scratch daily Hand-made empanadas as well as fresh salsas and guacamole will also be available. To quench your thirst, aguas frescas will be prepared every morning and include: limón (freshly-squeezed limeade), jamaica (hibiscus iced tea), and horchata (rice and coconut creamy delight).

It is important to mention that all of our recipes come from our mother, Maria, without whom we wouldn’t have been able to make the best guacamole ever!

Gracias, mamá!!

Having felt such a warm welcome from the beautiful Paris community, we are especially proud to share that all of our suppliers are local businesses. At La Trenza, you can look forward to the quality and freshness that Link Street Sausage House, Van Laeken Family Farm, Moore Farms, Barrie’s Asparagus Farm, and The Udder Way Artisan Cheese Co. offer. Support local by eating tacos!

So head down to La Trenza Tacos for our grand opening the weekend of March 30th to April 2nd . We will have special promotions, guacamole tastings, and all the tacos your heart desires! As a special treat to The Paris Independent readers, mention this article to get 10% off your order from March 30th and throughout the month of April. And follow us on social media @latrenzatacos for updates and delicious taco teasers.

“We are very grateful to the community and the Wincey Mills family for welcoming us We will strive to exceed your expectations and make Paris the best taco destination!” shares Carlos Saenz. Thank you for letting us share the flavours of our heritage with you, we can’t wait to serve you!

February sees jobless rate drop

BRANTFORD (March 10, 2023) – Brantford’s jobless rate fell in February, the first drop in six months.

The Brantford-Brant unemployment rate last month was 5.8%, a one percentage drop from January’s 6 8%, according to Statistics Canada’s monthly labour force survey of area residents. Job gains slowed in Ontario and for Canada as a whole in February Canada’s jobless rate was unchanged at 5%, while Ontario nudged down to 5.1%.

Brantford’s rate decreased largely due to fewer people being unemployed Some of those people found jobs, while a greater share appears to have left the labour market.

“You don’t want to see people leave the labour market, especially at a time when some employers have shortages, but our overall level of employment remains impressive,” said Danette Dalton, executive director of the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie.

“Brantford has the second highest employment rate among nearby communities, only behind Guelph ” Dalton said looking at the employment rate – the percentage of residents 15 years and older who are working - can give a fuller picture of the health of any community’s labour market.

For example, St. Catharines-Niagara’s jobless rate in February was 4.3% but its employment rate was 58.4%. By comparison, Brantford’s jobless rate looks worse at 5.8%, but the percentage of people employed is far better at 65.9%, she said. Dalton added that Brantford’s employment rate looks even more impressive when it comes to people in the core working ages of 24 to 54. Brantford’s employment rate for this age group is 89 3%, which is higher than nearby communities - and the second highest in Ontario.

“That’s a new high for this area according to Statistics Canada figures dating back to 2006,” she said.

There were about 2,500 new job postings in February across the region on the Grand Erie Jobs online job board. The largest number of postings continues to be in health care and social assistance, while postings in manufacturing and construction increased The number of retail positions continues to slide, which is not unusual to see in the post-Christmas season. The Workforce Planning Board is one of 26 nonprofit organizations in Ontario that play a leadership role in labour force planning. The Workforce Planning Board is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario

Whisky Played an Important role in the Development of Paris

Whisky played an important role in the development of the Town of Paris, for it was the production of whisky that brought Norman Hamilton to Paris to seek his fortune after having emigrated from New York to live in Mudge Hollow (Canning) where he worked in a grist mill. Hamilton was the first true industrialist to come to Paris He was an entrepreneur in numerous fields and successful in most. These included running a grist mill, gypsum plant, logging operation for making whiskey kegs (Keg Lane), raising hogs, and in real estate In 1831 he built a distillery on the river flat that lies between Grand River St. North and the west bank of the Grand river approximately where the medical arts building (post office) is today His farm was known as Hillside (Hamilton Place) and he came up with a profitable way to make use of his own surplus of grain. Soon Hamilton would be producing 90 gallons of whisky a day and selling it for 13 cents a gallon At the same time Hamilton cleverly assembled a bevy of pigs to feed on the discarded whisky mash and he built a pen, slaughter house and pork packing factory to care for the hog operation. The majority of people in Paris and vicinity looked upon Hamilton as a public benefactor. In the days when roads were bad his distillery quickened the economic life of the village A pioneer farmer usually had a surplus of grain that he

wanted to exchange for other commodities. He found the cost of exporting this surplus to the outside markets too high to be profitable His surplus would usually rot during the damp weather. Hamilton did much to solve this problem. He took a pioneer’s surplus of grain and transformed each bushel into three or four gallons of whisky. Since Hamilton was usually short of cash he gave half of the whisky back to the pioneer and kept the other half. The pioneer then exchanged what he did not drink for goods at the local stores. Hamilton exported the larger part of his whisky and in doing so indirectly helped to pay for goods that were imported into the village If a pioneer had pigs to sell he could usually get a good price at the

distillery and if he had no use for whisky he could exchange his pigs or grain for a barrel or more of salt pork which was an essential food during the winter months. In about 1848 Hamilton quit making whisky. Patton and Currey then built a distillery on the west bank of the Nith River at the south end of what is now Lions Park 'Cheap whisky enlivened early Parisians and there were 3 distilleries listed in operation in 1850. Many Parisians drank large amounts and were seldom completely sober This was very common in the 19th century as a way to cope with the trials of pioneer life. As a result, there are many interesting tales of pioneer life in the 1800s in Paris

Photo of the Hamilton distillery c1840 - Paris Museum & Archives The Congregational Church is seen on River Street (GRSN) today is vacant part of the play ground of Paris Central School

The Tale of Two Gun Kate and the Shootout at the Old Brick Saloon

In the Wild Whisky days of the 1850s, Paris had no less than 17 licensed taverns in a town of little more than 1,000 On the road to Brantford there stood a saloon called the Brick which was under the ownership of Tilly Yates on the southwest corner of Paris Rd and Hardy roads The Brick was better known for its ladies of the evening. As Ms. Yates operated her establishment, she gained two other names, Calamity Jane, and Two-Gun Kate because she always toted two loaded guns She became one of the area’s most legendary characters Some young lads from Paris would often venture here to escape their quiet town in search of adventure and to toss down a few drinks which sometimes led to arguments followed by dustups. It was then that Two-Gun Kate earned her reputation, whipped out her guns and fired one over their heads. The lads knew that it was time to clear the premises If they were not so inclined, Kate, being a crack shot, wouldn't hesitate to wing one of them. It was in one such brawl around March 1883, that she hit a Paris man in the leg and embarrassed him to no end, the man swore he would get his revenge. In 1885, around Christmas time, five men associated with the Paris man, decided it was time to get even When Tilly got word that they were coming, she called her bouncers and locked and barred the doors. The gang approached and was emphatically told that if they knew what was good for them, they would move on They dropped into another tavern until they regained their nerve and decided to return to the Brick that same night. When they found the doors still barred, they began using rocks and a small battering ram to

gain entry. When a back window was broken, Tilly got the guns out, shots were fired, and the mob moved on with zero casualties Tilly Yates was a force to be reckoned with and few men ever tested her again after that night. Among the antics for which the Brick was famous, was its collection of dancing girls who arranged themselves in their colourful ruffled skirts on the front balcony on warm sunny Sunday afternoons. From this perch they took great delight in heckling the carriages being driven by

young men who were taking their ladies out for a pleasant afternoon drive The men would speed up the horses while the ladies would turn their heads away from such lewd scenes. Other roads led to Paris, but this was by far the most popular. By the 1950s the Brick had become an apartment building and eventually it was demolished altogether and replaced by a new building. But the legend of Two Gun Kate and the Old Brick Saloon has been retold for generations

Above: Corner of Market & Capron St. Paris c1880s,

Below: The Brick on Paris Rd. c1950s

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Local artist’s work is a vibrant celebration of her unique interpretation of the world

IN THE STUDIO

With Taren White

My visit with artist Jo Forrest at her Paris, Ontario home was like entering an enchanted garden. Jo is a multi-talented artist whose home is filled with her beautiful creations. I was greeted by Jo in her entryway which was glowing from her striking, handmade stained-glass windows. Window ledges were adorned with plants and walls with Jo’s paintings of fruit, florals, portraits and landscapes. We made our way to Jo’s studio space where the real journey began, deep into the creative mind of Jo Forrest. It was a colourful, vibrant celebration of her unique interpretation of nature, the human body and unique objects.

Jo’s earliest memories of being inspired to create art were from the age of three. She recalls doing a fish drawing on a piece of cardboard that her mother then painted. Jo’s cousin still has this piece of art in her cottage. Jo’s life has been filled with art and creativity. She recalls the neighbourhood children coming to her house to play because they

Meet local artist Jo Forrest - her paintings are often inspired by her poetry!

could get messy with every imaginable art supply and create to their hearts’ content.

“I just grew up thinking being an artist was fun and normal,” says Jo. Her mother had a significant influence on her career as an artist.

Jo was influenced by her colour and design sense. Her mother painted every day, so Jo became a painter too. There were lots of books in the house on art. It was like having a private library

Continued on page 14

photo credit: Duncan Graham (director)

Local artist Jo Forrest is a multi-talented artist who dabbles in a variety of mediums which are a vibrant celebration of her unique interpretation of nature, the human body and unique objects. Photos by Taren White

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Jo always read a lot, and loved writing in school, but she never thought of herself as a writer She started writing short stories and long titles for her paintings and thought, “what if I write a poem to go with the painting?” She’s been doing it ever since. One example comes from the poem, ‘It’ s Friday Night in Paris.’

“It’s Friday night in Paris, it's the calm before the storm, the darkness is a soft cocoon, the rumpled bed is warm.”

Growing up, Jo attended art galleries in Vancouver regularly, and was exposed to a lot of interesting art. Jo is also influenced by the surrealists, and she loves Lawren Harris, Georgia O'Keeffe and Damien Hirst.

Jo is inspired by the imagery in her poems, but sometimes she just sees something she likes and must paint it. Jo is working on vampire clowns at the moment. They are collaged images of faces and body parts from anatomy books which she paints on top of.

Sometimes she will use family photos or photographs of herself Jo’s favourite mediums to work with are paper collage and acrylic paint. She loves the translucency of water colours as well. Jo describes her artwork as painted dreams Not literally, but she likes a dream-like, otherworldly quality. She likes bright colours when she’s painting a subject such as florals, and a darker atmosphere if she’s doing her vampire collages. She’s completed a few self-portraits as well.

She takes a camera with her everywhere she goes, just in case she sees something interesting and inspiring. She was recently moved by two mannequins in a shop window in downtown Paris

Continued on page 15

Jo is inspired by the imagery in her poems, but sometimes she just sees something she likes and must paint it.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

I asked Jo what she enjoyed most about being an artist in Paris, she replied, “There are a lot of talented artistic people living here. Amy Walsh-Harris and I did an art show last summer, and lots of people came It was a great experience I had a lot of good conversations with everyone. I wasn't sure what kind of a reaction I was going to get, since my work is a little left-of-centre, but everyone seemed to like it ”

Jo has written four books, which include her poetry and paintings. Three of her books are available on Amazon: “Dancing Down Entropy Street”, “Echoes in the Void”, and “Nosferatu - The Vampire's Circus” She’s currently working on her fifth book and is busy writing every day.

To learn more about Jo Forrest you can visit her online joforrestvisualpoetry.squarespace.co m or www.joforrest.art

You can view one of Jo’s paintings from the 'Nosferatu' series called, “The Blue Balloon” in an online exhibit through the John B. Aird Gallery this summer.

If you know of a local artist that would enjoy being featured, please reach out to me: Taren White Gallery, 13 Grand River St. N., Paris, ON.

www.tarenwhitegallery.com

https://www.instagram.com/tarenwhit egallery/

A Few Good Men produces a few good laughs

Playful Fox Production’s A Few Good Men captivated audiences in four separate shows from March 3rd to 5th The actors and actresses graciously welcomed standing ovations from theatre goers, who made it out to the show despite the snowstorm brewing outside. The local theatre group, who celebrated its 5th anniversary in Paris last year, is currently prepping for The Little Mermaid, which they will present in Fergus at the Fergus Grand Theatre March 31 to April 2 and in Kitchener at the Registry Theatre from April 7th to 9th . AND …. “We are so thrilled to be bringing "Disney's Mary Poppins" to Paris in May! We had our first readthrough last night and everyone already sounds so good!,” said Marissa Fox. SPOILER ALERT! The leads of Mary Poppins

threat" performers - Meredith Wood and Sean

Tickets are on sale now, $5 off (per adult ticket) until March

Facebook for updates. Photo source:

and Bert are being played by two very experienced "triple

Hauk. The show runs May 19-21 at the ForParisCentre.

20th. Follow Playful Fox Productions on

Playful Fox Productions

PARIS CELEBRATION, MARCH 17, 18 & 19

This spring, join in a celebration of the many things that make the small towns of Hamilton Halton Brant one incomparable community! The Heart of Ontario Tour is an immersive three-weekend event showcasing so many of the things we love about where we live. From amazing local music performances and regional cuisine to local artisans, creative installations and hands-on activities, this all-ages event truly offers something for everyone.

PARIS FAIRGROUNDS

139 Silver Street, Paris, Ontario

How do we love The Heart of Ontario?

Join in celebrating some of the many ways this March when The Heart of Ontario Tour kicks off in Paris. From a live concert with a sit-down dinner, to a vintage pop-up, hands-on activities for the kids and art installations that you must see to believe, this is a weekend that’s not to be missed!

LEPRECHAUN MADNESS PRESENTED BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, SUNDAY MARCH 19TH

Come and join Bellhollow for Leprechaun Madness, at an indoor event at 12 Catharine Ave, Brantford. This event is a full day quest! We will have a leprechaun run around challenging you and if you win, you get a coin! Who ever has the most coins at the end of the day wins! There will be a surprise for the winner.

There will be two battle games!

You will be placed on team for the whole day. To add some shenanigans to the game, you will have to use coins to trade classes. The games will be posted in the discussion around. Also we will have kid guard going on in the back for who ever would like to bring their kids! Cost is $15 for adults and $5 for children. Find out more online!

PDHS graduate throws some serious weight around, excelling at University of South Dakota

By Casandra Turnbull

A PDHS graduate is throwing some serious weight around at the University of South Dakota. Kenzie Campbell, who graduated from Paris High in 2020 but attended the school from 2016 to 2021, competed in the Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships with the University of South Dakota (USD) Women’s team at the end of February. The team won the championships, by more than 48 points against the second placed school, and Kenzie’s fourth place weight throw was a personal best (19 44 metres) and registers her as third overall in Canada and fifth overall in USD history. Kenzie is a member of Athletics Ontario so her individual results also rank her against all others in Canada. She currently throws 9.07 kgs.

Kenzie’s prowess in track and field developed in 2016 when she joined the Brantford Track and Field Club. She started as a sprinter and jumper and then transitioned to throwing hammer, weight, shot put and javelin, explains her mom, Lisa Campbell She took the skills she learned at the club and competed on PDHS’ track team in the long jump, javelin and shot-put events. After three years of practicing and throwing hammer, competing along the way, Kenzie earned a scholarship to USD, where she is studying to become a Nurse.

“We are so proud of her accomplishments both in school and in throwing,” said Lisa on behalf of herself and her husband Tim. “She has been on the Dean’s list each semester. To be able to manage both her studies and training is a true testament to her dedication to the sport

Kenzie Campbell signing her notice of intent for the University of South Dakota The PDHS graduate is having a good academic and athletic year so far.

We can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next.”

Lisa was able to attend the Summit League Championships, but a midwest blizzard delayed the competition slightly so she only caught one day of competition and missed out on the final day when the university took home the title. Both Lisa and Tim plan to attend the outdoor conference championships in Fargo, North Dakota in May. When they are unable to support their daughter live in person, they watch live streams, view videos or track her progress through online results.

Kenzie, who hails from Burford, Ontario, not only attended school in

Kenzie Campbell is a member of the 2023 University of South Dakota Women’s Indoor Track and Field Team. They easily won the Summit Championship last month Kenzie recorded a personal best of 19.44 metres in weight throw.

Paris, but also skated at the Paris Figure Skating Club for seven years before she fully transitioned into track and field athletics. Lisa is still the President of the Paris Figure Skating Club. “When she transitioned to track and field her coaches were amazed at her body position awareness, which she needed for figure skating. Also, when she transitioned to throwing, she already knew how to spin without getting dizzy from figure skating, so that also helped her.”

Kenzie and her teammates are now preparing for the outdoor seasons which starts later this month The team is looking to defend their championship title from the 2022 season and Kenzie, of course, will look to continue to improve her personal best throws.

Nominate a PMHA volunteer for an award!

The Paris Minor Hockey Association is hosting its annual awards banquet on Tuesday, April 11 from 6:45pm to 8pm at the Paris Fairgrounds. All players from U8 to U18 are invited to attend. They are also looking for volunteer nominations. Do you know a coach or volunteer you’d like to recognize for their outstanding efforts this season? Email your nomination to president@parisminorhockey.com and secretary@parisminorhockey.com . Nominations will be accepted for the following positions: Local League and Rep coach of the year; Local League and Rep Trainer of the Year; Adult Volunteer of the Year Award and Student Volunteer of the Year Award. Nominations are open until March 22.

A $500 PMHA scholarship is up for grabs- apply by March 31st

Each year Paris Minor Hockey awards one scholarship of $500 to a third-year U18 player. PMHA encourages all high school graduating players to apply. Applicants must be graduating students as of September; they must reside in the area with the PMHA boundaries and must have registered with PMHA for the previous season. All applicants must be in good financial standing with PMHA and must be enrolled in a postsecondary institution. The deadline to file is March 31.

All applicants must submit a high school transcript, and essay of approximately 500 words discussing your educational goals. Send essay and qualifications to president@parisminorhockey.com and secretary@parisminorhockey.com

U9 MD team caps season off with Silver at Final Days Tournament

The U9 MD team sponsored by Desjardins participated in the Final Days Tournament held on home ice at the Brant Sports Complex last weekend. The Wolfpack squad is ending the season on a high note, claiming second place in their division. The first game was a 6-1 win against Ayr, followed by a 3-0 shutout against Delhi. The team lost two games to a tough Langton squad to finish with silver.

Congratulations team! This silver medal comes on the heels of an exciting night for the team who got the behind the scenes treatment at a Hamilton Bulldogs game on March 5th . They attended the game with the U11 Rep team. Word on the street is that one team’s lucky manager walked away with the Big Red Light prize!

Photo shared through PMHA Wolfpack

SCOREBOARD MARCH 9 – MARCH 16

*U11 Team 2 sponsored by Nick’s No Frills wins 4-1 against U11 Team 1 sponsored by Brant Sports

*U13 Team 1 sponsored by Arora Dental wins 2-1 against Burford Coyotes

*U13 Rep sponsored by Paris Optimist Club loses 3-2 to Tillsonburg Tornadoes

*U13 Team 2 sponsored by Fifth Ground Entertainment loses 4-2 to Delhi Rockets

*U15 Rep sponsored by Comfort Plus Climate Care ties 4-4 with Tavistock Titans

IT’S PLAYOFF TIME!

*U11 Rep sponsored by Pelton Transportation plays at the Brant Sports Complex on March 20 at 6pm.

*U11 Team 2 sponsored by Nick’s No Frills plays at the Brant Sports Complex on March 26th at 1:30pm

*U13 Team 1 sponsored by Arora Dental plays at Brant Sports Complex March 23 at 7pm

*U15 Team 1 sponsored by Adkins Financial plays at the Brant Sports Complex on March 23 at 8:20pm

Paris Mounties season comes to end after 4-1 quarter final series against the Norwich Merchants

MOUNTIES REPORT

With George Le Gresley

The Paris Mounties faced a tough Norwich Merchants team in the first round of the PJHL quarter final playoffs. The Merchants had won 29 of their regular season games compared to Paris’ five wins so the cards were stacked against them in this playoff series. Paris lost the first three games but had a hometown victory to stay alive earlier this week. That playoff run came to an end last night as the team lost 6-2 on the road in Norwich. Back tracking to game one, also in Norwich, the team knew it was going to be a challenge, as goalie Nick Barber was injured and likely out for the rest of the season and goalie Scott Rodrigue was not playing as he had to write a midterm exam that evening. Filling in between the pipes were two alternate players willing to face a Junior C game for the first time in their careers Unfortunately, there wasn’t a miracle on ice happening in Norwich, as the Mounties lost 10-4 Goals for the Mounties came from Grant Eastwood, Cole Main, Bhrett Hibbert and Ethan Bush. Game two was back in Paris and Scott Rodrigue was back in goal (and reported that he did okay on his exam). Xavier Moura opened

the scoring to take a first period lead, followed by a Merchants goal to tie the score The Mounties took advantage of a power play opportunity with a Tye Wetzel goal and maintained a 2-1 lead until the end of the first period. Two minutes into the second period, Tyler Hill-Griffeon scored and the Mounties took a 3-1 lead Unfortunately, what followed was four Norwich goals. Xavier Moura scored his second goal of the game, with the period ending with the Norwich Merchants ahead 5-4. The Mounties fought hard to get the tying goal in the third period and to send the game into a possible overtime, however with

the Paris goalie pulled, any hope of a tie was erased with an empty net goal by Norwich Overall, the team played hard and earned some respect from the Norwich team and fans.

Game three wasn’t as sharp with Paris on the losing end of a 4-1 marker Norwich opened the first period with two goals, but they didn’t go unanswered as Aidan Switzer found the back of the net In the second and third periods, the Merchants scored a goal in each, rounding out the final score in a penalty laden game.

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Will Curwen battles for position with a Norwich Merchants player in front of the net in Game 4 on Tuesday, March 14.

Photo by Michelle Malvaso

The real excitement came in game four back in Paris. The Merchants had a series sweep in mind, and came out hard scoring two unanswered goals in the first period.

The second period started off well for the Merchants, adding a goal four and a half minutes into the period. However, 16 seconds later Grant Eastwood scored to close the gap 3-1

The third period was all Paris in a penalty filled period testing the Mounties' power play and penalty kill teams. Wil Curwen started the goal scoring spree with a power play goal followed by a short-handed goal by Aidan Switzer.

Suddenly it was a tie game The game winner came off the stick of Josh Schell, another power play goal, to claim the lead 4-3. The Merchants pulled their goalie in the last few minutes of the game, but Tye Wetzel sealed the deal with an empty netter. The final score was 5-3

All Photos by Michelle Malvaso

U8 Wolfpack Team 1 wraps up season full of wins, lessons and new friendships

By Casandra Turnbull

The U8 Paris Wolfpack Team 1 is wrapping up its season this weekend and it’s been quite a year for the young squad.

It’s hard to believe that six months ago these players struggled to skate backwards, skate with their heads up and maneuver around a player, let alone stick handle. But with the guidance of coaches Mike Heintzman, Dave Corbett and Dave Deane, these young players are well on their way to executing some fine positional play.

“At the beginning of the year with our team I had intentions of doing just a bit of positional play and our focus would mainly be on edge work, stick skills and shooting,” said Head Coach Mike Heintzman. “As the season progressed, our kids showed they were quick learners and it allowed me to show more positional play knowledge, which will only help them when next year begins.”

As the players graduate to U9, they begin to learn more rules of the game and by the second half of the season they are using full ice Heintzman said the team’s season record, only one loss (excluding tournaments), is a testament to how well team members gelled.

By the second half of the season, they were moving the puck more and trusting one another.

He noted that every individual player experienced some growth. “Losing one game on the season is great but how each player was a coachable player makes it so much fun for a coach,” he said. “Having each player being able to look back at where they started the season and see the result of all the hard work they put in and how it really paid off, while learning to play as a team,” is icing on the cake

Heintzman is new to coaching within the PMHA, but far from new to coaching in general Up to eight years ago, he ran his own hockey academy, which started as learn to skate and developed into a full skills program based out of Kitchener Waterloo. He gave 350 lessons in his first year He’s also ran the Canadian Tire Jump Start program at the Cambridge Muslim Academy. Now he enjoys coaching the teams his children play on.

“All in all, this season for me makes me so proud. The kids were great, the parents were a pleasure and committed to getting their kids to the rink, which only helps the kids out more. The kids did more than I had ever hoped or planned for this year, and I had a blast doing it.”

“The kids did more than I had ever hoped or planned for this year”

FOAM, FOAM AND MORE FOAM, returning to the Fairgrounds!

Last year’s debut at the Paris Fairgrounds provided to be a success for 5k Foam Fest organizers as they will be bringing the obstacle type race back to Paris this summer. Proceeds from the event support Make-AWish Foundation. Pictured above are some participants from last August. Photos by Michelle Malvaso

By Casandra Turnbull

The 5K Foam Fest brought its family-friendly course to the Paris Fairgrounds as one of its summer tour stops in 2022. It was wildly popular with participants with over 4,600 people participating in the one-day obstacle course and run that raises money for MakeA-Wish Canada. Participants were urged to Get Filthy Clean and in doing so, raised around $16,000 in online sales plus another $5,000 from the gear check the day of the event.

With a successful debut, it’s no wonder organizers are bringing it back to the Paris Fairgrounds again on Saturday, August 12th . The course will be similar to last year, in terms of layout and how more than 20 obstacles spanned the entire Agricultural Society grounds, but they always add something fun each year

to make sure it’s a little different, teased Michael Lambert, Vice President and General Manager of 365 Sports Events.

“We had tons of good feedback from the last event. The weather was perfect and we saw tons of happy participants and smiles throughout the course,” said Lambert.

Last year’s stop in Paris was somewhat of a surprise to organizers who originally planned to hold it Chicopee Ski Resort before the pandemic hit. Due to renovations at the resort following the pandemic, there was a bit of a scramble to find a replacement venue. Paris checked all the boxes they were looking for, said Lambert.

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“We enjoyed working with the staff at the Paris Fairgrounds. The venue has such a great festival area and a fun course,” he added. This year’s summer tour goal is to raise $150,000 for Make-A-Wish Canada. They’re also introducing a ‘Go Green’ initiative aimed at reducing their carbon footprint.

“We have taken some pretty big steps as a company to reduce our environmental impact,” explains Lambert. “Our participant items like the buffs are made from recycled water bottles, remove all unnecessary plastics packaging from any items we procure for participants, we are going fully paperless,

no bibs or bib buttons (digital offering), paper cups and giving all day staff and volunteers reusable water bottles.”

All partners, sponsors and participants are encouraged to do the same. Tickets are on sale now online, if you’d like to go down the world’s largest inflatable waterslide, duck through mucky mud pits or float through 2.5 million cubic feet of foam! The event is open for ages 7 and up and there will be a free kid’s zone for kids under 6, adult supervision required This zone will have a mini inflatable obstacle course, a bouncy castle and games.

All Photos by Michelle Malvaso

Aries: March 21 - April 19 (Fire) –You have been avoiding what needs to be done. Now you have to make a list of all the things you have been procrastinating on Then start the week out with just making plans and by the weekend you can get everything done If you do you will feel great, if not next week is going to be very busy

Taurus: April 20 - May 20 (Earth) –

You are ready to receive the love you deserve Open up and let the people that are surrounding you in They have been waiting for you to let them have a chance with you. A real connection is there. You have been distracted by work and will need to tie up some loose ends before you choose love

Gemini: May 21 - June 20 (Air) –Tension has built up with loved ones. If this is with your lover, then you may need to take a break from each other If it is with friends or family you have to take a moment to figure out what needs to be said and done to repair this awkward situation You are in the middle of this so you have to be the one to solve it.

Cancer: June 21 – July 22 22 (Water) – Career has taken centre stage lately. All your hard work is beginning to pay off. You need to take a moment away from everyone and everything so you can see clearly what you need to do next. Your love life also needs some thought and attention.

Leo: July 23 - August 22 (Fire) –

You have been trying to do everything on your own. This week you will want a break, but you will avoid taking it. By the end of the week you will be exhausted and you will have to ask for help Your partner wants to support you and be a part of all you’re doing, so let them

Virgo: August 23 - September 22 (Earth) – You have goals

You have a great support system in the people around you Think about how you can use these people to help to reach all your March goals You may be resisting reaching out because you are being stubborn. Pick and choose where you can be stubborn.

Libra: September 23 - October 22 (Air) - Lots of erotic energy around you this week You will be feeling sexy and powerful. Use this energy to change your career path and to make bold moves in your love life. If you do not ask you can not receive

Scorpio: October 23November 21 (Water) – you are aligning. You will spend this week grounding yourself and searching for harmony in everything and everyone Take a walk out in the forest and connect with all that surrounds you You will not accomplish much until you find inner peace

Sagittarius: November 22December 21 (Fire) – You will have to face the truth in your relationship You will have to have the conversations this week that you have been avoiding all month. Your career has some hiccups coming to you by mid week so you should plan a fun relaxing weekend

Capricorn: December 22January 19 (Earth) – You will have so many options coming at you this week. You need to make serious career choices that you have been putting off Your love life has been falling into a boring pattern, you will have to spice things up this weekend

Aquarius: January 20 – February 18 (Air) – Have a sit down this week with a close friend, they will guide you through the over thinking thoughts in your head You are tired of being disappointed in your love life, your career and self A trip is in order, get away even if it is for a night only.

Pisces: February 19 - March 20 (Water) – You have a lot of takers hanging off of you You must start to decide who needs to go this week. You will be tired of all the people around. You have to tread lightly at work so you do not lose your temper. You will find a sense of peace by Friday, so just hang in and breathe

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 /?ref=page_internal

Horoscopes with Tina Graziano Energy Reader

Showtimes for Galaxy Cinemas Brantford

For Saturday, March 18, 2023