The Paris Independent for Saturday May 27th, 2023

“DREAM BIG!”

“I never dreamed this would happen, I really am honoured,” Jay Wells told a crowd of over 100 people who gathered May 26th for the official opening of the Jay Wells Park located off Scenic Ridge Gate in Paris. He encouraged kids to dream big because you never know what will happen. Jay attended the opening with his family (left to right) Stephanie Wells, Colleen Wells, Jay Wells, Alexa Wells and Kendra Wells. See more on this story on page 5.

Photo by Casandra Turnbull

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

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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

THE CELTIC TRIO – Sunday, May 28th at Burford United Church at 137 King St at 2 pm Featuring Allison Lupton, Shane Cook and Kyle Waymouth. Adults, $30, children under 12 $10. Tickets available at Betty’s Place, Harris Jewelers and Burford United Church.

TODAY! THE WRITER’S VISION BOARD- Hosted by the County of Brant Library on Saturday, May 27th at 1:30 pm. Join us and explore the creative processes behind good storytelling (fiction and nonfiction), and create individual vision boards that will encourage, motivate, and energize you and your writing Register for the workshop at or connect with staff at your local branch to sign up This is a free event.

CARA SMITH BAND PRESENTED BY THE BURFORD

OPTIMIST CLUB- A night of country music and classic rock covers, with 100% of proceeds going to the new skatepark in Burford Saturday, June 3 from 8 pm to 12 am at the Burford Community Centre. Learn more and get your tickets online.

PARIS LIONS CLUB WALK FOR DOG GUIDES – Sunday, June 4th meeting at Lion’s Park Paris for registration at 1 pm Everyone welcome to participate Check out the story in this edition!

ROYAL STORY TIME

– On Saturday, June 17th at Telfer Place, 245 Grand River St N at 1 pm The Midnight Princess from the Glass Slipper Company will be at Telfer Place to share stories, sign songs and take pictures Interact with a princess and all the Telfer Place residents. Everyone is welcome. Tickets are $5 / person and are available online

In support of County of Public Brant Library

PARIS MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPEAKER SERIES – The final speaker in the three-part series happens on Sunday, May 28th at the Paris Museum from 2 pm to 4 pm James Christison will talk about how pottery was reused and repaired with care. Examples of different techniques will be shared.

PARIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY GARDEN TOURSaturday & Sunday, June 3 & 4th from 10 am - 4 pm in Paris. Come and visit behind the gates of six beautiful Paris and area gardens. Live Musician’s and Local Artist’s will be performing. In the gardens. Tickets $15.00 per person. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Sobey's Floral Department in Paris, Green Heron Books, Walter’s Greenhouse or at the Gardens on the day of the event Please call Anne Vernon 905-536-2037 for more information.

PARIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY JUNE MEETING - June 7th at the Paris Fairgrounds at 7:30 pm. Our guest speaker is truly Anna Leggatt from York on June 7th(last minute switch happened in May), her topic is ‘Shade Gardens’. Anna writes for several magazines on topics which include her travels abroad, and subjects that reflect her vast interest and passion for gardening. We welcome visitors. Come and join your local Garden Club!

PARKS AND REC OPEN HOUSE – Wednesday, June 7th from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Brant Sports Complex. Share your input to help shape the Parks & Rec programs offered by the County. More information on this engagement online.

ANNUAL BIKE RODEO –

Hosted by the Paris Community Safety Group on Saturday June 10th, at the Syl App’s Community Centre, side parking lot from 10 am 12 pm. Free! Everyone ages 4-12 are welcome to attend There is a chance to win a bicycle, courtesy of Robin McNaughton from the Co-Operators

Friday evening a crowd gathered to celebrate hometown hockey hero Jay Wells as a new park in a subdivision off Rest Acres Road was named after him. Jay attended the event with his family and said he was honoured to be back in Paris to see the park open. The spacious park features a play structure, basketball nets and an enclosed court for sports such as ball hockey. Mayor David Bailey called it a beautiful park and was happy to put Jay’s name on it.

Jay thanked the crowd and offered some invaluable advice to never give up and dream big.

Jay made his mark in the NHL but one of his career highlights was helping to lead the Rangers to a Stanley Cup title in 1994. Jay brought the Stanley Cup to Paris. Want to know more about Jay? Catch Chris Whelan’s article in last week’s Independent.

Paris Rail Trail dog attack leads to charges

MEDIA RELEASE - The County of Brant Bylaw Enforcement team responded to an incident on May 23, 2023 with the OPP regarding an aggressive dog on the Rail Trail between Paris and Glen Morris. “We would like to assure the public that action has been taken and the Rail Trail is safe to use. One individual has been charged under the County’s Animal Control By-law. The matter remains under investigation, and we are working to ensure that our trail system remains safe for use. Additional charges or proceedings are pending the outcome of the investigation,” according to the media release Numerous posts popped up online this week discussing the incident where one person was taken to the hospital following a dog attack on the rail trail Many people weighed in on the topic stating they’ve

come across a particular man and his aggressive dogs many times, leaving people feeling uncomfortable on the trail. The outpour in community discussion on rail trail safety led the County to issue the media release. The County wants to remind people to keep your dogs leashed and under control at all times when in public spaces for the safety of everyone and other animals. People are encouraged to call Bylaw Enforcement to report dogs at large, dog bites or owners not taking reasonable precaution with their dogs.

Bylaw Enforcement is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm at 519 44BRANT (519 442 7268), 1.855.44BRANT. If the issue occurs after hours and needs to be addressed immediately, please contact the County of Brant OPP at 1 888 310 1122

Councillors say ‘no’ to more rapid development Administration and Operations Committee passes on funding opportunity that would mean ‘hitting the gas pedal’ on more growth & development

By Casandra Turnbull

Brant County councillors are not sold on the idea of federal funding if it means rapidly building more houses than we are already rapidly building.

This discussion took place during the May 16th Administration and Operations Committee meeting as members discussed the federal government’s National Housing Strategy and a new funding opportunity available to municipalities who are willing to hit the gas pedal and speed up residential development.

The Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), administered through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is a $4 billion fund designed to entice municipalities to build more homes faster The quicker the community builds, the more lucrative the funding will be, to meeting the government’s goal of creating 100,000 net new housing units by 2026-2027.

The framework for the funding would see the county receive approximately $20,000 per unit plus top up funding between $7,000 to $15,000 if other factors are met, such as housing type and proximity to services like transit and housing related infrastructure

The funding doesn’t come without strings attached. In addition to a

commitment to quicker growth, municipalities will also need additional staff to keep up with the growth demand and complete the extensive clerical work required to obtain the funding – develop an action plan, commit to a housing supply growth target, complete/update a housing needs assessment and stay on top of required reports.

“I’m looking for confirmation or if there’s a way to take advantage of this funding opportunity but control the type of dwellings we are going to accelerate. Or if we

dive into this, are we stuck accepting all types of housing will have to happen faster?” asked Paris Councillor Steve Howes Heather Boyd, General Manager of Corporate Services, addressed Howes’ question, noting it was a difficult one to answer.

“(We would be) committing to a great deal more of housing. We would still have planning control, but we would have to move forward a lot of projects of some fairly significant density to achieve these projections,” said Boyd.

Continued on page 7

Residential and commercial development in Brant County is booming. A new federal incentive is giving municipalities the chance to obtain funding but it comes with a string attached – an immense increase in development It was discussed last week at an Administration meeting where members said ‘no thanks.’

Photo by Michelle Malvaso

Howes noted this plan goes against the previous council’s commitment four years ago of tapping the brakes when it comes to development and residential growth. “This would be putting our foot on the gas,” he said.

Councillor David Miller stated he is always leery of federal governments bearing gifts. He questioned how many hours of staff resources would be required to apply for this funding and wondered if there’s a ballpark figure of how much money the County of Brant would be eligible for if it applied

Boyd confirmed it would take significant staff resources just to complete the action plan as she noted that the County must adopt at least seven growth initiatives just to be considered for the funding. “It’s not just about the numbers (of houses), but where they are, what types of housing - all have different bonuses. Everything has a scoring system. There would be lots of decisions that need to be made before we could come up with an answer,” Boyd said in response to Miller’s questions

If the county does apply, based on population from the

2021 census data, Brant would apply under the large/urban area category and that would mean committing to a housing supply growth target that increases the average annual rate of growth by at least 10%. The application window for funding opens this summer for 45 days only and if approved the first advance of funding would be received by winter.

“I would be leery of committing to it, not having all the answers in front of us. We would be committing to something we don’t know is going to cost us at the end of the day,” said Miller

Howes doubled down on his stance to say no to more rapid growth. “I don’t support the idea of us taking more action on this. It does seem like one of those ‘too many strings attached’ (initiatives). Anything that is going to make us build houses faster and not just the types of houses we specify is too much for our communities and is too much for our staff. All my instincts are saying this not a good idea for us.” Howes put the motion on the floor to receive the HAF incentive as information only, but not act on it His motion was unanimously supported

Standing ovation as Mary Poppins flies out of Paris!!

That’s a wrap! Mary Poppins has flown out of town as Playful Fox Productions celebrates the finale of another successful weekend of performances. The cast and crew have a lot of reasons to celebrate following two sold out shows and four standing ovations. Meredith Wood and Sean Hauk were the stars of the show as Mary Poppins and Bert. Mary Poppins is based on the beloved movie starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Everyone who took part in the production, both on stage and off, are said to be grateful for the wonderful responses from the incredible audiences. The local theatre group is now preparing for a special event –A Garden Concert Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber, taking place June 17th at 4 pm at Whistling Gardens. This licensed event is one day only with a rain date scheduled for June 18th . Tickets are available online www.pfpwebber.ceventbrite.ca

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

“Embers are Awesome!” Don’t believe us? Sign up today!

Mounties Report

To the Editor:

As another season of Girl Guides is wrapping up, the units are busy preparing for the coveted year-end sleepover at Camp Impeesa in June. This past week, the 5th Paris Ember Group learned a little bit about media, particularly print/digital media at their weekly unit meeting. The girls took the opportunity to create their own letter to the Editor sharing the many reasons why they love Guiding, what they’ve learned this past year and why they would encourage new members to join!

We really enjoyed participating in and learning about the following events/activities:

-Making crafts, like stain glass art!

-Going on trips such as the one to the Bell Homestead

-Learning lots of poems and songs (a lot of songs!)

-Playing with friends

-Celebrating birthdays

-Welcoming special guests like the Brant OPP and County and Brant Fire Department

-Learning about the World Guiding Centres and historical Guide uniforms

-Learning Yoga

-Learning how to use power tools

-Celebrating the bridging up ceremony called the Sweet Success

-And selling cookies!

Most of all, we really enjoyed making new friends. We would encourage new members because Embers are awesome and we have a lot of fun!

If you’d like to learn more about Girl Guides of Canada, and the opportunities available for all Paris units, please visit them online. Registration for 2023-/2024 opens on Monday, May 29. Adult volunteers are welcome. Unit guides are crucial to ensuring the program continues to operate in Paris for years to come.

The 5th Paris Embers enthusiastically participated in a lesson on print and digital media this past week. Part of the exercise included writing a Letter to the Editor, as well as creating their very own newspaper featuring news all about themselves! Thank-you girls for inviting the Paris Independent to your meeting!

Salute to Brant Business nominations open

MEDIA RELEASE - The County of Brant Salute to Brant Business event honours local businesses who are leading the way in their industries. Nominations are now open and will close on June 26, 2023. “Take a moment to nominate an outstanding County of Brant business,” said Zach Gable, Director of Economic Development and Tourism. “This year, we have four (4) categories including Agriculture, High Growth and Innovation, Good Times in Brant and the Sustainability Award.” More information about the Award Categories include:

• Brant Farms For All Agriculture Award: Recognize an agriculture business or a business that directly supports the agriculture sector that has positively contributed to the agriculture sector and/or addresses challenges related to agriculture in Canada.

• Brant Works High Growth and Innovation Award: Recognize a business that has experienced significant growth over the last 24 months or has implemented innovative practices into their day-to-day operations.

• Good Times in Brant Award: Recognize a business or organization that is in the tourism

industry, or directly supports visitation to the County of Brant while creating a positive impact on the environment and the community.

• Our Future Brant Sustainability Award: Recognize a business in the County of Brant that has implemented sustainable practices into their day-to-day practices. “We are looking forward to receiving submissions as we have so many incredible businesses located in the County of Brant,” added Gable. “Self nominations are also encouraged.”

Salute to Brant Business will be held on September 21, 2023, from 5 pm to 9 pm. Registration for the event will open this summer.

Salute to Brant Business brings together leaders within the local business community, elected officials, community influencers, and various industry experts to celebrate the progress and achievements of businesses in the County of Brant and share industry insights.

For more information and nomination forms, visit www.brant.ca/Salute

Salute to Brant Business event, a popular celebration of all the industry, innovation and successes in the community. Nominations are open from now until June 26 The event takes place on September 21st .

Rural Ontario fighting to protect farmland

Changes to the Provincial Planning Statement could open the door to residential development on agricultural lands. County of Brant could lose 7,700 acres of scarce agricultural land, if approved

By Casandra Turnbull

There’s a storm brewing in rural Ontario over the recently released proposed Provincial Planning Statement. Some of the more significant changes take aim at Ontario’s agricultural sector and if approved, will drastically impact the agri-food industry as previously protected farmland will be open for development, essentially killing scarce, non-renewable lands in favour of more residential homes

It’s a devastating blow for agricultural and environmental activists who are urging the government to reconsider plans to revoke the Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan which will be be replaced by this revised Provincial Planning Statement (PPS).

There’s a lot of modifications under the PPS, which received its first reading in legislature in early April, and a majority of the modifications are in place to drive the government’s agenda to push more growth in Ontario’s largest and fast-growing municipalities to create 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years. One of the biggest and most controversial amendments centres around prime agricultural land as owners of agricultural land will be allowed three new lot severances per farm property, if agriculture is the principal use of the existing parcel of land. These residential lots will also be permitted, under the new PPS, to build two Accessory Residential Units (ARU) on each lot, subject to certain criteria.

“My professional opinion is that this is not a bad change, until the 2 ARU policy is applied to the three new severed lots policy – then it’s simply too much,” said Pam Duesling, General Manager of Development Services for the County of Brant. Duesling did acknowledge that ARU’s are a great way for farmers to create generational successional planning and as long as it is compact development, ARU’s could create a

low carbon footprint and do not utilize agricultural lands.

Under these proposed PPS changes, the County of Brant is expecting 7,700 new severances. With each severance capped at one acre, that’s a potential loss of 7,700 acres of farmland countywide.

According to the 2021 Census of Agriculture, the County is home to 669 farms, which is down from 712 in the 2016 Census. Brant farms generate a total Operating Revenue of $349, 423, 782 and employ 316 fulltime year-round workers, 165 parttime year-round workers and 943 seasonal or temporary workers.

“Farms in Brant are a growing contributor to the Tourism sector with many farms participating in Agritourism activities,” said Duesling of the important role agriculture plays in Brant’s economic resilience. Newly elected Ward 1 Councillor and a long-time Brant County farmer, Jennifer Kyle has some serious concerns with the revised PPS.

“Looking at the proposed changes as a councillor and as a farmer, the proposal to allow the creation of three new lots on farm parcels is very concerning to me,” said Kyle, who farms in the northwest part of the County. “On one hand, the thought of the potential profit we, as farmers, could make from severing three lots off each of our farm properties is certainly enticing. However, it’s important to take a step back and look at the bigger long-term implications that would have on our own farm and on the farming community across the county. Adding three more residences to a farm property not only takes prime agricultural land out of farm product, it also has potential to create significant challenges for future growth of that farm, particularly if it’s a livestock farm such as ours,” she explained

Continued on page 11

Elaborating further, she said “There would also be increased danger in having many more driveways coming off an already busy road and the potential for more strain with neighbours who may or may not be familiar with normal farming practices and smells. We need to make sure we are protecting our farming community and ensuring it remains viable and productive for generations to come.”

According to the County of Brant’s New Official Plan, which will be presented at a public meeting May 29th before it’s ratified by council on May 30th , the county’s long-term Community Area land needs assessment confirms the County continues to have a surplus of residential (designated greenfield area) lands in primary settlement areas required to accommodate the forecasted growth of 59,000 people by 2051. In other words, there’s enough land to meet our growth before opening agricultural severances to enhance residential growth in the county. While the new PPS does state that municipalities will still be required to designate and protect primate agricultural areas for long-term use, it also states it will be easier to establish more housing within prime agricultural lands and this has left the local agricultural community extremely concerned.

Ward 1 Councillor, and local farmer, Jennifer Kyle has concerns how lot severances will impact future generations of farmers who will face growth challenges if prime agricultural land is taken out of production.

“There would also be increased danger in having many more driveways coming off an already busy road and the potential for more strain with neighbours who may or may not be familiar with normal farming practices and smells. We need to make sure we are protecting our farming community and ensuring it remains viable and productive for generations to come.”

In a rare move, the leadership of Ontario’s agricultural organizations – Ontario Federation of Agriculture, National Farmers Union-Ontario, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Beef Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Pork, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Sheep Farmers, Veal Farmers of Ontario, Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Farmland Trust, Turkey Farmers of Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Ontario and the Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance – have all come together to release a joint statement taking a strong stance against the PPS.

“We do not support policies that will increase residential lot creation in prime agricultural areas or in rural areas that are actively farmed. Ontario boasts some of Canada’s richest and most fertile farmland and these policy changes put the sustainability of that land the food system it provides at great risk,” according to the statement issued last week. It goes on to state that Ontario’s agri-food sector is an economic powerhouse, fuelling rural communities, generating nearly 750,000 jobs and contributing more than $47 billion to Ontario’s annual GDP.

Continued on page 12

But to farm, farmers need land. Right now, Ontario’s farmland is a scarce resource, making up less than five percent of all the land in the province. To open it up to development not only jeopardizes the most fertile soil suitable for agriculture, but also opens the door to conflict between the farming and non-farming neighbours who will need to co-exist on shared land. The PPS does include a clause that states there must be a minimum distance of separation between the residential units and the farm its severed from, however, it’s inevitable that there will be issues surrounding noise, livestock smells, farm equipment, operational hours, etc There’s also questions about why it’s necessary to build more homes in isolated areas away from vital infrastructure and community services

Opening the door to residential units in a rural area also creates risk of driving up the value of existing farm land and operations making it significantly difficult for the next generation of farmers looking for attainable land.

“Rural estate housing had been banned in Ontario because it is not a good use of the land. It requires water and septic systems in remote locations and is low density. We are likely going to see a resurgence in rural estate residential housing if Bill 97 and the proposed changes to the PPS go through,” said Joan Faux, a local advocate who sits on the board of the Brant Land Trust, is a member of the County of Brant Heritage Committee and is a representative for Brant on the Greenbelt West Coalition – a group advocating for the protection of the entire Grand River Watershed.

CORRECTION

In our May 13th edition The Paris Independent featured an article on farm and road safety. In that article, we talked to Will Stoneman, Member Service Representative with Ontario Federation of Agriculture. The article contained incorrect spelling of Will’s last name. We apologize for the error.

“The County of Brant has no land protected by the Greenbelt. There appears to be nothing that the municipality will be able to do to stop this other than to oppose these changes before they come into effect,” added Faux.

The newly proposed PPS and Bill 97 is currently posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario for a 60-day commenting period, which ends on June 5th Faux urges concerned residents to write to MPP Will Bouma’s office and send messages to local media or on social media to spread the word before it’s too late.

“You do not need to be a farmer or an expert to express your opinion,” she stated, noting the loss of farmland impacts everyone as it has consequences on our local food security and our local economy If you’re not sure how to put the words together, the National Farmer’s Union provides letter templates online: https://wwwnfu ca/speak-up-toprotect-ontarios-farmland-for-farming/ Right now, Duesling says Development Services staff are pondering the possible impacts to this new proposed Provincial Planning Statement on the County of Brant and all of Ontario.

“We are working in the background on next steps to be prepared We are thinking about resources and processes,” she said. If approved in legislature, Duesling said staff will pivot in the fall of this year as required to assist in managing responsible land use development.

Zac Dalpe Ontario All-Star and member of the Paris Wolfpack

Zac’s mom, Lisa Dalpe was a fixture of the Paris community and a person that everyone knew. Whether she was at the Inksaters store she owned with her father, former Paris Reeve and Councillor Gord Gibson, or at a rink watching her sons play hockey, Lisa had a big personality and spread positivity and kindness to those around her.

In April of 2015 after suffering from bronchitis, Lisa and the Dalpe family were told the news that Lisa had a rare form of kidney cancer that had metastasized to other organs in her body progressing her case to Stage IV. Despite the struggles Lisa was going through, she remained a rock for Zac, his brothers Phil and Ben, and their father Paul until the very end. The Dalpe matriarch encouraged the family to continue living their lives to the fullest, especially since she was not able to.

One of the hardest parts for Zac, who was 25 years old at the time, was Lisa encouraging him to head to training camp at the start of the 2015-16 season, continuing to stress how proud she was of her entire family.

After a strong but all too quick fight, Lisa passed away on September 15, 2015, at the age of 51.

The Dalpe family dynamic had to shift in order to adapt for the loss of their matriarch, but Lisa’s presence has been something that will never fade Through things

like pictures and stories, Lisa’s memory is passed on to the people that did not get a chance to meet her There is an annual Lisa Dalpe Memorial hockey tournament and on June 15, 2018, Lisa’s presence in the Paris community was cemented in the form of a walkway through downtown called “Lisa’s Way”. Stretching from the town’s municipal customer service office to the local bank, the walkway represents Lisa’s ability to bring people together and the significant impact she made in the downtown area

Continued on page 14

10-year-olds; Zac Dalpe (left) and Jordan Flanagan were players on a Southern Ontario all-star team that competed in Sweden in April 2000.

Photo: Zac and his mom Lisa Dalpe

LOCAL HISTORY

Zac Dalpe grew up playing minor hockey for the Paris Wolfpack of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s (OMHA) Southern Counties League. He later played for the Brantford 99'ers AAA club in Western Ontario's Pavilion League. In 2004-05, Dalpe advanced to the AAA Minor Midget level for the 99'ers. Dalpe went unselected in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection and returned to play AAA Major Midget in 200506. After playing Major Midget, Dalpe signed with the Stratford Cullitons Junior B club of the Midwestern Ontario Hockey League for 2006-07. The following year, Dalpe signed with the British Columbia Hockey League's Penticton Vees Junior A club in 2007-08. After that season, Dalpe was drafted in the 2nd round (26th overall) of the 2008 OHL Priority Draft by the Plymouth Whalers. That same year, he was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes (2nd round, 45th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Dalpe did not play for Plymouth or Carolina (Hurricanes/River Rats/Checkers) that year Instead, he chose to accept an NCAA scholarship at Ohio State University for the 200809 campaign. He played for the Buckeyes for two seasons before making the jump to professional hockey. Dalpe played in his first NHL game on October 7, 2010, after impressing the Hurricanes during training camp and surviving several rounds of cuts.

Dalpe scored his first NHL goal on January 1, 2011. Dalpe, was traded to the Vancouver Canucks On July 13, 2014, Dalpe signed a one-year free agent contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Dalpe was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Sabres, and on the first day of free agency signed a one-year, two way contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2015. Dalpe made the Wild's opening night roster for the 2016–17 season, appearing in 9 games for 3 points before suffering a knee injury, requiring surgery, against the Dallas Stars on October 30, 2016 Upon his return to health, Dalpe was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, before suffering a second knee injury. On February 27, 2017, Dalpe was placed on waivers; he was claimed

by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was immediately reassigned to the AHL to play with the Jackets' affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters On June 9, 2017, the Blue Jackets re-signed Dalpe to a two-year, twoway contract extension Dalpe started the 2017–18 season on the Blue Jackets' NHL roster before he was later returned to the Monsters after 12 games. During the 2018–19 season, while leading the Cleveland Monsters in goals and points, Dalpe was signed to a twoyear, two-way extension to remain with the Blue Jackets on February 27, 2019 After five seasons within the Blue Jackets organization, on July 30, 2021, Dalpe left the club as a free agent and signed a twoyear, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers.

Expositor April 2002

Dalpe heading to Stanley Cup Finals!

Paris’ Zac Dalpe (left) is heading to the Stanley Cup finals after the Florida Panthers swept the Carolina Hurricanes in four games, capping it all off with a 43 win Wednesday night to claim the Prince of Wales trophy. Florida eliminated both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins on route to the Cup. Dalpe’s first NHL playoff goal came in an elimination game against the Bruins, his goal tied the game and turned the tide for Florida, essentially the start of a winning streak that’s still red hot today. Dalpe sent a shout out to his hometown, Paris, Ontario, following the game. Everyone is rooting for the Paris Native to bring the Stanley Cup back to town.

Photo source unknown

Paris Panthers Girls Rugby Season Comes to an End

Re-posted from Instagram: For our junior tournament day, 3 schools (PDHS, SJC & ACS) came together to form 2 teams - the BetterQuins and SAP. The goal was simple - fun & friendship through rugby. We got a skills clinic hosted by Brock Women’s Rugby Laughs were many, injuries were few. Both teams ended up 2nd in their pool. So we ended the tournament with a Dogs Out Touchhighlighting our skill but also our smiles & new friendships. Rugby was the BIG BIG winner today. Brant County rugby future looks bright with these ladies!!!

Photo

Nikko’s Drive Junior Disc Golf Tour stops in Paris today!

By Casandra Turnbull

A one-day Disc Golf tournament is bringing kids of all ages to Paris today to participate in Nikko’s Drive at the Dwayne Bereziuk Memorial Course at Green Lane. As part of the Nikko’s Drive Provincial Junior Tour, which includes a slew of tournaments across the province, this Paris stop is an open event attracting junior players up to the age of 15. All participants will have the chance to play the Paris course, which Tournament Director Karl Forbes describes as a beautiful, wellbalanced course

“The course designer Dwayne Bereziuk was a disc golf tournament friend of mine. His

passing was tough on the disc golf community and to bring a junior event to his course means the world to me,” said Forbes. The Paris course was modified slightly to make it more ‘junior friendly’ for today’s guest players. “We shortened some of the holes and we only play 15 holes,” said Forbes. “Seeing as this is some players’first events, we want them to have a good experience and leave them wanting more as opposed to having the event be too long and deter them from this type of play”

This is the second year Nikko’s Drive has hosted a tournament at the Paris course In 2022 Forbes reached out to the Brant Disc Golf Club, which operates its home

base in Paris and at Mohawk Park in Brantford, to see if they’d be interested in organizing a Paris event. Brant Disc Golf founding member Jennifer Snow was instrumental in getting things going, said Forbes. It was a win-win situation for not only the tournament itself, but for the tournament’s namesake as well.

Forbes’ son, Nikko, works with Snow and regards her as a strong female role model, said Forbes. Nikko is the reason this entire tournament exists and the backstory on this young player from Peterborough is astonishing.

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You can say 9year-old Nikko Forbes is a Disc Golf phenomenon. The young player finished 2nd in the World last year in the U8 division.

Nikko and his father Karl are bringing the Nikko’s Drive Junior Tour to Paris today.

credit Stewart Stick

Photo

Three years ago, at only 6 years old, Nikko was practicing his throw and Karl caught it on video and decided to upload it to social media. When Forbes woke up the following morning, the video had 15,000 views and hundreds of comments. It was going viral

“By the end of the week two of the largest sponsors in the sport had reached out to sponsor him,” said Forbes Nikko is sponsored by Innova, the largest disc golf company in the world and GRIPeq, manufactures of the most robust disc golf bags on the market. GRIPeq was the very first to share Nikko’s viral video

Nikko spent his first year travelling and playing in adult tournaments as there was only one junior event in the province at the time

“When he was seven, we decided to do an eight-stop junior tour from Kemptville in the east to Thunder Bay in the west and paired up with local clubs and tournament directors,” Forbes explained of how Nikko’s Drive was born. The youngster was so involved in the sport, not only did he participate, but he studied and passed an online exam to become a Primary Tournament Director, the youngest person

Pool / Splashpad News

The Paris Splashpad, located at 80 Laurel Street (Lion’s Park) opens on June 2nd and operates Monday to Friday, 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.

The pool opens for the season on Saturday, June 3. Click on the ad to the right for a full view of aquatic services!

to achieve that accomplishment. Unfortunately, a new rule passed by the Professional Disc Golf Association, stated you had to be 18 years old to be a tournament director so now Nikko is an assistant TD. Nikko’s fierce determination is another reason why the tournament is called “Nikko’s Drive ” Last summer’s schedule of tournaments also served to prepare Nikko for the Junior World Championships in Peoria Illinois where he placed second in the world in the under 8 division. Nikko will be participating in today’s junior event in Paris. The event starts at 8:30 am and runs all day until 3 pm It will include a morning singles competition and afternoon adult/junior best shot doubles. Forbes encourages anyone interested in the sport – or witnessing some spectacular young athletes, to come and check it out.

“The cherry on top is all you can eat Chapman’s Ice Cream and Frozen Lollies after the rounds (for the athletes of course),” said Forbes.

If you can’t catch Nikko in action, follow him on Instagram nikkojesse64397 where you will find many of his videos including some of his six hole in ones!

“The course designer Dwayne Bereziuk was a disc golf tournament friend of mine. His passing was tough on the disc golf community and to bring a junior event to his course means the world to me,”

Kevin Forbes, Tournament Director

Hole in One at Brantford Golf & Country Club!

A relaxing round of golf with the family quickly transpired into a lot of excitement for Chelsie Sharp when she recorded her first-ever Ace on the 8th hole at the Brantford Golf & Country Club on May 22nd, 2023. The Glen Morris woman, who grew up in Paris, was happy to share the experience with her husband Adam Sharp and their 16 month old son, Owen. Chelsie predicts this might be her only hole in one so she enjoyed the moment while it lasted! She was presented with a prestigious Hole in One Club Award from the Brantford Golf & Country Club. She used a seven iron to drive the ball 105 yards. Congratulations Chelsie!

Submitted photos

Do you want to be a part of the Ontario 55+ Summer Games?

The Games Organizing Committee is currently recruiting volunteers for the 2023 Ontario 55+ Summer Games. Volunteering is a great way to support your community, earn volunteer hours, and build new skills!

Volunteers are needed in a number of areas, including:

*Sports and Activities

*Ceremonies & Special Events

*Food Services

*Transportation

*Signage & Marketing

*Games Headquarters

*Information Tables

Interested? You can learn more or fill out our Volunteer Registration Form at: Click Here

Paris High School athletes compete at A.A.B.H.N Track and Field Championships

The PDHS track and field team headed to Kiwanis Field in Brantford on May 11 and 12th to compete in the A A B H N championships CWOSSA championships took place this past week, results were not available by press deadline

100 M Dash – Girls Novice – Aliah Kingswood, 8th

200 M Dash – Girls Novice – Scout Hergott-Leader, 3rd

400 M Dash – Girls Novice – Natalie Culler, 9th, Zoha Kashif, 10th and Sanvi Patel, 15th

800 M Dash – Girls Novice – Zoha Kashif, 8th and

Eva Sayles, 12th

1500 M Dash – Girls Novice – Eva Sayles, 8th

80 M Hurdles – Girls Novice – Meghan Balog, 9th

300 M Hurdles- Girls Novice – Meghan Balog, 3rd

4x100 M Relay – Girls Novice – Paris 7th

High Jump – Girls Novice – Aliah Kingswood, 1st

Long Jump – Girls Novice – Sydney Kipp, 2nd and

Lauren Lock, 14th

Triple Jump – Girls Novice- Sydney Kipp, tied for 2nd

Javelin Throw – Girls Novice – Rowan Worrall, 3rd

Discus Throw – Girls Senior – Laura Clement, 13th and Analisa Chattergoon, 16th

4x100 M Relay – Open – Paris, 2nd

100 M Dash – Boys Novice – Jack Ward, 4th

400 M Dash –Boys Novice–Corbin Fisher-

MacDonald, 4th

800 M Run – Boys Novice – Aris Motrea, 1st

4x100 Meter Relay – Boys Novice – Paris, 2nd

High Jump – Boys Novice – Corbin Fisher-

MacDonald, 8th

Javelin Throw – Boys Novice – Jack Ward, 6th

100 M Dash – Boys Junior – Otis Bennett, 4th

400 M Dash – Boys Junior – Gavin Stafford, 6th

800 M Dash – Boys Junior – Gavin Stafford, 2nd

1500 M Run – Boys Junior – Gavin Stafford, 1st

100 M Hurdles – Boys Junior – Otis Bennett, DNF

200 M Dash – Boys Senior – Ben Zondag, 6th

400 M Dash – Boys Senior – Ben Zondag, 4th , Austin Drover, 11th and Daniel Balog, 13th

800 M Dash – Boys Senior – Austin Drover, 9th

4x100 Meter Relay – Boys Senior – Paris, 4th

100 M Dash – Girls Junior – Tiana Malcolm, 1st

200 M Dash – Girls Junior – Kadence Parkins, 6th

Long Jump – Girls Junior – Kadence Parkins, 5th and Graycee McLaren, 19th

Discus Throw – Girls Junior – Mya Virk, 13th and

Graycee McLaren, 15th

Javelin Throw – Girls Junior – Graycee McLaren, 8th and Mya Virk, 9th

High Jump – Boys Senior – Diro Soile, 10th and Daniel Balog, NH

Long Jump – Boys Senior – Nathan Halliday, 5th and Diro Soile, 11th

Triple Jump – Boys Senior – Nathan Halliday, 6th Shot Put – Boys Senior – Alex Parkinson, 9th and Carter Davidson, 10th

Discus Throw – Boys Senior – Alex Parkinson, 6th and Orion Saulnier, 7th

400 M Dash – Girls Senior – Kelly Mantel, 1st

800 M Dash – Girls Senior – Kelly Mantel, 1st

Long jump – Girls Senior – Kelly Mantel, 7th

Javelin Throw – Boys Senior – Orion Saulnier, 4th and Carter Davidson, 10th

4x400 Meter Relay Open – Paris, 3rd

Dare to wander ‘Into the Woods’ this weekend?

Do you dare to wander Into the Woods with the Paris Performers’ Theatre?

“Happy now, happy hence, happy ever after,” or are you just happy the production opens this weekend? Sarah Chadwick, Rachel Kuipery, Sara Morrison and Connor McGrath will leave you all questioning your own morals as Cinderella's family in the theatre company’s upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim's 'Into the Woods' with a steampunk twist, directed by Terri-Lynn Graham! Tonight’s show takes place at 8 pm (doors open at 7 pm) at the Paris Fairgrounds. If you can’t make tonight’s show catch the matinee performance tomorrow at 2 pm. Email parisperformerstheatre@gmail.com to secure your tickets or get them online by scanning the QR code in the image or visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/571938432247

Photo by Nikole Beda

Unofficial Pride Weekend in Paris debuts next month

Paris has many things to be proud of, it’s the Cobblestone capital of Canada, was once named one of the Prettiest towns in North America, it’s a blossoming burg bursting with nature, arts, culture and sport, and has a population which is growing in diversity!

I’m a ‘Paris Original’ in that I grew up in Paris, went to high school in Paris, almost my whole family lives here and my father’s ancestors were here long before me, and like a lot of Paris people I’m sad for some of the changes but I’m absolutely thrilled for most of them. Diversity and inclusion is not the first thing I think of when I think of our beautiful town. It’s always been something I hoped would change about Paris, and though there have been some shifts and moves to make people feel welcome and wanted, I’m really

excited to share some news that I hope will help even more people feel that way too This summer, on the weekend of June 16th, 17th and 18th , Big Cityyy Arts presents the first ever ‘Unofficial Official Paris Pride’ celebration. This is a three-day event with a few different elements, incorporating all the things the 2SLGBTQIA+ community stands for - togetherness, authenticity, audacity, generosity, sustainability and the ability to throw the best parties!

Modern Pride events often centre around parades and parties, and though we will have those, we will also be offering events for breaking bread together, sharing our hopes and struggles and reflecting on what it means to be 2SLGBTQIA+ in 2023, in Canada, in Brant County. On Friday, June 16th , there are two events available for people to attend! On Friday evening there will be an informal dinner at Paris Beer Co at 6 pm and all ages are invited to attend

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COMMUNITY NEWS

There will be no activities or entertainment, we’ll know each other by the colourful outfits we wear and it will be nice to share a meal and communal space together (please book your table through https://www.parisbrewing.com/).

After dinner, the Dog-Eared Café, in downtown Paris, will be hosting its own event: a Lip Sync Battle from 8 till late. This is an adults only event, no sign up or experience needed, just turn up and be ready to turn out! There will be prizes for: Best Costume, Best Performance, Best Overall and the Dog-Eared Café has a great bar and lots of treats available to fuel your jubilation.

On Saturday June 17th , we invite you to spend the afternoon with either Oxford Pride or Brantford Pride, both are running free, outdoor, afternoon, family friendly events which include entertainers, activities, games and more. We encourage you to check out their programming and to support one or both Pride events; you can find out more on http://wwwoxfordpride ca and https://brantfordpride.com/about, respectively. In the evening there will be an adults only cabaret and celebration at the Dog-Eared Café, this is the only ticketed event as we’re trying to make the plans as accessible as possible. Big Cityyy Arts will present The Varietyyy Show, a Pride special, and the cast includes drag artists, burlesque performers, comedy, music and more. After The Varietyyy Show there will be dancing, mingling and meeting till late and tickets

to the show include this after party too! Tickets are limited and the sooner you buy them, the better your seat for the show, you can find out more on www.linktr.ee/BigCityyyArts

On Sunday June 18th , we have planned an afternoon of reflection and refreshment at Five Oaks Centre. Take a walk in the woods, lay in the sunshine, breathe in the bounty of nature and then join us at 2 pm for an one hour (ish) notebook based space where we will meditate together, discuss our Pride thoughts and feelings, and take time for self care through some short writing exercises. All ages are welcome to join but please note, to take part in the 2 pm workshop you must be able to write and hold focus for an hour or so; FYI that there is a slide, sandbox, monkey bars etc on site for those who may be too young for this but want to attend with their family

Paris is known for many things and wouldn’t it be wonderful, in the future, if Paris was known as much for it’s colourful multiculturalism as it is for its rivers

It would be amazing to be acknowledged equally for its picturesque nature views and the kindness of the people who live in the forks of the Grand. All are welcome to attend and celebrate with us at the Unofficial Official Paris Pride festivities! And although there is a zero-tolerance policy for hatred or bigotry of any kind, there is also a guarantee of fun, focus and frivolity!

Balancing safe yoga practice during pregnancy

Yoga Moment with Heidi Pfleger

Whether you are a seasoned Yogi or someone who has never spent time on the mat, practicing yoga while pregnant can be good for both you and your baby.

I spent a great deal of time on the mat when I was pregnant 28 years ago and I can still recall how amazing I felt during my pregnancy. I know, without question, that my good health and well-being during that time was primarily due to my regular practice of yoga Maintaining a sense of calm and supporting my body as it went through its many changes were the main benefits of practicing while pregnant.

I have since worked with hundreds of expecting mothers who have also enjoyed the many benefits that yoga has to offer. The general stretching and movement in yoga helps increase blood flow to your heart which, in turn, brings more oxygen-rich blood to your baby. When practiced safely and mindfully, prenatal yoga can help to improve your sleep as well as increase your strength and flexibility. It can also help to reduce lower back pain and nausea.

Prenatal yoga classes aren’t always available so a regular class might be your only option. They can be just as beneficial, provided you let your teachers know that you are expecting

They will be able to show variations to poses that are more suitable for you as you go through the various changes in your body The key is to listen to your body and communicate to your teacher which poses are and aren’t working for you.

Many of the breathing techniques will serve you well during your pregnancy and when giving birth. As your baby develops and grows, your diaphragm becomes more elevated and the need for oxygen increases. Practicing deep inhalations through the nose and exhalations through the mouth is a great way to increase the flow of oxygen during your pregnancy as well as prepare you for delivery day. The practice of mindful breathing will also help you to stay focussed on the present moment and support you in

staying calm.

One thing to keep in mind when exploring the many breathing techniques is to avoid all practices that involves breath retention. Holding the breath is not recommended during pregnancy as it interrupts the flow of oxygen to you and your baby

The same applies to practices that involve sitting in absence of breath. While these can be powerful practices, they are not suitable for you or your baby. It is far better to breathe at a slow and rhythmic pace as this will activate your nervous system and block cortisol which is linked to depression and anxiety when present in high amounts.

Continued on page 24

The general stretching and movement in yoga helps increase blood flow to your heart which, in turn, brings more oxygen-rich blood to your baby. When practiced safely and mindfully, prenatal yoga can help to improve your sleep as well as increase your strength and flexibility

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

As with your pregnancy, your yoga practice will change over time Poses that seemed easy at the start will become more challenging and less advisable to practice as your belly and baby grow. How you practice depends on which trimester you are in.

First Trimester – For the most part, you can do a regular practice during this time, barring the breath retention I mentioned earlier If you are an experienced yogi, a more vigorous flow can be practiced but jumping from pose to pose is not advised as that movement can dislodge the fertilized egg from your uterus Twists and inverted poses (headstand, handstand and legs up the wall) can be done, provided you feel okay doing them.

Second Trimester. At this stage, you will likely want to modify some of the poses you’ve been practicing Avoid the deep twists, back bends and inversions and opt for less advanced variations Using props like bolsters, chairs and blocks will also be helpful This is also a stage to avoid back bends that are done on your belly You may also find it easier to do the relaxational part of yoga lying on your side with a pillow between your knees rather than lie on your back. Also, with a growing belly, you will likely find it beneficial to do standing poses with your feet a little more than hip width apart.

Third Trimester. The added weight and achiness during this time will likely leave you feeling tired and off balance. This is a time to opt for a more restorative practice that includes light stretching, hip-opening poses and meditation. The use of props will be an even greater godsend for your during this time of practice You should also avoid lying on your back during your last trimester Resting on your side during relaxation will be much more comfortable Sitting in a cross-legged position during relaxation is another good option

The general rule forprenatal yoga is the further along you are in your pregnancy, the less intense your physical practice should be. There are also a few things you should avoid doing during your entire practice.

Avoid HotYoga -It is important to keep your bodytemperature at a normalrange. The extreme heat of HotYoga can not only create general discomfort,it can lead to hyperthermia foryou as well as cause neural tube defects in your baby. And so, your practice should be done at a comfortableroomtemperature.

Avoid Over-Stretching – Stretching is normally considered to be a good thing but one needs to be careful not to over-stretch when pregnant. The reason for this is that your body produces a hormone throughout pregnancy called relaxin, which works to soften the more inflexible parts of your body (ie. bones and ligaments) to make room for the baby and prepare for birth. The presence of relaxin makes it easy to over-stretch and injure yourself.

As with any form of exercise undertaken during pregnancy, it is important to consult with your health care provider before you start a prenatal yoga practice. It is also imperative to speak candidly with a yoga teacher before doing a class. Ask for their experience in teaching prenatal yoga as well as their own experience in practicing while pregnant. You might even want to observe a class before you consider unrolling your mat.

When practicing, always work within your comfortlevel and be mindful of any unusual changes or sensations in your body. These include sharp pains, vaginal bleeding, ordecreased fetal movement. If a movement orposture doesn't feel good,ease yourself back to a comfortablepositionand let your teacher know about your experience.

Lastly, if you’ve read this and aren’t pregnant yet but are interested in doingyoga when you are, why notstart now? A regular yoga practice is a great way to connect with your bodyand prepare it forwhen you doconceive. Restorative yoga is a great way to help with conception as the longer held relaxational poses help to reduce tension, stress and anxiety. These three aspects are commonly linked to infertility as they cause your body to produce high levels of cortisol which can affect your reproductive health. Doing some of the more active poses that boost your circulation and massage your reproductive organs can help with conception.

For more information, contact Heidi at heidi@yogawithheidi or 519 755 1447 or visit her online yogawithheidi.ca

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Make your work out routine FITT

Just for the Health of It with Coach Shell

Did you know that the current recommendation for adults, even seniors, is a minimum 150 min per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity? And that only 1 in 2 Canadians on average are meeting these guidelines?

Not only with the immediate physical and mental benefits of a regular exercise routine, accomplishing this goal weekly leads to so many other benefits for adults including not only living longer in quantity but aging with a good quality of life with disease, injury, and accident (falls) prevention. Thus, we need to stop thinking of exercise as just a way to move the needle on the scale or to get a calorie burn. We need to think of working out as a necessity to have a good quality of life now and in the future

If you are currently not in an exercise routine, the time to start is now.

To put a routine together you want to think about the FITT principle: Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type.

For Frequency, if you are currently sedentary start with a scheduled time a few days a week, working up to doing some sort of physical activity every day for at least 30 min. Pick a day/time that works best for you, as that is the time that you will stick with. Sometimes people can get caught up in what is the best time to workout for weight loss and in reality, the best time is the one that you will stick to as it fits into your lifestyle.

For Intensity start slow. Most people give up on a program because they start at too high of an intensity for their current level, leading to injury, excessive soreness and/or an inability to keep up with what has been planned. For strength training start with bodyweight exercises that you can perform correctly for 15 reps or 45 seconds and when that becomes too easy then add weight to the movement

When it comes to Time, start with short increments, such as a 15-minute upper body session and then when you are ready add more, until you get up to a 35 min session. You can always find 15-35 minutes in your day and therefore this becomes a manageable and not a daunting amount of time that you can't stick with for the long haul. Lastly for type, start with what you

love to do. Everyone searches on the internet for the best workout for fat loss or latch on to the latest craze when in reality the best workout for weight loss, fat loss or just better health is one that you like to do, because if you enjoy it you will continue to do it and not think of it as a chore.

Another thing that will really help in your journey to establish or reestablish a great workout routine is to surround yourself with like-minded people. Going to the gym with a friend, a long walk with your spouse, or a weekly strength class with your coworkers is a fantastic way to keep consistent with your routine as you not only have a workout to look forward to but people you care about to do it with.

At GFS we have established a community of a few hundred women who support and encourage each other in and outside of the gym. This has really helped the women to not only get into a good workout routine but more importantly to stay in one, making their daily workouts their lifestyle and not a quick fix or shortterm plan.

If you need help setting up a workout routine that works for you, feel free to reach out to me for advice anytime!

Coach Shell is the proud owner of GFS and is committed to helping you discover your healthy lifestyle. Reach out at any time to learn more about our programs and services by sending an email to gaudetfitnesssolutions@gmail.com

Royal Canadian Legion donates $7,250 to The Willett

MEDIA RELEASE - On May 16, 2023 representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 90 presented a donation to the Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion Provincial Command.

This generous donation will help purchase a bladder scanner to benefit Urgent Care at The Willett. A bladder scanner is a portable, handheld device, which can quickly and easily create a non-invasive scan of the bladder. This procedure is used to estimate bladder volume, is painless for the patient and helps to eliminate risks for unnecessary procedures.

That same day, representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 90 presented another $6,500 donation to the Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion Provincial Command

This generous donation will purchase a CADD pain pump to benefit the palliative care and medical units at the Brantford General site. CADD stands for Continuous Ambulatory Delivery Device and is programmed by a member of the healthcare team to deliver a safe amount of medication to help control and relieve pain over a set period of time. This critical equipment will assist in keeping patients comfortable.

Pictured is Steve Armstrong, Sgt at Arms and Service Officer, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 90, Kari Wilson, Executive Director, Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation, Crystal Godwaldt, Associate Director, Development, Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation and Wayne Cyrus, Poppy Chair, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 90.

Submitted by Brant Community Healthcare Foundation

Wayne Cyrus, Poppy Chair, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 90, Kari Wilson, Executive Director, Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation, Crystal Godwaldt, Associate Director, Development, Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation and Steve Armstrong, Sgt. at Arms and Service Officer, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 90.

Aries: March 21 - April 19 (Fire) –You will have new and exciting news coming to you this week This could be a birth or marriage or promotion at work etc You have been spending more money than you make lately, so that leaves you with two options 1- Put yourself on a strict budget 2Work harder. Question is why you feel the need to spend, what is missing?

Taurus: April 20 - May 20 (Earth) –Money will flow to you this week. You have a tendency to spend or give away your extra money Instead, you should be researching a way for your money to make you more money, than save it Your love life is losing its luster You must plan a special and romantic date night

Gemini: May 21 - June 20 (Air) – This is a moody week for you You will be super sensitive, causing arguments in love and work You must find an outlet for your extra emotion Ask yourself what relaxes you? By the weekend you have a game plan to put yourself in a better mood. Then you should issue some apologies.

Cancer: June 21 – July 22 22 (Water) –You have felt mentally torn lately. One moment you want to be left alone and then the next you want to go out and have fun You have felt isolated in your life right now The more you try to behave and just be happy, the more you are bored and looking for excitement Focus on your work and go out to social gatherings on the weekend

Leo: July 23 - August 22 (Fire) –You will be in high demand this week. Everyone wants something from you. You will turn your focus on money and making better connections in your work area. All the attention you will be getting is setting you up for finding your true path and becoming more successful in every area of your life

Virgo: August 23 - September 22 (Earth) – If you have high goals than this is the week to go for what you want The energy around you is setting you up for great success in anything you choose to do. This is a rare gift, so do not waste it. You will be asked to do something different for work, this is an opportunity not a punishment

Libra: September 23 - October 22 (Air) - You really want to get away You spend this week planning a bunch of dream vacations If you are not able to get away, try changing up your daily routine until you're able to go away Work is keeping you so busy, but you really need to focus on your love life, happiness is waiting for you there.

Scorpio: October 23 - November 21 (Water) – You will have charisma coming out of every pore. This creates great intensity in your love life. You will feel really flirty and lots of people will be giving you tons of attention. Be Careful at work while using this energy, it can cause a lot of unwanted drama

Sagittarius: November 22December 21 (Fire) – You are tired, you keep pushing to go, go, go, but what you really need to do is go to sleep You will become moody and frustrated If you do not find a way to rest, you must have a serious talk with your loved ones and clear up some miscommunication.

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19 (Earth) – You have been working very hard lately and finally rewards are coming your way This will be a welcome surprise and leave you feeling very appreciated. Use this confidence boost and put this towards your love life, it may be time to take the next step

Aquarius: January 20 – February 18 (Air) – Love is your focus this week, you want to be happy and more settled This requires work on your part Make time this week to prioritize the people you love By the end of the week, you can put all your energy into your health and self love.

Pisces: February 19 - March 20 (Water) – Your family will be your center focus this week Make some plans to get together and hang out with your loved ones. You need to put more energy into your health. You need some balancing work, mind, body and soul Once you feel that you are balanced then you need to put your energy into your love life

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/

Showtimes for Galaxy Cinemas Brantford

For Saturday, May 27, 2023 The Little Mermaid

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Katak, the Brave Beluga