Are you ready to Dance? Mounties Report

Paris Optimist Club Youth Dances return – first one scheduled for Friday, September 22nd at the Syl Apps Community Centre

By Casandra Turnbull

Summer is winding down and the kids are back to school. Another sure sign of Fall is the return of the popular Paris Optimist Club Youth Dances.

The Friday night dances, held once a month from September to May, is a welcome social event for kids in Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 It’s an opportunity to hang out with friends, meet new friends and dance the night away in a safe, monitored environment Paris Optimist Club members chaperone the dances, giving the youth in the community the opportunity to interact with one another outside of school and more importantly, give them the chance to fill their social calendars while providing parents a much-needed quiet Friday night!

The Optimist Club introduced the dances about 25 years ago and they were an instant hit, recalls longtime Optimist Volunteer Marilyn McCulloch. Since there was no longer a theatre in town or a bowling alley (yes, Paris once had both!), parents had to drive their children out of town to attend social events The Optimist Club felt they had the perfect idea and after some discussion the Friday night dances were born

“It’s very important to us that the students are able to interact in a safe and friendly atmosphere with their peers,” explains McCulloch.

The Dances are held one Friday a month (see dates in advertisement) from 7 pm to 10 pm at the Syl Apps Community Centre at 51 William Street in Paris There’s a DJ playing tunes at each dance; however, Optimist Club members are careful to ensure there’s no foul language or sexually suggestive music. Admission is $5 a person and it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that the children arrive and get home safely. Funds raised from the dances help the Optimist Club continue to support youth initiatives and sports in the community.

“It turned out that the dances are one of our most successful fundraisers and that allows us to donate more money to sports teams, awards, scholarships and special needs that arise on occasion,” said McCulloch. Like most volunteer organizations and services clubs, the Optimists are appealing for volunteers to help chaperone the dances

“We need responsible adults to help with the dances. If you could spare a few hours once a month on a Friday evening, we would very much appreciate it. High school students are also welcome to assist for community hours,” she added.

If you’d like to volunteer or have specific questions about the dances, you can reach out by phone 226-802-5063 or 519-442-5227 or through Facebook messenger. The first youth dance takes place Friday, September 22 at 7 pm