The Paris Independent for Saturday April 30th, 2022

VIRTUAL READ-A-THON IN SUPPORT OF PEDIATRIC CARE. Page 12 ANNUAL HORTICULTURAL PLANT SHOW FAST APPROACHING. See page 22

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The Paris Independent Saturday, April 30, 2022

THIS WEEK In Sports

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FRIENDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

PDHS GIRLS RUGBY outplays opponents

Page 9 In Community

BRANT SAFE STREETS Pages 10-11 In Entertainment

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Employees from Linde Canada, formerly Praxair Canada, spent time on Earth Day planting tree saplings at the Brant Disc Golf Club at Green Lane Sports Complex, not far from their Paris location.

Pictured are Paul Ross and Nicole Taylor.

See more Earth Day photos on pages 6-8.

Photo credit Kayla Zagar

Pages 15-17

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April 30, 2022

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR STRUCK BY LOVE – Presented by the Paris District High School drama club. The musical, by Sara Paterson and Chloe Wilson, runs April 27 at 7pm, April 29 at 7pm and April 30 at 2pm. Email patesara247@granderie.ca for tickets ($5 each or $20 for a family pass).

SPRING FLING - Hosted by St. Paul’s United Church on May 27th at 11:30 am. Tickets are $15, includes lunch (ham, potato salad, Caesar salad, veggies and dessert). Call the church office for more information 519-442-4223.

JANE’S WALK – Rain or shine on May 7 at 2 pm, historical walking tour begins at 13 Burwell St (The Bawcutt Centre and future location of the new Paris library branch). More info available www.brantlibrary.ca/janeswalk REC EXPO– Hosted by The County of Brant on Saturday, May 28 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Burford Community Centre. The FREE event is your one-stop-shop for information on sports and recreation groups, organizations and clubs in the County of Brant and neighbouring municipalities. For more information visit brant.ca/RecExpo BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC- Presented by Primacare Community Family Health Team, Wednesdays 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Cowan Community Health Hub in the community room. Drop-ins welcome. https://www.pccfht.ca/

click here

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April 30,2022

COMMUNITY CALENDAR DRIVE IN BINGO - Back by popular demand. .

Be sure to reserve your tickets for the Paris Agricultural Society’s Drive In Bingo events scheduled for May 19th and June 23th. Tickets go to: https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/39909/ GREAT CANADIAN BUTTER TART FEST – Saturday, May 28 at 11 am at the Paris Fairgrounds.

Learn more at www.allcanadianevents.com

STORYBOOK BREAKFAST PICNIC – Hosted by Kids Can Fly, Saturday, May 14 between 10 am to noon. Your kids will love a porch visit from a character they know!

Tickets are on sale now. https://www.kidscanfly.ca/storybookbreakfast-picnic-2022/ PARIS SENIORS CLUB – St. James Anglican Church - OPEN ALL YEAR- Euchre and tile rummy start at 1:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Bridge club starts at 1 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays. General admission is $1.00 and includes light refreshments. Everyone aged 55 and older welcome. For information contact Brenda 519-442-2032.

PARIS COMMUNITY SAFETY GROUP MEETING - Formally known as the Paris Community Policing Committee, will be holding their next meeting on Monday May 9th, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the Brant County OPP detachment ( corner of Rest Acres Rd. and Bethel Rd.) All are welcome. Watch for information on our annual Bike Rodeo being held on Saturday June 11, 2022 10 am.- 12 pm.

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April 30, 2022

COMMUNITY NEWS

Breakfast from the Farm brings agri-food awareness event to Paris

By Casandra Turnbull Have you ever stopped to think where your food comes from? Not just where it comes from but how it’s handled and how it ultimately lands on your plate?

It’s a laborious process and if you really think of it from the perspective of an inquisitive six-year-old, you might have a few questions.

The good news is those questions can be answered in June when Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) and local farmers present Breakfast from the Farm at the Paris Fairgrounds.

This contactless, family-friendly event, held to launch Ontario Local Food Week (June 4 – 10), will provide a unique opportunity for farmers and non‐farming Ontarians to have a conversation about food and farming.

It gives visitors the chance to see farm animals and farm equipment displays and have their questions answered by real farmers.

Publisher Managing Editor Advertising Sales Photographer News Reporter News Reporter News Reporter

Set up in a reverse parade style format, each carload of guests will also receive a bag of breakfast ingredients including pancake mix, eggs, maple syrup, milk, butter, cheese, vegetables and more.

Continued on Page 5

Photo credit: Farm & Food Care Ontario. Photo taken during a past event also held during the pandemic. The agri-food awareness event is coming to Paris June 4th. You can reserve your ticket today!

Chris Whelan Casandra Turnbull Chris Whelan Michelle Malvaso Carolina Saenz Bailey Zimmer Karon Sinning

STATEMENT We are a non profit organization made up of like minded volunteers from our community with the main purpose of providing our community of Paris and area with a trustworthy and reliable source of community 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:

Published Weekly on Saturday

PO BOX 99900 LA 012 395 STN MAIN PARIS, ON, CANADA N3L 0C3 Email: theparisindependent@gmail.com

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April 30, 2022

COMMUNITY NEWS “The vision of the Paris Agricultural Society is to engage, educate and promote agricultural awareness in the community. What better way to do so than to partner with Farm and Food Care Ontario,” said Cheryl Muir, Manager of the Paris Agricultural Society.

While the PAS is most notably recognized as the hosts of the Annual Paris Fair on Labour Day weekend, Muir said the heart of the organization is its agricultural roots. “Our shared goal is to provide education to both agricultural and urban members of our community. We are proud to have been chosen to host the 2022 Breakfast on the Farm program and look forward to welcoming visitors to the Paris Fairgrounds,” she added.

Since 2013, farm families across Ontario have opened their farms to host Breakfast from the Farm events. These popular days have attracted

Photo credit: Farm & Food Care Ontario. Photo taken at last year’s event at the Western Fairgrounds in London. Volunteers prepare locally sourced goods for participants to take home to prepare breakfast. If you have a question about where your food comes from – ask a farmer!

thousands of urban and suburban visitors to local farms across the province. FFCO hosted three drive-through events in 2021 that met all COVID19 safety guidelines and are continuing this format in 2022. The Paris event is the first of the seasonYou can see past events here: https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/breakfaston-the-farm-past-events/ Breakfast from the Farm is made possible with cohost Paris Agricultural Society and the support of local agri-businesses and organizations.

Visitors will be welcomed at a cost of $20 per car and at the end of the route, will be presented with a bag of locally sourced goods to prepare a delicious breakfast at home.

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April 30, 2022

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Environmental stewardship Mayor David Bailey gives a young resident a hand with the spade as they plant trees together in the wellhead protection area behind Sobeys last Saturday.

County of Brant Photo

Linde Canada employees (pictured above) took time on Earth Day to plant tree saplings on the Disc Golf course at Green Lane.

The company, formerly known as Praxair Canada, prides itself on sustainability and environmentally friendly initiatives Photo provided by Tim Hockin

Row upon row of new trees were planted last weekend. They might seem tiny now, but they will provide decades of clean energy in our ecosystem. Thank-you to the residents who volunteered their time Photos by Michelle Malvaso

Carly and Isaac Halsey from the PDHS Eco Club hand out water bottles to volunteers (above) and the Paris Lions Club (right) served lunch as volunteers planted trees last Saturday. Pictured are Paris Lions Bruce, Fred, David and Dave.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Degan and Tayden Hamilton, along with Jacob Schell help clean up garbage alongside Dundas Street East on Saturday as part of their Earth Day activities. The #1 item they found littered on the ground: masks.

Photo by Lesley Hamilton

Above: a big thank-you to Richard (absent from photo) and Evelyn Comely for their efforts in cleaning up the garbage around the Pinehurst subdivision last weekend. They were assisted by four little helpers (left to right): Dalton, Meishka, Cypris and Davy.

Photo by Richard and Evelyn Comely

Councillor John Bell (below) and his wife Audrey Cleaned up the stretch of Willow Street from the Bayview Village Condo estates to Balmoral Street, alongside the river on Earth Day. Photo submitted by John Bell

Twenty-two-month-old Trevor and his nanny Lisa Lewis spent time on Earth Day cleaning up the boulevard between Tim Hortons and Popeyes Chicken on Rest Acres Road. Like many of the volunteers who collected trashed, Lewis was astonished by the amount of litter and stopped counting masks after she found 22 of them in one small stretch of roadway.

Photo by Lisa Lewis

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April 30, 2022

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Holy Family School students (above) Brayden and Morgan show off their agamograph art for Earth Day. This art is unique in that it shows one image when looked at from one angle and another image when looked at from the opposite angle. In Morgan's picture, her work shows a tree, and the other direction shows rain drops. In Brayden's artwork the one image is of the Earth and the other image is of the recycling symbol.

Photo by Alison Harrison

Landon Connolly also helped clean up the Pinehurst neighbourhood in north Paris last weekend. Thank-you young sir for your environmental stewardship.

Photo submitted by Jeff Connolly

Mrs. Harrison’s Garde 3/4 class at Holy Family school took learning outside last week and participated in an Earth Day scavenger hunt around the playground and even incorporated some meditation into the curriculum to feel at one with the nature!

Photo by Alison Harrison

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April 30, 2022

S P O RT S PDHS Girls Rugby team collects 2 more wins

The Paris District High School Girls’ Rugby team is off to a great start on the season picking up a blow out win, 52-0 over Delhi on Monday night. A little rain didn’t stop the team from working together to come up with the win. PDSH scorers included: Hailey Holglate, Serena Gambacort, Lily Somerset, Heidi Groh, Ariel Saulnier, Masika Sherbino and Piper Thulmann. Pictured above is Alyssa Trajanovski holding on to possession of the ball and below is Harper North trying to fend off two Delhi players. Paris also played North Park on Wednesday and came out on top with the 10-7 victory. The team will face BCI on Monday and will play a double-header on Wednesday when they face Holy Trinity and Assumption College. Photos provided by Garth Chivers

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April 30, 2022

COMMUNITY NEWS

Provincial funding earmarked for Brant Safe Streets initiative MEDIA RELEASE: The Ontario government is investing $5.45 million over three years to provide Brantford Police Services, Six Nations Police Service and Brant OPP with significant new resources to safeguard Brantford, Six Nations of the Grand River and the County of Brant.

This funding is part of Ontario’s $267 million investment in the Community Safety and Policing (CSP) Grant Program for initiatives that help combat crime locally.

Brantford Police Service, Six Nations Police and Brant OPP are three of 90 police service boards receiving funding through the CSP Grant Program for 147 public safety initiatives focusing on local and provincial priorities such as gun and gang violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, mental health and addictions and hatemotivated crime. Many projects will be undertaken in collaboration with community partners.

Pictured left to right: Brantford Police Chief Rob Davis, Brant MPP Will Bouma, Brant OPP Detachment Commander Angela Ferguson and Six Nations Police Chief Darren Montour at the April 19th funding announcement.

County of Brant OPP Photo

Brant OPP will receive $295,096.95 for “Project Serve and Detect: A Joint Collaboration with Brant Safe Streets”. The funds will be used to target driver behaviour and address the increase in calls surrounding aggressive driving and speeding. Two OPP cruisers will be equipped with automated licence plate recognition systems.

WHAT IS BRANT SAFE STREETS?

Brant Safe Streets is a strategy designed to achieve four objectives: •

•

create roads that are both perceived to be and actually are safe change the behaviour of drivers who speed and engage in dangerous driving practices, primarily through positive reinforcement and voluntary compliance Continued on page 11

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COMMUNITY NEWS •

•

Engage members of the community to learn about road safety and become more active in creating and sustaining a safe County road system, Create a mix of easily and rapidly deployed road safety solutions along with longer term solutions.

Paris Councillor Steve Howes commented this week on repetitive concerns from constituents surrounding speeding and noisy vehicles, “The County continues to recognize this concern and urges that all complaints be registered via the Brant Safe Streets website. We compile important statistics through that process, which influences future tactics that can be deployed.”

If you want to learn more about Brant Safe Streets strategy or to request speed control measures/patrols on your street, visithttps://www.brant.ca/en/residentservices/brant-safe-streets.aspx#Brant-SafeStreets-Strategy

Pictured above are the traffic related statistics from the Police Services Board Report, December 2021. Speeding related charges were up by 78% in 2021, compared to the previous year.

In-person council meetings resume For the first time in two years, the Mayor and Councillors were in chambers for Tuesday’s County of Brant Council meeting. The Chambers received some much needed interior renovations, the first aesthetic improvement in over 20 years. Paris Councillor Marc Laferriere (left) announced that he will not run in the next election. Paris Councillor Steve Howes (right) formally announced this week his bid to run again in the fall election.

Photo courtesy of Marc Laferriere

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COMMUNITY NEWS Read-a-thon promotes literacy and raises funds for pediatric care The third annual virtual readathon in support of the Brant Community Healthcare System is quickly approaching.

Proceeds from Read4BCHS 2022 will go directly to pediatric care at the Brantford General Hospital.

“Last year, with the support of our sponsors, readers and donors, we were able to raise an incredible $27,000. This year we hope to push our fundraising total to $30,000 and all proceeds will directly support care for the youngest patients at the Brant Community Healthcare System,” said BCHS Foundation Executive Director Kari Wilson. The Foundation issued a press release this week announcing the return of the fundraiser event, which runs from May 9th to May 25th.

“The BCHS Foundation is truly fortunate to have the James F. Boughner Foundation as a matching sponsor up to $10,000 again in 2022. This means that every dollar you donate to Read4BCHS has twice the impact.”

Interested participants are asked to join this virtual read-athon by signing up online, collecting pledges and committing to read for a specified amount of time.

"We are really excited to launch a fun new reading platform this year in collaboration with our partner Mind Growth Education,” stated Heather Wilson, BCHS Foundation Board Chair. “The program transforms minutes read into kilometres traveled on a virtual reading adventure across Canada. As an educator myself, I love how this reading platform engages young minds, builds reading skills and teaches about the history and geography of Canada.”

This inclusive online read-a-thon event is a wonderful opportunity for teachers to engage their students and for families to read together and make a difference to our local health care system. Participating is easy and each registered reader will receive a small token of appreciation and have a chance to win a top fundraising prize. For more information and the link to register, visit www.read4bchs.com and follow the event on social media channels @Read4BCHS

Celebrate National Youth Week in your community The County of Brant will celebrate National Youth Week starting Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2022. National Youth Week is a weeklong celebration of youth and their active participation in their community.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the youth in our community,” said Stacey Ellins, Director of Recreation Services. “The County of Brant is home to incredibly inspiring youth who help make the County a wonderful place to live. We encourage residents to celebrate and acknowledge our local youth.”

The County of Brant and community partners will host the following free events for youth: •Dodgeball at Syl Apps Community Centre on Wednesday, May 4 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm •Brant Youth Centre at Scotland Community Centre on Thursday, May 5 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. This weekly event features a variety of games and activities.

•A Craft Kit, in partnership with County of Brant Library, will be available for pick up at your local library branch. Details are available at http://www.brant.ca/Youth Residents will have an opportunity to share stories of youth they find inspiring and representative of all the good in our community. These spotlight pieces can be shared on www.engagebrant.ca/YouthWeek and will be open for submission starting May 1.

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April 23302022

E N T E RTA I N M E N T Theatre group flexing its acting muscles with upcoming emotional drama Paris Performers’ presents ‘Rabbit Hole’ from May 13 - 22

By Casandra Turnbull The Paris Performers’ Theatre’s upcoming show is going to pack some emotional punches and will give its actors and actresses the opportunity to showcase their diverse acting chops.

The local theatre group is gearing up for its last performance of the 2021/2022 season: Rabbit Hole, written by David Lindsey-Abaire and directed by Roy Skuce. Six shows will run from May 13 to May 22 at the Special Events Building at the Paris Fairgrounds.

This production is a far cry from their typical farcical comedies, which normally leave the audience in stitches. This final performance of the season focuses on loss, grief and how the characters reach through that heartache to process it as a family unit, previewed Director Roy Skuce. He added that the audience will recognize even the saddest moments offer hope.

Several months after Becca and Howie suddenly lose their four-year-old son Danny in a tragic accident, they must find a way to move forward, even if time seems to stand still.

Karyn Pickles, who portrays the character Nat, explains, “It’s a powerful depiction of all the of the different facets of grief, sadness obviously, but also laughter, anger, compassion, growth and most importantly love – mess, frustrating, direct, comforting and unconditional love.”

Continued on page 14

Pictured above is Rich Dallaway as Howie and Jessica Hamilton as Becca.

Photos provided by the Paris Performers’ Theatre

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E N T E RTA I N M E N T The idea to bring a more dramatic show to the stage came from PPT member and Director Duncan Graham. He believed it provided an excellent chance to expand and grow the group’s play portfolio, highlight the enormous talent of its PPT cast and give patrons something other than a Norm Foster comedy (even if they are big Norm Foster fans)!

You might want to pack a few extra Kleenexes because this performance promises to show more depth and volume. Stage Manager Terri-Lynn Graham commented, “I will say that I think all of us have experienced grief in some form over the years and this show was personal to all of us in our own way.”

Bringing the characters to life for this performance are Jessica Hamilton as Becca, Rich Dallaway as Howie, Jessica Tutin as Izzy, Karyn Pickles as Nat and Kyrin Stirrett as Jason. Behind

the curtain credits go to Director Roy Skuce, Director Duncan Graham, Producer Nikole Beda and stage Manager Terri-Lynn Graham.

If you can’t make next month’s Rabbit Hole, mark your calendar for what’s promising to be a very busy ‘off season’ for the PPT. June 22 and 23 they will present an Evening of One Act Plays again at the Rope Factory event hall in Brantford. On July 15th it is Improv Night and July 16th there will be a Lip Sync Battle at the Fairgrounds. The Rocky Horror Show comes to the Fairgrounds on October 28th and 29th with auditions taking place in June. If you’d like to learn more about these events, follow PPT on Social Media https://www.facebook.com/parisp erformerstheatre or email them at parisperformerstheatre@gmail.co m. Tickets for Rabbit Hole are available at www.eventbrite.ca

Pictured left to right are Jessica Hamilton as Becca, Jessica Tutin as Izzy, Rich Dallaway as Howie and Karyn Pickles as Nat.

Sneak Peak at 2022/2023 -November 2022 The Other Noise, written and directed

by Martin Smith (auditions June 19-20, 2022) -February 2023: Pillowman written by Martin McDonaugh and directed by Duncan Graham (auditions July 3-4, 2022) -May 2023: Into the Woods

by Stephen Sondheim, directed by Terri-Lynn Graham (auditions August 14-16, 2022) All show and audition information can be found on our Facebook page.

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E N T E RTA I N M E N T

The cast and crew of “Struck by Love”, a 75-minute play written and directed by two 12th grade students, Sara Patterson and Chloe Wilson, took centre stage for opening night on April 27th.

Photo by Bailey Zimmer

Paris Panthers Struck by Love

By Bailey Zimmer Stand up and strike a round of applause as Paris District High School presents the first student written musical opening on April 27, “Struck by Love”.

At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, the cast and crew of “Struck by Love”, a 75-minute play written and directed by two 12th grade students, Sara Patterson and Chloe Wilson, took centre stage for opening night.

The musical is a tale of self-love, discovery, independence and

intertwining relationships.

Patterson and Wilson began to write this musical in Sept. 2021 after their drama teacher, Tony North, told them the high school would be performing this year, but the play was undecided. The pair decided they would write their own play to be performed.

“Students have taken on more and more responsibilities. This is probably the one where they’re running 95 per cent of it and it’s so good to see,” said North. “This time, the students are not only writing it. They’re writing the

music for it, they’re directing it, running the AV, the stage crew.

It’s great to see them take on all the responsibility.”

As the small gym in the high school was full of 100 people, the students sung their hearts out and brought the audience closer together as they experienced joy, suspense, gossip and drama.

People of all ages came out, from kindergarteners to the elderly alike.

Continued on Page 16

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E N T E RTA I N M E N T “Since restrictions have been lifting, I think it’s really good people can come out and see a live performance like this and I think the message is really good. You see how people interact with each other and maybe they can relate to that. It brings people together,” said Wilson.

As the play deals with self-love, the importance of creating healthy relationships is highlighted.

Patterson explains the musical she and Wilson wrote displays the concept that to love another person, you must first love yourself.

Patterson also sees the connections and emotions their play can bring to people. Patterson speaks about the importance of high-school productions and the way they can influence peers.

“I think seeing people do what they want to do and doing it so passionately brings a little bit of happiness,” said Patterson.

At $5 a ticket, or $20 for 6 tickets, audience members got their money’s worth.

“I thought it was amazing. I thought the kids did a such great job. The staging, the lighting, the music was fabulous,” said Susan Galloway, audience member.

With each curtain close between sets, audience members clapped and cheered on the actresses and actors, applauding a job well done. Whispers throughout the audience swept the room through every bit of suspense, laughter rumbled with comic relief and coos of love chirped during the romantic scenes.

“The students did a fabulous job. The singing was amazing. You can tell they put a lot of work into it,” said Jamie Thompson, another viewer.

Practice for the big night had its setbacks. Some cast members became sick with COVID and had to take time off to isolate and recover but were back as soon as possible. Others felt that memorizing lines or song lyrics was the biggest challenge for them.

The cast members are excited about the play and recognize that it can be enjoyed by anyone.

Continued on Page 17

“This time, the students are not only writing it. They’re writing the music for it, they’re directing it, running the AV, the stage crew. It’s great to see them take on all the responsibility.”

-PDHS drama teacher Tony North

Struck by Love was written and directed by Sara Patterson and Chloe Wilson (above).

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E N T E RTA I N M E N T “You’ve got happy, you’ve got sad, you’ve got dramatic, you’ve got funny, it’s all over the place, but that’s what makes it good. You’ve got different levels so everyone who comes out can enjoy it,” said Rowan Turner, who played Dylan in the musical.

The bond between cast members is the most memorable for some. Students who were strangers turned out to be friends, a coincidental reflection of the plot of the play.

“I loved all the cast, loved meeting them all … some of them are brand new faces to me this year and now we’re all so incredibly close and it’s amazing,” said Grace Weidhaas, who played Riley.

Marleigh White, who played Avery agrees. “You form a really close bond with everyone else in the show.”

The bond runs thick between cast members as well as the writers and directors. Wilson and Patterson love the connection their team has built.

At the end of the performance, the crowd threw flowers on the stage to celebrate a successful show, clapping and hollering for the cast and crew.

The students all joined hands as they took the stage and finished with a bow and a final wave to the audience as the curtain closed.

Pictured above is the Cast of Struck by Love.

Photo by Bailey Zimmer

While opening night was stressful for the Patterson and Wilson as well as cast and crew members, it was rewarding.

“After all this work, it’s so exciting to finally see it all come together,” said Wilson.

Following opening night, “Struck by Love” was also back on stage Thursday afternoon and Friday evening. It’s not to late to get your tickets for today’s matinee show at 2 p.m. The performance will take place in the drama room on the third floor of the high school, allowing a more intimate setting of about 25 audience members to watch the musical.

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PARIS HAS LONG HISTORY OF QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT Photos Courtesy: The Paris Museum & Historical Society

Paris Past By Chris Whelan Old Town Hall & Opera House The Old Town Hall in Paris was built at 13 Burwell Street according to plans by Scotland-born architect John Maxwell and completed in 1854. The building, renowned for its gothic architecture, was one of the first civic buildings of this kind to be built in this style in Canada.

The second floor was used as an assembly room that later became an Opera House where residents would go for entertainment for many years in the early 1900’s.

Local as well as travelling entertainers performed various plays and concerts at here from 1900 until 1917. Prices ranged from 10 to 25 cents. For example, December 15, 1904: Clare’s Big Opera Company from New York presented “The Merchant of Venice” the entire building became the Wheeler Needle Works in 1917, council chambers moved to downtown.

The advent of Cinema In 1901 – The First Motion Picture (a Jerky Recording of Queen Victoria’s Funeral) was Watched at the Opera House. On October 20, 1902, The Colonial Moving Picture Company appeared at the Opera House and presented the series “Coronation of King Edward VII” and “Jack and the Bean Stalk.” On Feb 18 and 19, 1914: “Thomas A. Edison Kintephone Company Incorporated Talking Pictures” were at the Opera House.

Above: The upper floor of the Town Hall known as the Opera House

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PARIS MOVIE THEATRES POPULAR THROUGHOUT THE 1900’s Photos Courtesy: The Paris Museum & Historical Society Cinemas in Paris continued…

At first movies were just shown occasionally at the Opera house but by 1907 they had become a regular offering and a permanent projection booth had been installed. By 1909 movies were being shown at the Opera House 6 nights a week and it was now known as the Hippodrome Theatre. It was about 1910 that two movie houses opened on Grand River St. North, the first at #129 showed moving pictures only for a short time as the audience sat uncomfortably on The Gem Theatre - 51 Grand River St. North. - 1911 squeaky kitchen-chairs. The second, at #11 was Movie Posters: "Fate" 1911 - Phillips Smalley & Lois called the Theatorium. In 1912 or 13 another Weber "Husbands Wanted" 1911 - Marian Swayne "A Rip theatre opened called the Arlington Park located Roaring Comedy". Gaumont Graphis - News Reels on the south bank of the Nith River near the Sulphur spring. The 600-seat theatre showed the lustre of the Opera House and by 1917 Allen mostly vaudeville shows rather than movies and Theatres of Brantford had become the new was owned and operated by the luxurious standard in luxury movie houses and soon came Arlington Hotel as another perk for its guests to Paris to open the Allen Theatre in the that had come to stay at the Arlington. They northwest corner of the New Royal Hotel. A deal could enjoy the healing properties of its made with the Hotel’s owner gave the owner and wonderful Sulphur baths which were piped over his family a private viewing window from the from the Sulphur spring to the hotel rooms. parlour of their hotel suite so his family could Meanwhile the Gem Theatre had opened at 51 enjoy every film free of charge. With its large Grand River St. North. and caused a sensation cushy chairs and velvet curtained stage, the by featuring a full orchestra to accompany its Allen Theatre quickly became the movie house first movie followed by a fulltime piano player of choice for Parisians and all others to accompany every silent film. The Gem in disappeared. The Allen was purchased by Famous 1916 was like hundreds of other small town Players and renamed the Capitol. Photos: (Left) Capitol Theatre c1954, closed c1957. Right: The movie houses. The audience sat stiffly on hard Capitol Interior c1930 after newly refurbished seats and faced what appeared to be a giant’s bed chairs and fresh paint had just been completed. sheet. Parisians often commented that it lacked

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Yarn bombing activities planned in support of Deafblind Awareness month Pictured are Rena (right) and intervenor Carol during last year’s yarn bombing decoration day. The event aims to draw awareness to deafblindness as a unique disability and to influence for appropriate services for people who are deafblind around the world.

Submitted photo

By Casandra Turnbull Sensity is participating in a global yarn bombing initiative in June and they are inviting residents to join in by decorating their own properties to create a buzz during Deafblind Awareness month.

The Deafblind and Sensory Support Network of Canada, located at the old Sacred Heart school location at 50 Main Street in Paris, joined the yarn bombing movement last year.

“The concept of coming together in June to yarn bomb objects in as many cities and countries as possible, we strive to foster connections and unite a community,” said Sam Gaspar, communication and events coordinator at Sensity in Paris.

Yarn bombing is a term used to describe covering objects or structures in public places with decorative knitted or crocheted material. It’s considered a form of street art that brightens up surroundings. The goal of yarn bombing in this case is to increase awareness and knowledge of deafblindness as a unique disability and to influence for appropriate services for people who are deafblind around the world.

The community is invited join in.

They can decorate their own yards, donate knitted crocheted squares that will be used to decorate the Sensory Garden at the Main Street Resource Centre or even just donate yarn for the cause. Those daring enough to take on a new challenge can learn to crochet. Last year Sensity shared several quick ‘how to’ videos for beginners.

crocheting and looming skills to work to support us. I was overwhelmed by the response,” said Gaspar.

Sensity residents also plan to take part in the initiative by creating their own unique squares. Activity Coordinator at the centre, Brittany Vautour, will incorporate yarn bombing crafts into next month’s activity calendar.

Community donations will be accepted until May 31. This year Sensity hopes to collect more than 500 knitted squares to beat last year’s goal, said Gaspar.

“Last year we reached out to the Sensity community and the community at large asking people to put their knitting,

The Sensory Garden Decoration Day is scheduled for Friday, June 17th. If you have further questions, feel free to reach out to Gaspar at sgaspar@sensity.ca and share those decoration photos on Social Media with the tag @sensitycanada

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April 30, 2022

COMMUNITY NEWS

Paris Agricultural Society honours its long-time members and volunteers

Picture above, left to right, Jay Wood (PAS President), Sean Chase (award recipient), Rick Stern (award recipient) and Valerie Stone (PAS Homecraft President).

This past week was National Volunteer Week so it was quite fitting that the Paris Agricultural Society honoured its volunteers recently at the Annual Social Night/Banquet. It was the first time the event was held in person again, so they took the opportunity to recognize and award volunteers for service in 2020, 2021 and 2022. “We are very proud of our members and volunteers,” said Cheryl Muir, PAS Manager.

PAS President Jay Wood and Homecraft President Valerie Stone presented the awards to volunteers with 25 and 40 years of service, as well as the OAAS Meritorious Service Diploma Winners.

The recipients were: OAAS Meritorious Service Diploma - Sean Chase; OAAS Meritorious Service Diploma - Rick Stern Homecraft 25 Years: Sonya McComb- 2020; Kellie McComb Learmouth- 2020; Fern Falkiner -2021; Linda Head – 2021; Alberta Fair- 2022; Leanne Kelley2022

Pictured above, left to right, are Valerie Stone, Sean Chase, Rick Stern, Linda Head (25 year Homecraft Pin), Leanne Kelley (25 Year Homecraft pin), Fern Falkiner (25 Year Homecraft Pin), Margaret Fielding (40 Year Homecraft Pin), Jay Wood.

Submitted photos

Homecraft 40 Years: Margaret Fielding 2021; Joan Small 2021; Mary Black- 2022; Mary Parkhill- 2022; Mary Wratten- 2022

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April 30, 2022

COMMUNITY EVENT Popular plant sale one week away

By Carolina Saenz The Paris Horticultural Society is pleased to be hosting its annual plant sale on May 7th at the Syl Apps Community Centre from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

An annual tradition of more than ten years, this event offers a variety of plant sales from annuals to perennials, native and vegetable plants. All proceeds go towards horticultural and environmental education as well as the beautification of many Paris parks and public spaces.

This widely popular plant sale attracts Parisians as well as people from surrounding areas such as Ayr, St. George, Burford, Princeton, Glen Morris, and Drumbo. With hundreds of plants available, ranging in price from $3 to $10, everyone is sure to find something to take home. Most plants are donated from members’ gardens, and in recent years the focus has grown to promote native plants.

The event is cash only (no debit or credit), and for shoppers’ convenience, wagons are available to use during your shopping experience and trays are offered so you can carry the plants out to your vehicle.

Everyone is invited to check out the variety, gardening experience is not required. Whether you are a beginner just learning the ropes, or a seasoned gardener growing a variety of plants, everyone is welcome.

The Paris Horticultural Society was founded in 1986. The volunteer group of citizens have a passion and flare for gardening. Their mission is to promote the improvement of home and public gardens. To achieve that goal, approximately 75 members meet the first Wednesday of each month from September to June. Next weekend’s plant sale is one of their largest fundraisers of the year. Next month (June 4-5) they welcome guests to their annual Garden Tour.

Proceeds from both events go towards a bursary awarded to a Paris District High School student

The Paris Horticultural Society’s annual plant sale takes place at the Syl Apps Community Centre next Saturday 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

– Picture courtesy of the Paris Horticultural Society

who plans to attend post-secondary school in horticulture, agriculture, or environmental science. Once funding for that is met, the rest of the proceeds go towards monthly guest speakers and public plantings around Paris. If you’ve ever driven by the Garden of Hope with daffodils in full bloom, or walked past the beautifully landscaped cenotaph, or simply admired the stunning planters and hanging baskets downtown, you might want to thank a Horticultural Society member! They work alongside the County of Brant to ensure Paris is the Prettiest Town in Canada!

If you’re interested in gardening and want to find out more about PHS drop into their next meeting May 6 at 7:30 pm at the Paris Fairgrounds

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April 30, 2022

COUNTY NEWS Fundraiser launched for new Cainsville Community Centre MEDIA RELEASE - The County of Brant has features such as solar energy, energy efficient launched the fundraising campaign for the fixtures and equipment and electric car charging Cainsville Community Centre. stations.

“Belonging is incredibly important to our overall wellbeing,” said Mayor David Bailey. “It is a fundamental human need. As our world shifts, it is time to come back together and safely share precious events like weddings and family gatherings and participate in our favourite social club activities. We’re better together. The new community centre will not only serve the Cainsville community but the County of Brant, as a whole.”

Reid and Deleye Contractors Ltd. was awarded the $5.1 million dollar construction tender.

The $1.5 million dollar fundraising campaign has been launched to help offset the total building costs.

The campaign working group is currently seeking major donors and those looking to build up their community.

“We are looking for those who can make a significant investment in the community,” said Bailey. “There are several naming opportunities available and we invite those who are interested to contact the Campaign team to discuss the possibilities.”

Located at 15 Ewart Drive Cainsville, the Community Centre will be designed with nature and comfort in mind. Approximately 9,200 sq.ft, the single story building will include a modern and transformable community hall, meeting room, spacious lobby and an outdoor covered patio that To learn more, visit www.brant.ca/Cainsville or call will host many unforgettable events. 350 people can Marilyn Campbell-Davis, the Campaign Director at be accommodated in the new Community Centre.

647.290.8500 or email campaignbrant@gmail.com.

The Community Centre will blend with the natural environment and showcase sustainable design Artistic rendering of the new Cainsville Community Centre, which will incorporate a sustainable design, similar to features built into the Cowan Community Health Hub.

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April 30, 2022

COMMUNITY NEWS

All-girls firefighting camp aims to empower & educate next generation

Lisa Herbert, far left, is one of five women firefighters at the Cainsville Station. Also pictured are Jenna Lawrence (middle) and Nicole Petitti. There are a total of 13 women firefighters in the County of Brant. Camp Phoenix was introduced to encourage more young women to enter the industry.

Photos provided by Lisa Herbert

By Casandra Turnbull Only 5% of career firefighters in Canada are women. It's a pretty small statistic but the tide is turning. More and more women are breaking through misconceptions and stepping into a role that was once deemed appropriate for men only.

The County of Brant Fire Department is helping to break those barriers and is proud to present its first five-day free immersive camp for girls aged

14-18 years. Camp Phoenix is designed to simulate real-life scenarios in all areas of fire prevention and suppression, search and rescue, forcible entry, auto extrication, basic first aid and more. Campers will also receive empowering interactions from people in all areas of the fire service, not just firefighting, through learning lunches which will welcome a new guest speaker every day.

When Wade Cummerson, District Chief of Station 4 presented the idea, Lisa

Herbert jumped on board right away at the opportunity to mentor young women looking to enter the industry.

"I wish an opportunity like this existed 20 years ago when I was a teenager, I would have been first in line," said Herbert, who is a member of the Cainsville Station.

She is one of the many volunteers who will lead the camp this summer.

Continued on Page 25

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April 30, 2022

COMMUNITY NEWS Herbert joined the Cainsville Station in May 2019 after years of self doubt and allowing misconceptions to prevent her from reaching for her dreams. She said she allowed the notion that she's a woman to stop her from applying, even though she expressed an interest in firefighting from a very young age, inspired by an uncle who was a volunteer firefighter in Goderich. Ultimately it was the encouragement of fellow firefighter Ken Sibbick who convinced her to step outside her comfort zone. "I shared my hesitations with him when we were volunteering with St. John Ambulance as Medical First Responders and he encouraged me to try," said Herbert.

The year she was recruited only two women came out among hundreds for the physical assessment.

Even though it was intimidating, Herbert pressed on and passed every challenge. What she ended up learning is that both men and women bring unique skill sets to the job and diversity in the department only makes it stronger.

Pictured is Lisa Herbert during a fire department training exercise.

Camp Phoenix participants will simulate real-life scenarios in all areas of fire prevention and suppression, search and rescue, forcible entry, auto extrication, basic first aid and more.

Camp Phoenix is set to launch this summer from July 13-17 and all young women between the ages of 14-18 years old are encouraged to apply. The camp is mirrored after the successful City of Brantford Fire Department program called Camp "In my experience, and as I've been told from men Molly. Wade Cummerson, a volunteer at Camp in the department, having women as part of the Molly, saw the success of that program and wanted team has improved the dynamic and mentality," to bring the opportunity to Brant. shared Herbert.

For more information on Camp Phoenix or the There are 13 female firefighters in the County of Brant, five of them are stationed in Cainsville. It's Herbert's wish to see those numbers grow through active recruitment and through initiatives like this camp. Camp Phoenix will not only introduce young participants to the components of firefighting, but also to break barriers and boost self-esteem and confidence of the young women looking to join the fire service. "We can be our own worst critics and can talk ourselves out of a lot in life. The battle is often in our mind just as much as it is out in the world. Whether the girls feel fired up for a future career in the fire service or realize this isn't for them by the end of the camp, both are a win," said Herbert.

application process, visit www.brant.ca/CampPhoenix or join the County of Brant Firefighters for an Open House on Thursday, May 5, 2022 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Open House takes place at the Cainsville Station, 17 Ewart Avenue in Cainsville (behind Peavey Mart).

A presentation, demonstrations and an opportunity for students and guardians to interact with staff and ask questions will be available.

For application questions, visit: www.brant.ca/CampPhoenix or call 519.44BRANT x 4540. Space is limited.

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T R AV E L C O L U M N

Uncovering the unique secrets of Malta Well I’m off again! This time to Europe: Italy, Malta and England.

Initially, I’ll be travelling with my daughter, Sarah to Rome; however our ultimate destination is her residence in Malta. This trip had been planned for my retirement in 2020, but the pandemic had different ideas. Well…I’m not waiting any longer. Sensible precautions and 4 vaccinations later, I think I’ll be fine.

We are in Rome for only a few days but have planned a couple of events: a tour of the Colosseum and a day tour to Pompeii.

Everyone seems to understand the Rome locale, but I often get asked, “where’s Malta”? So, a little info on my main destination.

Malta is one of the world's

smallest nations and occupies an area of only 316 sq. km. It sits in the Mediterranean Sea, just off the toe of Italy. By plane it’s about an hour and a half flight time from Rome. The country is a cluster of small islands.

The three largest islands in the archipelago are Malta, Comino, and Gozo. Only these three are inhabited. They are mostly low, rocky islands with rugged, steep coastal cliffs. The famous Blue Lagoon of Malta is located on the island of Comino. Malta does not have any permanent natural lakes or rivers.

The people speak a unique Semitic language called Maltese but many are fluent in English.

The weather is perfect and the country boasts three UNESCO World Heritage sites. One of these is the Hypogeum. The Hypogeum is a Neolithic

subterranean structure dating to Maltese prehistory. I believe it is older than the pyramids in Egypt. It is often simply referred to as the Hypogeum, literally meaning "underground" in Greek. This has been on my bucket list since I discovered it existed.

However, there are many sites on my list for Malta and I hope to visit most, if not all of them.

I will be staying in Malta until mid July, with a side trip to England at the end of May. My focus though will be discovering this unique island and its culture.

Column submitted by Paris resident Karon Sinning as she travels through Europe.

While the foreground may have changed with construction, pictured to the left is the view from Sinning’s condo in Malta. Above is a map of Malta.

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April 30, 2022

EDITORIAL

Cinco de Mayo – what does it really mean?

Editorial Column by Carolina Saenz Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Canada and the United States provide a great party opportunity for those who enjoy Mexican food, drinks, and a fun fiesta ambience. Whether in restaurants or homes, this holiday has become widely celebrated. But what exactly is Cinco de Mayo celebrating?

Historically, Cinco de Mayo refers to the “Battle of Puebla”. On the fifth of May in 1862, Mexican forces defeated the French during a battle in the city of Puebla. This victory is significant as poorly equipped Mexican forces were not expected to stand their ground, making this victory surprising to all. The French were not fully driven out of Mexico for another five years, but this specific battle became the symbol of Mexican resistance against foreign domination.

While Cinco de Mayo is indeed a public holiday in Mexico that commemorates this battle, it is not widely celebrated. In the city of Puebla, there are parades that honour this holiday but other than that, it is not considered a big celebration for the rest of the country. It wasn’t until the sixties that MexicanAmericans began raising awareness about this celebration in the United States as a symbol of pride in their Mexican heritage. Shortly after, beer companies began using this holiday to promote their products. It didn’t take long for Cinco de Mayo to become a widely celebrated holiday that often involves heavy drinking and perpetuates negative stereotypes of Mexicans.

Cinco de Mayo celebrations, however, do not necessarily have to be avoided. As a Mexican, I do not find it offensive so long as those

Despite popular notion that Cinco de Mayo represents an abundance of Mexican cuisine, alcoholic beverages and a fun fiesta, what it really commemorates is the Mexican victory against French forces led by Emperor Napoleon III in the Battle of Puebla, which took place on 5 May 1862. Paris Independent Reporter Carolina Saenz gives us a different look at May 5th from a Mexican perspective.

celebrating are willing to learn about the history behind this celebration and do not partake in negative misrepresentations of Mexican culture. In my experience, most people simply enjoy Mexican food, beer, and an opportunity to unwind regardless of what is being celebrated. But for those looking to celebrate a big Mexican holiday, Mexican Independence Day on September 16th is the way to go. Arguably the most important holiday for Mexicans, big celebrations throughout the month are held with special food, drinks, and lots of fiestas. A celebration of freedom from Spanish colonization, Mexican Independence Day is also a wonderful time to travel and see traditions at full display. So next time you hear “Happy Cinco de Mayo!” make sure to share a bit of history alongside the guacamole!

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Showtimes for Galaxy Cinemas Brantford For Saturday April 30th, 2022 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Standard 12:00p.m. 3:30p.m. 6:00p.m. 9:20p.m.

The Bad Guys Standard 11:20a.m. 12:30p.m. 1:50p.m. 3:30p.m. 4:30p.m.

3D 7:10p.m. 9:40p.m.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Standard 11:30a.m. 2:40p.m. 6:50p.m. 10:00p.m.

The Northman Standard 11:45a.m. 3:00p.m. 6:30p.m. 9:40p.m.

The Lost City Standard 4:10p.m. 7:00p.m. 9:50p.m.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Standard 1:25p.m. 3:50p.m. 6:40p.m. 9:30p.m.

Memory Standard 1:00p.m. 4:00p.m. 6:50p.m. 9:45p.m.

The Batman Standard 7:30p.m.

Trolls World Tour Standard 11:00a.m.

April 30, 2022