The Paris Independent for Saturday December 17th, 2022

Photo by Casandra Turnbull

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

A HUNTER CHRISTMASNovember 17th – December 23rd Come get cozy with the Hunter family and marvel at the Christmas decorations at the Homestead. The museum will be decorated to celebrate ‘A Hunter Christmas ’ We use and showcase traditional methods that the Hunter family would be proud to share with you as we travel throughout the home Each visit to the museum will include a fully guided tour through both floors of the home. As an added bonus, any children who come to visit will receive a special present to take home!

LAST CALL AT THE LIBRARY! Several library programs wrap up this monthbelow is a list of "last session" dates: Magic: The Gathering Drop-In - last session is Saturday, December 17th; The Many Faces of Link - last session is Wednesday, December 21st; Who You Gonna Call Drop-In - last session is Friday, December 23rd .

10TH ANNUAL HORSE DRAWN TROLLEY RIDE & VISITS

WITH SANTA – Sunday, December 18th at the Scotland Community Church 5-8pm. A Free Community Event for all. Come join the festivities, enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, a horse-drawn trolley ride and of course, a visit with Santa! Bring your cameras! Note: Horse drawn trolley rides are sold out!

Big shout out to “Best Weigh Scales” stepping up to cover the Trolley expenses! The Scotland Optimist Club is proud to organize this FREE COMMUNITY EVENT and all we ask is that you bring a non-perishable food item to share for those in need. Please feel free to contact any Scotland Optimist member for more information.

Tickets must be purchased in advance, either online or they may also be reserved by calling or emailing the museum.

The above programs return in January 2023 Registration for 2023 winter programs for kids, tweens, and teens opened Saturday, December 10th at 10am. Pick up a program guide from your local branch, or visit brantlibrary.ca/flyer to view upcoming programs. GOT AN EVENT?

MIRACLE ON GRAND RIVER STREET NORTH

TODAY - At the Dog Eared Café! Presented by Monique Hunsley Music, Saturday December 17th , 5-7pm. Come join us for Live Music and Christmas Cheer Bring an unwrapped toy or gift card and help us bring a little Hope for the Holidays to the clients of Nova Vita Specialty hot and cold beverages, local beer and wine available Great food and sweet treats in an amazing cozy atmosphere

WINTER SOLSTICE COMMUNITY GATHERING –

December 21st , 4 - 6:30pm at Five Oaks Join us for our Winter Solstice Community Gathering and this significant moment in our hemisphere! We invite you to join us for this fun, inter-cultural family friendly event Design your own mason jar lantern and go on a lantern walk Listen to indigenous teachings and stories from the warmth and light of the campfire; offering prayers and wishes for the new year. And the best part? No need to make supper! Warm up with a tasty bowl of chili or mac and cheese! Reservation link. *Admission for children is FREE with an accompanying adult!*

THE CREW NEW YEAR! The Crew/ Real Estate presents Crew Year's Eve 2022! Come celebrate in-style, December 31 at The Rope Factory Event Hall Doors open at 7pm Event begins at 8pm. Proceeds from the night's festivities will be donated to the Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation. Tickets available now for only $25. Limited tickets available so please RSVP as soon as possible at https://www.eventbrite.ca/.../crew-years-eve-tickets... Crew Year's Eve is a 19+ event

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

Christmas PartyParis Presbyterian Church – Sunday, December 18, 10am–noon. Everyone welcome

Another successful Christmas Hamper campaign comes to a close

By Casandra Turnbull

Months of community effort, volunteerism and goodwill culminated in one special day yesterday as around 150 families were invited to pick up their Christmas Hampers at the Paris Fairgrounds. Organized by the Paris Community Christmas Hamper committee, this communitywide initiative truly demonstrates what can be accomplished with everyone on board. The committee is backed by close to 100 volunteers from all walks of life in the County of Brant. They are supported by businesses, organizations and individuals who contribute through various Food and Toy Drives, but also step forward

to sponsor families. This year there were 18 sponsors who saw the importance of sponsoring a family to ensure everyone has a good Christmas holiday, said Shirley Simons, Lead Coordinator/Chair of the Hamper committee. Sponsors reach out to Simons, who then pairs the sponsor with a family. The sponsor gets a copy of the family’s initial Hamper application, which outlines their needs and wants, as well as basic information about everyone in the family. The sponsors shop to collect the family’s needs, some wish list items and enough food to fill the food box. It’s a generous undertaking, which Simons is grateful for every year

Simons and fellow committee member Marg Knill are founding members of the Community Christmas Hamper program, still going strong after more than 20 years in Paris. It’s taken time and experience, but Simons has the annual process fine tuned – and it shows!

Every volunteer has a role. The tables go up the Sunday before collection day, the donations pour in, and the tables are put away following the Friday pick up date, which took place on December 16th . In that time period volunteers inspect, sort and pack two month’s worth of community donations They’re often joined by classes from area schools and local organizations.

Burford

Vanstowski. Pictured top right packing the food in individual boxes for families are Kandyce Harrington and Michael Harrington.

This year Cobblestone Public School and North Ward School lent a helping hand and the Paris Brownies were also on site one evening sorting food.

“We had a Grade 8 class from North Ward School come by this year and it was great to see the Grade 8s,” said Simons, who hopes as those volunteers enter high school next year, they will champion to

bring Paris District High School back on board to volunteer.

The student volunteers play an important role in the early stages of this sorting/packing process. They take the food out of the bags, inspect for dents and expired food items and then place them on a trolly to be sorted by product.

Steve’s Recycle Bicycles donates to Christmas Hamper program

Many of us have that memory of waking up to a brand new bike under the Christmas tree. And thanks to a local entrepreneur, seven lucky kids will have the same memory this holiday season. Steve’s Recycle Bicycles donated seven refinished, like new bikes to the Paris Community Christmas Hamper & Toy Drive for the second year in a row. “Two years ago while shopping in Paris, I was talking with a fireman who was collecting toys for the Christmas hamper program,” explained business owner Steve. “He put me in touch with the people running it and we arranged to donate a few bikes. This year we specifically chose seven bikes from our lot and rebuilt them for donation. We have even bigger plans for next year” The mission at Steve’s Recycle Bicycles is to provide reliable, attractive bikes for anyone who needs one, whether its for recreation, transportation or exercise Most bikes are received by donation and then assessed and rebuilt. To learn more about Steve and his unique business visit https://www.stevesrecyclebicycles.ca/who-we-are

Once all the food is sorted and organized, volunteers can then start packing the food boxes Each family will have enough food to not only enjoy that traditional holiday meal (ham or turkey) but they also get all the fixings to ensure there are meals and snacks on the shelves throughout their holiday break, said Simons. The boxes also come with feminine hygiene products and baby products, two growing in demand items, added Simons As the food is being sorted and packed, the same process is unfolding on adjacent tables packed full of toy donations They are also sorted by age and gender. Volunteers handpick ‘need’ and ‘want’ items from the tables to pack each family’s bag. “The volunteers sort and match the best they can against the (applicant’s) list,” said Simons. It's a lot of work but thankfully there are a lot of helping hands. The Christmas Hamper committee meets monthly to ensure everything goes off as planned. It’s a lot of work and preparation but providing a sense of relief and joy for families who struggle at this time of year makes it all the worth while.

The committee consists of Shirley Simons, Marg Knill, Cherish Gamble, Tawnia Martel, Anne Rutt, Lisa Lewis and Laura Bowlby. They wish to thank everyone who made this year’s campaign a success!

Seven rebuilt bikes donated to the Paris Community Christmas Hamper program.

More Homes Built Faster Act continues to draw more criticism from local councillors and residents

By Bailey Zimmer

1 5 million houses await development in Ontario and Brant County councillors and local community members are buzzing about Bill 23’s effect on the future of the province.

On November 28, Bill 23, also known as the ‘More Homes Built Faster Act’ reached royal assent, meaning the bill has passed and is nearing formal approval.

Paris Councillors John Bell and Steve Howes are not in favour of the Bill and hope to see some changes.

“I’m very uncomfortable with this bill on a number of levels,” said Bell, Ward 3 councillor “It is failing to acknowledge the genuine social challenges that many communities have.” Bell worries for community members in need of affordable housing and does not believe Bill 23 will provide dwellings of fair price to the average citizen. Bell and Howes alike show concern for young people looking for starter homes, affordable places to rent and for elderly people looking for smaller homes to settle down. Their main concern is the cost of houses being built and fear these houses will not accommodate the needs of an average Canadian.

The results of a small 35-person survey taken by The Paris Independent shows data of those between the ages 18-30, the age of young people moving away from

home. 97.14 per cent of those surveyed are not in favour of the bill, while the remaining 2 86 are in support

Many survey takers are upset about the dwellings that will be built, the space that will be used and the affordability of houses being built

Brant County resident Olivia Neale is opposed to the bill.

“While more housing is a need, communities would benefit from building up instead of out,” said Neale ” “Zoning laws need to be amended to create denser, mixeduse neighbourhoods.”

Another survey taker suggests to “utilize housing that we already have that isn’t in use within the cities ”

According to the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force, development charges within some municipalities have gone up as much as 900 per cent within the last 20 years.

“As development charges go up, the prices of homes go up,” states the Task Force website

According to an email from Will Bouma’s office obtained by The Paris Independent, the houses that will be built include single family homes, town homes and mid-rise apartments with a mix of ownership and rental housing types that meet the needs and budgets of every Ontarian.

Another aspect of Bill 23 is to transfer development charges from developers to municipal taxpayers

Development charges are vital within every community. These charges vary depending on the size of the development at hand and go right back into the community. The development fees provide money for increased infrastructure costs These costs cover waste and fresh water treatment, new or improved roads, parks, libraries and other amenities essential to municipalities.

As more houses are built, more amenities are needed.

The worry about these charges shifting from developers onto taxpayers is unsettling to Ward 2 councillor Steve Howes, as property tax could increase for homeowners and there will be a decrease in municipal funding “If the province changes or reduces the amount the developers have to pay to the municipality,” said Howes. “Where do these funds come from? Growth is supposed to pay for growth.”

Each municipality is allocated a certain amount of growth within the region and is given a growth target.

According to Howes, by 2051 the county of Brant is supposed to grow to 59,000 people. The current population is about 40,000. Howes explains that without any new development applications, there are currently enough in the pipeline to reach

that target and beyond.

The County of Brant is growing rapidly and is projected to continue growing in the coming years. Councillors are urging the needs and utilities of the community be examined to meet the demands of growth.

“We need to make sure that when we grow our county, we actually grow it in a way that provides infrastructure at the right pace to support,” said Bell.

While a need for space is needed to support this growth, land is not the issue, according to the Ontario HousingAvailability Task Force Bill 23 introduces the idea of developing on sections of the Greenbelt, land which was previously undeveloped under the Greenbelt Protection act of 2004.

Howes references a statement from the Ontario Housing Availability Task Force site report from February 8, 2022, published

before the bill was announced. The report states “a shortage of land isn’t the cause of the problem. Land is available, both inside the existing built-up areas and on undeveloped land outside greenbelts ”

Of the 1.5 million houses being built, 50,000 of these houses are proposed to be built on the Greenbelt taking 7,400 acres of protected land.

With the fear of displacing wildlife and abolishing heritage sites, Howes and Bell are both wary about the development. Petitions by the Green Party have been started in order to stop development on the Greenbelt and are still circling “We can’t hold back growth,” said Bell. “What we’re going to do is manage it as best we can. We’ve been dealt a set of cards and were going to play them as best we can.”

It’s starting to look a lot like Christmas….!!!

The 5th Paris Brownies are getting into the spirit of the holidays with various activities around town. On December 7th the unit visited Walter’s Greenhouses to learn a lesson in horticulture and created their own Christmas decorations to take home. The following week on December 13th, the girls helped sort food and wrap Christmas gifts at the Paris Community Christmas Hamper & Toy Drive.

Warm up with a bowl of soup!

Eight days until Christmas and the Raw Carrot Enterprise still has gift boxes ready to deliver or pick up at one of their locations, including the Paris location at Paris Presbyterian Church! The Gift Boxes make wonderful gifts for those hard to buy for folks on your list. Your purchase supports tangible social change in our community. The Raw Carrot Enterprise employs individuals on ODSP who want to work the chance to have employment. Their Christmas Gift Boxes are full of feel good winter treats. Dubbed ‘the gift that keeps giving’, these boxes include two homemade (with love) soups and handpicked local charcuterie products: Bright cheddar cheese, Finest Gypsy Sausage and Barrie’s Asparagus cracked wheat crackers. To reserve your box visit their website today!

Photo by Casandra Turnbull

Cedar North Development proposed for Pinehurst / Watts Pond Road

By Casandra Turnbull

The people of Paris got the first look at a new development proposed for the town’s north end. Representatives for Cedar North Development were at the December 6th County of Brant Planning Committee meeting seeking a zoning bylaw amendment to rezone 121 acres of land from agricultural to residential to develop multiple low, medium and high-density homes, as well as open space and mixed-use commercial space. The land, often referred to as Cordon Farm, fronts 538 metres along Pinehurst Road and 703 metres along Watts Pond Road at the southeast corner of the two roads.

The presentation and public hearing were for information purposes only, there were no deliberations and no decisions were made at the meeting. It’s the first step in what will be a very long process before any construction would begin. Mat Vaughan, Director of Development Planning for the County of Brant, explains there is necessary servicing work that must be completed before another subdivision can break ground in that end of town and that work could take a few years to complete. “According to operations staff, the current plan is to construct the new trunk sanitary

Cedar North Development is seeking a zoning bylaw amendment to rezone the subject land above from agricultural to residential. Associates from IBI Group presented the plan to the Planning Committee on December 6th .

sewer on Grand River Street North in 2023, then road improvements will begin in 2024, phased over several years,” explained Vaughan “Wastewater treatment capacity would also be necessary for this development and an upgrade to the Paris wastewater treatment plant is at least 5-7 years away. The Class EA for the treatment plan is currently underway,” said Vaughan, when asked by the Paris Independent how far out the Cedar North Development project could be, if approved. The presentation, led by IBI consultants on behalf of the landowners, outlined the basics of the application Planned in two phases, the development would feature anywhere from 776 to 984 units, the number dependent on what types of housing units are approved in the final plan. Councillor Steve Howes did question what those units would look like, pointing out there is a great need in the community for affordable and attainable housing.

A schematic of what the new subdivision could look like, if approved by the planning committee and council. During the presentation at the Dec. 6th meeting it was revealed that 121 acres of former Cordon Farms land would be developed into low, medium and high density units.

Odete Gomes from IBI, confirmed phase 1 of the project meets that demand. The section of homes along Pinehurst Road will account for almost 50% of the total density of the subdivision. She previewed that it includes rental apartment buildings, two and three storey townhomes and an entire block that is dedicated to Habitat for Humanity, gifted to them by the developers. “We are very excited about this project It’s a very identifiable entry point into Paris. We want to make the design that at the end of the day is something we can all be happy about. The developers and builders we are working with are local. They live and work in the community and are very much interested in making sure it’s something we can be proud of,” said Gomes Councillor John Bell had pertinent questions tied to the new, and almost approved Transportation Master Plan “Another 2,500 people in the north end of town. Does our Master Transportation Plan include these numbers?” he asked. Vaughan, who was also at the meeting to answer questions, did not have an immediate answer for Councillor Bell but said he would inquire. Bell also had concerns surrounding the land’s current designation in the

New Official Plan, waiting for approval from the province. Right now, the land is designated as urban residential and natural heritage. It was deemed ‘excessive land,’ but this newly proposed development contradicts that designation. Bell wonders how the population of the County would look if another 1,000 homes were added on this ‘excessive land.’ Councillor Miller questioned whether this end of town could handle a growing population without ensuring there is another school considered to accommodate the increase in student enrollment. Vaughan said the county identified this issue through an area study and this development application was circulated through both school boards – both public and catholic – with minimal feedback One board did suggest that a proposal might be necessary. After brief discussion, including questions from an area resident who will live beside the proposed development, the public meeting was closed.

The IBI Group revealed the landowners plan to dedicate 50% of the subdivisions population to affordable type units – apartment buildings, two and three storey townhomes and an entire block gifted to Habitat for Humanity to build homes.

The December 6th meeting was the first step in a lengthy process, which starts before the planning committee with a public hearing. Staff will now evaluate the application and their recommendation to approve or decline it comes back to the planning committee at a future date. The Committee then votes to approve or decline before it goes to Council. The public will have more opportunities to speak and ask questions along the way. The next steps could take years to unfold as major infrastructure upgrades are essential to its approval. The development could also be approved with holding provisions, which was brought up in the meeting by Ward 2 Councillor Lukas Oakley. When the Paris Independent asked Vaughan to explain what a holding provision looks like, he replied “Holding provisions may be applied to an amending By-Law to delay development until local municipal services, such as roads and sewers, are in place and those services are available from a capacity perspective. In these instances, a Holding ('H') symbol will precede the zoning category in the By-Law, meaning the Zoning in place is put on hold until those deficiencies are addressed,” adding, “It is too early in the process to know if a holding is the appropriate planning tool to use for this particular development.”

In the event that staff recommend the planning

committee declines the application, and it’s supported by council, the developer can still take the application to a provincial tribunal called LPAT, which deals specifically with planning matters and appeals In recent years, Losani took the County to tribunal over the Nith Peninsula development at Barker’s Bush. The result was a settlement where designated acreage (Barker’s Bush trails) was transferred to the County of Brant to remain protected from development. When the developers for the subdivision approved on the former golf course took the County to LPAT, another settlement was reached to ensure the project was developed in three phases to allow the county time to implement the proper services and infrastructure, but there were no mandated changes to the number of homes built. At the end of the day, the County has to work with the developers to ensure any new development is a fit with the community and try to avoid tribunal situations where the outcome is generally in favour of more development to meet the province’s growing demands for new homes

This Cedar North Development, the subdivision yet to be named, would fall under the Conservative Government’s recently passed Bill 23: More Homes Built Faster Act and how those development fees will be transferred to ratepayers, home buyers or the County, remains to be seen.

One final royal visit before Christmas!

On Sunday, December 11, some very excited children had a royal visit with Paris’ own Princesses! The Glass Slipper Company offered area residents the chance to participate in a Snow Sister’s Sing Along at the Paris Presbyterian Church’s ForParis Centre. This was the final event of the 2022 year for the Princesses who will take a much deserved break to celebrate the holidays with their royal families.

Santa Claus was in Paris last night and he was making his rounds aboard a Paris Fire Truck. If you saw the lights and heard the horns, music and that familiar HO HO HO that was him!

Wishing everyone in Paris a Merry Christmas before he headed back to the North Pole to get ready for his big night!

The Glass Slipper Company Photo SANTA

LOCAL HISTORY

Watt’s Pond has a long history in the life of Parisians. From ice skating, curling and hockey on its frozen ice in the winter to fishing and swimming in the summer. For many it’s hard to imagine Watt’s pond being 10 feet deep one summer to completely drying up the next For example: August 9, 1932 newspaper reported Drowning Tragedy Prevented by Heroism of A. Newstead - A drowning tragedy was avoided over the weekend when Alvin Newstead rescued eleven-year-old John Winch from drowning in Watts Pond north of Paris. This pond has become a favourite place for swimming and from what can be learned several boys were in a punt when it upset in the middle of the pond. All except the Winch lad were fairly good swimmers and were able to reach land. Finding Winch in difficulty two boys returned to his assistance but were unable to bring him ashore owing to his struggles. Alvin Newstead then arrived upon the scene and diving in brought the lad out of ten feet of water. Mrs. Reg Hyndman who was at the scene waded out in an effort to reach Winch before Newstead arrived. Newstead’s gallant rescue will likely be brought to the attention of the proper authorities

OPERATION FISH 1958 The Department of Lands and Forests working with Paris conservationists began transferring pike and black bass from Watt’s Pond to the Nith River. Water in the pond is dropping constantly and the fish will die unless they are moved. Above: workers drag net across pond. Below: Brant County conservation officer Bob Ellah puts fish into tank in his car Expositor Photos

LOCAL HISTORY

Transfer Pike to Nith River

PARIS 1958 Because water was low in Watt’s Pond, here pike and black bass are being transferred from it to the Nith River. The operation is being carried on by the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests assisted by local conservationists. Local conservation officer Robert Ellah who is in charge says that unless the fish are moved they will die from lack of oxygen “The water in the pond now is only about three feet deep" he says. A number of pike and bass were netted from the pond Monday night and taken in tanks to the Nith River below the west pit of the Consolidated Sand and Gravel Ltd. Here they ware measured tagged and scale sample taken. In charge of the tagging was Bob Mason of Hespeler, biologist for the Department of Lands and Forests. Tagging will enable biologists to learn more about the living habits of the fish where they go and how far they travel. By taking scale samples they can ascertain the age of the fish Some of the black bass netted Monday night weighed between three or four pounds. Mr. Ellah and the conservationists plan to go after more fish when water in the pond goes a little lower.

Above: Robert Henderson holds net while Jim Bethune picks up fish. Expositor Photo

FUN3 Ringette Team proves you can have fun and bring home the GOLD!

The Paris FUN3 Ringette Team travelled to St. Mary’s last weekend for their first tournament of the year and they set the seasonal bar pretty high, returning home with gold medals to show for their efforts. The team rallied together to go undefeated all weekend. Team coaches attribute the weekend’s success to a whole team effort, working hard together to overcome their opponents. It all started with an undefeated round robin play, taking down London, Exeter-Seaforth and Kitchener D These wins put Paris into the finals on Sunday where they outplayed Kitchener M with a final score of 7-2 to secure the gold The undefeated weekend ended with the kids’ very first medal ceremony where everyone accepted the medals with huge smiles Team members include (in not particular order) Claire VanHouwelingen, Charly Chelchowski, Charlotte Sullivan Pries, Avery Holborn, Jordyn Wallis, Charlotte Kipp, Paisley Dinsmore, Amelia Carman, Emily Woloshin, Cassie Jaffer and Vivian Hart-Colling. Coaching staff includes, Head Coach Nicole Kipp, Assistant Coach Lisa Wallis, Assistant Coach Dave VanHouwelingen, Junior Coach Sydney Kipp and Team Manager Ashley Dinsmore. The team would like to send a big thank-you to all their sponsors for their support this season!

Submitted Photo

Mounties hosting Food Drive at this evening’s game!

For some teams, success is measured by wins and losses and for a team comprised of rookies, the definition of success is measured by learning how to adapt to a different level of play. Head coach Brad Jones measures the team’s success not on wins, although he hopes to see more wins in the new year, but rather on potential. In fact, he feels that the team can become a contending team by next season. Today, December 17, the Mounties will be hosting the Norwich Merchants for some PJHL action This game will be the last game for 2022, with the team being back home on January 14. The team will be collecting non perishable food items for the Salvation Army, the always entertaining Wolfpack mini game will take place during the first intermission featuring the “U7 Toronto Blue” team. The biggest “not so surprise” guest will be a visit from Santa sometime around the second period.

Last but not least is a story about giving The Mounties practice every Tuesday evening and prior to their practice the County has a

free skate where three young boys, Dario, Ayrton and Sebastian, were learning to skate with their father. As time went by, they stuck around to watch the Mounties practice, attending games and getting autographs. This past Tuesday, the Mounties had a special surprise for the young lads, by presenting them with authentic game worn jerseys.

SCOREBOARD DECEMBER 9 – DECEMBER 14

*U13 Team 1 sponsored by Arora Dental loses 4-2 against the Burford Coyotes

*U11 Team 2 sponsored by Nick’s No Frills wins 5-3 against Simcoe Warriors (3)

*U11 Team 2 sponsored by Nick’s No Frills wins 5-3 over Ingersoll Express (2)

*U11 Team 1 sponsored by Brant Sports wins 3-0 over Burford Coyotes (2)

*U13 team 2 sponsored by Fifth Ground Entertainment wins 2-1 over Tillsonburg Tornadoes

*U15 Rep sponsored by Comfort Plus Climate Care ties 3-3 against Six Nations Blackhawks

*U15 Team 2 sponsored by Burford Foodland wins 2-0 over Delhi Rockets (2)

*U18 Team 2 sponsored by Hoogs Installations loses 3-0 to the Simcoe Warriors

*U18 Team 3 sponsored by the Paris Legion wins 10-1 over the Tillsonburg Tornadoes

*U13 Team 1 sponsored by Arora Dental wins 8-3 over Ingersoll Express

*U15 Team 1 sponsored by Adkins Financial wins 10-1 against the Norwich Knighthawks

*U18 Team 1 sponsored by Cobblestone Medicine loses 4-1 to the Simcoe Warriors

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

FORE??

Indoor Golf facility in Paris helps keep your game in fine form all year round!

By Casandra Turnbull

Who says you can’t golf year-round in Ontario? Just because the snow is falling and air is frigid, doesn’t mean you can’t perfect your swing and maybe even nail a hole in one!

While the warmer weather kept golfers on the outdoor courses longer than normal this season, Tina Clahane was ready and willing to offer golfers a whole new learning experience indoors! Clahane is the owner and operator of The Golf Barn located at 194 Bethel Road in Paris. The facility is equipped is three state of the art Uneekor Golf simulators used for practice and play Along with the most up to date technology, Clahane, a head Teaching Professional for PGA of Ontario, offers golfers tips, advice and techniques to enhance their game and achieve their goals. Her teaching philosophy is simple, yet effective: deliver the fundamentals in a specific sequence to get the best possible results for all skill levels, assess the swing, identify the problems and deliver easy to understand solutions.

Clahane played amateur golf for many years through the Royal Canadian Golf Association before graduating from

Above, Tina Clahane helps correct a swing at her indoor golf facility. Below Diana Helli, Trisha Heard and Kelly Gyoker take a break during a women’s league night.

Business Management at Northwood University in Texas. During that time, she actively played in NAIA competition finishing with a 14th place ranking in the division. She returned to Canada to obtain a class ‘A’ status in the CPGA and has been teaching professionally for the past 25 years.

“I truly love helping golfers get better. I enjoy quickly figuring out issues in their swing and putting a plan together for them to improve,” shared Clahane She opened the Golf Barn in 2016 when she moved to Paris, fresh off the success of her first indoor golf adventure she started in Mississauga in 2007. “It (Mississauga) was the first one to open in the GTA, then many started to open afterwards. I sold it and it is still in operation today,” she said on how it all began. “I moved to the Paris area about eight years ago and noticed there is not a lot of golf facilities and there is no indoor golf offered in Paris. I wanted to build an indoor golf facility where people will feel welcome and learn to play golf.”

The Golf Barn offers individual private lessons, group lessons, and men’s and ladies’ leagues As the success of the program continues to grow, Clahane previewed a new league next summer – junior golf camps, made possible by popular request!

Left, Shane Leonard and Dawson Ham pause from their round of golf at the Golf Barn, located at 194 Bethel Road in Paris.

Golf Barn guests range in skill from beginners to professionals to those just looking to practice and have some fun, but at the end of the day they all have one thing in common, said Clahane: “The best part of the Golf Barn is the community that it’s building. It’s been amazing to witness and be a part of.” The Men’s and Women’s leagues are popular, so much so, that Clahane had to add an extra night and additional time slots for the winter session set to begin in January! “People are enjoying the competition and the camaraderie ”

If you’re not looking to be a part of a league but want to keep that swing in fine form ahead of next year’s outdoor season, the Golf Barn is the place to be. “People love the state-of-the-art golf simulators which includes video feedback and swing analysis,” said Clahane. The simulators also offer over 100 famous courses to play, so you’ll never get bored practicing on the same course. People appreciate how realistic and accurate the courses are, added Clahane. So if you’re looking for an immersive experience or perhaps you want to gift one to a loved one this season, visit the Golf Barn website https://wwwthegolfbarn ca/

U9 team seemingly unbeatable in early season play

The U9 Wolfpack team had more reason to celebrate as they picked up another big win and a tie in recent hockey action.

It started with a 12-3 over Hagersville on November 30th Arthur Dixon led the team in the strong victory with three goals and two assists. He also displayed some excellent defensive moves and for those reasons he was awarded the player of the game (R.A.C.E).

The following week Paris met some competition that was able to give the team some back and forth action. When the buzzer went off, the game ended in an eight all tie. Lincoln Cobb exhibited strong leadership on every shift and worked hard to earn four goals and one assist. He was awarded player of the game (R.A.C.E).

Team camaraderie is built on and off the ice After some major wins to start the season off, the team had more than one reason to celebrate when they gathered for their Christmas party at Echo Bowl on December 11th .

Players of the Game, Arthur Dixon (left) and Lincoln Cobb (right) and the team at the Christmas Party at Echo Bowl.

By Casandra Turnbull

The PDHS girls’ hockey team picked up two more wins this week to improve their season record to a perfect 5-0.

The action started on Monday when Paris faced North Park, skating off with the 10-0 shutout win.

“The girls played very well. Cycled the puck, passed well and utilized the plays we’ve been working on in practice,” saidAssistant Coach Patti Halliday.

It was a strong show in the first period with Maddison Smith, Madison Burr (with a hattrick), Harley Shuart, Reese Halliday and Sydney Kipp all scored to put Paris up 7-0 after 20 minutes of play. Burr recorded two more goals in the second period, along with a single marker from Naren Parker to put the Panthers up 10-0. The third period was scoreless.

On Wednesday, Paris took on St. John’s College in another game that ended up top heavy on the points!

PDHS Girls hockey team remains undefeated after two wins this week

“The girls came out on fire Wednesday with some awesome team play,” said Halliday. “Almost every player earned a point (goal or assist) in the game.” Reese Halliday started the scoring off in the first, followed by another goal from Emma Ahlberg and a hattrick again from Burr. Ahlberg, Parker (2), Maddison Smith, Dani Seibert and Hannah Boer had assists Paris added two more goals in the second from Shuart and Halliday, assisted by Parker, Adelaide Schiedel, Burr and Ahlberg. St. John’s was first to score in the third period, but Burr responded with two more goals, assisted by Brooklyn Boer, Rowan Worrall and Schiedel and Halliday Paris and Assumption College are the only teams in the AABHN league to go undefeated so far Those two teams face each other in the new year in back-to-back games.

Check out these FREE holiday skates!

FINANCIAL MATTERS

How to budget for inflation: three key steps

Your Money Team with Glenn Gaudet

High inflation can make budgeting an even bigger challenge than usual, and record-breaking inflation can make it seem close to impossible: in June 2022 it was as high as 8.1%, the highest it’s been in 31 years (Statistics Canada: 12-month change in the Consumer Price Index) When expenses grow so fast, without a similar increase in your income, your budget can be derailed. And if you’re a retiree on a fixed income, how do you make up the difference?

Sticking closely to your household budget is essential for good financial health It ensures that you don’t go into debt and that you stay on course with your savings goals. Let’s look at some of the ways you can beat inflation, so your budget stays on track.

Focus on paying off debts

When inflation starts pushing up prices, the first step you need to take is to reduce as many expenses as possible

Sticking to a household budget can be hard at the best of times: over a third of Canadians struggle to manage their day-to-day finances or pay their bills even when inflation is under control, according to Government of Canada: Canadians and their money

Paying off high interest debt can substantially lower your outgoings. Credit card debt, which can have interest rates as high as 20% and up, should be a priority.

Variable debt, such as lines of credit, should also be a priority, as the payments increase along with the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate

Having variable rate debt makes budgeting more difficult, because monthly debt payments become higher than before and that extra money has to come from somewhere.

A debt consolidation mortgage can be a highly effective way of keeping your family budget on track. You take on one large, low-interest debt (usually a mortgage refinance) and

use it to pay off all your high interest debts. Debt consolidation brings three key benefits:

* The convenience of reducing several debts to just one

* It can greatly reduce the amount of interest you pay on your debt

* Your monthly debt payments can be much lower, thus reducing your monthly outgoings

Increase your income

When you’re looking at how to budget for inflation, reducing expenses is only one half of the equation: boosting the income side of your family budget can be just as important.

FINANCIAL MATTERS

There are several ways to increase your income, you just need to get a little creative

Ask for a raise: This is a simple one, but given the rate of inflation being so high, it’s not unreasonable to ask for a raise that helps your income keep up with rising costs.

Find a better-paying job: If a decent raise is not forthcoming, it could be time to look for a new job. With the Canadian unemployment rate dropping to 5.1% in May 2022, and tens of thousands of new jobs being added every month, this could be a good time to look for a better-paying job.

Take on a side gig: Making extra income from a side business can have a big impact on your household budget. Starting a business that involves something you’re passionate about is always a good starting point. Websites like fiverrcom and upwork connect designers, copywriters, developers and many other types of skilled freelancers with companies that are actively looking for those services

Rent out spare accommodation: Renting out a room, a basement unit or even a whole property can bring in a lot of extra money Websites like Airbnb have made finding potential guests really easy, and you could charge hundreds of dollars per night for some properties Check with your local municipality first, in case bylaws restrict short-term rentals. Invest for the times

During high inflation, it becomes even more important to continue

investing, so that your portfolio has a chance to outperform inflation (and therefore not lose value) And if you rely on investment portfolio to provide income during retirement, it’s important to draw from investments that can keep up with inflation.

Below are some of the investment options to consider for periods of high inflation:

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), a type of U S Treasury bond, are indexed to inflation so that they maintain the purchasing power of investors’ money. They do this by adjusting the amount of capital invested in the bonds whenever there are changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). When the bond’s principal is paid back, investors receive the larger of the adjusted principal or the original principal TIPS’ monthly distributions (the amount they pay out) are adjusted along with increases in inflation. Therefore, during periods of high inflation, monthly distributions increase.

Floating rate funds invest in debt that pays a floating (variable) interest rate. Compared to fixed-rate bonds, they can help protect against interest rate risk. During high inflation, the price of these funds remains comparatively stable, while traditional investment bonds often see their prices fall

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) provide income that has very low correlation with the stock markets

and bonds (meaning it’s rarely affected by moves in the markets). They can also deliver higher yields than conventional bonds during high inflation, as rent and lease agreements can be tied to inflation.

How the Gaudet Group can help you budget for inflation

Your Gaudet Group advisor can be a source of crucial advice when you’re looking at how to budget for inflation. They can:

* Help you to improve your cash flow.

* Explore ways to reduce your debt payments.

* Connect you with an IG Mortgage Planning Specialist to work on debt consolidation.

* Make suggestions to make your investments more inflation-proof.

Glenn Gaudet is the lead advisor of a wealth advisory team helping families and business owners since 1993 Glenn holds many designations including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ® designation, Elder Planning Counselor, Certified Professional Consultant on Aging and the Registered Retirement Counselor With more than 60 years of combined experience, Gaudet Group Private Wealth Management is committed to making clients’ interests their top priority Do you have questions you’d like Glenn to Answer? Email him at glenn gaudet@igpwm ca

Written & published by IG Wealth Management as a general source of information only. Not intended as solicitation to buy or sell specific investments, or to provide tax or legal investment advice.

Paris Horticultural Society celebrates successful 2022 with year end Christmas Party

The Paris Horticultural Society wrapped a very busy, yet beautifully productive 2022 year with a celebration during its annual Christmas Dinner on December 7th

Members gathered to enjoy fellowship, reminisce on the society’s accomplishments and enjoy a

traditional Christmas turkey of course! Bailey Robb and Meghan Edgar provided musical entertainment throughout the event and awards were gifted before the end of the evening Club members were reportedly pleased to enjoy a social gathering once again, filled with lots of laughter and cheer.

The Paris Horticultural Society was busy this year as they helped promote 2022 as Year of the Garden, a celebration that honors the centennial of Canada’s ornamental horticulture sector. As always, members rolled up their sleeves and got their hand dirty in many projects around the community; planting native plants and shrubs on Watt’s Pond Road, cleaning up its section of Keg Lane under the Adopt a Road program, pruning branches at the cenotaph, tending to greenery at the Paris Fairgrounds, keeping the downtown planters in tip top shape, welcoming the return of its very popular plant sale and of course thrilled to host its 20th anniversary Garden Tour. It was a busy year indeed!

Pictured top left is Paris Horticultural Society Copresident Carol Reansbury presenting the Service Award Ontario Horticultural Society Award of Merit to Serryn Stephenson.

Pictured bottom left is the Christmas party decorating committee working on centrepiecesBrenda Simpson, Carol Reansbury, Pat Moore, Nancy Slusarczyk, Edith Stone, Nancy Burkholder, Anne Vernon (with the ideas) and Margaret Collins (behind the camera).

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Wide offering of Christmas Services at Paris churches

By Carolina Saenz

Whether you’re new to Paris and spending your first holiday season here, or simply looking to celebrate Christmas at a new church, a variety of services are available locally In no particular order, here is a list of local churches and their Christmas celebrations:

Cedarview Church (20 Cedar St)

Christmas Eve service: 6:307:30pm A night of music and singing, candlelight service followed by coffee and treats “Please join us as we celebrate the night before Christmas!”, shares Pastor Wendy Pane.

Christmas Day: 11am-12pm Celebrating Christ’s birth with a short service and communion

New Year’s Eve: 10pm12:15am Prayer and Worship “Crossover” service going into 2023 Everyone welcome!!

New Year’s Day: 11am-12pm Short service followed by coffee and treats. “We would love to have you join us to start the year off together!!” invites Pastor Pane.

Sojourn Church (112 Scott Ave):

Christmas Eve: 6:30-7:30pm Register online at http://christmaseveinparis com/

"Christmas is for everyone! The birth of Jesus was, and is, good news for the whole world. Bring the whole family, there is something for everyone. We encourage you to come early and grab a warm cup of hot chocolate or cider. Whether it's reliving old memories or starting new traditions we invite everyone to join us this Christmas Eve”, writes Pastor Jay Grimes.

Services will resume on January 1st at 10am.

St. James, Paris Church (8 Burwell St)

Christmas Eve: 4pm: Interactive ‘family style’ service with Holy Communion; 10:30pm: Traditional Christmas service (quieter and more reflective) with Holy Communion Christmas songs will be sung at both services.

Christmas Day: 9:30am Service with Holy Communion.

New Year’s Day: 8:30am: Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion; 10:30am: Christmas Lessons and Carols. No registration is required for any services “St James, Paris appreciates the continued support of our Christmas Tree sale - it is great to be part of so many peoples' Christmas traditions and we hope that folks will join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus”, shares Father Jason Postma

Paris Baptist Church (25 Broadway St W)

Christmas Eve: 6:30pm Candlelight service including Christmas carols, a short message, and candle lighting while singing ‘Silent Night’.

Christmas Day: 10:30am Christmas carols and a short message.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

New Year’s Day: 10:30am Everyone Welcome. “Come and may every heart prepare Him room this Christmas ” Paris Presbyterian Church (164 Grand River St N)

Christmas Eve: 6:30pm in person and online. Join us to sing Christmas carols and reflect on the Christmas Story. The service will end in candlelight

Christmas Day: 10:30am online only.

New Year’s Day: 10:30am in person and online. Join us in person for a more casual service where brunch will be served. “We would love for you to join us during this Christmas Season as we continue in our theme ‘A Hope - Filled Christmas’ No need to register, come as you are We look forward to seeing you”, invites Pastor Joel Sherbino.

St. Paul’s United Church (48 Broadway St W)

December 18th: 11am Advent 4: Celebrating Love with Lessons and Carols.

Christmas Eve: 7:30pm Family Christmas Eve Service.

Christmas Day: online on YouTube. No need to register for any of the services. All are welcome. “No matter who you are, or where you're from you are welcome at St Paul's United Church! Come and celebrate Christmas with music, joy and laughter at one of our family friendly services. Visit us on Facebook at "St. Paul's United Church Paris" for the latest updates and info”, shares Pastor Sarah Grady.

Bethel United Church (154 Bethel Rd)

Christmas Service on December 18th 10:30am.

Blue Christmas Service on December 21st: 7pm For those who are finding it difficult to face the holiday season this year due to grief, job loss, financial difficulties or illness This will be a time for quiet reflection, comforting music and candlelight

Christmas Eve: 4pm Family friendly service with candlelight and carols. Soprano, Julia Surrette will be guest soloist. ALL are welcome.

Christmas Day: 10am at Burford United Church

New Year’s Day: 10:30am "At Bethel Stone we are ordinary imperfect people finding hope, healing and a purpose for this life that is rooted in God's love for

ALL people. Together we are learning what it means to walk in the way of Jesus, because no one should walk alone. Whether you have experienced life in a faith community before, are seeking a new church family to grow with, or are just curious about what this Christian faith is all about, you are welcome! Please join us this Christmas Season to be reminded there still a place for hope and love to be found. Come as You Are and discover a place where YOU Belong!" writes Rev. Adrianne Robertson.

Sacred Heart Brant Church (17 Washington St)

Sunday mass is celebrated at 5pm on Saturdays, 9am and 11am on Sundays.

Grace Church (8 Silver St) Service on Sundays at 10:30am

Paris Seventh-dayAdventist Church (63 Broadway St W) Bible study on Saturdays at 10am; Worship Service on Saturdays at 11am.

Blue lights at the Willett signify Hope for Healthcare

The Brantford General Hospital and the Willett, Paris sparkle with blue each evening this December to signify hope, wellness and resilience. These lights glow in recognition of and appreciation for all Brant Community Healthcare System staff. These lights also shine in thanks to the sponsors and community donors who have made a gift to transform emergency care at the BCHS. Consider making a gift that is meaningful to you this holiday season This year’s focus will be bringing in funds for the Emergency Department redevelopment project, as well as patient equipment for the BCHS. “Redeveloping the existing ED at the Brantford General Hospital and investing in new patient equipment is critical to ensuring our local healthcare system remains strong and able to serve our rapidly growing community,” said Crystal Godwald, Associate Director of the BCHS Foundation. “The Ontario Ministry of Health does not cover the entire cost of the redevelopment and the BCHS Foundation needs to raise and contribute in excess of $8 million to cover a portion of renovation expenses, and to purchase medical equipment needed for the new space.” Donate now at www.bchsdonate.com Learn more about Hope for Healthcare at www.hopeforhealthcare.ca

12 Days of Fire Holiday Safety!

Is that candle too close to the snowman decoration sitting on your table? Fires caused by holiday decorations and open flames from candles are all too common this season Battery-powered candles are a great alternative but if you must light up, keep candles away from pets and children, put the candle in a sturdy container and always blow out when you leave the room. Watch this video above presented by the County of Brant Fire Prevention office. You can also follow the County of Brant Fire Department for more life saving tips as they present the 12 Days of Fire Holiday Safety

Photo courtesy of Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation

Market Street almost ready to reopen to traffic

COUNTY OF BRANT MEDIA

RELEASE - Please be advised that Amico Infrastructure will be working this weekend (Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18) to complete the road construction and open it for the winter season. We apologize for the additional inconvenience this may cause you. To finish the work for the 2022 construction season, Amico intends to pour concrete curb and pave base asphalt between Capron Street and Wellington Street. Driveways in this area will also be paved to the sidewalk and the areas of the sidewalk that were removed will be paved with temporary asphalt. The construction site will be cleaned up and made safe for the winter months

Amico will be returning in the spring of 2023 to finish the reconstruction of Market Street. The construction which will be deferred to the 2023 construction season includes:

•Reconstruction of Market Street (including watermain, sanitary and storm sewers, and road works) between Wellington Street and Silver Street

•New concrete sidewalk from Capron Street to Silver Street

•Grading/landscaping works

•Surface asphalt from Capron Street to Silver Street

It is likely that Market Street will be closed between Silver Street and Wellington Street to complete the reconstruction in this area. We anticipate that construction will be completed by mid-summer 2023

Photo courtesy of Steve Howes

ASTROLOGY

Aries: March 21 - April 19 (Fire)Negative thoughts keep slipping in You are determined to enjoy your holiday season So you should look inwards, you may need an attitude adjustment You can do this by choosing to do something fun and exciting Break tradition and be creative, bringing the positive back

Taurus: April 20 - May 20 (Earth)Stop setting yourself up for disappointment. Have a talk with your partner, they are the major cause of these feelings. If you can not forgive then you need to forget. By mid week you will pull yourself together again. This sudden burst energy will help you accomplish everything you need to get done for work.

Gemini: May 21 - June 20 (Air) - Lets figure out why you're being paranoid lately. Is it the issues you are starting to see in your relationship? Is it the lack of trust you feel towards your co-workers? All possible. But first look inside yourself You need some serious mind, body and soul therapy Things will then fall into place

Cancer: June 21 - July 22 (Water)You are making strong connections this week You feel intense love for someone. Your career is building momentum New people and new projects are coming You are feeling the warm holiday season vibes So what is missing? You will figure this out by the end of week

Cancer: June 21 - July 22 (Water)You have high expectations of others This will have a disappointing ending for you You are definitely not seeing things clearly. Your love life would be good, if you would stop setting your partner up for failure Your career is where you need to create higher expectations and those need to be placed on you alone

Virgo: August 23 - September 22 (Earth) -

Do you have feelings for someone? Why are you hiding them? The answer to this is different depending on your situation But all comes back that you are feeling judged Are others really judging you or is it just you? If you concentrate on work until the holidays are here, you will then have the time to sort your true feelings out

Libra: September 23 - October 22 (Air)-

You are coming out of a slump. This week will bring you the redemption you've been waiting on. This could be from an ex-lover or could center around your current job. It will make you feel lighter. When you start the weekend you will have a great burst of energy and you better use it wisely, because you have lots to do.

Scorpio: October 23 - November 21 (Water) - Do you have issues in love or work that you would like to have closure in before the end of the year? This is the week to face it You have steady calmness about you this week You're clear, logical and understanding This is not always the case for you, so make a list and start doing some cleansing

Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21 (Fire) - Things seem to be slipping through your fingers Your career can not be changed until the new year Instead focus on your relationships with family and friends Build a team of people you trust that can support you When you have completed this you will then be able to tackle the changes you would really like to make

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19 (Earth) - You will become inspired by a random encounter It leaves a lasting impact on your whole life The revelation you take away from this person will also help you to build a better career for yourself You have made some big choices in regards to your love life. This week you complete your preparation to put your plans into action

Aquarius: January 20 –February 18 (Air) - Someone you love has let you down again. This makes you start the week off sad. If you tell them then you can move past these feelings and salvage the rest of your week Great things are all around you. People will want to show how much you are loved and appreciated Focus on those people instead

Pisces: February 19 - March 20 (Water) - You are in the giving mood You want to spread love all around You are generous to your co-workers and even random strangers This looks great on you But do not forget the people around you that actually deserve this the most Keep track of your good deeds or it will cause financial stress.

with Tina Graziano

Energy Reader

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

Showtimes for Galaxy Cinemas Brantford For Saturday, December 17, 2022

Avatar: The Way of Water Standard 12:00 p.m. 4:20 p.m. 8:40 p.m. 3D 12:40 p.m. 1:40 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 9:20 p.m. 10:20 p.m.

Violent Night Standard 12:10 p.m. 4:40 p.m. 7:30 p.m.10:15 p.m.

Strange World Standard 1:40 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 7:10 p.m. 9:50 p.m.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Standard 12:50 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 9:40 p.m.

The Menu Standard 1:20 p.m. 4:10 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.

Black Adam Standard 12:20 p.m.3:30 p.m. 6:40 p.m. 10:00 p.m.