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ONE-TIME FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESSES THAT ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES

The County has also created a new Community Improvement Plan Program to allow businesses to implement public safety measures in their establishments. The new program is a result of a survey the county extended to Brant businesses, pertaining to employee and public safety from Covid-19. Businesses can apply for one-time grant of up to $2,000 to assist with safety upgrades to enclosed spaces. Eligible expenses include installation of barriers, permanent signage, kiosks and other markings to promote physical distancing, reorientation of store aisles and displays to allow for greater distancing and other permanent modifications that meet the intent of the province’s and local health unit’s Covid-19 guidance. It’s important to note that money will not be allocated to projects that are already completed. The application process is now open. Please visit https://www.brant.ca/en/invest-inbrant/community-improvement-plan.aspx for more information.

If you’re hosting an event that helps people rediscover Ontario, you could be eligible for funding

The Reconnect Ontario 2022 Program supports festivals and events that have a tourism economic impact and motivate visitors to rediscover Ontario, reconnect people with local experiences and increase tourism spending.

This program replaces the former Reconnect Festival and Event Program and is the ministry’s primary funding opportunity to support Ontario Festivals and Events in 2022.

The program aims to support innovative events in Ontario that will: offer safe experiences that encourage people to travel locally, participate and rediscover the beauty and diversity of all that Ontario communities have to offer; draw tourists and local visitors, whether in-person or virtually, through innovative programming, and generate positive economic impact for the local community, the region and the province; provide job opportunities for Ontarians, particularly in the tourism, culture and entertainment sectors; increase Ontario’s profile through media and/or broadcast exposure to instill interest in future travel to the province once it is safe to do so again.

The program supports Festival and Event organizers to create and carry out events that bring Ontarians and tourists together, whether in person or virtually. To be eligible, your event must take place between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, be open to the public and adhere to all municipal and provincial health guidelines.

Application deadline is Wednesday, February 2. Late applications will not be accepted. To learn more about the application process, please visit http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/aw ards_funding/Reconnect%20Ont ario%202022%20Info%20deck. pdf

S N O W D A Y S

Calm before the storm. Sunday night sky ahead of Monday’s record breaking snowfall.

Photo by Chris Heron

Look out below! Clearing snow from downtown awnings was no easy feat.

Photo submitted by Bill Tough

Pure happiness frolicking in the snow!

Photo submitted by Krystin Lair

Click video

Ever wonder why certain roads are cleared before others during a messy winter storm? The County of Brant is required to follow the Ontario regulation called the 'Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways'. The standard outlines which roads must be addressed first and within a specific time frame. The roads that are addressed first include the roads used as major travel routes, have the most amount of traffic and higher rates of speed. Examples include Highway 53 and County Road 18. To learn more about Winter Road maintenance in Brant visit www.brant.ca/WinterMaintenance

Photo credit County of Brant

These peanuts better be worth the trek through all that snow!

Photo submitted by Susan Van Hout

Cows going out of the barn for their feed on a wet, snowy, blowing morning. Reportedly, none of the livestock complained when it was time to go back into the barn!

Photo submitted by Nancy

When you get stuck on the street, pull over and take a snowblower out of your vehicle, as shown above, and clear a path before loading the snow blower back up and driving away.

Photo submitted by Rebecca Dunne McGee

In Canada, on a snow day, you work up your appetite by clearing a path to the BBQ so you can grill your supper!

Photo by Noreen Goodman

Everybody needs a snow buddy. It’s hard work but someone must clear the driveway!

Photo submitted by Wanda Mugford

Not only did the snow continue to fall, but windy conditions created large snow drifts as pictured to the left.

Photo submitted by Karrie

Maria Ramirez shares a photo of her house. She just moved to Paris, from Calgary. She takes credit for bringing the snowy winter conditions with her.

A common question following Monday’s snowfall – where’s my car?

Photo submitted by Nancy VanNieuwenhuizen

Not everyone enjoyed the snow as much as Otis, who spent the better half of Monday digging out buried hockey pucks.

Photo submitted by Amanda Watts

“There are 2200 lane kilometers within the County of Brant. 2200 kilometers is the same distance as driving from Paris, Ontario to the tip of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia,” said Greg Demers, Director of Roads for the County of Brant. “Plowing and treating roads takes time. Roads are plowed in order of priority. Roads that have a high amount of vehicle traffic and serve as major travel routes are prioritized over quiet backroads.”

Photo by County of Brant

The walk to the Post Office was a bit daunting on Monday!

Photo Linda Verhey Sinke

Deep snow made for perfect tobogganing conditions for the Lamb family. Pictured is Hailey at the end of a run.

Photo submitted by Kelly Lamb

A little snow didn’t stop Maverick and baby Jaxxen from enjoying a walk. Jaxxen celebrates his 1st birthday next week!

Above photo submitted by Jennifer Budd, who captured a glimpse of sunlight after digging out from Monday’s snowfall. To the right, George Ounapuu submits a photo of his car, almost completely buried in snow. Far right, everyone is thankful for that neighbour with a snowblower! Photo

submitted by Lisa Irving

The students at GROWE Outdoor School were more than happy to return to mounds of fresh snowfall! Described as an ‘epic first day back,’ Liam Devries, Tyler Reain and Jack Corbett took advance of the snow to build a fort.

Photo submitted by Tara Carpenter

Winter home maintenance checklist

(NC) It can be tempting to hibernate come winter. And yet, there are still plenty of things you can take care of around the house this time of year. They’ll go a long way to keeping you safe and sound this season, and all year long.

Seal.

Weatherstripping openings around your doors and windows will go a long way to keeping you cozy this winter, save you some money in electricity costs, and help your home stay in great condition. If you were too busy raking leaves in fall to get this task done, don’t worry, it’s never too late.

Prepare. Any time of year, but especially in winter, it’s important to be prepared for an emergency. If you don’t have one already, take the time to create an emergency kit with supplies to last you 72 hours. Include water, a flashlight, blankets, and non-perishable foods like canned goods and granola bars. It’s important to check your kit every year and replace expired items.

Test.

No matter where you live, your home is likely host to radon gas. Radon is a radioactive gas that can get into your home undetected. You can’t see or smell it. Long-term exposure to elevated levels increases your risk of developing lung cancer – in fact, it’s the number one cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. All homes have some level of radon. The question is how much, and the only way to know is to test. You can buy a do-it yourself kit or hire a certified professional to find out. Find more information on radon testing at canada.ca/radon. Click video

Hydro rates temporarily discounted, assistance programs available

Energy+ is reminding its customers of temporarily discounted electricity rates and expanded eligibility for the Lowincome Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), that the province has put in place to help respond to public health measures due to the Omicron variant.

Off-peak Electricity Rates

Effective January 18 and through February 7, 2022, the provincial government has set electricity prices at the off-peak price of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, 24 hours per day for all regulated price plan customers. The off-peak rate will apply automatically to residential, small businesses and farms that pay Time-of-Use or Tiered prices set by the Ontario Energy Board. This rate relief intends to support families, workers, and small businesses spending more time at home during the modified ‘Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen. ’

Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

To further support customers through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has enhanced the Low-income Energy Assistance Program – Emergency Financial Assistance (LEAP EFA). The maximum value of grant amounts has been increased for lowincome customers with higherthan-average arrears. Energy+ will have additional flexibility in determining the appropriate grant amount to a maximum of $1,000 ($1,200 for consumers with electrically heated premises). For more information, please visit https://www.energyplus.ca/en/res idential/low-income-electricitysupport-programs.aspx

The Domino Effect!

Domino’s Pizza donated $36,555 to 62 schools within Paris, Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo in 2021. The funds were raised through a variety of fundraisers hosted by the Domino’s Pizza branches, including Paris. Pictured are Derek, the manager of the Cambridge Domino’s (left) and Jacques, who spearheads all fundraising events for Domino’s.

Photo courtesy of Domino’s Pizza and Sandeep Chaudhari

FIND WAYS TO INCORPORATE LOCAL INTO YOUR WEEKLY ROUTINE

Behind the Counter with Spicy Jan

I believe I can officially still wish the readership a Happy New Year. I realize it's been quite a wild ride so far in January with schools on, schools off, schools on again, a snow day, compounded with capacity limits in shops and no dine in at restaurants. How can so much happen three short weeks into a new year (insert shaking head emoji here.) Alas, let's try and move forward thinking of all the great places to support through unique approaches, right now. I truly believe that food sourcing and our great people behind the food (behind the counter) are our strength to building community through food. We all have the choice

to cook local, dine local, shop

local, take out local and it's up to us to create ways in our week, to ensure we tick off these boxes of support. Just last week I was communicating with someone

Guests at Juniper Fine Dining (top left) and a sample of snacks and beverages at Paris Beer (top right).

All photos provided by Tasty Road Trip Tours

on social media who promptly shared that they would only use a small local market and when the market was closed, they would have to travel out of town for what they needed. I asked them to remember that when we choose local, even when it's one of our supermarkets, that our local folks who work there need us also, so to reconsider the choice to go out of town and feel good about shopping local. Local is local is local. When I make the decision in my own home about weekly food purchasing and looking at the budget of dollars for my weekly spending, I consider all of the avenues of local. I want to weave them all in. I get it, we can't always afford take out and when possible, dine in. This is where I suggest that you consider the concept of

building cook local, dine local, shop local, take local into your

week. When you sprinkle them all into your week you can really make an impact and diversify your spending in a support local system.