The Paris Independent Saturday October 1, 2022

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

TIME FOR ME RETREAT!- Oct 23 & Nov 20th at Five Oaks. Mark it in your calendar: Time for Me! Join Anna Carter for a day retreat that restores joy to your body, mind, and spirit The beautiful energy of nature at Five Oaks will embrace you as you engage in activities that invite you to focus on yourself and what brings you joy. Enjoy mindful moving and deep breathing with the practice of Qi Gong. No experience necessary! Qi Gong requires no equipment, just comfortable clothes. To book your spot, visit https://fiveoaks.venue360.me/public/events/ho mepage...

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

MEETING PHS is meeting October 5th at the fairgrounds; social time starts at 7 pm. Meeting at 7:30 pm Our guest speaker are Sharon and John Bowler of Grimsby, they will be joining us via Zoom Accessible Gardening with Big Ideas in Mind We welcome new visitors. Come and join your local Garden Club!

NEED MORE FAIR? The Burford Fair takes place on Saturday, October 8, Sunday, October 9 and Monday, October 10, 2022. All parking on the fairgrounds is FREE! Please NO PARKING on the grass boulevard along Park Street Visit their websitefor more details

TRIVIA RETURNS! - Thursdays at 7:30 pm, hosted by the County of Brant Library. Visit brantlibrary.ca/trivianight and challenge family and friends to four exciting rounds of questions No registration required simply visit the link a few minutes before the game's start time and have fun! Good luck, Friends! *This is an online event only*

COMMUNITY

SPOOK MARKET!-September 30th (5pm to 10 pm) & October 1st (4pm to 10 pm) at the Paris Fairgrounds, return of the night market! Come dressed up in your best costume prize for best adult costume will be given! Pop up prizes for kids’ costumes throughout the event. Hosted by All Canadian Events. Food vendors, axe throwing, scare zone, psychics, and other spooky surprises!

PDHS FOOTBALL & LUNCH WITH THE OPTIMIST CLUB Saturday, October 15 Optimist Club BBQ at the Paris Panthers Football games at 11 am and 1 pm.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! ART WORKSHOP

Enjoy an evening of sketching at the Dog Eared Café every Tuesday of the month, 4 6 pm, $40 per person Each session will have a different theme or focus. Hosted by Rachelle Laurin from Under the Oak Tree. Do you have a young one interested? Kids classes (10+) held Wednesday & Thursdays 6 8 pm at the Gem, downtown Paris.

CALENDAR

TRUTH & RECONCILIATION

Phyllis Webstad, whose true story inspired the Orange Shirt Day movement, was at the Niagara Parks Power Station Plaza on September 30th to share her story. She was also joined by her family and Survivor, Chief Fred Robbins.

Photo Credit Orange Shirt Society

If you’d like to learn more about Phyllis’ story, venture by Mount Pleasant’s Nature Park and read "The Orange Shirt Story." For Storybook Walk information, please visit brantlibrary.ca/storybookwalks

Photo Credit County of Brant Library

It was 1973. Six year old Phyllis Webstad was excited about her first day at a Residential School in B.C. Her granny had bought her a new, bright orange shirt. But when she proudly arrived at the school, her excitement turned to terror. The staff cut her hair. She was forced to change out of her clothes. Her new shirt was taken away, and she never got it back. Click on the video to the left to learn Phyllis’ story.

Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford. This former Residential School is the oldest in Canada, operating from 1831 to June 27, 1970. Approximately 15,000 students from 20 First Nation communities were at this school. It is estimated that over 150,000 Indigenous, Inuit, and Métis children between the ages of 4 16 attended these residential schools. The last residential school, located in Saskatchewan, closed in 1996.

Photo credit Jessica Smith /The Canadian Press

Council gets first look at updated Master Transportation Plan

Discussion centres heavily around traffic in Paris

By Casandra Turnbull

The updated Transportation Master Plan (TMP)

landed before council on Tuesday night After heavy discussion, council unanimously voted to support it, despite reservations from several councillors

Traffic, particularly heavy congestion in downtown Paris, is a bone of contention for many residents As the residential growth continues to boom, mounting traffic concerns and safety are among top priority these days, and Paris councillors brought forth those concerns at the final council meeting for this elected council

Councillors weighed in on the topic before ultimately approving the updated plan that will be incorporated into the 2023 budget deliberations and presented to the public as of November 1st

Comments and public opinion will be folded into the final TMP document before its incorporated into the New Official Plan The last time the TMP was updated was 2016

This TMP update includes a plan for further conversion of gravel to hard surface roads, improved active transportation, future bridge intended use strategy, the Paris East and West by passes, and discussion on trucks and truck routes within the County

The basis of the TMP was formed following public consultation and research conducted by the IBI Group, who are experts in design, architecture, civil engineering, transportation and landscape design

IBI representative Scott Johnston presented a high level overview of the TMP to council. Councillors aired a few concerns, which were flushed out in greater detail near the end of the council meeting when county staff were on hand to field questions.

The main concern of the evening centred around increasing traffic congestion in Paris, with a sharp focus on the Grand River Street North and William Street intersection Paris councillors all agreed they’re hearing lots of frustration from residents who are not happy with how long it takes to get through town, and it’s only going to get worse The county has attempted to tackle the bottleneck at these lights by implementing modifications, such as the newly installed advance green left turn signal and widened lanes for southbound traffic on Grand River Street North, however these changes only provide minor relief and residents are looking for a more definite solution. Continued on page 6

It’s taking longer and longer these days to get through downtown Paris. Councillors question how the updated Master transportation plan will change that.

Photo credit Drew Skuce

COMMUNITY

The TMP lays out a comprehensive look at Paris’ west bypass, which is currently under construction. It detours drivers around Paris, taking them from the north end to the south end by way of Keg Lane to Puttown Road, where two new roundabouts are in the works. Eventually the bypass will end at a newly constructed 403 interchange at Bishopsgate Road. That interchange is hinging on funding support from the province, which at this point there has been no commitment. The west bypass will soon grow to hopefully divert motorists away from Silver Street, which is another area of concern for many residents. Motorists coming south on Pinehurst Road can turn right onto Watts Pond Road to Ayr Road and eventually onto Keg Lane Corridor upgrades are scheduled for these roads to accommodate increased traffic. While the west bypass is proposed to alleviate congestion downtown Paris, a few councillors had reservations that while it looked good in theory, it might not always be the practical option for residents living in the north end. Councillor Steve Howes pointed out that people who want to go to Walmart in Brantford, for example, are more likely to roll the dice and hope for light traffic downtown, rather than jaunt around Paris to avoid the possibility of heavy traffic Ward 3 Councillor John Bell asked, based on modelling, if the west bypass will significantly

alleviate downtown traffic.

Johnston assured the modelling shows benefits, however, it won’t solve all the downtown problems and there will continue to be congestion. The benefit, said Johnston, is that the west bypass will be a relief valve for future growth.

“You hit a point the west bypass will not cure congestion downtown,” said a seemingly frustrated Bell

The TMP recommends a long term recommendation to undertake a Grand River Crossing Environmental Assessment between 2031 to 2041. The study will consider how to respond to congestion over the Grand River and include analysis of a potential east bypass or existing bridge widening alternatives.

Construction would depend on future studies (including an updated Transportation Master Plan for the County of Brant) and

traffic conditions. Councillor Howes and Bell both aired concerns about the timeline of this study.

“The report references community demand for a bridge over the Grand River. It explains why this solution is 20 years away at best Our community would benefit from a clear explanation of that,” said Howes. Councillor Marc Laferriere doubled down on Howes’ point of view, stating there are significant hurdles to completing an east bypass bridge, such as provincial funding, indigenous interests, archeological studies, the conclusion of the gravel pit dig and all of this needs to be presented to the public to show that it’s not feasible as a single tier municipality to complete this bridge right now.

Continued on page 7

The Paris West Bypass, depicted above, will help divert traffic, but not significantly improve the congestion in downtown Paris, councillors heard Tuesday night.

COMMUNITY

the need to make active transportation more attractive.

Bell agreed He also said most residents won’t take the time to read every single page of the report and studies so it’s the county’s responsibility to communicate this to residents and help them understand the logic behind the timeline

While construction of an east bypass is well into the future, Bell feels the county should approach the Grand River Crossing assessment sooner “Paris will probably be built up by 2031 so to put in a report that somewhere between 2031 and 2041 we will actually get around to doing an assessment, I think, is inappropriate,” said Bell “I think we know what is coming, we can forecast already the level of traffic that will be generated in the north end of Paris I would really encourage we bring that forward ”

Michael Bradley, Chief Administrative Officer for the County of Brant, did his best to ease councillors’concerns “You have to remember 2031 is not that far away We got a lot of work to do,” he stated, referencing core projects still in the works from the 2016 update: Grand River Street North, Rest Acres Road and the Bishopsgate Interchange “The timelines laid out in the plan are realistic,” assured Bradley.

While addressing rapid growth related traffic concerns is a top priority, the TMP also looks at localized safety and operation concerns, the need to continue to ensure efficient goods movement and

Howes brought forth concerns about safety, specifically on Silver Street. He pointed out that the TMP acknowledges a lack of consistent sidewalks on Silver Street and wondered when the county would act on improving safety “With kids walking to three different schools on the same chunk of sidewalk, I wonder if we may look at other creative solutions,” said Howes “We’ve posted signs in the area encouraging kids to walk and bicycle to school, but I fear we have not done our best to ensure it is safe Can we look at ways to improve this situation?” He shared a story of a near miss just recently involving a young child on their way to school

County staff said improvements to this corridor could be implemented in the 10 year budget plan, but Howes was adamant the solution needs to happen sooner rather than later Other notable areas in the TMP include the conversion of gravel roads to hard surface roads, a comprehensive look at closing low use bridges to convert them to pedestrian/cycling bridges, reducing the speed limit in all urban areas from 50 to 40 km/h and continued investment in bringing transit to Paris The TMP encourages county staff to continue talks with the province to develop an inter regional bus terminal (think Go Transit) with park and ride facility at highway 403 and Rest Acres Road and continued advocacy for the inclusion of Paris in the province’s planned Brantford Cambridge Kitchener/ Waterloo regional bus connection If you want to learn more about the TMP you can review the complete document online https://pub brant escribemeetings com/filestream ashx?Docum entId=53147 or watch the council meeting on YouTube

The plan will be presented to the public, via EngageBrant, from November 1st to December 9th . During that time, you can voice your concerns or comments before the plan is formalized and wrapped into the 2023 budget deliberations.

Paris Councillors, left to right, John Peirce, John Bell, Marc Laferriere and Steve Howes, all weighed in on traffic concerns mounting in Paris’ downtown core. This was the final council meeting for the four who’ve worked together for the last four years. Photo credit Robert Chambers

OTF Grant supports Belonging Brant to work towards a stronger community one relationship at a time

Next weekend, MPP Will Bouma, The Ontario Trillium Foundation and Belonging Brant will be gathering to celebrate the ways the community has come together over the last two years. Created in 2020, Belonging Brant is a citizen led initiative that works to create relationships and connections in the spirit of friendship and community. Its main purpose is to outreach to individuals who are isolated or feeling lonely. It creates spaces where community members in Brantford and the county of Brant have become more connected through their gifts and passions.

Discover Belonging Brant, which takes place on October 8 from 1 pm to 3pm at Grace Anglican Church in Brantford, is an event to highlight all the groups and initiatives that have started in the last two years.

Belonging Brant received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and with one year left in the OTF grant, there are many more stories to come. Everyone is welcome to attend where they can learn more about Belonging Brant and the 20 citizen led projects that are running.

Belonging Brant is a Trillium Funded Project rooted in Asset Based Community Development, centered around community building, cultivating relationships, and sharing of gifts. Without the support of The Ontario Trillium Foundation this work would not have been possible, according to a press release issued by Belonging Brant. “We have seen the impact that connection and a sense of belonging can make in our community, neighbourhoods and at the induvial level,” it stated.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund Since 2020, OTF has supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID 19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

Belonging Brant initiative is supported by Community Living Brant.

Restoration work to begin soon on Bawcutt Centre

Historic building to undergo transformation as new main library branch plans come to life

By Carolina Saenz

The highly anticipated new main branch of the County of Brant Public Library is officially in the works Formerly known as the Paris Old Town Hall, the Bawcutt Centre will be the new location for the Main Branch Kelly Bernstein, Chief Executive Officer of the County of Brant Public Library, shares an update on this exciting project

“We are planning to start some heritage restoration work in 2022, especially around the bell tower where the brick is in poor condition If the weather cooperates, we will begin demolition on the 1950s part of the building to enable better access for heritage restoration and make room for the new addition,” writes Bernstein

The Bawcutt Centre was built in 1854 and is one of the oldest Gothic Revival style buildings in Canada It was designated a National Historic Site in 2020, and on September 24, 2021 it was announced as the future location of the County of Brant Public Library’s new Main Branch At the time of the announcement, Library Board Chair Fred Gladding commented, “The County of Brant Public Library has been searching for a site for its new Main Branch Library since 2013 This location allows us to create a community hub that embraces diversity and encourages curiosity, discovery, and literacy We are honoured to preserve its history and build a central library that reflects our community’s growth and needs ” Plans to restore the building as a cultural cornerstone for County of Brant residents are scheduled to begin this year and to be completed in 2024. This has been great news to many residents who are relieved to know that the Old Town Hall building will be restored and put to public use again.

page 10

County of Brant Mayor David Bailey participates in an education session and drumming circle, led by an Indigenous consultant on August 26th . It’s part of the new library project’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

PARIS FAIR ¼

COMMUNITY

IN MEMORIAM

Lucas Aaron Surek June20,2003September21,2022

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Lucas Aaron Surek on September 21 2022. Taken too young and too soon. He will be remembered by a large number of loving family and friends. All who are invited to join us in a celebration of life to take place at Cedarview Church in Paris, Saturday October 8th from 1 pm 3 pm. A small ceremony will be held at 1 pm, followed by a reception in the church gymnasium at 20 Cedar Street, Paris.

An essential part to the New Main Library project is its commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. On August 26th, 2022, an Indigenous consultant led members of the project’s Steering Group through an education session and drumming circle. “The purpose was to further Steering Group members’ awareness of Indigenous issues in Canada before beginning the work of Indigenous consultation for the project. The entire project team is committed to Truth & Reconciliation and hope to further those goals through the New Main Library project,” asserts Bernstein. In addition to this, both the Library Board and the Bawcutt Centre Advisory Committee have held focus groups, providing an opportunity to learn and better plan the new library. As the project comes closer to a proposed design, the public will be called again for input and feedback.

Some of the reasons behind the New Main Library project include population growth, the need for more services, increased parking, increased accessibility, provision of specialized services, and increased space for programming, in-library study, and technology services. Bernstein explains that the New Main Branch Library will offer both traditional and modern library services, with an emphasis on innovation and community.

“It will have stacks of books and quiet study rooms, but also space for hands on exploration of new technology and old school tools like sewing machines and spinning wheels. The entire community is welcome, whether it’s chatting with neighbours at the café or making new friends at events in the program rooms or opera hall performance space,” shares Bernstein. For updates and additional information, please visit https://www brantlibrary ca/en/your library/plans and studies aspx#Recordings

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Casandra Turnbull

Chris Whelan

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Hurricane Fiona causes catastrophic damage across five Canadian provinces

MEDIA RELEASE- The Canadian Red Cross has launched the Hurricane Fiona in Canada Appeal to support people across eastern Canada who have been impacted by this devastating hurricane. Money raised will enable the Red Cross to carry out relief, recovery, resiliency and risk reduction activities in and beyond the impacted region at the individual and community levels.

Hurricane Fiona made landfall on the morning of September 24 and has caused widespread flooding, travel disruptions, and damage to homes, buildings and infrastructure, with hundreds of thousands of people experiencing power outages.

“Hurricane Fiona has caused unprecedented damage across eastern Canada, impacting hundreds of thousands of people,” said Conrad Sauvé, President and CEO at the Canadian Red Cross. “While the full impacts of the hurricane are not yet known, the needs will be immense. The Red Cross will be there to support those impacted as they recover from this devastating storm in the days, weeks and months ahead.”

In preparation for the hurricane, the Canadian Red Cross prepositioned stocks around Atlantic Canada Continued on page 12

Photos of Canadian Red Cross Appeal following devastation from Hurricane Fiona in Eastern Canada.

Photo Credit Canadian Red Cross

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR VIDEO

NATIONAL

and eastern Quebec. Red Cross teams are currently providing support in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec. The Red Cross is working closely with local, provincial and Indigenous governments to determine how to best support those affected. People in Canada wishing to help are encouraged to make a financial donation to the Hurricane Fiona in Canada Appeal online at www.redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111. A $10 donation can also be made by texting FIONA to 20222.

About the Canadian Red Cross

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need, and supporting them in strengthening their resilience.

Total devastation as Port aux Basques declares state of emergency due to post tropical storm Fiona | CBC News to

LOCAL HISTORY

Paris Past

By Chris Whelan

Memories of Hurricane Hazel

It was October 16th, 1954, Eleanor Hardie remembers being quite happy on that crisp fall Saturday morning as she walked downtown to her clerking job at Stewart’s Variety on the main street of Paris. A rather ordinary day, she was looking forward to a party planned that night at her boyfriend’s sister’s house. It was to be a celebration of her 18th birthday and her sister's 20th . Eleanor loved her job at Stewart’s, a familyowned business that sold everything from thimbles to lady's dresses and china ornaments. In the previous few weeks, she had the task of setting up a toy-land in the basement of the store. Customers would choose toys and put them on layaway in preparation for Santa’s arrival in December. How painstakingly careful she had been at the work of arranging the dainty dollies and giant toy dump trucks, as well as little toy trains and motor cars. Perhaps it was the lack of toys in her childhood that made this such enjoyable work for Eleanor. She recalled the rain starting. Steadily the downpour continued until mid afternoon when it became apparent that not only was the main street of Paris in danger of flooding but especially the stores on the Nith River side were likely to at least have water in the basements. This soon became an understatement. Stewart’s basement was rapidly filling with water putting the toy display in danger of becoming soaked. Donning rubber boots at least four sizes too big, Eleanor worked just as hard taking the toy display apart as she had assembling it. Meanwhile, the patrons of the Capitol Theatre on Mechanic Street along the Nith, were mostly

children enjoying their usual Saturday matinee of a funny cartoon, a “Flash Gordon” serial and were just settling in for the latest “Francis the Talking Mule” movie when suddenly the dark theatre grew brighter, the movie paused, and the announcement came over the audio system that everyone was to leave the theatre at once due to the danger of flooding from the Nith River. Many recall the water already filling up the front rows of the theatre floor and it was rising as those down in front climbed over the seats like hurdles as they raced to escape the flooding theatre. At this time the area across the William street bridge heading East known as the flats were ordered evacuated. Tired but still to looking forward to the party, Eleanor trudged home after the variety store closed at 6:00 PM. Just a bad rainstorm was all anyone thought at the time. We must remember that communication systems in the 1950’s were not the mass media system of today. The birthday party was a great success in spite of the rain running in under the kitchen door. It was about midnight when Parisians first heard the name ‘Hurricane Hazel’. Still most knew nothing of the disastrous flooding it had caused especially in the Toronto area. Bridges had been destroyed including a railway bridge. Continued page 14

Inside view of the Paris Capital Theatre once located at 11 Mechanic St. Photo: Paris Museum & Historical Society

LOCAL HISTORY

Hurricane Hazel, ripped through Ontario causing more than $20 million in damage and killing 81 people. Though most of the damage was in the Toronto region, Hazel was felt in the Grand River watershed, too. The Galt Reporter described the events of Oct. 16 this way: "Four feet of dark racing water rushed down (Water Street), cutting off homes on the east bank for nearly a half mile.“ The Grand peaked about six meters above normal in what the newspaper called “the worst fall floods on record. Until 4 p.m. Saturday, firemen and citizens battled surging, swirling water to evacuate families where homes were cutoff.” Damage was heavy throughout the watershed. More than 60 homes were inundated, and 200 people evacuated in Bridgeport (now part of Kitchener.) Fifty homes were isolated in New Hamburg. Things could have been a lot worse. At that time, the GRCA operated just one dam, Shand Dam, near Fergus. A 1955 study estimated that Shand reduced the flows at Cambridge by about 25 per cent, with the water cresting one metre lower than without the dam. The study also estimated that if Hazel had been

CLICK ON PHOTO TO WATCH VIDEO centered over the Grand, instead of Toronto, floodwaters would have been twice as high. After the event, the residents of Toronto asked why there had been no warnings. The answer was a simple one: there was no provincial flood warning system. The disaster "highlighted how poorly prepared the province was to cope with major flood events," wrote Bruce Mitchell and Dan Shrubsole in a study of Ontario conservation authorities. The province authorized the conservation authorities to buy flood-prone land and to initiate policies to control development in the floodplain, using boundaries based on a Hazel sized storm. The province hired a hydrometeorologist to develop a flood prediction system. The Grand River Conservation Commission (a predecessor of today's GRCA) pressed ahead with the construction of the Conestoga Dam to provide more flood protection capacity. A fledgling flood warning system was put into place. It would 20 years before the system was put to the test during the flood of 1974.

A modern aerial view of the Shand Dam, taken during the late summer when the lake level has been reduced to keep the Grand River flowing downstream. Photo: WELLINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Some of Canada’s top players are members of Brant Disc Golf Club

Brantford & Paris athletes compete in National Tournament

By Casandra Turnbull

Some members of the Brant Disc Golf Club walked away with hardware and bragging rights following a successful tournament at the Canadian National Championships in Prince Edward Island in September.

Playing on some of the best and most challenging courses in the world, Brant members not only represented Brant County, but also Ontario on a national platform at the PDGA sanctioned singles tournament.

“This was one of the biggest tournaments I have ever played. It was exceptionally organized,” said Jennifer Snow, a founding member of the Paris Disc Golf Club, which recently merged with Brantford Disc Golf Club to form the Brant DGC.

Despite the distractingly beautiful surroundings, Snow remained focussed to claim second in the Female Amateur 40+ division.

Brant DGC member Jennifer Snow at the National tournament last month in PEI. She finished 2nd in the FA40+ class. She’s also pictured on the far right with her card mates. This was Snow’s first trip to Nationals. CLICK PHOTO FOR VIDEO Submitted photos

She’s competed for six years, collecting nine career wins, but this was her first time in the FA40+ category and by far the most prestigious title in her collection.

“My first two rounds I was pretty confident and I was playing well. I went into the third round with nerves, so I made a few mistakes. I did have awesome competitors, so we had fun and that is the important thing,” she said. Despite new terrain and some nerves, Snow shot a 70, 62

and 73 in three different rounds at Huck it, King’s Pine and Hillcrest, which is the number two rated course in the world. Alongside her for moral support was her husband Craig, who also competed and placed 22nd in the MA40+ division. “It was neat that the community knew we were there and how they welcomed us with open arms,” Craig commented on the enthusiasm and hospitality of PEI residents.

Continued on page 16

SPORTS

Locals were very much aware of the large scale event taking place in their province and were very quick and eager to discuss game play with players who toured the province in their own down time. Snow kept her nerves at bay in the final round and credits her putts for keeping her in the game. Going into her final round, she was tied on the top of the scoreboard with a friend from Toronto. They played hole #1 for the playoff and after a great first drive, she was feeling pretty confident. “We were both 40ish feet in the trees for a death putt. I was secretly hoping she was going to lay it up. She then throws an epic putt and sticks it in the basket. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as confident and chained out left side,” she recalled of the final moments of the tournament. Even though she didn’t claim the top title, she was just as thrilled for her card mate and friend who had just sunk a blockbuster shot in the final the kind of finales you see in Hollywood movies.

Not to be outdone, on the male side of the scoreboard, Brant DGC member Robert Martinek also recorded an epic finish to claim the Pro 60+ title, the final jewel in his triple crown. Martinek, who lives in Brantford but plays out of Paris, had previously won the 50+ and 55+ titles.

“It was a privilege to be able to compete and win another age protected Canadian title,” said Martinek. He shot a 65, 71 and 69 in three rounds, with his most exciting game taking place in the finals. Also in true dramatic fashion, the championship title came down to two final shots. “I was leading through the whole tournament and enjoying a four stroke lead after 13 holes and then the tables started to turn,” Martinek recalled. “I gave up three strokes on the next hole and then another two strokes on hole 17 so now my lead evaporated and I was one stroke behind going into the final hole.”

Martinek’s competitor missed a birdie opportunity, so he capitalized by executing two excellent shots that got him to the basket to end with a three on that final hole. It took his

competitor five shots, so Martinek regained his lead by one shot to claim the memorable Canadian title.

Martinek credits skills from his career as an anesthetist for the win, along with lots and lots of training and practice.

“I think it was my anesthesia training of always staying calm under pressure. In addition, I have also spent a lot of time practicing to get ready for the Canadian Nationals,” he said. Martinek’s interest in disc golf peaked in 2007 when he first helped to sponsor the Mohawk Park course in Brantford. He hoped his sponsorship would provide another outdoor activity for people of all ages to enjoy. As a Brantford-based physician, he saw the benefits of an active lifestyle in his anesthesia practice and wanted to share those benefits with his community.

Other Brant DGC members who made the trek to PEI to compete included: Matt Galbraith, 15th in the MP40, Jody Slade, 10th in the MP50, Andrew James, 4th MA1, Bri Vdg, 2nd in the FA1, Paul Jervis, 24th MA50 and Susan Jervis, 2nd FA50.

Brant Disc Golf Club member, Robert Martinek, middle, following his National Championship title win in the Pro 60+ division. The Canadian National Disc Golf Tournament was held in PEI. Submitted photo

Paris Football teams have explosive home opener games at Panther Stadium

It was a great day at Panther Stadium last Saturday as spectators gathered to catch a glimpse of the two Panther’s football teams in home field action

The Juniors played their home opener first, recording a huge 58 21 victory over North Park.

Jack Bailey, Carter Hunt, Aiden Bryans, Easton Koen and Cooper Robinson all scored touchdowns while Ryan Reay was practically unstoppable in a three-touchdown game. Ryan Pearson had eight kicked converts and special mention to Caleb Rodgers for his solid work at long snap.

The excitement poured into the second game of the day as the Seniors took the field to shutout North Park 16 0

Patrick Welton and Kruz Korslick scored Paris’ touchdowns Ryan O'Neill kicked a field goal and Jack Kelly put a punt through the end zone for a Rouge. In between games, the Paris Optimist Club served up a BBQ lunch with proceeds going towards youth initiatives in the community. They will be on hand again for the Panthers’ next home games on October 15th

There was no shortage of action at the Paris Panthers home opener last Saturday as both the Junior and Senior teams defeated their opponents. The Paris Optimist Club shared a delicious BBQ lunch, with a side of humour and cheer. Both Panther teams, and the Optimists return to Panther Stadium on October 15th

Top photo by Jay Arora and photo to left by Paris Optimist Club

Mounties face tough loss against Wellesley

Morgan Wooten, a famous American basketball coach once said “You learn more from losing than winning You learn to keep going ” For the Mounties last week, one hopes that this is true after losing to Wellesley Applejacks 8 2 Halfway through the first period, the Mounties opened up the scoring with a goal by Kaidan Gignac and again assisted by the Switzer brothers, Aidan and Owen At the end of the first, the Applejacks tied the score at one; however, there was a glaring stat that was a concern Paris goaltender Nick Barker had faced 16 shots on goal, while the Mounties took only six on the Wellesley netminder

In the second and third period, Wellesley came on strong piling on seven more goals Mounties’ player Ethan Bush scored Paris’ second goal, with an assist by Jaden Schiell, but it wasn’t enough to catch Wellesley as the team recorded a tough loss

Paris Mountie Wil Curwen during the team’s home opener on September 17th. Paris is back in front of fans again tonight against New Hamburg. CLICK PHOTO FOR VIDEO

The Mounties visited Woodstock to face the Navy Vets last night, details were not available by press deadline They have a home game tonight at the Brant Sports Complex as they host the New Hamburg Firebirds Puck drop is at 7:30 Admission $10 Children 12 and under Free

Golden finish for U16 Girls Soccer team

The Paris FC U16 Girls’ Team (Black) had reason to celebrate last month as they claimed first place in their regular season but also won the league cup thanks to some strong soccer skills and plenty of teamwork throughout the summer. The girls were undefeated champions of the Hamilton MJ league. Paris FC photo

Photo by Michelle Malvaso

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

What is harder: losing weight or keeping the weight off?

A lot of people think that losing weight is the hard part. They think once they lose the weight it will be easy to keep it off But this is actually not the case. Losing weight is way easier as when you are in a 'diet' phase it is usually temporary, and your behaviour is different during that time period. When someone asks you to go for drinks you can say, sorry I'm on a diet. If the family wants to order pizza on Friday nights, you can either abstain and eat something different or make your own healthier version because you are 'on a diet'. When you are in your diet phase you prioritize drinking water as you know it will help you lose weight. You also make time for exercise as you also know that this is what you need to do. You may also even track your food online or on paper to ensure that you are in a calorie deficit. So, you do all of the things necessary to lose the weight during that time period and the magic happens.

BUT then what happens when you lose the 10 or 20 pounds that you wanted, and you hit your target weight loss? If you do not become 'diet' you and embrace the lifestyle as a permanent thing, and not as a temporary measure, it will be very easy to fall back into your old patterns.

Now you don't have a reason to say no to drinks, to pizza or whatever your trigger foods are Now it is easier to forget to drink your water or not to attend your workout class because the weight is already gone You then wake up a few months later and realize that your pants are tight, that bloated feeling is back and you have regained all or most of your weight back You may think it came on quickly but then you sit back and realize that you were ignoring all of the signs, avoiding the scale and hoping that it is just your imagination. But reality hits and you realize that you are right back where you started or worse.

So how do you prevent this? If you decide once and for all that you want to lose weight and keep it off, you need to become a new person. You have to make it a lifestyle and

Turning down a slice on family pizza night isn’t always easy. Have you tried making your own healthy pizza? Or limit yourself to one slice with a side of protein and veg!

not a 6 week challenge. Now this doesn't mean you have to be 100% perfect with your nutrition and exercise at all times, but it does mean you need to make changes that are permanent. You will need to be more mindful of your alcohol intake as they are empty calories but you do not have to give it up altogether. You do have to either resist family pizza night by always making your own homemade pizza OR limiting yourself to one slice with a side of protein and veg to stay on your plan. You will need to ensure you are drinking your 2L min each day for best hydration and health. Continued on page 20

Just for the Health of It

With Coach Shelley Gaudet

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Kiwanis Club collects over 800 pounds of goods for Food Bank

You will need to adopt an exercise routine that you can do not only while losing weight but after the weight loss happens as actually exercise is even more important for maintaining your loss than losing it in the first place.

You may still have to continue tracking in some way OR maybe even just some days in order to ensure you are getting in enough protein and not going too far over in your calorie allotment for the day or week. The old you and the old habits need to stay in the past while the new you and habits formed while in the weight loss phase need to live And that my friends is the only way for you to truly maintain the weight loss.

The Kiwanis Club of Paris Brant held another very successful food drive Saturday, September 24th. A record 866 pounds of food was collected! The club sends a well deserved THANK YOU to the residents of well over 200 homes located on Hiram Road, Horace Drive, St Patrick St., Jasmine Drive, Riverview Terrace, Homestead Road, Bayley Drive, Charlton Drive, Bradbury Crescent, Nixon Avenue, Dunton Lane, and Paris Links Road The Salvation Army Paris Food Bank is pleased with the amount and variety of food donated. Pictured left to right is Kiwanis members Darian Banks, Elaine Otterman, Iyabode Kuye, Shelagh Finnigan, Chris Powles, Sheila Moore, John Bauman, volunteer Brad Bossert and new member Allison Bossert. Missing are Kiwanians Allison Skinner and Pat Doherty Thanks everyone! If you’d like to learn more about the Kiwanis Club you can send an email to kiwanisparisbrant@gmail.com or visit our website at www parisbrantkiwanis org

Start today by writing a list of all of the healthy habits you already do, and the ones you need to start doing. THEN number them and decide which ONE you want to tackle first. Just pick ONE. Then once you have truly integrated it into your lifestyle, go to the second on your list. Soon you will wake up not only lighter, but healthier and feeling and looking your very best! Good luck!

Coach Shell is the proud owner of Gaudet Fitness Solutions (aka GFS). She runs classes in person and online, offers video recordings of classes daily, and has coached hundreds of women to better health and wellness with her B-Lean Nutrition program. She also runs 3-4 large weight loss challenges each year that women in Paris and surrounding areas love to join.

Photo by Stan Hutchinson

A safe approach to finding the right Yoga teacher

Happy Autumn!

It’s been a busy summer and I’m happy to be starting up my yoga classes again. The last month was spent doing yoga throughout Europe. Travelling with a mat enables me to enjoy a practice any time I choose and having opportunity to do yoga in the mountains of Austria as well as on the beaches of Corsica was a terrific experience. I was also able to source out a terrific yoga studio in Schladming, Austria and am looking forward to offering Yoga and Hiking retreats in 2023 as well as weekend getaways closer to home.

As summer comes to an end, many of us start to think more about getting back into routines that provide some healthy benefits.

Yoga is typically somewhere on that list and finding a yoga teacher can be daunting. When I started teaching yoga 30 years ago, there were fewer teachers and teacher training opportunities. The criteria for being selected

into a teacher training program was far more comprehensive than what it is today. When I did my first Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) in England, I was in my early 20s and I had to clearly demonstrate that I had a solid 10 year practice in place before I could even fill out an application! Nowadays, people with only a year or two of attending weekly classes are taking 28 day online YTT certification courses My lineage and commitment to practicing a new technique daily for 6 months before teaching it to students makes it hard to understand how new teachers can safely teach from this type of training With more and more new teachers arising from various backgrounds, it’s become difficult to know how to find a Yoga teacher that has the knowledge and experience needed to safely teach Years ago, the American Yoga Association published a list of requirements to consider when looking for a competent Yoga teacher To this day, I still think it’s one of the better lists out there and, with a few points added, it provides a great check list to go through when speaking with a prospective teacher

A Competent Yoga Teacher should:

1 Have a daily practice of yoga postures, breathing and

meditation. Ask your teacher about their personal practice. How much time do they spend on the mat and what compels them to do the practice that they do? If they can’t answer this, they likely aren’t going to be able to teach well.

2. Have regular contact with a seasoned Yoga teacher. The learning is ongoing and having a teacher to consult with is important for both the teacher and the student Even after 50 years of being on the mat, I still continue to study with my teacher and, as a rule, will not teach anything that I haven’t practiced daily for a minimum of six months

3 Demonstrate their understanding of the important yoga texts (ie Pantanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita) The physical aspect of yoga, known as Asana, is just a tiny part of Yoga but it is the more commonly explored aspect in the western world Teachers should be sprinkling in some of the philosophy of yoga during each class The Bhagavad Gita is considered to be among the greatest spiritual books the world has ever known Aside from being a great movie about golf, The Legend of Bagger Vance is a modernized adaptation of the Bhagavad Gita and a good intro to the ancient text

Yoga Moment with Heidi Pfleger

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

4. Observe the ethical behaviours of the first two limbs of Yoga (Yamas and Niyamas). There are actually 8 limbs of Yoga (aka Ashtanga Yoga where Ashta means ‘eight’ and Anga means ‘limb’). Simply put, the yamas are things not to do (aka ‘restraints’) and the niyamas are things to do (aka ‘observances’). Collectively, the yamas and niyamas provide a guide for living that honours both yourself and others.

5. Have a healthy vegetarian diet. This no longer seems to be as important to the newer western age Yoga teachers but the seasoned ones like me still uphold this practice as it falls under the Yamas. More specifically, it falls under the practice of Ahimsa (Non violence) which is applied in thought, word and action to all living beings.

6. Have a strong understanding of anatomy and the effects of each yoga pose on an individual’s body, mind and spirit. Each pose has a dramatic effect on all 8 systems of your body as well on as on your mind and spirit. Certain poses should be avoided for people with depression. Certain breathing rhythms should be avoided for people with high or low blood pressure. I rarely see teachers explain this to their students when I attend general classes and find this unfortunate as well as highly unsafe.

7.Be able to clearly explain how to do a pose, outlining the foundation of each pose and the reason why done. This is vital in order to give the student the knowledge and confidence to start doing their own practice at home. Ultimately, the role of the teacher is to enable to the student to do their own practice A student should always be given an answer when asked why a pose is done the way it is done

8 Be able to clearly explain why it is that they teach Yoga This may sound silly, but it really is quite important that a teacher has a strong foundation attached to their reason for teaching How long have they been teaching and what compels them to continue to teach? What style and level of Yoga do they teach? There

are many styles and a teacher should be able to clearly explain which one they teach and why. Another key point for new students to consider is the length of time a teacher has been teaching. Nowadays it seems that beginner teachers are teaching beginner students. This is not a good combination and leads to limited learning and unlimited injury. Beginner students should seek out advanced teachers who have at least 10 years of consistent teaching (20 years would be even better!) to get them started. Fewer injuries and great learning result from this combination.

A point I’d like to add to the list is that a Yoga teacher should always be approachable. Personally, I think it’s extremely important to speak with a teacher before taking their class. My own policy has been to speak by phone to anyone interested in taking a class for at least 10 or 20 minutes in order to better understand what it is they are looking to experience and to see if taking classes with me would be of benefit.

If you are interested in learning more about Yoga, let’s talk! You can reach me at 519 755 1447.

ASTROLOGY

Aries: March 21 - April 19 (Fire)You feel like something is off. The energy is pointing towards your love life You have to ask yourself what is missing? It could be multiple things Instead of just guessing, sit down and have an honest heart to heart talk with your partner

Taurus: April 20 - May 20 (Earth)- You want to be seen. You will make your ideas known at work But you may need to speak up more than once to get your point across. You will be craving an emotional connection also The easiest way to do this is through cuddling.

Gemini: May 21 - June 20 (Air)-

Be bold. You may have to take some big risks. Your love life is feeling disconnected and needs to be more of a priority You have extra courage this week, so use the energy of boldness to stand up for what you know to be right. Be heard.

Cancer: June 21 - July 22 (Water)- Clear communication will serve you well this week. Seek counsel in people you trust. If you do not reach out you will be mentally exhausted by Friday You have very few people that get you completely, so be very picky on who chose to open up to.

Leo: July 23 - August 22 (Fire)Love will shine through. You will feel loved by everyone around you. Soak it up and use it to make your life healthier mind, body and soul You're about to be busy with your work. Get some rest so you can handle everything that will be coming at you.

Virgo: August 23 September 22 (Earth) By mid week you will be walking in the clouds. You feel free and light Your career and love life is looking promising But you need to know when to speak up and when to observe and be quiet. Let yourself enjoy the calmness, it will be with you all week.

Libra: September 23 October 22 (Air) You will shine bright All that you encounter will be very attracted to you. This extra positive attention is so needed right now Take it all in as much as you can and then use it to strengthen your life in every area.

Scorpio: October 23 November 21 (Water)-You learned a lot from last week This week you will take all that stuff you learned and implement. Love life will get some much needed attention Work will get a fresh set of eyes. This helps to get you what you want and need Your ideas are great, it is time to have the courage to do something with them.

Sagittarius: November 22December 21 (Fire) You will meet someone unique this week They will guide you to make some big choices in your life. You need this shake up. Time to get out the feeling of staleness. You have asked the universe for inspiration and here it is. You're welcome

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19 (Earth) There is a powerful energy around you. This will make you feel alive or very overwhelmed You can choose how you use this If you pick alive, you can boost love and career to the next level. If you pick overwhelmed, then take time out from people until it passes.

Aquarius: January 20

February18 (Air) Can you be open? This week will call you to be honest and open You will have to check your emotions. Your intelligence has to take centre stage. This is so you do not fall apart under the pressure you will be feeling by mid week Be true even if it's not the easy choice.

Pisces: February 19 March 20 (Water)- People from your past keep coming out of the woodworks. You keep questioning why the past is coming back on you? Instead ask yourself what do you need to release from your past? This has to happen so you can make room for greater things to come in for you.

Horoscopes

with Tina Graziano

Energy Reader

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

Showtimes for Galaxy Cinemas Brantford

For Saturday October 1, 2022

Don't Worry Darling

Standard 12:30p.m. 3:40p.m. 6:50p.m. 9:45p.m.

Smile

Standard1:10p.m. 4:00p.m. 7:00p.m. 9:50p.m.

Bros Standard 1:00p.m. 3:50p.m. 6:40p.m.

Avatar

3D 12:50p.m. 4:40p.m. 8:30p.m.

The Woman King

Standard 11:30a.m. 2:50p.m. 6:10p.m. 9:30p.m.

Barbarian Standard 1:30p.m.4:20p.m. 7:10p.m. 10:00p.m.

Bullet Train Standard 12:10p.m. 3:20p.m. 6:30p.m. 9:40p.m.

Top Gun: Maverick Standard 6:20p.m. 9:20p.m.

DC League of Super-Pets

Standard 12:40p.m. 3:30p.m.

Shrek Standard 11:00a.m.