PARIS’ FIRST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM – THE COUNTRY DOCTOR. Turn to Pages 6 & 7
THINGS TO DO! Pages 2, 20 & 21
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The Paris Independent Saturday, January 22, 2022
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THIS WEEK IN HEALTH
Welcome, Health Hub! Pages 3 - 5 IN COMMUNITY
Grant Opportunities Pages 8 - 9 LOCAL SIPS & EATS
Revved Up for Winter! Support Local! Pages 16 - 17
It was difficult finding traction following Monday’s snowstorm that blew through Ontario and Quebec. Heavy snow fall, almost 60 cm in the hardest hit areas, cancelled schools, halted transportation, and left many residents snowed in. Despite the snow and blizzard like conditions, Van Langille, of Paris, found an unorthodox way of clearing snow from his driveway. See more photos submitted by our readers on pages 10-13. - Photo submitted by Chris Beaver
" no obligation market evaluation available for your property. " Trust my experience.
County County Offices Offices Closed
The Paris Independent
January 22, 2022
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR FOR SENIORS- Every Wednesday in January and February at 10 a.m. Register online at brantlibrary.ca/calendar TRIVIA NIGHT- Every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Test your knowledge, invite the family! Brantlibrary.ca/trivianight READY & RHYME – Every Thursday with Miss Ann at 11 a.m. Pick up a program kit from your local branch! brantlibrary.ca/calendar
Email theparisindependent@gmail.com with your community calendar submission. Help us share community news and events!
PARIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY– Monthly General meeting via Zoom on February 2, 2022 at 7:30 pm. Guest speaker is Bev Wagar, Halton Master Gardener. Her program is ‘ Ecological Native Gardening.’
SNOW BUDDIES - If you are interested in being a Snow Buddy, please visit www.brant.ca/SnowBuddies and fill out the Snow Buddy Online Registration Form. VEGANUARY SERIES- Explore what it means to be vegan. The one-month long series starts Jan 18 at 7 p.m. brantlibrary.ca/calendar PARIS PERFORMERS’ THEATRE SHOW POSTPONED –The February show ‘Rabbit Hole,’ has been postponed. Watch the group’s Facebook page for further updates. Publisher Managing Editor Advertising Sales Photographer News Reporter News Reporter
Chris Whelan Casandra Turnbull Chris Whelan Michelle Malvaso Carolina Saenz Bailey Zimmer
STATEMENT We are a non profit organization made up of like minded volunteers from our community with the main purpose of providing our community of Paris and area with a trustworthy and reliable source of community news. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of everything we publish, we regret any errors that may occur. We limit our liability to that of printing a retraction upon notification of such errors in the next available publication. Our mail and Email addresses are listed below:
Published Weekly on Saturday © 2022
PO BOX 99900 LA 012 395 STN MAIN PARIS, ON, CANADA N3L 0C3 Email: theparisindependent@gmail.com
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January 22, 2022
H E A LT H N E W S WELCOME TO THE HEALTH HUB! This week we examine the planning, design and execution of a robust health care facility in our community. Next week we will recognize the donors who made the vision a reality. By Casandra Turnbull
Paris is now home to a robust, sustainable, hub and spoke style building designed to meet the current and future health needs of residents. After three years of consulting, designing and constructing, the Cowan Community Health Hub opened its doors to the community in November. During the early stages of planning, lead organizers and project managers knew the community required a facility that would not only suit the needs of its occupants, but also provide a centralized location for people to access vital services under one roof. Plans for the health hub formulated in 2018 when the PrimaCare Family Health Team was given notice to vacate their space at the Willett. Lead PrimaCare FHT physician, Dr. John McDonald, had long lobbied for a new health care building, and it seemed like the timing was finally right. “PrimaCare needed a home, and it was important to the county to retain existing doctors but also look for opportunities to Continued on Page 4
June 30, 2020 – The official ground breaking ceremony took place for the Cowan Community Health Hub. Pictured left to right are: Dr. John McDonald, Councillor and Vice Chair of the PrimaCare FHT Board of Directors, John Bell, Mayor David Bailey, Chair of the PrimaCare FHT Board of Directors Don Cardy, Mike Trussell of Edge Architects and Jason Butcher, of Norlon Builders. CLICK PHOTOS FOR VIDEO Photos provided by the County of Brant
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January 22, 2022
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Pictured above, left to right: Councillor John Bell, Mayor David Bailey, Dr. John McDonald. Photo by the County of Brant. To the right, the health hub is now open to the public. Photo by Michelle Malvaso.
create space for new physicians as well,” explained Brooke Hayward, CEO of Brant Municipal Enterprises. She is also the Lead Project Manager who oversaw the details of the Health Hub from start to finish. The first order of business was forming a grassroots committee, composed of community members and council members, to research similar health buildings in the region. The more research they conducted and the more sites they visited, made it apparent that a centralized health hub would be a good fit with this community, said Hayward. The initial presentation to council was met with full approval and enthusiasm. With a concept in mind, the next step was fine tuning the details of what and how to meet the needs of the community. “We solicited expressions of interest from businesses and non-profit organizations to identify who was interested in being located at the health hub. Before we even started construction, the building was 90% occupied,” said Hayward. The design of the facility was built specifically around the needs of the tenants to better serve the needs of the community. The County of Brant tendered Edge Architects, who worked closely with Hayward, her team, and the stakeholders for over a year to hammer out
comprehensive design details. There were also important common areas to consider, said Hayward. Common areas that would add value to the community, such as a community room, meeting rooms, a health gallery, and a teaching kitchen. “We worked closely with the PrimaCare group in creating a building that connects the community to all things health related,” said Hayward, referring to the PrimaCare Team’s extensive knowledge and connections to health related services and agencies. The goal was to improve physical and mental health services for residents and provide a place to get a timely diagnosis and treatment, whether it be onsite or virtually. For Dr. McDonald, a physician in this community for over 45 years, this building meant “The stabilization of local services. We want the whole care, not just the medical care. We want other aspects of care to be co-ordinated as well, having it here, available in our town in our community, close to where you need it.” As work with the stakeholders continued, the group was also fine tuning the sustainable, environmentally friendly aspect of the design. Continued on Page 5
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“People are going there to get healthy, so we wanted the building to be as healthy and sustainable as possible too,” added Hayward. The 41,365 square foot, two-story facility has state-of-the-art features that include a highly insulated building envelope, solar panels, a vegetated ‘green’ roof, electric vehicle charging stations and energy efficient fixtures and equipment designed to lower utility costs and decrease per capita emissions. With physical and mental health in mind, project organizers ensured the building had high quality indoor air, natural light, controlled acoustics and plenty of bike racks to encourage people to walk and cycle to their appointments or jobs, utilizing the rail trail accessible from behind the health hub. Norlan Builders put a shovel in the ground in the summer of 2020 and despite pandemic-related challenges and delays, the Health Hub opened its doors to the community in November 2021, only two months behind its target date. The timing of the project truly correlates with society’s renewed outlook on healthcare. “If there was ever a time for critical robust healthcare close to home, it’s now. The last two years during the pandemic have demonstrated that,” said Hayward. The pandemic has also signified the dire need for alternate avenues of healthcare, where patients can be diverted away from overcrowded hospitals and urgent care centres to health hubs where they can get important care that is streamlined by specialists located in one facility. The County of Brant and PrimaCare Family Health Team are actively recruiting physicians to this area. One major selling point is the health hub and its collaborative patient centred environment and shared practice overhead costs. Additional physician suites were built for the purpose of recruitment. Mayor David Bailey sites the importance of a strong healthcare system in the community, “Access to quality health care and social services is imperative for our residents, especially as our population continues to age,” he said, adding he’s thrilled the facility is finally open to the community. “I want to express my gratitude to the generous donors, volunteers, contractors and staff who stood behind this project to make a dream turn into a reality.”
January 22, 2022
Health Hub Services Please contact the service provider directly for information including appointment bookings, services available and more. •
Alzheimer's Society | 519.759.7692
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Brant Community Services (Ontario Disability Support Program & Ontario Works) | Coming Soon
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Brant Family and Children's Services | 519.753.8681
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Brantford Radiology | 519.752.6829
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Cobblestone Medicine and Rehab Centre | 519.442.2237
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Community Hub Pharmacy | 519.442.4283
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Grand River Community Health Centre | 519.754.0577
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Life Labs | 1.877.849.3637
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Nova Vita | 519.752.HELP (519.752.4357)
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Paris Denture Clinic | 519.442.1663
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Paris Heart Clinic | 647.290.4009
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Participation Support Services | 519.756.1430
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PrimaCare Community / Family Health Team | 519.442.9834
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South Choice Hearing Health Services | 226.895.1282
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January 22, 2022
PARIS’ FIRST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM - THE COUNTRY DOCTOR
Paris Past by Chris Whelan
Right: “The Country Doctor” Painting, by Paul Wickson, shows Dr. Burt responding to a call in his cutter. All
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information on this page is taken from “At the Forks of the Grand Vol. II by D.A. Smith and the History of Brant County (1884).
Starting in 1834, long before the coming of the automobile, the physicians of Paris were known as “country doctors” because they spent a large part of their time riding through the countryside on or behind a horse. The earliest doctors, such as McCosh, Cooke, Dickson, and Clarke, usually rode on horse-back as they only had time to answer the door, saddle up and go! The later doctors from around 1910 onward, such as Burt and Sinclair, would be summoned by telephone and usually rode in buggies, cutters and sleighs on rough country roads full of rocks, ruts and quagmires. Dr. Robert McCosh was the very first physician to practice in Paris. Upon Graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1831, he came to Upper Canada (Ontario), and in 1834, settled here. He was bluff, plain-spoken, kind-hearted specimen of the old time Scottish doctor, and his practice extended to a radius of many miles in the adjacent townships. Beginning in 1850, he was also the editor of the Paris Star newspaper for 2 or 3 years. Dr. Silas W. Cooke was born in Hadley, Massachusetts in 1817. He got his diploma in New York before coming to Paris, to practice medicine. He obtained his provincial license to practice medicine in Ontario in 1843. His brother moved to Canada at the same time and had a medical practice in Norwich, Ontario. Dr. Cooke died on April 28, 1884, at his home in Paris. His only son, John, was a doctor in the state of New York.
Dr. James W. R. Dickson born in England on July 3, 1815. He emigrated to Brant County with his family in 1837. He had taken a course in medicine in Edinburgh and obtained his diploma the year before he came to Canada. Dr. Dickson stayed in Woodstock until 1848 when he moved to Paris, where he practiced medicine for more than thirty years. James Dickson died on December 29, 1890, in Paris. Dr. William Clarke was born in 1827 in Chatham, New Brunswick. He obtained his provincial license to practice medicine in Ontario in 1860. Dr. Clarke died on November 11, 1897, in Bracebridge, Ontario (Brantford Weekly Expositor, November 18, 1897, p. 12) and is buried in the Paris Cemetery. Dr. William Burt was born on March 24, 1849, in South Dumfries Township in Brant County. He studied at the Toronto University and took a post-graduate course at the Brooklyn Hospital in New York during the summer of 1869. Dr. Burt came to Paris, Ontario to start his medical practice in June 1872. Besides being a practicing physician, he was also president of the Ontario Medical Association, chairman of the Paris Board of Education, and president of the Paris Children’s Aid Society for several years. William Burt died on March 14, 1919, in Paris. Dr. Archibald James Sinclair was born near St. Thomas in Elgin County, Ontario and received his medical degree from Trinity College in 1875. He had taught school for several years before studying medicine in Dr. McLarty’s office in St. Thomas. Dr. Sinclair started his medical practice in Paris the same year that he graduated. He was also the Grand Trunk Railway surgeon in Paris for twenty-five years and the medical attendant at the Ontario School for the Blind in Brantford for many years. Dr. Sinclair was appointed as the collector of customs at Paris in 1904 but resigned after four years due to health issues resulting from an earlier bicycle accident. He had been a resident of Paris for thirty-six years when he died on March 22, 1914. He is buried in St. Thomas.
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January 22, 2022
THE PARIS ARMOURY WAS USED AS A HOSPITAL IN 1918 Paris Central Public School
The Paris Armoury
The 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic Veterans of the Great War who served overseas unknowingly brought the flu back with them. The Paris Armoury was converted into an emergency hospital financed by Paris industrialist John Penman. Upon arrival, patients exchanged their clothing and possessions for sterile garments. Staff and volunteers did the same. Many ill patients were treated here and only three deaths were recorded.
King’s Ward Public School Photo 1 & Above: King’s Ward Public School at 3 Broadway Street East in Paris. Built in 1881, became Paris Armoury in 1910 and demolished in 1972. Images courtesy: At the Forks of the Grand: Volume II by D. A. Smith.
Photos 2 & above: Paris Central Public School, built in 1909 and demolished in 1972. Images: Paris Museum and Archives
In 1881, the Town of Paris built King’s Ward Elementary School at 3 Broadway E., behind the First Baptist Church- beside King’s Ward park, so named after Hiram “King” Capron the town’s founder. By 1910, King’s Ward School was closed and put up for sale. Students of King’s Ward would now attend the new Paris Central Public School directly behind King’s Ward, facing Grand River St. North. On May 30, 1910, Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier
allowed the purchase of King’s Ward School to become an armoury with “B” Squadron of the 25th Dragoons in Paris to occupy the building. Renovations began with military orders to prepare plans for improvements. When the contractors began work on the former classroom floors, they discovered that the hobnailed boots of restless children had worn deep grooves in the thick plank floorboards. This flooring was replaced. The present Paris Central Public School is now on this site of the old King’s Ward School/Armoury.
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January 22, 2022
F U N D I N G O P P O RT U N I T Y County accepting grant applications $360,000 allotted for 2022 recipients By Casandra Turnbull
The County of Brant has opened its municipal grants application process for applicants looking for local funding in 2022.
Meals on Wheels) $23,750; Sensity Deafblind and Sensory Support Network of Canada, $2,600; Paris FC, $5,500; Ayr-Paris Band, $3,000; Paris Minor Hockey, $7,500; Brant Pedallers and Paddlers, $2,625; Brant County 4H, $2,250; Brant Food for Thought, $10, 335; Kids Can Fly, $8,250; The Raw Carrot Soup, $6,400; Paris Museum & Historical Society, $20,000; Paris Horticultural Society, $2,000; Paris Plains Church Cemetery, $5,500; Arnold Anderson Sport Fund (two grants) $10,000; Paris Soccer Club, $11,250
The County of Brant and Council will administer $360,000 allocated to this year’s Community Grant Program. Applicants have until February 4, 2022, to apply for funding that could fall under five different categories: Operating and Event Grants, Capital Grants, Emergency Funding Grants, Travel Grants and On-going PreIf you’d like to apply for a grant, download a Approved Grants. copy of the application form: Once all eligible applications are received, a https://www.brant.ca/en/countycommittee of 4-5 people will evaluate and score government/resources/Finance/Grants/2022the applications based on criteria laid out on a Community-Grant-Application.pdf scoring summary sheet. The criteria looks at The application is a fillable pdf and must be whether an applicant is a registered charity, has a completed and returned to grantrequest@brant.ca. board of directors, represents the county, provides proper financial statements and annual budgets, provides an event budget and has other outlined fundraising initiatives. Council has final say over how the money will be distributed. The Grants program was developed in 2020 and returned in 2021, with great success, according to the County’s website. It’s a more streamlined approach to ensuring application meet the proper eligibility requirements for funding. In 2021 37 grants were approved totalling $320,363. Paris organizations or groups who received funding in 2021 included: Five oaks Centre, $8,500; Paris Curling Club, $10,000; Royal Canadian Legion Branch 29, $19,000; Paris Port Dover Pipe Bank, $10,000; Paris Agricultural Society, three different grants totalling (including
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January 22, 2022
F U N D I N G O P P O RT U N I T Y 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
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The Paris Independent
January 22, 2022
S N O W D AY S
Calm before the storm. Sunday night sky ahead of Monday’s record breaking snowfall. Photo by Chris Heron
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
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
Massive snow piles everywhere made it easy to build snow forts. Just ask Evan! Photo by Liz Dimeo
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The Paris Independent
These peanuts better be worth the trek through all that snow! Photo submitted by Susan Van Hout
January 22, 2022
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
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! 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
Not only did the snow continue to fall, but windy conditions created large snow drifts as pictured to the left. Photo submitted by Karrie
Photo submitted by Wanda Mugford
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.
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January 22, 2022
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
A common question following Monday’s snowfall – where’s my car? Photo submitted by Nancy VanNieuwenhuizen 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
“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
A little snow didn’t stop Maverick and baby Jaxxen from enjoying a walk. Jaxxen celebrates his 1st birthday next week! Photo submitted by Kate Hawes
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January 22, 2022 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
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
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January 22, 2022
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COMMUNITY NEWS 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. -News Canada
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The Paris Independent
January 22, 2022
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COMMUNITY NEWS 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.’
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 Low-income Energy Assistance more information, please visit Program (LEAP) https://www.energyplus.ca/en/res idential/low-income-electricityTo further support customers support-programs.aspx through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario Energy
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
The Paris Independent
January 22, 2022
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L O C A L S I P S & E AT S 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. Continued on Page 17
The Paris Independent
January 22, 2022
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L O C A L S I P S & E AT S In Paris there are a plethora of locations to access fresh, locally made & sourced specialty shopping and right now, so many are open to deliver right to your door. I can immediately think of local apples from Brantview Farm in St. George, local produce & specialty items at Elberta Farm, our local butcher at Link Street Sausage in Wincey Mills, fresh local beef from Browndale Farm, Seafood from Jiggs n Reels, our local bakeries Paris Bakery, Cake & Crumb, Wicked 'Wiches & Pies and who doesn't love Cheesecake-on-the-Go for dessert. When we support local through food, cooking at home is a perfect way to also support local. They need us too! Our restaurants are adaptable to focus on take-out but they need us to build take-out into our week menu planning. Everyone's budget and palate desires are unique and aren't we lucky to
have so many options creating a diverse selection. From finedining such as edit Eats, Juniper Dining and Stillwater, to casual ambience of Grand Bayou and Paris Beer to fast casual delicious like Steve's Place and Arepa Love. All these restaurants are counting on us for some take-out so let's show them our local love of our eateries too. Our small town, the Prettiest Little Town in Canada is growing by leaps and bounds, this we know. It can be tempting to hop into a larger centre on the way home from work and grab groceries, visit specialty shops and order online for delivery. But think about that rock solid entrepreneur, grocer, butcher and baker who are busting to move because they love what they do and are just hoping you will remember they are still ready to serve you. If you are new to the community or if you have been here for a good long time, always feel
welcome to reach out to me on Instagram @tastyroadtrips or email me at ohsogourmet@gmail.com. I am always happy to help direct you to some of our local hidden gems who are building our community stronger, through food. My mission & values with Tasty Road Trips, is to highlight our community through food, drink and cultural experiences and expose all the hidden gems that are just waiting to be discovered.
Tasty Road Trips Tours is an independently owned and operated culinary tourism company, which 100% supports local business. Spicy Jan is a food writer, travel host & business coach. Contact Jan at tastyroadtrips.com to explore all things local. #cravebrant #spicyjan
Support local restaurants with a night out with friends, get your weekly groceries at Browndale Farms or enjoy some local produce or fresh apple cider at Brantview Farm. All photos provided by Tasty Road Trips Tours
The Paris Independent
January 22, 2022
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C O M M U N I T Y D O N AT I O N S LETTER TO THE EDITOR: A big THANK-YOU to all Christmas Hamper volunteers / donors Our 2021 Christmas Food and Toy Hamper Program was very successful. The community graciously supported us by way of food, toys and monetary donations, which helped support approximately 145 families. Thank-you to the Paris Agricultural Society for donating their excellent facilities. Also, thank-you to all our local schools for encouraging the children to help donate non-perishable items. A special thank-you to the Paris Optimist club, Lions Club, the St. George Lions Club, the Paris Legion and St Vincent de Paul for their generous donations and support. A special thank-you to Paris Firefighter Matt Amy and OPP Constable Conrad Vitalis for organizing the “Fill A Vehicle” program where our
local Firefighters, OPP, and Paramedics donated their time over two weekends in December, collecting food, toys and monetary donations. They were stationed at Sobeys and No Frills in Paris and Foodland in Burford and St. George. Also thank-you to the Cainsville Fire Department for their successful Boot Drive. Another thank-you to all the businesses throughout the county who had Christmas collection boxes set out for donations. Once again, thank-you to the Paris Community Service office for servicing the residents’ applications and donations. We also appreciate the families and businesses who sponsored 19 of our families.
Paris Independent, Expositor, Paris Chronicle, St. George Lance and Ayr News for all their great efforts in printing all of our requests to help make our program visible to all readers. Lastly thank-you to our committee members and volunteers who worked so diligently, dedicating their time to help before, during and after the week of December 12-17 to see our worthwhile project through to completion. We look forward to Christmas 2022. Our sincere, warmest thanks, Shirley Simons, Laura Bowlby, Marg Knill-Wilson, Cherish Gamble, Tawnia Martel, Lisa Lewis, Anne Rutt
Also, we would like to thank the
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The Paris Independent
January 22, 2022
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Don’t miss the chance to list your business! The Paris and District Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the County of Brant, has launched the online ‘Love Local Brant Business and Services Directory’.
Brant residents in February 2022. Visit the directory online: www.brant.ca/ChamberGuide
If your County of Brant business wishes to be listed, email info@pariscoc.ca. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 28, 2022, at which point the directory will be going to print, and the digital version will be updated quarterly. The printed directory will be mailed to County of
OPP BRIEFS: Accidents & Break and Enter HIGHWAY CLOSED AFTER threatening injuries by BrantVEHICLE STRIKES Brantford Paramedics. Three OVERPASS people had to be extricated from their vehicles by County On Friday January 14, 2021, at of Brant Fire Department. approximately 4:13 p.m., Brant The westbound lanes of OPP members responded to a Highway 403 were closed for reported collision in the approximately six hours while westbound lanes of Highway crews cleared the roadway and 403 in the County of Brant. A assessed the damage to the dump truck towing construction overpass. equipment struck the overpass at Wayne Gretzky parkway CHARGES LAID AFTER resulting in debris falling onto HOMEOWNER REPORTS the roadway below. Two BREAK AND ENTER IN vehicles were damaged after PROGRESS striking the fallen debris. There were no reported injuries, and On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at approximately 3:21 a.m., the the investigation is ongoing. During the closure, a second Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) collision occurred at the end of Brant County Detachment the queue waiting to exit the responded to a break and enter highway. Three vehicles were in progress at a Paris Road damaged, and four occupants address in the County of Brant. were transported to area The resident was sleeping when hospitals with non-life
they woke up to the sound of someone in their home. Police attended and located a person nearby who was arrested and transported to Brant County detachment. A 35 year-old Brantford man is charged with the following offences: · Trespassing at Night, Break, Enter a dwelling house with intent to commit indictable offence and Possession of a Schedule I Substance- Cocaine. The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice located in Brantford at a later date.
The Paris Independent
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January 22, 2022
THINGS TO DO Get outdoors and be active in your community TOBOGGANING
Tobogganing is permitted at designated areas in the following locations:
Click video
SKATING / HOCKEY – OUTDOORS Locations and Status:
-Axton Park - 57 Schuyler St., Paris - OPEN
Paris Area:
-Syl Apps Community Centre - 51 William St., Paris OPEN
-Bemrose Park - North side of hill only - 86 Whitlaw Way
-Sunny Hill Park - 87 Sunnyside Dr., St.George NOT OPEN YET
-Green Lane Sports Complex, 8 Green Lane
- Mt. Pleasant Park - 555 Burtch Rd., Mt.Pleasant OPEN Outdoor rinks are volunteer and weather dependent. Please check the County of Brant website or Social Media pages for updates on the status of outdoor rinks.
-Grandville Park, 146 Grandville Circle St. George -King William Park - East of pathway in the Park - 52 King William St CROSS COUNTRY SKIING / SNOWSHOEING Please visit the Trails page for more information. TH & B Trail. Shellard Lane Brantford to Jenkins Rd LE & N Trail. Burtch Rd north towards Brantford Paris to Cambridge Trail SC Johnson Trail. Paris to Brantford Lions Way - Burford - Maple Ave N to Lions Park
The Paris Independent
January 22, 2022
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THINGS TO DO Nice Catch!
Park Patrol returns Park Patrol is back! Join County of Brant Recreation staff for four weeks of outdoor fun at four different locations! Activities include scavenger hunts, snow painting and more. This is a FREE program for ages 4-12 years. Registration is required for each week (no drop-ins). Scheduled dates and locations include: Saturday, January 29 - 1:00-1:45 pm- Green Lane Sports Complex, Paris, Activity #: 5102 Saturday, February 5 - 1:00-1:45 pm- King William Street Park, St George, Activity #: 5103 Saturday, February 12 - 1:00-1:45 pmBurford Arena (Pavilion), Activity #: 5104
The Grand River Conservation Authority announced on Thursday that ice fishing is now permitted on all four of its location: Belwood Lake, Guelph Lake, Pinehurst Lake and Shade's Mills conservation areas. Check here for the current status as it could be subject to change: https://www.grandriver.ca/.../park-status-andmore.aspx. They are also reminding people to stay off unmonitored water bodies, such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Colder temperatures allow ice to form, but daily changes in temperature, wind and precipitation will affect whether it is safe to use. Photo credit to Grand River Conservation Authority
Catch the full story next week!
Saturday, February 26 - 1:00-1:45 pmScotland Community Centre, Activity #: 5105 Limited spots are available. Registration opens Tuesday, January 25 at 8:30 am. Register online with the NEW COB Connect online registration system, to create your account and register visit www.brant.ca/NewCOBConnect
The Paris Independent
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January 22, 2022
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