STREETFEST PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN PARIS THIS MONTH. Pages 4-5 DEVELOPMENT DIGEST – WHAT’S NEXT IN PARIS & AREA? Page 20
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The Paris Independent Saturday, June 11, 2022
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Breakfast from the Farm!
NEAR PERFECT SEASON
Pages 11-12 In Community
CYCLING FOR THE FOOD BANK Pages 14-15
In Community
TEDDY BEAR PICNIC Pages 22-23
Joyce Clement, Ashley Cain and Maggie Donkers represented the Brant County Milk Producers at last weekend’s Breakfast from the Farm, hosted by Farm Food Ontario & the Paris Agricultural Society. Also posing for the photo are Vianna and Bingo. See more from this event on pages 16-17. Photo by Casandra Turnbull
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR PARIS COMMUNITY SAFETY GROUP BIKE RODEO TODAY - Formally known as the Paris Community Policing Committee, will be holding their annual Bike Rodeo on Saturday June 11, 2022 10 am - 12 pm. at the Brant Sports Complex upper parking lot. Free event, prizes available. Ages 4-13
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY- The County of Brant library is honouring National Indigenous History month with a couple of events for the family to take part in – you must pre-register! The celebration started on June 1st with a course ‘Indigenous 101’ with Elder Carolyn King. But it’s not too late to register IN PERSON KNITTERS GROUP- Paris Library for ‘The Moccasin Identified Project’ taking th Branch on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm or Scotland- place on June 15 . For more information visit Oakland Branch on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. brantlibrary.ca/calendar to register *Participants must wear masks while attending inperson programs. Knitting Clubs are free drop-in clubs; registration is not required to attend; participants must bring their own supplies. FOOD TRUCK NIGHTS- At Sojourn Church (112 Scott Avenue) from 4:45 pm to 7:30 pm on June 21, July 19th and August 16th. GAMES IN THE PARK Sunday, June 26th, 2-4 pm (King’s Ward Park), light refreshments provided. Hosted by St. Paul’s United Church. PARIS CRAFT CRAWL- Saturday, June 25&26th at the Paris Fairgrounds, rain or shine. Get ready to explore the absolute best creatives, the talented handmade and incredible solo musicians. Come for the amazing shopping, stay for the food, and cheer on talented musicians. Tickets are $10 and are only sold at the gate.
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR DON’T BE SCAMMED, PROTECT . YOURSELF! The Paris Community Safety Group is hosting a guest speaker from RBC on June 13th, 7 pm at the Brant OPP detachment community room. Discussions held around protecting your personal banking from being compromised (such as identity theft, senior’s scams, etc). FREE SWIMMING–For the month of June the Paris Community Pool is hosting free swim times. For a complete listing visit Brant.ca/June *Weather permitting. Call (519) 442-7311 for updates. YEAR OF THE GARDEN – Saturday June 18 at South Dumfries Community Centre in St. George, from 12 pm to 3 pm – celebrate National Garden Day with family friendly activities. Presented by County of Brant Library, Equal Ground Community Gardens, St. George Garden Club & Paris Hort Soc. LET’S TALK ABOUT PRIDE SERIES– Tuesday, June 21 at 7 pm hosted by the County of Brant Public Library. Join Dr. Christopher
Owen (Inclusivity Development Manager, Manchester Pride) as they give meaningful advice on how to talk to your kids about gender, sexuality, and acceptance. Register today at ow.ly/CBpL50JocVe, or connect with your local branch and sign up with staff.
KIWANIS CLUB MEETING - The Club will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday June 14th at 6:30 PM, under the outdoor tents at Paris Legion #29. The monthly meeting is an excellent way to find out about how Kiwanis helps our community. If you would like to attend, please write to Kiwanisparisbrant@gmail.com for more information.
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COMMUNITY NEWS Memory Lane Market coming to downtown Paris June 25 & 26 By Casandra Turnbull Everything that’s old is new again. And if you enjoy rummaging through racks of vintage clothing, repurposing items or finding that one-of-a-kind handmade treasure, then this month’s vintage-style market is the place you’ll want to be. The two-day event will see part of Grand River St N closed between William and Mechanic Streets on June 25th and 26th. The core will be closed to traffic from approximately 11 am to 11 pm both days to accommodate over 40 street vendors taking part in the event dubbed ‘Memory Lane Market.’ The market will run from 1-9 pm daily. “Our goal is to create an experience in town that will attract new audiences by bringing in a variety of vendors offering vintage clothing and streetwear, one of a kind handmade goods as well as trendy and local food/drink options,” say event hosts Quinn and Harrison Snyder. Continued on page 5 Publisher Managing Editor Advertising Sales Photographer News Reporter Columnist News Reporter
Meet the two people behind Memory Lane Market: Quinn and Harrison Snyder. Photos provided by the Snyders
Chris Whelan Casandra Turnbull Chris Whelan Michelle Malvaso Carolina Saenz Karon Sinning 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
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COMMUNITY NEWS Quin grew up in this area and currently owns a vintage clothing store, Judy Jean Vintage, operating in the Gem Marketplace beside Green Heron Books. It was during Harrison’s first trip to Paris that the Memory Lane Market concept truly developed. “With the beautiful scenery, unique small businesses and the picturesque downtown core, Paris seemed like the perfect location to host an event,” say the duo. There will be vendors from across Ontario and Quebec, but the Snyders said they also ensured local businesses were front and centre to showcase the treasures you can find locally. “We reached out to all local businesses in downtown Paris who have been given priority to participate in the event as vendors. Our goal is to not only provide a fun experience for guests, but to also highlight and provide exposure to our local business owners.” Follow Memory Lane Market on Social Media for vendor highlights and more details as the event draws near.
Downtown Paris will be closed to traffic June 25 -26 for the inaugural Memory Lane Market featuring vintage style vendors and trendy food and drink options.
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COMMUNITY NEWS Children rejoice over new and improved schoolyard Paris Central School Parent Council completes four-year project to improve conditions for children; thanks community for support By Casandra Turnbull
It was a long time in the making, but then again, the longer you wait for something, the more you appreciate it when it arrives. Just ask the staff and students at Paris Central Public School. When the parent council took on a new schoolyard retrofit project in 2017, nobody knew it would turn into nearly a fiveyear project. Despite the obstacles along the way, particularly a worldwide pandemic, committee members are happy to report that the muchneeded upgrades are complete and students couldn’t be happier with the outcome. “Thank-you for the changes that you guys have made happen on our playground. Thank-you Parent Council for everything you have done, we appreciate you
guys so much,” one student wrote in an open letter to the Parent Council. The project was important for the kids, who had a tired looking yard full of overgrown tree roots, an unlevel baseball diamond, broken basketball nets and cracked and broken pavement. It was unsafe and generally unappealing to the children who spend recess and outdoor classroom time in the yard.
“Paris Central is a great school community with a lot of heart. However, the playground was in disrepair. It has been over 20 years with no upgrades to the playground,” said Lisa Keefe, chair of the Parent and Playground Revitalization Committees. So, in September 2017 Parent Council adopted the project. Continued on page 7
Children enjoy some outdoor time at the new outdoor classroom. The schoolyard retrofit not only provided more opportunities for kids to play and explore, but also increased their safety, replacing broken pavement, removing large tree roots and leveling uneven terrain. All photos provided by Paris Central Parent Council
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COMMUNITY NEWS Through several corporate and community grants and donations from local businesses, friends and families of the school, they were able to successfully raise $30,000 to enhance the school’s outdoor space. “We saw the need to green the space so that we could create a place where our children could enjoy the beauty of Paris in their school,” said Keefe. They’ve removed a significant amount of pavement, planted grass, trees, installed three new fences, a sand play area, an outdoor classroom, repaired the basketball nets, leveled out the baseball diamond and painted three new games on the remaining, refinished pavement area. The finishing touches will come this summer when they complete the memorial garden in the front yard and plant 10 more trees along the fence line to increase the sound barrier for the outdoor classroom area. Another student shared the following thoughts: “Thank-you for the new pavement with the new and improved basketball court and hopscotch. Also, we thank you for the sand box that the kindergarteners love to play in. we also appreciate the outdoor classroom. Everyone loves to sit and jump on the rocks. We also thank you for cutting down that big tree. No more cuts and bruises from falling on tree roots.” Staff are equally impressed by the simple, yet effective and safe upgrades. “The playground improvements have made a big difference in how our students use the school yard, giving students more options during recess and giving us a safer yard for phys ed. Continued on page 8
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
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COMMUNITY NEWS The students can also take pride in the yard now which has made a big difference in school spirit,” said Peggy Sloss, a Grade 1 / 2 teacher who’s taught at Paris Central for 15 years. “The new playground has been especially important for my students’ mental and physical health during the past two years of Covid precautions because we have spent more time outdoors. The new trees, sand play and tarvia together created a safe, happy place for my students to learn and grow,” she added. The schoolyard was not the only area to undergo some pretty big changes recently. Students who returned to in-school learning last fall walked into a nearly new looking school. Paris Central was once an open concept school, which meant most classrooms did not have walls or doors and opened into common spaces. The noise levels were difficult to control but the real difficulties hit with Covid. Social distancing and air quality presented a challenge. Through interior renovations, all classrooms are now selfcontained. With both interior and exterior renovations complete, Keefe says there are no immediate plans to jump into any new projects. “After this summer the plan will be to take a breather. The pandemic caused this project to run longer than anticipated and we look forward to seeing the kids enjoy it.”
Donor recognition! The Paris Central Parent Council would like to thank the following organizations/businesses for their donations to the revitalization project: CORPORATE DONORS Aviva Insurance Company of Canada Lakeview Sand and Gravel Ltd. TD Friends of the Environment COMMUNITY BUSINESS DONORS Paris Downtown Business Association
The Brant Community Foundation Brant Radiant Heaters Canadian Tire Domino’s Pizza GrandBridge Energy (formerly Energy +) Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) Optimist Club Tree Canada Twisted Treats Waterous Holden Amey Hitchin LLP A special thank-you to all the staff, students, friends and families of Paris Central for their support
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The History of Paris Central School 1909 - 1972 Photos Courtesy: The Paris Museum & Historical Society
Paris Past By Chris Whelan Need for a New Central Public School Between 1898 and 1923, the school population of Paris increased steadily; by 1905, over-crowding had become a serious problem. In 1898 there were 40 grammar school (high-school) students and by 1905 there were 100. It was clear that the Photo: Excavation begins for the building of a new central public school on Grand River Street - 1907 grammar school would need to take over the 3 up-stairs classrooms currently being occupied by the public (elementary) school classes. King’s Ward School across from the Library was also overcrowded. Dr. Danial Dunton, chairman of the board, argued that the best solution was the building of a large central public-school; and he vigorously worked to gain public support for the idea. In January of 1907, it seemed as though the tide of public opinion was running against the idea, but in February it suddenly turned in favour when John Penman dramatically announced that he would pay 20 percent of the cost of the new school. His main stipulations were that the halls should be large, and the main entrance must be flanked by imposing Corinthian columns. As a result of his offer, the by-law was approved by a majority of fifty-eight. On September 1, 1909, Central School was formally opened and the old school on the hill (Queensview) was now only for high school students.
Photo: Central School was built in 1909. It was a very imposing structure overlooking Grand River Street North
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The History of Paris Central School 1909 - 1972 Photos Courtesy: The Paris Museum & Historical Society
Photo above: Grade 6, Paris Central School. 1954 L to R. Front row: Paul Marr, Edin McKinnon, James Hopkins, Darrell Harper, David McKay, ____________, Michael Kiddolls, Richard Kempthorne, Wayne Holata, Robert Lane, Murray Wright. Second row: Robert Williamson, William Cockburn, Kenneth Murray, ____________, Kenneth Smith, John Richardson, Bruce Travers, William Spicer, Gordon Griffiths, Robert Midgley. Third row: Wendy Smith, Marg Pallitt, Glenda Broomfield, Norma Crump, Rosemary Riddell, Norma Madden, Barbara Turner, Suzanne Smith, Helena Morris, Diane Dutchburn. Fourth row: Dallas Trott, Jane Todd, Mary Jean Woodnutt, Mary Addison, Patricia Brown, Beverly Goodwin, Marilyn Newton, Nancy Cockburn, Colleen Cruickshank. Back row: Mr. Donald Polley, Robert Charlton, James Stevenson, Larry Kensit.
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S P O RT S Paris Panthers Girls Fastball second in AABHN By Casandra Turnbull The Paris Panthers Girls Fastball team came very close to an undefeated season, unfortunately recording their first loss of the season in a well-fought battle against McKinnon Park Secondary School (MPSS) in the season’s championship game. The Athletic Association of Brant Haldimand Norfolk year end tournament took place on Wednesday at Jaycee Park in Brantford. Paris coasted to a 14-1 semi final win over St. John’s College during their first game of the day. During the final match-up, MPSS got off to an early 4-0 lead after two innings. Paris responded in the third with three runs on hits from Abby Tinnes, Olivia Worrall, Pyper Morley and
Emmalyse Risteau. On the mound, Worall managed to shut down MPSS’ offense, striking out eight batters and keeping MPSS off the scoreboard. Down by one run heading into the final inning, Paris’ Mya Padusenko hit a one-out single to put the tying run on base, but the Panthers were unable to cash in that run, losing the game 4-3. Coach Shelley Weaver attributes the team’s success to strong pitching, catching and a wellbalanced batting line up. Tinnes and Worrall showed control and execution on the mound all season, while Morley was solid behind the plate and also had some clutch hits, said Weaver. Worrall and Risteau led the team’s offense.
“The girls have great attitudes, they play hard and support each other whether things are going our way or not,” said Weaver. She also credited Tinnes, a returning Grade 12 player, for her excellent leadership. In regular season play, Paris dominated the score board recording the most runs for (69) and was among the top three teams for fewest runs against (30). Continued on page 12
All photos taken by Michelle Malvaso during Wednesday’s AABHN semi final and final games.
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S P O RT S They finished their 6-0 season just ahead of BCI, who lost only once to Paris in a 13-7 decision for the Panthers. Wednesday’s games are the end of the season for the Panthers. This might also be the end of the line for girls’ fastball in high school. Weaver explained that OFFSSA has decided to run Slo Pitch for girls next year, which could push schools towards running Slo Pitch, rather than fastball. As of now, schools are waiting to see if CWOSSA and AABHN will follow suit and implement Slo Pitch in all schools. “It would be a shame to lose this sport with so many talented fastball players in our area. It’s a great game with lots of opportunities for them to continue to play competitively at post secondary both here and in the States,” said Weaver.
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S P O RT S Paris FC teams bring home hardware The Paris FC U15 girls took home the HEADS Up Cup with a 2-1 victory over Etobicoke in the championship game! Way to represent the red and black, girls! Paris FC Photo
Right: Congratulations to the Paris FC U12 girls who were silver medalists at the Island Cup in Michigan last weekend. They scored a whopping 21 goals in 5 games in their first ever knock out tourney. Paris FC Photo
Paris FC U13 boys kicked off their outdoor season with their first ever competitive tournament at the HEADS Up Cup - and went through to the semi finals! They played a great game and just got edged out with a 2-1 loss to Kitchener. Great job boys! Paris FC Photo
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COMMUNITY NEWS Charity bike ride starts at Parliament Hill and ends at the Forks of the Grand in Paris By Carolina Saenz Combining his passion for long bike rides with making a positive impact in the community, Dale Hall is set to make this summer count. As a member of the Bellwether Family Wealth team in Brantford, Hall has seen first-hand the important work done by the Salvation Army. And as long-time supporters of this organization, the Bellwether team has come up with a new way to make a difference. The Bellwether Bike Ride will see Hall ride from Parliament in Ottawa to Forks of the Grand in Paris. It will be a 580km ride over a period of three days from August 12th to 14th with the hopes to raise $10,000 for the Salvation Army food bank. “I wanted to do a long ride and raise money doing it,” says Hall. In 2020, the first version of this event consisted of a 250km loop ride completed by Hall in a day. And a total of $3,400 was raised and donated to the Salvation Army Children and Family Services Food Bank. This year he’s challenging himself even more. “The idea was it needed to be a significant distance. It needed to be a road that was bike friendly and there is the waterfront trail along Lake Ontario. And I’ve done portions of that before so I knew it would be a safe ride,” shares Hall.
Dale Hall, middle, is no stranger to distance races. He just completed the 100km Paris to Ancaster Bike Race last month. Photo provided by Dale Hall
A lot of careful planning and valuable experience are needed for this endurance event. While he is being diligent in his training and making sure his body is healthy for the ride, he acknowledges this is only possible with the support of the Bellwether team who make sure he is set up for success. Beyond Bellwether, his wife Taylor Hall will be his primary support system throughout the ride. Having experienced long rides together, they know what works and what to expect. The first day of the ride, August 12th, will see Hall ride 180km from Parliament to Kingston. Day two will be the longest ride at 224km from Kingston to Bowmanville. And day three will consist of 176km and end in Paris.
Expecting to be on the bike for seven to eleven hours a day, Hall is planning a careful break schedule as well as the fuel he will need: sourdough loaves from Little Paris Bread Co and lots of espresso. Continued on page 14
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COMMUNITY NEWS But despite careful planning, Hall is aware of the possibility of additional challenges. “I think the biggest challenge will be weather because that is the one thing that’s completely out of our control. We can control food intake, fitness, the mechanics of the bike. But if you’re riding East to West along the lake you’re often against the wind, so you have a lot of wind head on or at a bit of an angle. That is going to be a little nerve wracking because I don’t have anybody to help shield me from the wind. And then of course extreme heat or extreme rain would be a challenge. But it really is a psychological shift that I would have to make in a moment like that,” Hall
explains. At the end of the day, he said he knows what will push him through the most difficult moments of his journey. “The biggest motivation for me is that I firmly believe everybody should have access to good and healthy food. And there is a big divide, food scarcity is real,” says Hall. The services offered by the Salvation Army are utilized year-round by families and individuals. While they see a lot of donations through the fall and winter, especially during the holidays with their kettle fundraisers, support is needed during the summer months too. And that is where this event
hopes to make a difference. All proceeds from the bike ride will go to the Salvation Army food banks that serve Brantford and Brant County. They work together, so donations serve the whole community. Donations to Hall’s Bellwether Bike Ride can be made at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/ pages/the-bellwether-bike-ridefor-the-salvation-army-co/ Any riders interested in joining next year’s event can reach out via their Facebook page and book it in your calendar https://www.facebook.com/Bell wether-Bike-Ride106277565320422
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Take out breakfast…. Locals explore agri-food industry at Breakfast from the Farm It was a family affair on Saturday as guests visited the fairgrounds to learn a little more about where their food comes from. Pictured checking out, and receiving a delicious bag of goodies produced by area farmers, is Darryl Maher, Kass Maher (11), Dylan Jennings (13), Kollins Maher (10), McKenzie Parkinson (10) and Farm Food Ontario volunteers Lauren Haley and Jennifer Haley. Inside the bag were meats, eggs, dairy and produce from Elberta Farms, Little Brown Cow, Witteveen Meats, Sweet Ontario, Glenridge Hazelnuts and the Ontario Apple Growers. Photo by Casandra Turnbull
By Casandra Turnbull Did you know the first week in June is declared Local Food Week in Ontario? It’s a time to celebrate the abundance of fresh, healthy food that’s grown and produced on a farm near you! Brant County residents had a chance to learn exactly how their food is produced, and ultimately how it lands on their plates, during last weekend’s Breakfast from the Farm event at the Paris Fairgrounds. Farm & Food Care Ontario, in conjunction with the Paris Agricultural Society, hosted the event, which featured about a dozen agricultural specialists from a variety of food sectors, representing several area farms. The purpose of
the event is to build public trust in food and farming in Ontario and provide a unique opportunity to have conversations about the local agri-food industry. There were representatives from the Beef Farmers of Ontario, The Brant County Milk Producers, the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association, the Ontario Federation of Agricultural and the Egg Farmers of Ontario to name a few. Children enjoyed interactive displays and even had the chance to meet some animals on site. This was the first official Breakfast from the Farm event planned by Farm & Food Care Ontario for 2022. The next one takes place in Elora on August 27 and then in Milton during the annual Fall Fair in October
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COMMUNITY NEWS To the left: Sevenyear-old Davis & Sarah Starks listen as Louis Heyming from the GRCA as she explains best practices farmers use to keep our rivers and streams healthy. Photos by Casandra Turnbull
To the Left: Felicity Groves, 11, and Austyn Groves, 9, representing VanGro Farms. The family operated farm, located near Onondaga, sells lamb, beef, pork, chicken and eggs. Bottom left: Leah Velanger and Nicole Insalaco representing the County of Brant Strategic Initiatives division. Bottom right: Eight-year-old Peyton Braund doesn’t live on a farm but both his grandfathers are in the agricultural industry so he’s no stranger to farm equipment. He’s pictured with an antique Massey Harris tractor, which he calls his baby. It was one of the pieces of farm equipment on display on Saturday’s event.
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F I N A N C I A L M AT T E R S
Six RRSP benefits you probably didn’t know about Your Money Team
with
Glenn Gaudet There are more benefits of RRSPs than an immediate tax break: here are six lesser-known facts that you might not be aware of. Many of us understand the value of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP): almost six million Canadians make RRSP 1 contributions every year. Most of us also know about the tax benefits of RRSP contributions and that it’s an extremely versatile and effective retirement planning tool. RRSPs are typically used for longterm savings, with the money we contribute bringing us a tax deduction. Contributed funds can also grow on a tax-deferred basis until we take those dollars out in retirement. We’re then taxed based on our personal income tax rate in the year we withdraw the money (which, in retirement, should be lower than when we contributed and got the original tax break). Contribution room is based on earned income levels (up to 18% of earned income from the prior year, to a maximum amount of $29,210
for 2022),2 with unused contribution room carried forward to future years. Those who contribute generally see a tax refund due to the available tax deduction. Here are a few lesser-known benefits of RRSPs that you might not be aware of:
withdraw funds early with no tax penalty. The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) allows you to take up to $35,000 out of your RRSP to buy a home, without paying tax on the amount withdrawn. You do, however, have to repay the amount in instalments over a 15year period.
1. You can (and maybe should) You can also take out money delay taking your RRSP tax under the Lifelong Learning Plan deduction (LLP), which is designed to help adults pay for their full-time People tend to claim their RRSP education. However, with the deduction immediately, because LLP, you can only withdraw up they want to receive a tax refund to a maximum of $20,000, with a as soon as possible. But if you limit of $10,000 per calendar anticipate being in a higher tax year, and it must be repaid in bracket in the next few years, instalments over a 10-year you might want to wait. Your period. savings will still grow, but you’ll claim your deduction in the 3. You can transfer future, when your income is investments into an RRSP higher. This way, when you’re in Another of the key benefits of a higher income bracket, you’ll RRSPs is the flexibility in what receive a higher tax refund. you can transfer into them. If you have stocks, bonds, GICs, mutual funds or ETFs in non2. In certain situations you can registered accounts, you can take money out of RRSPs early transfer them into an RRSP. A without a tax hit non-registered account is one While withdrawing money early that isn’t registered with the from your RRSP would normally government and therefore has no bring immediate tax tax benefits. consequences, one of the Continued on page 19 benefits of RRSPs is that there are two instances when you can
The Paris Independent If your investments have made a gain since you bought them, you may have to pay capital gains tax when you transfer them into your RRSP. When you transfer these assets into an RRSP, they are deemed to have been “sold” at a fair market value and therefore taxable. Conversely, if the investments you’re transferring have made a loss, you can’t claim a capital loss when you file taxes if you transfer them into an RRSP. It may make more sense to cash them in, claim the loss and then buy new investments with the cash that you contribute into your RRSP. Speak to your accountant about superficial loss rules if you anticipate buying back the same investment within your RRSP.
19 For many years, the spousal RRSP benefit was the only way to provide income-splitting opportunities for couples with a registered plan. However, in 2007, the Canadian government introduced a really useful extra benefit of RRSPs: pension splitting on payments from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) — which RRSPs are eventually converted into — when the recipient is at least 65.
This change was designed to benefit families where one spouse earns significantly less than the other. Spousal RRSPs continue to provide for income-splitting opportunities, given that 100% of spousal RRSP withdrawals can be reported on the lower income spouse’s tax return. However, any RRSP, once converted 4. There is an over-contribution to a RRIF, allows for income limit splitting after age 65 of up to 50% of Making the exact RRSP contribution the withdrawal. amount that you’re allowed in any given year can be a tricky process, so another of the benefits of RRSPs is 6. Your RRSP shouldn’t be your that the CRA allows for an excess only savings account RRSP contribution of $2,000. If you While the benefits of RRSPs make contribute any more than this, you saving in them a no-brainer for many will start paying a 1% tax per month Canadians, they work best alongside until you withdraw the excess TFSAs to cover short- and long-term amounts. This excess amount is savings needs. While RRSPs are supposed to act as a buffer in case great for long-term savings plans, it people accidentally contribute too can be fairly costly to withdraw much, but some use it to maximize funds from them to pay for the tax benefits. unexpected costs. It’s not designed to While that excess $2,000 be an emergency fund, so if you contribution will avoid the 1% suddenly need $10,000, take it out of penalty, it is not tax deductible. You your TFSA. There are no tax should talk to your accountant to implications from withdrawing from discuss the possible tax repercussions a TFSA, plus your TFSA of over-contributing. contribution room is restored by the amount of the withdrawal in the 5. Spousal benefits of following year. RRSPs/RRIFs
June 11, 2022 It usually makes sense to invest in an RRSP when your current income is taxed at a higher marginal tax rate compared to what you expect it to be in retirement. If you’re in a lower income bracket, you may want to use your TFSA as your main savings account. A financial advisor can help you decide which is right for you, but the ideal option is to have both an RRSP and a TFSA, as they can work together to fund your retirement goals. Sources: 1 Statistics Canada: The Daily 2 Government Contribution limits
of
Canada:
Glenn Gaudet is the lead advisor of a wealth advisory team helping families and business owners since 1993. Glenn holds many designations including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ® designation, Elder Planning Counselor, Certified Professional Consultant on Aging and the Registered Retirement Counselor. With more than 60 years of combined experience, Gaudet Group Private Wealth Management is committed to making clients’ interests their top priority. Do you have questions you’d like Glenn to Answer? Email him at glenn.gaudet@igpwm.ca. Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
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COUNTY NEWS DEVELOPMENT DIGEST: A quick look at what’s approved in your community BAWCUTT CENTRE NEWS
needed storage for additional gear. The first two station to receive the bunker gear storage rooms are Burford and Mount Pleasant with Paris and St. George to follow. Staff determined there was adequate funds available to complete these projects based on the prices submitted and awarded the tender for the to Hoskin Construction for the bid price of: $419,431.18 +HST
-County approves recommendation that Architectural Services for the Main Branch Library/Bawcutt Centre Building be awarded to DPAI Architecture Inc. at the submitted price of $1,170,000 (excluding HST). They also approved the Chief Administrative Officer’s authorization to execute an Agreement for Architectural Services with DPAI Architecture Inc. to complete design, BARKER’S BUSH MASTER PLAN tendering, and project management services for the Main Branch Library/Bawcutt Centre Building -The County of Brant is creating a Trails Master Plan for Barker’s Bush and the draft plan is ready project for you to view. The woodlot and open space are NEW BUILDING PERMITS located west of Lion’s Park in Paris within the Nith River Peninsula. While an informal and -The county got a $5.1-million permit to build a extremely well used trail network already exists water tower near the Brant Sports Complex, within Barker’s Bush, the land use adjacent to the located at the intersection of Highway 24 and site is changing rapidly and a clear strategy for the Powerline Roads. Sacred Heart Church on trail system is required in order to protect and Washington Street in Paris received two permits enhance this resource. Review the new Draft Plan for a foundation and above-grade addition to released May 31 online and share your thoughts. create a new fellowship hall price tagged at $1.2 million. Vicano received a permit to construct a Taco Bell in Paris’ north end at 185 Pinehurst Rd by the Pinehurst subdivision. FIRE STATION BUNKER STORAGE -Prior to the pandemic, the county approved the Firefighter Decontamination & Hygiene Program project to effectively reduce Firefighter exposures to carcinogens in the workplace and as the result of exposures at incident scenes. This includes a purpose-built gear room with negative pressure to reduce the concentration of post fire off-gassing and exposure of particulate matter from diesel exhaust of the fire trucks. It also serves as much
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COMMUNITY NEWS Electronics recycling bin permanently removed By Casandra Turnbull
must keep the grounds safe for those who pay money to rent it for their events and fundraisers that often put money back into the community,” said Cheryl Muir, Paris Agricultural Society manager. “At this time, we are not aware of where the bin will be relocated, nor can the society itself accept your electronics,” said the PAS society in a media release.
The electronics recycling drop off bin at the Paris Fairgrounds was removed this week because people were abusing the rules. Continued vandalism, dropping off non recyclables, cutting the lock and scattering contents on the privately-owned fairgrounds are just a few reasons why the bin was removed after four years. “We are disheartened that this decision had to be made, but we Staff have found non recyclables
left on site often, which the owner of the bin, Bent Metal Ayr, would have to recycle out of pocket and people would sneak onto the grounds at all hours to go through the bin, take items and scatter unwanted items all over the place. Sometimes these latenight visits resulted in vandalism to other areas of the property, said Muir.
JUNE IS DEAFBLIND AWARENESS MONTH
June is celebrated as National Deafblind Awareness Month, marking the birth month of Helen Keller, unquestionably the most famous person who was deafblind. Helen Keller’s journey is an inspiring story, which took her from no communication with the world around her to a life of vision and advocacy. Thanks to the support of her intervenor who served as her communication partner, she engaged in a seemingly impossible battle to participate and break down barriers in a world some might consider she had lost. Through her actions and achievements, Helen Keller is recognized as one of the most powerful symbols of triumph over adversity.
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Teddy Bear Picnic a huge success By Casandra Turnbull The Kiwanis Club of Paris-Brant is thrilled with the turnout from last weekend’s inaugural Teddy Bear Picnic and can safely say it will return in 2023! Approximately 500 people attended the twohour, family friendly event, sponsored and supported by many local businesses. Close to 30 volunteers, 16 of which are Kiwanis members, worked behind the scenes to successfully organize and host the picnic. Volunteers from the Paris library branch offered up free face painting and Hunter Plumbing, Heating and Excavating displayed a fire truck for kids to explore. The Glass Slipper Company princesses sang to the crowds and First Responders from St. John’s Ambulance helped children give their stuffies medical Continued on page 23
Above: First Responders were onsite offering a medical clinic for the stuffed animals. The Heazel family came from Cambridge to participate in the local event. Sixyear-old Tyler has his stuffie checked out while his siblings Cohen,8 , Maddie, 4, Ryley, 9, and mom Suzy watch on. Left: Elliott O Corbett, 6, has his stuffie examined by Kiwanis member Karen Guse during the most creatively dressed contest, sponsored by Mary Maxim. Photo by Casandra Turnbull
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COMMUNITY NEWS examines. Top Rock Construction, Karla & Jim Stonham (Peak Alliance Realty) and Mary Maxim donated seven major prizes to winners of the art contest, most creatively dressed contest and bring a bear picnic draw. Mario’s Pizza donated 25 free medium pizza coupons that were distributed to game winners, as well as treats donated from Rosie’s Ice Cream Shop and Cheesecake on the Go. And who didn’t enjoy the free bags of gourmet popcorn donated by Original Kettlecorn Company. The Kiwanis Club would like to thank the 7 major sponsors: Wholesale ClubBrantford, Paris Dental Centre, Jim & Karla Stonham from Peak Alliance Realty, CooperatorsMcNaughton Agency, TD Canada Trust, Brant Family Eye Care, and Shelly Gracey-REMAX Twin City.
Left: Felix Stotz, 6 and Travis Stotz, of Ayr, try to stop the Jenga tower from collapsing at last Sunday’s Kiwanis Club of Paris-Brant’s Teddy Bear Picnic. Middle: Ridgetown Kiwanis member Allen Ure presents a prize to a group of finalists in the most creatively dressed stuffed animal contest, sponsored by Mary Maxim.
Left: Elliot Plester, 2, of Brantford, eagerly waits for the diagnosis and treatment of her stuffie.
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Proudly raising a flag The County of Brant raised the Pride Flag Thursday at Council Chambers. They thanked Brant Pride Committee, The Bridge Brant and The AIDS Network for speaking along with Mayor Bailey. Were you unable to attend today’s event? Find out more about pride resources at Brant.ca/Pride Far left photo credit: County of Brant Immediate left photo credit: Emily Kew
Visit Love Local Street Social Days in Brant MEDIA RELEASE: This summer join the downtown businesses during Love Local Street Social Days! “We are thrilled to work with local businesses and associations in the downtowns of St. George, Paris and Burford to offer an incredible day of shopping, dining and being entertained,” said Russell Press, Director of Economic Development and Tourism. “Bring your family, friends and neighbours for a day of great shopping and dining while enjoying local talent from buskers, artists and musicians. County of Brant Library will offer activities and a heritage walking tour will also take place in the downtowns. County staff will be available.” Join us at Love Local Street Social Days: •St. George: Sunday, June 26, 2022
from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm •Paris: Saturday, July 16, 2022 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm •Burford: Saturday, August 20, 2022 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm “By injecting the downtowns with some added arts, culture and heritage components on these days, we are leveraging the already great shopping and dining experiences,” said Press. “We welcome visitors to Brant and encourage our growing local communities to discover and re-discover the top quality businesses in their own community.” Support for businesses is also available. “We encourage local businesses to participate in this day and consider applying for a temporary patio or sales event,” said Press. “After two years of a challenging pandemic, it
is time to celebrate businesses’ and the community’s success.” The Temporary Patio Allowance Program allows restaurants to apply for outdoor patio extensions for temporary use on private and public property. The Temporary Sales Event Program allows eligible retail businesses to apply for the use of outdoor spaces or “pop-ups”. Successful applicants can make use of both private and public property provided program requirements are met regarding accessibility. Both of these programs are free. For more information about these programs, visit www.brant.ca/SupportForB usinesses.
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COMMUNITY NEWS Paris Pastor helping to ‘Transform Sierra Leone’ By Casandra Turnbull Last week the Paris Independent shone a light on the ministry work Pastor Joel Sherbino is doing in Malawi – but he isn’t the only member of the congregation making big impacts in nations where guidance, hope and faith can go a long way. Paris Presbyterian Executive Pastor Bruce Mann recently returned from a two-week stay in Sierra Leone and Ghana, where he oversees an initiative called ‘Transform Sierra Leone,’ in partnership with Commissioning a Lifestyle of Integrity. The end goal is to challenge corruption entrenched in various spheres of influence, said Mann. The ministry is dedicated to giving hope to the people of Sierra Leone and empowering them towards sustainability by raising up leaders through education. During this most recent trip in May, Mann and colleagues met with several business groups, government agencies and churches. However, two of the most influential groups he worked were the Anti-Corruption Commission and Judiciary staff of Sierra Leone. While their primary focus is on Sierra Leone, they’ve started to expand their message in other countries, touching upon Ghana this time around. Mann started this journey six years ago and the opportunities continue
Above, Bruce Mann with colleagues during a visit to Sierra Leone in May. Left, books called ‘Code Name Integrity’ were introduced as new curriculum for children in that nation Photos provided by Bruce Mann
to grow, he said. “We are seeing tremendous impact on both individuals and organizations. The people are so tired of the impact of corruption, in many cases they had given up hope that things could change. When they are given hope for change and a means to change, they gravitate to it with enthusiasm,” said
Mann. This trip also gave Mann the opportunity to introduce a new children’s curriculum called “Code Name Integrity.” It aims to positively influence the emerging generation before they are impacted by systemic issues of corruption. Continued on page 26
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COMMUNITY NEWS The series of books is based on a storyline of two scientists working with a group of junior scientists racing to find the cure for a worldwide pandemic called corruption. “We actually started this work prior to Covid, so it’s even more effective now,” added Mann. With each visit to Sierra Leone, Mann is continuously amazed to see that despite the dire poverty and difficult life many people lead, there is a richness in community and the importance of relationships, which is something we can all learn from.
“The true measure of a just society is its ability to be compassionate to those who are trapped in circumstances they have no control over. The issues of systemic poverty traps people in poverty that is passed from generation to generation. Our goal is to be a catalyst for change. Thoughts and prayers are not enough, we need to include action with our prayers,” said Mann. To learn more about Mann’s initiative visit https://transformationcanada.ca/hope-for-sierraleone/
Garden Tour celebrates 20 years with successful weekend The Paris Horticultural Society’s Garden Tour returned this year, just in time for its 20th anniversary. The weather was perfect last weekend as folks travelled from garden to garden taking in the artistry within the yards, but also from local artists and musicians who performed at the various sites. Pictured above is gardener Jackie deLong answering questions from a group of visitors from Cambridge; And local artist Kris Baker using pastels to recreate the beauty of one garden on display. Paris Horticultural Society Photos
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T R AV E L Trip to Canterbury Cathedral full of breathtaking medieval architecture, stain glass and history
The Cathedral, and particularly its Bell “Harry” Tower, still dominates the city as it has done for five hundred years. The tower is the highest building in the city. Inside the Cathedral are magnificent displays of medieval architecture, stained glass and furnishings. Photos by Karon Sinning
Sunday saw us attending church services at Canterbury Cathedral. What an exceptional experience! This is without a doubt the high point of my travels and there have been many wonderful places I’ve been. I felt surrounded by history. To stop and think how many people, both famous and not, have sat here before me was truly humbling.
The origins of Canterbury Cathedral date to 597, when it was founded by Augustine, who had been sent the year before to England by Pope Gregory the Great with a group of missionaries to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.
The Cathedral is also the site of the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, who was the Archbishop of Following the service our cousin Ian, who is a Canterbury. Knights of King Henry II murdered regular member at Canterbury, took us around the Becket in the cathedral and he was subsequently cathedral. I know he’s not a guide, but I don’t made a saint. think there could have been a more informed or Continued on page 28 enthusiastic one!
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T R AV E L The Cathedral is the head church of the Diocese of Canterbury and is also known throughout the world as the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cathedral, and particularly its Bell “Harry” Tower, still dominates the city as it has done for five hundred years. The tower is the highest building in the city. Inside the Cathedral are magnificent displays of medieval architecture, stained glass and furnishings. Every aspect of this building is breathtaking. We spent a couple of hours wandering through its beauty. Following the cathedral, we walked to the ruins of St. Augustine’s Abbey. Originally a beautiful cathedral, St. Augustine’s was a victim of Henry VIII’s Reformation, where many churches were pillaged and destroyed. The ruins definitely give you a visualization of the size of the church but the beauty has been lost. The city of Canterbury still retains its ancient personality with a modern face on it. Many medieval streets and buildings lead off from the Cathedral, but will now house current stores, cafes and pubs. Wanting to learn more about this historic town, I also chose to do a walking tour. The 90minute tour took us back into the cathedral and through the streets with Colin, a knowledgeable guide. While we had already been through the cathedral the previous Sunday, the guide offered different perspectives.
Wait a minute, is that William and Kate? After closer inspection, they were just look-a-likes!
We were taken through the streets both medieval and modern. Many of the old buildings still exist but just as many were destroyed during the Second World War. The bombing did uncover the site of a Roman road and ruins, which is now the site of a museum. Leaving the cathedral, we were lagging a bit behind the rest of the group when off to my left I spied familiar faces. WHAT! Is that Kate and William??? Even our English cousin was stumped. So
obviously we had to follow them and break away from my tour! Kate was displaying her cute little wave and there was a small entourage around the couple. They proceeded to the doors of the cathedral where we caught up with them….And lunch bag let down!! Turns out it was look-a-likes, for what reason I don’t know. Now we had to catch up to our tour, which we managed to find. We finished the tour with the group and were hardly missed! Continued on page 29
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T R AV E L
Chartwell, Home of Sir Winston Churchill and the Chartwell gardens.
While it wasn't Roy’s cup of tea…The Call the Midwife Tour at the Dockyards in Chatham was right up my alley! And lucky for me Ian was a fan as well. I signed us up and on Friday we headed into Chatham. The dockyards are mostly for tourists at this point and along with the Midwife tour there are boats and a submarine to tour. We met our guide, in full midwife attire, at 10:30 am and off we went. For those who don’t know, Call the Midwife focuses on a group of nurse midwives working in the poorest area of the East End of London in the late 1950s and 60s. Along with a group of nursing nuns, they deal with the pressures of their day-to-day lives while trying to cope with the changes in the world around them. The dockyards are the set for most of the outdoor scenes of the
show, so there was no Nonnatus House but it was still thrilling to walk through. The small museum features costumes and props from the show and we thoroughly enjoyed this tour.
birthday on 30 November and died just a few weeks later on 24 January 1965.
Later that same year, Lady Churchill decided that she would live in London and she too left On Roy’s list of “must do” was a Chartwell in June. visit to the home of Sir Winston The National Trust runs the Churchill, Chartwell. Churchill home now and it was a pleasure was a British statesman, soldier to tour. It offers many programs and writer who served as Prime for both children and adults. The Minister of the United Kingdom gardens are extensive and from 1940 to 1945, during the beautifully laid out. Unlike the Second World War, and again many castles we visited, this was from 1951 to 1955. a home. Very grand indeed, but Chartwell had been the much- obviously well lived in. loved home of the Churchill England behind us, we are off family since 1922. It was a again to Malta. playground for their youngest daughter and a treasured private country recluse for a very public Written and submitted by man. Churchill reluctantly left Paris resident Karon Sinning Chartwell in October 1964 due as she travels around Europe to his poor health and moved to his London flat in Hyde Park Gate. He celebrated his 90th
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Showtimes for Galaxy Cinemas Brantford For Saturday June 11th, 2022 Jurassic World Dominion Standard 11:30a.m. 12:00p.m. 3:00p.m. 3:30p.m. 7:00p.m. 10:30p.m. 3D 6:30p.m. 10:00p.m. Top Gun: Maverick Standard 11:50a.m. 12:30p.m. 3:10p.m. 3:40p.m. 6:20p.m. 6:50p.m. 9:40p.m. 10:10p.m. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Standard 12:20p.m. 3:20p.m. 6:40p.m. 3D 9:40p.m. The Bob's Burgers Movie Standard 1:50p.m. 4:30p.m. 7:10p.m. 9:50p.m. Downton Abbey: A New Era Standard 7:20p.m. 9:20p.m. The Bad Guys Standard 1:20p.m. 4:00p.m. 6:45p.m. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Standard 1:10p.m. 4:10p.m. Firestarter Standard 10:15p.m. Despicable Me 3 Standard 11:00a.m.