LOCAL HEADLINES

The Ayr Rockets U13 Local League team turned in their best performance of the season during the Owen Sound Northern Lights Lady Classic tournament held Nov. 14–16. The Rockets, consisting of players from Paris, Brantford, Kitchener and Ayr, competed in four games across the weekend, but it was their 3–0 win over the Huntsville Sting that stood out as a

The U12B Paris Ringette team proved that determination and teamwork outweigh numbers, capturing gold at London’s annual Pink in the Rink Tournament, held November 7–9. The young athletes battled through a challenging weekend and clinched the championship title with a 3–1 victory over Chatham in the final.

The BC Lions U8 football team capped off a remarkable season by capturing the provincial championship title in Cambridge. It was a victory made all the sweeter after a rocky start to their season.

Fresh off her graduation from Paris District High School, multi-sport standout Naren Parker is already making her mark well beyond the walls of PDHS. A driven student-athlete known equally for her competitive spirit and her leadership, Parker capped her high school career by earning both the School Spirit Award and the Athletic Leadership Award, honours she says reflect the effort, passion, and pride she poured into her years as a Panther.

As the pace of life accelerates toward the year’s busiest season, a reflective and restorative interfaith retreat is returning to Five Oaks Retreat Centre from Nov. 21 to 23. Rooted in the universal structure of the hero’s journey, Weaving Our Stories invites women from all backgrounds to explore their personal narratives, confront meaningful life obstacles, and rediscover the grounding power of shared community at the historic retreat property located at 1 Bethel Road, Paris

Downtown Paris will come alive with twinkling lights, music, and holiday magic this Friday as the community gathers for one of its most cherished traditions: Jingle Bell Night. For many longtime residents, and for business owners who have weathered nearly a year of construction, this year’s event represents far more than a festive evening. It marks a joyful comeback.

A decades-old holiday tradition is once again bringing the Paris community together as volunteers, students, service clubs and businesses rally to support the annual Paris Community Christmas Hamper Program.

The County of Brant is asking residents to help shape next year’s budget as staff and Council begin their annual review of the municipality’s Long-Term Financial Plan, a document that guides how tax dollars are managed, invested, and allocated across services and infrastructure. “The Long-Term Financial Plan is an important roadmap that helps ensure we continue to deliver high-quality services while investing in our future,” said Mayor David Bailey. “By keeping the plan curr

The County of Brant is bracing for another significant year of construction in 2026, with a major multi-year road reconstruction project planned for the East Flats neighbourhood in Paris, adding to an already long list of infrastructure work that has tested residents’ patience in recent years. With Grand River Street North through downtown Paris and Dundas Street East at Paris Road already closed for large-scale reconstruction this year, many residents say the town feels lik

A new Primary Care Access Clinic opened in Paris on Nov. 10, marking the latest step in a regional effort to help residents without a family doctor or nurse practitioner receive timely, team-based care. The Brantford site launched one week earlier on Nov. 3, while the Simcoe clinic, on which the entire model is based, has already been operating successfully for six months. The three clinics, developed through the Brantford, Brant, Norfolk Ontario Health Team (BBNOHT), are op

Jeff and I discovered a local pet care service recently that is turning heads and wagging tails across our community with the launch of its adorable, custom-painted vehicle affectionately known as the "Wigglebum Bus." Wigglebum Dog Walking Company, founded by dedicated dog lovers Krystyn Errington and her husband Nick, has transformed their personal passion into a thriving business, offering a unique pick-up and delivery service that promises canine adventures for its furry c

This week, The Paris Independent proudly highlights two exceptional members of Paris District High School’s Class of 2025 - graduates who not only excelled academically, but embraced curiosity, community and leadership along the way. Their paths remind us that success is shaped by passion, perseverance and the people who walk beside us. These are the young leaders who will help shape our future.

Arthur “Art” Neville Wilson, affectionately known as “Ace,” was born in 1918 in Paris, Ontario, to Thomas Kerr and Hannah Wilson. One of six siblings, Art grew up in a close-knit family, whose roots were firmly planted in the heart of Paris. His father, Thomas Kerr, proudly served for thirty-five years as the Secretary of the Paris Fire Brigade, further cementing their family’s connection to the town’s rich history. 

The second Paris team to qualify for an AABNH championship this month is the senior football team, which faced the St John’s Eagles last Friday at the Gretzky Centre field.  They defeated Assumption 28-8 last Thursday in the semi finals, in what can be described as terrible for spectators, but for Head Coach Kelly, cold, rainy weather, which is ideal for his Panthers. Friday’s started with rain and wind in the morning, and the evening was overcast, with temperatures of 8-10

Kailyn Muche, Paris District High School’s First Place Graduate of 2025, says the awards she earned at commencement represent far more than academic achievement. They reflect the teachers, classmates and community that helped shape her high school journey.

Hard work, curiosity and a passion for learning have carried Paris District High School graduate Charlie Brozina to an impressive list of academic achievements - and now to Queen’s University with a prestigious $48,000 Chancellor’s Scholarship in hand.

The countdown to Christmas is officially on, and in Paris, nothing marks the start of the season quite like the beloved Paris Christmas Parade. The community tradition returns Saturday, Dec. 6, promising twinkling lights, festive music and a special appearance from Santa Claus. Hosted by the Paris Firefighters Club, with support from firefighters across the County of Brant, the parade continues to be a cherished event for young and old alike.

Royal Canadian Legion Paris Branch 29 President Barry Humphrey visited the 1st Paris Scouting Group on November 5th at Paris District High School, delivering a moving presentation on the true meaning of Remembrance Day.

What began as a long-awaited family vacation to Paris, France quickly turned into something deeper - an unexpected journey of remembrance, gratitude, and connection to our Canadian past. Amid the cafés, museums, and postcard views, we felt a pull stronger than tourism: a responsibility to honour the young Canadians who crossed the ocean more than 80 years ago to liberate a land many would never return from. Visiting Normandy became the heart of our trip, one that changed us i

A group of local writers who first came together through a County of Brant Library program are celebrating a major milestone this month with the release of their first published collection, Tapestry of Tales & Poetry – A Collection by the Writers of Brant.