LOCAL HEADLINES

Tradition and a touch of winter humour marked New Year’s Day at Paris Legion Branch 29, where members and guests gathered for the annual High Noon Golf Tournament and New Year’s Levee. The High Noon Golf Tournament, a Paris New Year’s Day staple since 1960, once again drew participants behind the Syl Apps Community Centre. Competitors attempt to drive a golf ball roughly 60 yards into a hula hoop — a task made considerably more challenging this year by deep snow and frozen g

What started as a routine trip out the door quickly turned into an unforgettable wildlife encounter for a Cobblestone neighbourhood family after an owl quietly took up residence on the side of their home. Shantie Bahadur said the family was heading out for errands around 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 3rd when her two-year-old son suddenly froze on the porch. “He stood there speechless,” she said. “After a few stressful moments of coaxing him to move and talk, he finally pointed to the

The U13 Local League Ayr Rockets capped off a strong holiday showing with a runner-up finish at the Jason Cripps Memorial Hockey Tournament. The annual event, hosted by Kitchener Minor Hockey, is held in honour of Jason Cripps, who was killed in a motor vehicle collision caused by a drunk driver in 1988. Four years after his death, and following consultation with his family, the tournament was established in his memory, becoming a long-standing Christmas tradition in minor h

A 39-year-old man was taken into custody early Dec. 28 following a lengthy barricaded-person incident that prompted a shelter-in-place order and road closures in the town of Paris. According to Ontario Provincial Police, officers were called to a residence in Paris’ north end at about 6:28 p.m. on Dec. 27 after receiving a report of a health concern involving the homeowner. Police said officers attended the residence and knocked on the front door several times without recei

Here are the new laws and rules being added or updated for Ontario starting in the new year. Ontario cracks down on impaired driving Ontario is strengthening penalties for alcohol and drug-impaired driving, with tougher roadside suspensions and longer look-back periods for past offences.  Young and novice drivers will face longer licence suspensions for zero-tolerance violations, while repeat offenders will be subject to mandatory treatment programs. The changes are being

A long-running holiday tradition at the Paris Curling Club took on a more local focus in December, raising nearly $800 to support two Paris families during the Christmas season. Members of the club’s afternoon ladies’ league held their annual silent auction as part of their Christmas celebration, directing the proceeds to families connected to North Ward Elementary School and Holy Family Elementary School.

PARIS/PORT DOVER — In the world of piping and drumming, 25 years is more than just a milestone; it is a testament to community, tradition, and the enduring power of the pipes. As 2025 draws to a close, the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band (PPD) is looking back on a silver anniversary year that can only be described as legendary. From the local streets of Ontario to the historic esplanades of Scotland—and eventually the bright lights of a rock-and-roll stage—the band has spent the

Local musicians, businesses and volunteers came together just ahead of the holidays to help ensure families in need will have access to food well into the new year. A live music fundraiser held Dec. 21 at the Paris Pub brought in nearly 750 pounds of food and just over $700 in cash donations for the Salvation Army Food Bank, filling a critical gap at a time when demand traditionally rises after the holiday season. The afternoon event was spearheaded by Jim Young of the Jim

Job seekers in Brantford and surrounding communities have a new digital tool to help them connect with local employment opportunities. The Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie has launched a chat bot on its website designed to help people quickly find jobs and access career-related resources, including resume tools, wage information and training pathways.

Participation Supports Services (PSS) is proud to announce it has been awarded a four-year reaccreditation by FOCUS Accreditation, covering the period from December 2025 through December 2029. In recognition of its long-standing commitment to quality and continuous improvement, PSS has also received a Seal of Sustainability Award—an honour reserved for organizations that have successfully completed three full accreditation cycles.

Some municipal services are getting more expensive in Brant in 2026 — here are the ones that will hit your wallet the hardest. Each year, Brant County reviews the user fees for things like summer camps, swimming lessons and facility rentals. 

Four people face charges after a “significant” Ontario Provincial Police bust revealed drugs and an array of guns at a Paris home. On December 16, the Brant County OPP community street crime unit, supported by neighbouring units, searched both a Paris home on Maple Crescent and a Brantford home on Sheridan Street. At the house near the Paris Fairgrounds, police said officers found an unspecified amount of suspected cocaine, a loaded “bullpup” compact rifle, a ballistic vest

County of Brant council has voted against granting a noise bylaw exemption for Paris Drinks Fest at the Syl Apps Community Centre, a decision that prevents the popular summer festival from returning to its current location in 2026. Council defeated the exemption request in a 6–3 vote during its Dec. 16 meeting, with Mayor David Bailey and councillors Steve Howes, John Bell, John Peirce, David Miller and Brian Coleman voting against the exemption. Councillors Jennifer Kyle, J

High above the treeline at night stands a Santa shining bright, bringing the town seasonal delight and guiding folks with his holiday light. Perched high within a 90-foot-tall evergreen overlooking King Edward Street, Santa Claus shines for all to see. If you’re new to town or just didn’t notice before, this traditional decoration brings joy to so many residents each holiday season. In fact, it has overlooked the town for more than 35 years. When the tradition looked to be

The Paris Titans were at home for a pair of Provincial Junior C Hockey League contests on the weekend. Home ice did not prove to be beneficial as they lost both games. The only similarity was that the visiting team scored six goals.

or several years, the Brantford Bulldogs Equipment Manager, Chris Cook, has travelled to the World Junior Hockey Championships as the team's equipment manager, this time to Minnesota. Taking over his duties during this time will be Paris' own Dave Curtain, currently with the Bulldogs, and Doug Green, currently with the Paris Titans. 

County of Brant councillors received a detailed look at long-term parking pressures in downtown Paris on Dec. 9 as staff presented the Preliminary Downtown Paris Parking Needs Assessment, a first step toward determining how much parking the core will need as redevelopment accelerates over the next 25 years.

Paris native Rachel Lunam - Sweeney, 56, is no stranger to setting high goals and tackling them head-on. As the eldest of four children and mother to five (Mandie, Amber, Denny, Riley, and Molly), this self-proclaimed Type A, "go big or go home" athlete has completed 10 full Ironman triathlons, all while secretly battling a debilitating and rare vascular condition. Her incredible journey culminates in a historic comeback at the 2025 Ironman Canada in Ottawa, exactly one year

The County of Brant will once again back the Ontario Provincial Police’s Festive R.I.D.E. program, approving funding for a paid-duty contract even though provincial grant allocations for 2025-26 have not yet been announced. 

The County of Brant Fire Department is partnering with Enbridge Gas Ontario and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council to improve home safety and reduce fire- and carbon monoxide-related deaths to zero. The collaboration was announced Dec. 10 and includes the distribution of combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero, a provincewide public education