LOCAL HEADLINES

The Panthers continued their winning streak by defeating the St John’s Eagles 3-1. On Wednesday, the Panthers took their first loss of the year, losing 4-1 to Assumption College. Reagan Charter was the lone scorer for Paris.

On Sunday, December 14, the Emma Woods jersey-retirement ceremony will take centre stage at the Burford Community Centre (14 Potter Drive, Burford). The event kicks off at 4:00 p.m., just before the U18 game, and will feature the presentation of a commemorative jersey honouring her outstanding career, followed by an autograph session with Emma for fans and aspiring young athletes from the community.

What began as one mother’s struggle to find support in a new town has grown into a grassroots network helping families feel seen, connected and less alone.

The Brant Battalion U13A squad turned heads south of the border late last month, rattling off four straight wins at the CCM Nations Cup in Detroit before bowing out in Sunday’s semifinal. The international tournament, which ran Nov. 28-30, featured youth hockey teams from across the United States and Canada battling for national pride in divisions from 9U to 14U. The tournament format featured a round robin schedule followed by a seeding, with North America (Canadian) teams

County of Brant officials say a newly released amalgamation report, commissioned and authorized by Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis under Strong Mayor Powers, reinforces what County residents have long argued: merging the two municipalities is not in the County’s best interest.

Last Tuesday, the Junior and Senior Sides travelled to Assumption College, and both teams lost their games. Leading scorers for the Junior Panthers were Blake Cruikshank with 13 points and Calvin Passos and Sawyer Head each with 4 Points. For the senior side, Canaan Sherbino, Nathan Brewster, and Elliott Schiedel were the leading scorers.

The Paris Titans split a pair of weekend road games in Provincial Junior C Hockey League play – both ending with a 5-3 score.  Friday evening the Titans were in Norwich where they fell 5-3. The Merchants took a 1-0 lead in the

County of Brant councillors heard hours of financial forecasting, public opinion and community concerns during a special meeting on Dec. 4, as staff presented the updated Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) that will guide the 2026 budget.

Weeks after parents went public with concerns over the relocation of Grand Erie District School Board’s French Immersion (FI) program from North Park Collegiate (NPC) to Brantford Collegiate Institute (BCI), the board has responded with clarifications, contradicting some information shared by local families affected by the program change. 

Local fiddle fans and those who enjoy Christmas music or a good, old-fashioned variety show will have two opportunities next month to catch Canadian fiddle champion Scott Woods and his band perform their Christmas Hoedown.

As December’s chill gently settled on the town of Paris, the excitement in the air was unmistakable. The annual Paris Santa Claus Parade has always been a cherished tradition, but this year held special significance for The Paris Independent. Not only were we attending, but we were also given the honour of judging the best float entry—a role that filled us with pride and anticipation. The memories of festive parades gone by mixed with the promise of new moments, stirring a de

A long-awaited new grocery option is officially on its way to Paris, with construction now underway for a FreshCo store at 10 Markel Drive, just off Rest Acres Road. The development comes as many residents express growing frustration over limited local grocery choices and increasing traffic congestion around routes to existing stores.

Get ready to be inspired! Long-time Brantford resident and semi-professional entertainer, Doug Hunt, is set to launch his highly anticipated book, Fail Forward, on Thursday, December 11th at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre at 6:30 PM. This event marks a major milestone in Hunt’s decades-long commitment to raising awareness and funds for Participation Support Services (PSS). The book, co-authored by local writer and educator Larry Brown and featuring vibrant illustrations by a

For many families in Paris, the Christmas Hamper Program is more than a box of food and toys. It is a gesture of hope, dignity and community at a time of year when those things matter most. Few understand that more deeply than Tricia Meadows, a long-time volunteer who once received a hamper as a child.

As the holiday season draws near, one Paris woman is once again working tirelessly to ensure seniors at St. Joseph’s Lifecare in Brantford feel remembered, cherished, and surrounded by kindness at Christmastime. For the past several years, Dawn Sangster has led Gwen’s Holiday Magic for Seniors, a heartfelt campaign created in memory of her mother, Gwen Ludwig, whose generosity and devotion to giving shaped their family’s traditions. Each December, the campaign raises funds t

The winter season for high school sports kicked off last week, with over 80 games scheduled in volleyball, basketball, hockey, badminton, and wrestling, among others. Of course, Paris High School athletes are competing; some, like many of the Junior students, are entering competitive sports for the first time, and some games are an extension of practice.

The Brant Battalions U13B squad put together a strong weekend of hockey at the Richard Vollmer Memorial & Rep Classic, finishing as tournament finalists after a series of hard-fought games Nov. 28–30. Brant opened the weekend with a strong 3–0 shutout over the Plattsville Rage. After two scoreless periods, the Battalions broke the deadlock in the third when Everett Clement buried the game winner off a feed from Dominic Crone. Insurance came quickly as Grayson Grosvold and Be

It was a Paris-versus-Paris showdown in the championship game of the Terry Conroy Memorial Tournament on Nov. 29, as two of the Wolfpack U11 Local League teams battled their way through round-robin play to set up an all-hometown final. In the end, Paris Wolfpack Team 1 captured the title with a 7-2 win over their fellow Wolfpack competitors, capping off a dominant weekend for both squads.

The Bank of Montreal has notified customers and local officials that its St. George branch will close next summer, a decision that has sparked strong concern among residents, small businesses and elected representatives. In a letter dated Nov. 24, BMO informed bank customers, include local MP Dan Muys, that the branch at 9 Beverly Street West will permanently close on Friday, June 19, 2026, with customer accounts being transferred to the Wayne Gretzky & Henry Street branch i

The Paris Figure Skating Club opened its season on a high note as more than a dozen skaters successfully completed their Skate Canada tests during the club’s fall test day, held Nov. 18 at the Brant Sports Complex. The event, which brought skaters in front of an accredited Skate Canada judge, marked the first test day of the season, and a strong one at that. Several skaters not only passed their assessments but earned honours, a distinction awarded to athletes who perform th