Downtown Dig time capsule to preserve young voices for 75 years
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Casandra Turnbull
Managing Editor
As crews continue to reshape the heart of Paris through the Downtown Dig project, local students are being invited to leave their own mark on the community’s history.
Grade 5 and 6 students from Cobblestone Elementary School, Sacred Heart School, Paris Central School, Holy Family School and North Ward School have contributed letters, drawings and messages for a time capsule that will be buried later this summer at the intersection of Grand River Street North and William Street.
The capsule, led by Downtown Dig Liaison Erica Grimes, is expected to remain sealed for about 75 years before it is opened by a future generation.
The project adds a personal layer to the major infrastructure work now underway in downtown Paris, where crews have been rebuilding roads, sidewalks and underground services. Last year, excavation work also offered a striking reminder of the community’s industrial past when historic raceways, constructed more than a century ago, were uncovered beneath the roadway.
While the students’ submissions may not be as dramatic as those physical remnants of Paris’ past, they will offer something equally valuable to those who discover them decades from now: a glimpse into the thoughts, hopes and everyday lives of young people growing up in Paris in 2026.
Students were encouraged to create a one-page letter, drawing or message and include their first and last names so their work can be identified when the capsule is opened. They were given prompts including their greatest strengths, future goals, three wishes and hopes for the world.
County of Brant staff said the initiative gives students a chance to contribute to a lasting piece of community history while creating a meaningful legacy for future generations.
For North Ward School Grade 6 teacher David Clarke, the project gave students an opportunity to think beyond the audiences they are accustomed to creating work for.
“The students had some trouble connecting their work to an unknown audience 75 years in the future,” Clarke said. “They’re used to creating work for a specific audience, such as parents, classmates, or another class, such as their learning buddies.”
Instead, he said students approached the project by sharing what was on their minds at the time.
“I think their submissions will represent their innocence and optimism for the future,” Clarke said.
That optimism stood out to him as students reflected on their dreams and hopes.
“I was pleasantly surprised at how optimistic this group is for their future,” he said. “We adults get bogged down in the day-to-day negativity of world events. I wish more parents knew how many wonderful children there are and that the future is actually in good hands.”
Clarke said many students may not fully understand the significance of the project until years from now, much like he did not have a strong interest in history when he was their age.
“When I was their age, 11 or 12 years old, I did not particularly pay attention to or have interest in history,” he said. “But now that I am older, I find history interesting.” He said he wonders whether any of his current students will be present when the capsule is opened decades from now.
“If any of them are there to witness it, I am hopeful that it will bring back pleasant memories for them of the great experiences and happy times we had as a group this year,” Clarke said. “These students are good people with kind hearts.”
The burial date has not yet been confirmed. Once finalized, the County of Brant said it will be shared with participating schools and the public for those who wish to attend.