Lions celebrate 95 years with hometown Canada Day celebration
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Casandra Turnbull
Managing Editor
For the first time in decades, residents didn't have to leave town to enjoy a Canada Day celebration.
Instead of travelling to larger centres, waiting in long lines or searching for family activities elsewhere, hundreds of people gathered at Lions Park on July 1 as the Lions Club of Paris celebrated both Canada's birthday and the club's 95th anniversary with a free community festival.
Despite soaring temperatures, the day drew strong crowds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with families taking part in entertainment, children's activities and complimentary food.
"Despite the extreme heat there was a great turnout," said Paris Lion Rod Laframboise following the event. "We served more than 900 hotdogs and even more ice cream bars. Many attendees commented on how it was nice to have a local Canada Day celebration that was affordable and family-friendly. From a Lions perspective, it was a wonderful way to say thank you to the community as we celebrate our 95th anniversary."
The celebration also included a special presentation recognizing the club's long history of community service. Early in the day, District Governor Linda Vinette surprised members by presenting the Lions Club of Paris with a framed 95th anniversary recognition award.
The event reflected the volunteer spirit the organization has demonstrated since its founding in 1930. Throughout the day, Lions members served complimentary hot dogs, beverages and ice cream bars while welcoming visitors to Lions Park, a park the club helped build and one of its many lasting contributions to the community.
Entertainment kept visitors busy throughout the day. The Glass Slipper Company brought volunteers offering free face painting, and Disney characters for children. Balloon Twisters dazzled youth with their creations. Doug the Great entertained crowds on stilts, while Tim McDougald, Sarah Smith and Frisky Business performed from the park's amphitheatre. Bruce Outridge Productions also created complimentary caricature drawings for guests seeking a keepsake from the celebration.
Families arrived dressed in red and white, many sporting Canadian flags, face paint and patriotic accessories as they celebrated Canada's birthday close to home.
The festivities extended beyond Lions Park and into downtown Paris, where residents were also able to experience the newly opened Grand River Street North promenade.
The pedestrian-friendly promenade marked the first opportunity for residents to stroll much of the reconstructed downtown street as the long-running infrastructure project nears completion. While the section from Lisa's Way to just beyond the Grand River Street North and William Street intersection remains closed for ongoing work, much of the downtown core was open to pedestrians.
The promenade featured music throughout the street, a giant inflatable bouncy castle for children and local business owners welcoming visitors into their shops. The County of Brant has indicated the promenade will remain in place throughout the summer, with additional activities and special events planned in the coming weeks.
In other Lions Club news, the Lions Club of St. George once again partnered with firefighters from Station 7 to host its annual Canada Day pancake breakfast at the St. George Fire Hall. The long-running tradition drew another capacity crowd as residents gathered to enjoy breakfast before a full day of festivities.
The day concluded with a bittersweet finale as St. George firefighters presented the community's final Canada Day fireworks display, bringing to a close a 33-year tradition. Mother Nature, with its surprise outburst around suppertime, did not detour the show. Thousands gathered to watch the fireworks, with firefighters ensuring the beloved celebration ended on a high note as they truly "went out with a bang."
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