Paris Lions mark 95 years with free Canada Day celebration

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

The Paris Lions Club is inviting residents to celebrate Canada Day with a free day of music, family activities and community spirit while helping the organization mark a milestone 95 years of service.

The Canada Day celebration will take place July 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lions Park, featuring live entertainment, free swimming, hot dogs, ice cream, face painting, balloon twisting, caricature artists and other activities for all ages.

Live entertainment will begin with Brantford singer-songwriter Tim McDougald from 10 to 11:30 a.m., followed by award-winning Canadian performer Sarah Smith from noon to 2 p.m. Local favourites Frisky Business will close out the day with classic rock hits from 2:30 to 4 p.m. The Glass Slipper Company and stilt walker Doug Hunt will also be on site throughout portions of the celebration.

For the Lions Club, the event is about more than celebrating Canada Day. It is also an opportunity to thank the community that has supported the organization since it was founded in 1931.

"The Paris Lions 95th anniversary is a significant milestone for our club," said club member and past president Rod Laframboise. "After much discussion on how we might celebrate our achievement, we thought we should use the occasion to give back to the community which has supported us for so many years. Canada Day seemed like the perfect time because people have less obligations and are looking for family friendly events on their day off. One of the first major projects started 95 years ago was the formation of Lions Park, so it was only appropriate to hold our celebration at that venue."

Laframboise said organizers intentionally selected performers with broad appeal to create an event that residents of all ages can enjoy.

"In addition to being well known local artists, the entertainers cover a wide selection of genres providing something to be enjoyed by all different age groups. It is our intent to make this a special celebration for as many residents as possible."

Second vice-president Ted Bickell said the club wanted the anniversary celebration to focus on the people who have supported the organization over the decades.

"We ponder this for about 6 months as to what the Lions Club of Paris was going to do for the 95th Anniversary. We talked about having it just in house where you would just invite the local dignities and other Lions groups and the district governors of A15," said Bickell. "But it's the people who have supported us over the 95 plus years since 1931."

The family-oriented celebration reflects the organization's long-standing commitment to community service, a tradition that has helped shape many of Paris' most recognizable public spaces.

Among the club's most significant projects was the development of the community swimming pool, which opened in 1959 after years of fundraising. Lions members later acquired and transformed swampy land north of the pool into what would become Lions Park, investing thousands of volunteer hours and dollars into creating recreational facilities, picnic areas and green space for residents to enjoy.

Since then, the club has spent countless hours volunteering in the community so it was only fitting that their celebration was one of giving back and giving thanks.

"Our goal was to create a fun filled family-focussed event," said Laframboise. "The Canada Day celebration is our way of saying 'Thank You' to our community that has supported our club for 95 years."

Bickell said the free swimming, food and activities are intended to bring families together while highlighting the club's ongoing role in the community.

"The Lions Club of Paris is trying to bring attention to our community that we are here and proud of the 95 years of service and giving back," he said. The club is always seeking new volunteers to help ensure it remains a vibrant part of the community for generations to come.

While the club's projects have evolved over the decades, member Ken Linington said the organization's focus has always remained the same: serving the community where it is needed most. From vision screening programs and environmental initiatives to supporting youth activities and health research, he said the Lions have adapted to meet changing community needs while remaining committed to volunteer service.

"The Paris community has often embraced the many efforts of the club," said Linington. "When you turn 95, we wanted to acknowledge that significant milestone and thank the community that has been so good to the Lions Club."

Whether the celebration evolves into a larger annual tradition remains to be seen, but organizers hope the anniversary event will draw residents to Lions Park.

"We are hoping for a large crowd," said Laframboise. "The Paris Lions are continually looking at ways to improve our community and holding a Canada Day party may be another good way of doing that."

Bring a lawn chair, grab a free hot dog, enjoy some live entertainment and spend Canada Day with friends, family and neighbours at Lions Park. With activities running throughout the day, the event aims to offer a fun, free way for the community to celebrate together.