The most recent census poll stated that in 2016, the
population of Paris was 12,310 citizens.
Today, it would be easy to
say that our population has grown to almost 18,000 citizens. A drive down Rest
Acres Road would certainly verify the population explosion in our town.
Your Paris Lions Club was
extremely busy during this decade, fundraising and returning these funds
directly back into our community. To enhance our major fundraising asset,
namely our Food Wagon, the following purchases were made:
the purchase of a new
cargo trailer in June, 2012
the purchase of a new
Food Wagon plus 2 new temperature controlled grills in July, 2013
the purchase of 6 new
picnic tables in September, 2013
the purchase of a 40-foot
container was purchased and set up at the Fair Grounds for equipment storage in December, 2016
The following projects
and community donations demonstrate how the dedicated work of our members
contributed to our town:
In 2012, plans were underway with construction to commence in 2017 of
new ball diamonds for Lions Park
In 2014, a Grant from the Trillium Foundation was received towards
the new Amphitheatre at Lions Park.
In March 2015, we provided coffee and hot chocolate for the Earth
Week tree planting venture near Green Lane Sports Complex.
On May19, 2015, our Club pledged $1000 to North Ward School for
playground equipment, plus $1000 to Brant Youth Volleyball to assist with
construction of a volleyball court at Green Lane PLUS Aa pledge towards a new Frisbee Golf
Course at Green Lane.
On July 11, 2015 the Grand Opening of the new Walter Williams
Amphitheatre was celebrated. This was Phase 3 of the Community Miracles Lions
Park Revitalization Project.
In 2016, our Club donated $15 000 to the new ball diamond project. We
also donated $1000 to the Fort McMurray fire disaster.
On June 13, 2016, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate all
the new playground equipment installations in Lions Park.
In May, 2017, a Friendship Arch was to be installed at Lions Park.
On June 8th, 2019, the Pete Lavoie Ball Diamond (The Field
of Continuing Dreams) was officially
opened. This was Phase 4 of the
Community Miracles Lions Park Revitalization Project.
And then, in 2020, Covid
arrived.
Despite this international
pandemic, which saw our lives, for the most part, turned upside down, our Paris
Lions Club became even more creative with ways to continue fundraising and
donating to our community. A Zoom
account was set up to enable our meetings to continue. Our “Catch The Ace”
online fundraising project began planning in February, 2020 with the first draw
happening on May 18th. This project is ongoing. The Paris Quilting
Bees donated 3 quilts to the Club which were raffled off and prizes were
presented on December7, 2021. Our Club pledged $50 000 to the new Cowan Community
Health, with our first donation of $15 000 being presented this past summer.
The International Lions
Emblem displays two lions....one looking to the past with pride and one looking
to the future with dedication. Looking back at the first Paris Lions Club of
the 1930s, there is so much to be proud of, despite the Depression and a World
War on the horizon. Looking to the future our Club, despite the many challenges
of Covid, gives us so much hope and the same dedication to continue serving our
community. As we face the challenges of 2022, let us carry the spirit of our
first Paris Lions Club members with us to continue serving our beautiful
community.
