Several dozen Indigenous youth from 14 northern, fly-in communities travelled by helicopters, planes, boats and long bus rides to gather in a large barn in Brant County. Some smile. Others have intense looks of concentration. But one by one, they come out of their shells as they move to the music — an upbeat mix that sounds like a Girl Talk-Indigenous fusion. They were here for a rigorous week of dance rehearsals with professional choreographers, which will culminate in Outside Looking In’s (OLI) 18th annual showcase on May 9 at Chrysalis in Toronto. But the week isn’t just about dance — it will empower and help them envision a future beyond high school, OLI’s CEO Hope Sanderson told The Spectator. Rihanna Mitchell is one of the 88 kids participating this year. Her group had its rehearsals in the morning. Then, group members scatter around tables in the cafeteria, working on homework. Someone plays a piano in the corner. It’s the first year Mitchell’s Ojibwa First Nation is participating in the program. Poplar River — on the eastern edge of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba — feels very far away for the Grade 12 student. From where she lives, it’s a six-to-eight-hour drive on an ice road — a road constructed on a frozen water surface — or an hour-plus flight just to get to Winnipeg. “Shy” is how she is feeling on day two of rehearsals. Mitchell said she signed up to get the high school credit kids get for participating. But it’s tied to an 80 per cent attendance record and a pass. With a “very high dropout rate on these remote reserves” it’s an incentive to stay in school, Sanderson said. The program accepts kids beginning in Grade 7, and they can return year after year. “Our role is to get them through high school, one credit at a time,” she said. For many, the experience is so rewarding, they return as “future leaders.” They arrive early to take leadership training, and help lead the program in their communities and at rehearsals. But the early days can be hard for many kids. They’re far away from home (with chaperones from each community) and have to turn in their electronics. Sanderson said it pushes the kids to interact with each other and take part in the camp activities on their down time. “You’re going to play the piano, you’re going out to do archery. You’re not on your device,” she said. The charity has mental-health counsellors on staff 12 hours a day, and the kids lean on each other. “And that’s a beautiful thing to see, too.” It connects them with people outside their communities — friends they keep in touch with electronically after, she said. While Mitchell was excited to try the high ropes course at the Tim Hortons Foundation camp where they stayed last week, she’s feeling nervous for the upcoming performance. Sanderson isn’t worried though — she’s seen many nervous and shy kids enter the week, leaving with a new-found confidence and belief in their abilities. It shows them that they can get through new things that might feel scary at first. “And that can translate to the next challenge,” whether it’s dance or something else. “It can be moving to the city. It can be moving out on their own for the first time, without the cultural supports,” she said. “I think it’s really the building blocks for the rest of their lives.” To learn more or buy tickets to the show, visit olishow.com. Celeste Percy-Beauregard is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter based at the Hamilton Spectator. The initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy KitchenerNewsCounty of Brant launches Downtown Dig infrastructure projectBy Hannah SchmidtPublished: May 05, 2025 at 7:28AM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved a truck carrying an excavator struck another bridge along Highway 403 in Brantford Highway remains open but police urge caution Another tractor-trailer hauling an excavator has caused overpass damage on Highway 403 in Brant Thursday morning’s incident dinged four overpasses — Tollgate Road Ewing Drive and King George Road — travelling through Brantford The red truck was travelling east sometime around or before 10:39 a.m. provincial police stated in a news release The Ministry of Transportation has been called in to inspect the damage but concrete was knocked onto the road and police are asking drivers to be careful travelling through the area If it sounds familiar, Brantford’s Wayne Gretzky Parkway overpass got clocked by an excavator’s boom arm in March. The driver faces a driving while under suspension charge The same overpass was similarly dinged by commercial trucks multiple times in 2021-22 Police are asking anyone who witnessed the image or has dashcam footage to call them at 1-888-310-1122 To submit an anonymous tip, visit crimestoppersbb.com or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) and you could receive a reward of up to $2,000 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 222 of 222 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 222 of 222 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to be re-elected in Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations is in second place with 27,032 votes (41.08%) and Anne Gajerski-Cauley Brock has represented the riding since 2021 Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations used to be named Brantford—Brant The riding’s boundaries were updated for the 2025 federal election 24,501 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Sign in Join now, it's FREE! The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation’s will be hosting their annual J Soirée fundraiser gala on Friday to raise money for some of the local hospital’s most pressing needs which will be held at The Pearle Hotel at 3 Elizabeth St. Tickets to the J Soirée cost $300 per attendee and space is limited Wake up to the latest Burlington news with The Stir Get the inside scoop on what's happening in our city Sign me up Over 100 Brantford-Brant residents attended the Brant Tree Coalition’s (BTC) 12th annual City of Brantford Community Tree Plant held at D’Aubigny Creek Park on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Supported by the City of Brantford, Brant Waterways Foundation, Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), Rotary Club of Brantford, ACIC, and SC Johnson, the event attracted volunteers of all ages who came out to plant over 1,000 native trees and shrubs in the 32 hectare park.  Upon arrival, student volunteers from Pauline Johnson’s e3 program provided a short history about the park and explained how the new trees will help to benefit the land.  “Today you will be planting 1,000 native trees and shrubs to create a buffer in between the park and the river,” said Kennedy Basnett, an e3 student. “This will help to prevent any further erosion as the trail was recently moved away from the river for that very reason. Planting these trees today will also create habitat for any native species, and it will also help to alleviate any of the consequences of climate change.” Chuck Beach, a BTC event organizer, also added that the residents were also working to help increase the City’s tree canopy (the layer of tree leaves, branches and stems that cover the ground when viewed from above). “In the coming years, Brantford is predicted to be one of the ten hottest cities in Canada, and one of the reasons is because of the low tree canopy,” he said. “The latest study by the City says that the current tree canopy is sitting at about 21.5 per cent, and it should really be closer to 40 per cent. So as we adapt to climate change, this will help to cool Brantford in the long run.”  Following the welcome, participants then received step-by-step instructions on how to properly plant a tree for the best results, then headed over to the planting area to start digging. Despite some areas of the ground being tougher to break through, a majority of residents were all smiles as they proudly showed off their newly planted trees and shrubs to their family and friends.  Paris siblings, Isaac and Carly Halsey, said that in the past, they’ve participated in couple tree planting events, both in the city and the counties, and that overall, they enjoy having the chance to give back to the community.  “With it being Earth Week, there’s always talk of what you can do to give back and make a difference, and I feel like this is just a very easy, feel-good way to do that,” said Issac. “We’re so lucky that we’re surrounded by all this wonderful nature here in the city and in Brant County, so what a perfect way to spend the day, right? I love going to local events like this and it’s just a great way for people in the community to get together and give back.” Throughout the morning, the two were happy to share their tree-planting progress with the Brant Beacon, picking up speed and efficiency along the way. The Brantford event was just one of two held throughout the weekend as the BTC also had over 200 people come out to plant 800 trees in the Mount Pleasant Nature Park during the tenth annual tree plant for the County on Saturday.  As far as upcoming events, the Rotary Club of Brantford will be hosting a tree planting event on May 10 at Rotary Park on Blackburn Drive in Brantford, with the objective of planting 250 trees. Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca. Brant County residents can expect to see their water bills rise beginning July 1. The municipality is proposing an increase of 4.8 per cent — which translates to around $6 extra per month for the average household using 180 cubic metres of water per year, the county said in a news release. Residents pay a fixed monthly fee based on their meter size, plus a usage fee with four price tiers depending on volume used, according to the county website. It’s known as the “humpback” rate model. The method “encourages conservation” while “promoting commercial and industrial development,” according to a Grand River Conservation Authority water management document. In the summer months, the rate further increases for people using more than 45 cubic metres each month. For county households, it accumulated to an average of $1,573 across 2024. (Residents can use the county’s calculator to get an idea of annual water costs.) It’s around 5.6 per cent higher than other southwestern Ontario municipalities, a consultant told councillors in a presentation in April. Even so, the consumer costs are “very comparable” to municipalities with “similar systems and population densities,” according to a report when rates were last reviewed in March 2021. The county has five water and four wastewater systems, which are “more costly to operate and monitor than a municipality with one urban area to service,” according to the water and wastewater financial plan. The system is aging and is expected to need a combined $63 million in upgrades or replacements over the coming years, the plan said. These services are not funded through taxes, but directly by users — although the expansion of systems to support development are covered by development charges, according to EngageBrant, the county’s online engagement platform. When developing rates, staff consider affordability for the user, water conservation, and “the required funding to maintain the infrastructure,” according to the report. The county is taking feedback until Friday, May 9, in an online survey at EngageBrant.ca, by phone (519-442-7268) or in person at its main customer service locations. Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 208 of 209 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 208 of 209 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to be re-elected in Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North is in second place with 28,814 votes (43.14%) and Peter Werhun Muys has represented the riding since 2021 Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North used to be named Flamborough—Glanbrook 26,369 voters cast ballots at advance polls KitchenerNewsFully automatic firearm and drugs seized, Brant County resident arrested By Heather SenoranPublished: May 02, 2025 at 4:45PM EDT Brant County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating after a suspicious fire was reported on Highway 53 in the County of Brant. On April 29, 2025, at approximately 8:30 a.m., members of the Brant County OPP, along with local fire services responded to a report of a structure fire at that location. There were no injuries as a result of the fire but the cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the Office of the Fire Marshall has been notified. Investigators are requesting anyone with information regarding this ongoing investigation to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Brant United Way is committing $650,000 to support 30 charitable programs in Brantford, Brant County and Six Nations. The funding announcement was made during an April 22 community celebration lunch that brought together representatives from dozens of non-profit organizations. “It’s such a pleasure to bring so many incredible organizations together in one room,” Cheryl Wiacek, director of development at Brant United Way, said. “Beyond the funding, this event is a chance to connect, share ideas, and celebrate the work being done across our communities.” Programs that will share in the funding provide critical needs including food security, supports for victims of crime, workshops for families experiencing discord, children’s literacy and recreation programs, youth mentorship, mental health programs and supports for seniors. Each program was selected through a review process to ensure the greatest possible impact, Beth Noble Luciani, the agency’s executive director, said in a statement. “We don’t decide which programs receive funding,” Luciani said. “It’s an open, democratic process. “Our donors, volunteers and dozens of community members review the applications and determine which programs should be funded.” In addition to funding community programs, Brant United Way invests in its own initiatives and programs. The agency will later this fall announce “emerging needs” funding which is reserved for urgent issues and challenges that arise during the year. The agency announced earlier this month that it had raised $970,000, which is $20,000 more than its set goal. “Last year was our first ever grant luncheon and we hope to make this an annual event.” Wiacek said. “Thanks to our sponsors, we can take a moment to acknowledge the impact of these amazing programs without any added costs.” The April 22 luncheon was sponsored by Mitsui High Tech, Dudley Lambert Law Firm, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Oak House Benefits. Some of the organizations received funding for more than one program such as Red Cross which received funding for its Meals On Wheels program and its transportation program. Meals On Wheels delivers food to seniors while the transportation program delivers people to medical appointments. KitchenerNewsIndigenous youth prepare for big dance showcase in Brant CountyBy Ashley BaconPublished: May 01, 2025 at 4:53PM EDT The federal election campaign may have come to an end but residents in Paris, Glen Morris and St. George will still be seeing a lot of Dan Muys. “We opened up a campaign office a couple of months ago and we’re going to keep it open,” Muys, who ran for the Conservative party, said after being elected Monday to represent the residents of Flamborough Glanbrook Brant North. “It’s way of making sure the services that Mps provide will be readily accessible to the Brant County people I serve. “I’m also the kind of guy who likes to meet with people at various community events, barbecues, that kind of thing.” Raised in Copetown, Muys lives in Lynden and is about 20 minutes away from his St. George constituency office. “We have a bit of an odd riding in that there are a lot of communities but there isn’t one major centre like there is in Brantford,” Muys said. “We’ll have an office in St. George and we’ll have an office in the other side the riding as well.” Muys received 35,245 votes or just under 53 percent of the 66,788 ballots cast in Monday’s election. He was followed by Chuck Phillips of the Liberals who received 28,814 votes or just over 43 percent of the ballots cast. NDP candidate Peter Werhun finished with 1,630 votes or 2.44 percent of the ballots cast. Anita Payne of the Green Party received 594 while Nikita Mahood of the People’s Party of Canada finished fifth with 505 votes (0,8 per cent). The voter turnout was 76.42 per cent with 66,788 of the ridings’ 87,393 registered electors casting ballots. Although thrilled with the results locally the Conservatives will remain in opposition when Parliament resumes. Many Conservatives late last year were eagerly anticipating forming the government after 10 years of Liberal rule. “It’s hard to know, at least at this point, what happened nationally but one of the biggest factors was the collapse of the NDP vote,” Muys said. “I’m not sure anyone anticipated that and I think it was the Liberals who benefited most.” The dynamics of the election also changed, Muys said. “We were campaigning on important issues, affordability, the rising cost of housing and that was really resonating with people,” Muys said. “Suddenly, it changed and people were worried about the future the country and what might happen now that (Donald) Trump was elected president. “It’s like they forgot all about the last 10 years and the issues that had been affecting them.” Although affordability did become the main issues locally as election day got closer, Muys said. All of the door knocking that Muys did in the months leading up to the campaign gave him an opportunity to learn about Paris and St. George. “People outside the area might not realize this but Paris and St. George are really growing and many of the people moving in are coming to Brant County from the Greater Toronto Area,” Muys said. “They’re coming here because the housing is less expensive. “They’re very conscious of affordability issues and they liked what they heard from me and other Conservative candidates.” Phillips, meanwhile, is proud of his campaign and grateful for the support he received from voters and his team. “I’m not too surprised quite frankly by the result,” Phillips said. “He is already well-known in the riding and was ready to go. “We started a bit later and had to try to catch up.” Phillips also said the message he was hearing at the door from voters changed as election day got closer. “Early in the campaign, the concern was all about Trump,” Phillips said. “Later, it changed and I think that’s why you saw incumbents like Dan and Larry (Brock)  re-elected and some other nearby constituencies flip to the Conservatives.” HaltonNewsVehicle of interest sought after deadly shooting in Burlington restaurant parking lot By Codi WilsonOpens in new windowPublished: April 30, 2025 at 6:24AM EDT “There is no health without mental health.” Those words come from Lill Petrella of the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. “The importance of mental health isn’t always given a priority in our busy lives,”  Petrella, the agency’s team lead for health promotion, said. “So many of us usually race through our commitments and get stressed out. “We need to take a breath and realize that there is no health without mental health and learn to practise self care.” Petrella said national Canadian Mental Health Week (May 5 to 11) is an opportunity for people to learn more about the issues impacting them and how they can be addressed. “These are certainly scary times,” Petrella said. “Our lives have been turned upside down with fears surrounding Canada’s future and rising costs related to tariffs. “There’s so much uncertainty in our lives right now and feeling anxious is completely understandable.” Those feelings make this year’s mental health week especially important, Petrella said. “The week serves as a reminder that whatever is is going on in our lives, in our country, in our worlds, we still need to take a step back from it all and protect our mental health,” Petrella said. The theme of this year’s week is Unmasking Mental Health. It is an acknowledgement that many people feel they have to hide their struggles to avoid judgment or misunderstanding. By “unmasking” people are encouraged to share their experiences, foster open conversations and create a supportive environment where vulnerability is seen as strength. Mental health week begins with flag raising ceremonies at Harmony Square at 10 a.m in Brantford; 11 a.m. at 66 Grand River S. N. in Paris and at 50 Colborne St. S. in Simcoe at 12:30 p.m. Other events include a Mental Health and Wellness Expo at 275 Ramsey Dr., Dunnville from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 7 and a Six Nations Mental Health Fair on May 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Veterans’ Park, 1799 4th Line, Ohsweken. The week also includes a ‘How to support someone in an abusive relationship’ webinar from noon to 1 p.m. on May 6. “We’re hoping that by offering a variety of activities, people will come out and help remove the stigma of talking about mental health and find out more about what our communities have to offer as far as mental health supports,” Christina Ferrell, intensive child and family service program manager, at Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services, said. “I love that this week promotes collaboration within the community. “Our committee of community partners work together for months preparing events, with our communities in mind..” Ferrell is encouraging people to check in with each other during mental health week. “We know that these trying times are affecting everyone of all ages,” Ferrell said. “Meet others with patience and compassion because we never know what someone else is struggling with. “Get familiar with the supports and services that exist in the communities, and share that information. For a complete list of local mental health week events visit .www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=656110540391888&set=a.180859951250285 To learn more about masking and unmasking in a mental health context visit https://cmha.ca/mental-health-week/toolkits/ . This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If advance polls are any indication, local voter turnout could be a record-breaker for the federal election.  Voters in Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations and Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North will elect new members of Parliament on Monday.   A record 7.3 million Canadians took advantage of advance polls and cast their ballots over the Easter long weekend, according to Elections Canada.  That’s a 25 per cent increase from the 5.8 million electors who voted in advance during the 2021 federal election.   More than two million people, some waiting hours in line, voted on the first day of advance polls alone, a single-day record, according to Elections Canada.   Ontario recorded 2.8 million advance votes, up from 2.2 million in 2021.  In Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations, 24,501 residents marked ballots in advance polls held April 18 to 21. And in Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North, 26,369 early votes were cast.   Elections Canada recorded 20,570 advance votes cast in the former riding of Brantford-Brant in the 2021 federal election.  Candidates seeking to represent the new riding of Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations in the next Parliament are: Leslie Bory, independent; Larry Brock, Conservative Party of Canada; Mike Clancy, independent; Karleigh Csordas, Green Party of Canada; Anne Gajerski-Cauley, New Democratic Party of Canada; Clo Marie, independent; Joy O’Donnell, Liberal Party of Canada; and Nicholas Xenos, People’s Party of Canada.  The riding, created following federal electoral redistribution in 2022, includes all of Brantford, parts of the County of Brant, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Six Nations of the Grand River. It has a population of about 121,511 and 98,250 electors.  Brock, elected in 2021 to represent the former riding of Brantford-Brant, is campaigning to represent the new riding.  Running in Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North, also created after federal electoral distribution, which takes in part of Brant County, including Paris and St. George, are: Nikita Mahood of the People’s Party; Dan Muys, Conservative Party; Anita Payne, Green Party; Chuck Phillips, Liberal Party; and Peter Werhun, New Democratic Party.  The electoral riding has a population of 103,836, including 83,089 electors.   Election Day voting is done at your assigned polling station. Polls open Monday at 9:30 a.m. and close at 9:30 p.m. To find your polling station, check your voter information card sent by mail or find it at elections.ca. Those not registered to vote can still register at your assigned polling station.   To vote, take your voter card and ID that includes your address.   A 54-year-old Brant County man has been charged with drinking and driving offences after an April 26 traffic stop. Brant OPP stopped the vehicle after receiving a traffic complaint involving a vehicle on Rest Acres Road just before 5 p.m. Police charged the man with impaired driving and driving with more than the legal limit of alcohol in his blood. The driver’s vehicle has been impounded for seven days and this driver’s license has been suspended for 90 days. A 40-year-old Woodstock woman was arrested April 26 after a Brant County police officer found a vehicle that had been reported stolen. Police say the officer received an automated licence plate reader hit for a stolen vehicle while in a parking lot. The officer confirmed the vehicle was stolen and during the investigation found suspected methamphetamine and cocaine in the vehicle, said a media release. Police have charged the woman with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and possession of a controlled substance. The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice on June 19. Postmedia newsrooms in Brantford and Simcoe provided live coverage of the federal election results for the ridings of Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations and Haldimand-Norfolk. Conservative candidate Larry Brock won the new Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations riding, He previously held the Brantford-Brant riding. Conservative incumbent Leslyn Lewis was re-elected in Haldimand-Norfolk. Candidates: Leslie Bory, Independent Larry Brock, Conservative (incumbent) Mike Clancy, Independent Karleigh Csordas, Green Party Anne Gajerski-Cauley, NDP Clo Marie, Independent Joy O’Donnell, Liberal Nicholas Xenos, People’s Party of Canada Votes cast in 2021 in the former riding of Brantford-Brant: 66,096 Voter turnout in 2021: 59 per cent of 111,048 eligible voters. Number of electors on voting list for 2025 election: 101,284 Candidates: Lily Eggink, Christian Heritage Party Henry Geissler, People’s Party of Canada Nathan Hawkins, Green Party Shannon Horner-Shepherd, NDP Leslyn Lewis, Conservative (incumbent) Colin Walsh, Liberal Votes cast (excluding rejected ballots) in 2021: 62,505 Voter turnout in 2021: 67 per cent of 93,802 eligible voters. Number of electors on voting list for 2025 election: 98,868 Brant County OPP is investigating a suspicious Tuesday morning fire at Highway 53 address. Provincial police and Brant County firefighters responded to the structure fire at about 8:30 a.m. No one was injured as a result of the fire, a Brant OPP spokesperson said. The cause of the fire is under investigation and the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has been notified. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact Brant OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Those who wish to remain anonymous are asked to submit a tip online at www.crimestoppersbb.com or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to become eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000. KitchenerNewsElection results for Waterloo Region, Guelph, Brant and the surrounding areasBy Shelby KnoxUpdated: April 28 Federal election results: Wellington-Halton Hills North and Huron-Bruce Federal election results: Guelph and Oxford Federal election results: A change in Cambridge Federal election results: Mike Morrice defeated in Kitchener Centre Federal election results: Kitchener South elects Matt Strauss KitchenerNewsWhat has changed in Waterloo Region, Guelph, Brant and the surrounding areas after the federal election?By Shelby KnoxPublished: April 29, 2025 at 5:51AM EDT Canadians from coast to coast headed to the polls to elect a new government and Prime Minister on Monday While the Liberal Party garnered 168 seats the Progressive Conservatives firmly held onto the three ridings in the region with incumbents Larry Brock Dan Muys and Arpan Khanna all winning re-election The Brant Beacon followed the three local ridings on Election Night which included: Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations The following are the final (unofficial) results including the winners in each of the ridings Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations (winner in bold): Larry Brock – Progressive Conservative Party (Incumbent) – 34,360 votes Joy O’Donnell – Liberal Party – 26,747 votes Anne Gajerski-Cauley – New Democratic Party – 2,392 votes Karleigh Csordas – Green Party – 1,100 votes Nicholas Xenos – People’s Party – 392 votes Mike Clancy – Independent – 145 votes Leslie Bory – Independent – 119 votes Clo Marie – Independent – 80 votes Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North (winner in bold): Dan Muys – Progressive Conservative Party (Incumbent) – 34,907 votes Chuck Phillips – Liberal Party – 28,312 votes Peter Werhun – New Democratic Party – 1,598 votes Anita Payne – Green Party – 586 votes Nikita Mahood – People’s Party – 501 votes Arpan Khanna – Progressive Conservative Party (Incumbent) – 37,995 votes David Hilderly – Liberal Party – 27,018 votes Matthew Chambers – New Democratic Party – 3,107 votes Jacob Watson – Independent – 1,200 votes Cheryle Baker – Green Party – 1,057 votes Steven Beausoleil – People’s Party – 634 votes Melanie Van Brugge – Independent – 238 votes Akshay Varun Raj Vardhan – Independent – 107 votes KitchenerNewsSpike in drug-related deaths reported in Brantford and Brant CountyBy Shelby KnoxPublished: April 30, 2025 at 2:03PM EDT Ontario to table budget on May 15 amid impacts of U.S. tariffs ‘Sharp rise’ in Ontario measles cases with 223 new infections since last week Three foreign nationals arrested after crossing border in Fort Erie, Ont.: RCMP Ontario man arrested in Dominican Republic still stuck after charges dropped: family Hamilton police charge driver in fatal Ancaster collision Ontario government introduces new act to protect communities, victims the federal election polls will close at 9:30 p.m Here are the unofficial results for 20 key ridings across Hamilton Liberal candidate Aslam Rana has secured the vote in the Hamilton Centre riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Lisa Hepfner has secured the vote in the Hamilton Mountain riding PC candidate Ned Kuruc has secured the vote in the Hamilton East—Stoney Creek riding Liberal candidate John-Paul Danko has secured the vote for the Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas riding Incumbent PC candidate Dan Muys has secured the vote in the Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North riding Incumbent PC candidate Larry Brock has secured the vote in the Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations riding PC incumbent Leslyn Lewis has secured the vote in the Haldimand—Norfolk riding Incumbent PC candidate Dan Allison has secured the vote in the Niagara West riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Chris Bittle has secured the vote in the St Incumbent PC candidate Tony Baldinelli has secured the vote in the Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake riding PC candidate Fred Davies has secured the vote in the Niagara South riding beating out Liberal incumbent Vance Badawey Incumbent Liberal candidate Karina Gould has secured the vote in the Burlington riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Adam van Koeverden has secured the vote in the Burlington North—Milton West riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Sima Acan has secured the vote in the Oakville West riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Anita Anand has secured the vote in the Oakville East riding PC Incumbent candidate Parm Gill has secured the vote in the Milton East—Halton Hills South riding Incumbent PC candidate Michael Chong has secured the vote in the Wellington—Halton Hills North riding Incumbent PC candidate Connie Cody has secured the vote in the Cambridge riding Incumbent PC candidate Arpan Khanna has secured the vote in the Oxford riding Incumbent Liberal candidate Dominique O’Rourke has secured the vote in the Guelph riding Kids are doing pretty cool things to help save the plant business coach and host of the Rise Together: Empowering This Mother’s Day pamper mom with some extra TLC Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the women who have shaped Mainly cloudy with showers/thunderstorms today and a cooler high of 10°C CHCH-TV started broadcasting in 1954 and is proud to be the news leader for Hamilton and the surrounding Halton and Niagara regions Copyright © 2025 CHCH. All Rights Reserved. ZWD Conservative incumbent Larry Brock was proclaimed the winner of the Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations riding in Monday’s federal election. Incumbent MP wins re-election in redrawn Brantford riding. “You are all my masters,” Conservative MP Larry Brock told supporters at the Brantford Polish Hall after winning Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations. “I work for you; I am your public servant,” the incumbent candidate said, noting he was addressing “everyone in this riding, whether you voted Conservative, Liberal, NDP or otherwise.” It was anyone’s guess who would take the riding as numbers started filtering in on Monday night. Brock has held the riding since 2021, while fellow Conservative Phil McColeman was MP from 2008 to 2021. But Liberal rookie Joy O’Donnell made it a tight race.  “We knocked it out of the park when you consider we only had really three weeks of the campaign to work,” O’Donnell told The Spectator on Monday night. Brock’s team, on the other hand, started “gathering data, looking for where our support was, trying to land the signs” as soon as election rumours started to circulate in the fall. “So as we got closer and closer to the eventual dropping of the race itself, I had already knocked on over 10,000 doors,” Brock told reporters after his victory. Some supporters he picked up along the way included new Canadians; like the Sikh, Hindu, Telugu communities, he said. “I made a lot of good connections there, and continue to foster good relations,” helping with immigration and passport issues. Brock also beat out Anne Gajerski-Cauley (NDP) and Karleigh Csordas (Green) to represent the riding, which includes the City of Brantford, parts of Brant County and Six Nations of the Grand River. The Conservative had the endorsement of Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis, who called the former Crown attorney for Brant “one of the hardest working elected officials I’ve ever seen” in a Facebook video earlier this month. In a boundary change, the riding picked up western Brant County communities like Harley, Hatchley, Muir, New Durham and Cathcart, which were previously part of the Oxford riding. It also lost some communities — like Paris — to the updated riding of Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North. The riding has a population of 121,511 and 102,397 registered voters, according to Elections Canada. BROCK, Larry (Conservative): 34,360 (52.6%) O’DONNELL, Joy (Liberal): 26,747 (40.9%) XENOS, Nicholas (People’s Party): 392 (0.6%) Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. While Canadians are not entirely enamored with the Liberals, their recent minority government has been a litmus test for their capacity to govern effectively. The Liberals have faced criticism over various issues, from economic management to social policies, leading to an erosion of trust among key demographics. This has left voters in Brantford-Brant searching for alternatives, and Brock’s campaign successfully capitalized on this discontent. Andy Straisfeld is a member of the provincial Brantford-Brant NDP Riding Association Executive. Canada’s 45th federal election will be held on April 28, with voters in 343 electoral districts (ridings), including the newly-created Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations, marking their ballots and sending representatives to Ottawa.   This will be the first election to use a new 343-seat electoral map based on the 2021 Canadian census.   The current seat count in Parliament is 152 for the Liberal Party, followed by the Progressive Conservatives with 120, the Bloc Quebecois with 33, the NDP with 24, Independent with three, and the Green Party with two.   Here’s a look at the riding of Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations  To vote, electors must be registered at their current address. Electors can register at the polls just before they vote but are encouraged to register or check their registration early to help ensure they get a voter information card and make the voting process easier. To check if you’re registered go to ereg.elections.ca/en/ereg/index  Before election day, Elections Canada mails personalized voter information cards to electors about where and when to vote. The card can be used as proof of address when voting. It must be used with another piece of accepted ID to prove identity.  A member of the Brant County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) on general patrol received an alert on the Automatic Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) system for a possible stolen vehicle plate at approximately 7:55 p.m A traffic stop was initiated with the vehicle on Cockshutt Road in the County of Brant has been charged under the Criminal Code with: The accused was held for a bail hearing in the Ontario Court of Justice then released from police custody with a further court date to appear on May 16 KitchenerNewsLetter circulated by Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations candidate not authentic: prison officialsBy Shelby KnoxPublished: April 17, 2025 at 5:59PM EDT Dan Muys with his wife Tracy as he cuts the victory cake at his gathering in the village of St Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North Conservative candidate Dan Muys The new Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North riding is largely rural incumbent Conservative candidate Dan Muys has considerable support in the wilds of West Flamborough where this photo was taken on election day Muys’ signs were the only ones visible driving along Hwy Rival candidates vying for the riding included Liberal Chuck Phillips and the NDP’s Peter Werhun Dan Muys celebrates his win on election night Rural issues highlighted race for sprawling new federal electoral district a first-time incumbent but active in electoral politics for 30 years sparsely populated Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North riding in Monday’s federal election and has worked in the agri-food and energy sectors After his victory was declared just after 11 p.m. he told supporters that he heard on the campaign trail that “young people were motivated for change,” and that post-election “we will continue to fight for the young people who see hope for change in our Conservative movement.” His campaign party was held at a pub in the village of St in what is now part of the newly created riding that also includes Paris and Glen Morris Muys said he has “reached out” to all Hamilton-area MPs and city councillors over the last four years to work together on issues and that he would continue to do so no matter which party they represent Muys served on the standing committee on transport The riding is largely rural, and the issue of how to help farmers weather the Trump tariff war was among those raised during the Cable 14 live TV debate in Hamilton that Muys did not attend, citing a previous commitment Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North covers 1,097 square kilometres with just 87,052 eligible voters the adjacent Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas riding is 1,000 square kilometres smaller but has 94,019 electors Muys handily won the former Flamborough-Glanbrook riding in the 2021 election He had previously been chief of staff to former Conservative MP David Sweet when he served as a youth delegate for Jean Charest during the Conservative leadership convention in Ottawa that selected Kim Campbell he was campaign manager for Priscilla de Villiers one of the provincial PCs running in a byelection in the former Wentworth-Burlington riding ON- April 24,2025 Liberal candidate Chuck Phillips and NDP candidate Peter Werhun for Flamborough - Glanbrook - Brant North at the election debate at Cable 14 Thursday night moderated by Mike Fortune The newly redistributed Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North federal electoral district for the upcoming 2025 Canada election we'll post updated candidate details and riding information you need to vote in the federal election we’ll post updated candidate details and riding information you need to vote in the federal election Hamilton-area voters head to the polls April 28 to choose their next member of Parliament in the snap Canadian election These are the confirmed candidates running in Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North: Just two candidates showed up for the riding’s Cable 14 federal election debate Nikita Mahood (People’s Party) — Mahood is a homesteader and small business owner Dan Muys (Conservative) — Muys was incumbent for the former Flamborough-Glanbrook riding and served on the Standing Committee on Transport Anita Payne (Green) — Payne is a retired teacher who studied ecology at Western University and the University of Guelph Chuck Phillips (Liberal) — Phillips is a business owner and CEO of a building products company He has worked in corporate finance and was board chair of Cambridge Memorial Hospital when it operated under provincial supervision Peter Werhun (New Democrat) — Werhun is a lawyer who represents unions in international trade matters in science from McMaster University and masters in chemistry from the University of Ottawa The boundaries — and name — of this largely rural riding have changed for the 2025 election with parts of the former Flamborough-Glanbrook riding being redistributed to neighbouring voting districts The riding also picks up some communities in Brant County A trade war — and a Liberal party seemingly resurrected from the dead — has made for This riding has changed a lot over the years The formerly named Flamborough-Glanbrook riding was created in time for the 2015 federal election from portions of three older ridings: Niagara West—Glanbrook Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale and Hamilton Mountain Longtime MP David Sweet had the riding for the Conservatives until he retired in 2021 with incumbent Dan Muys holding it for the party KitchenerNewsFire in Brant County under investigationBy Shelby KnoxPublished: April 29, 2025 at 7:47PM EDT The race to represent the new federal electoral riding of Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations has attracted eight candidates. The list of candidates includes Leslie Bory, independent, Larry Brock, Conservative Party of Canada; Mike Clancy, independent; Karleigh Csordas, Green Party of Canada; Anne Gajerski-Cauley, New Democratic Party of Canada; Clo Marie, independent; Joy O’Donnell, Liberal Party of Canada; and Nicholas Xenos, People’s Party of Canada. The riding, created following federal electoral redistribution in 2022, includes all of Brantford, parts of the County of Brant, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Six Nations of the Grand River. It has a population of about 121,511 and 98,250 electors. Brock, elected in 2021 to represent the former riding of Brantford-Brant, is campaigning to represent the new riding. Meanwhile, the campaign to represent the new riding of Flamborough, Glanbrook, Brant North has attracted five candidates. The list of candidates includes Nikita Mahood of the People’s Party; Dan Muys, Conservative Party;  Anita Payne, Green Party; Chuck Phillips, Liberal Part;y and Peter Werhun, New Democratic Party. The electoral riding has a population of 103,836 including 83,089 electors. It includes part of Hamilton and part of Brant County including St. George. The riding, previously known as Flamborough Glanbrook, was represented by Muys who was first elected MP in 2021. Advance voting takes place between April 18 to April 21. Election day is April 28. Elections Canada is not publishing the locations for advance polling days or election day. “At a federal election, electors have to vote at a specific voting location and we do not want to create confusion by providing a list of locations,” Nathalie de Montigny, an Elections Canada regional media advisor said. “Electors should be receiving their voter information card by mail this week (April 8-11) and it will provide information about where to vote.” Electors can visit the Elections Canada website at www.elections.ca, input their postal code in the ‘my voter information’ box to get all the information needed to vote. Voters can also call their Elections Canada office. In Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations, voters can call 1-866-238-4207. Voters in Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North can call 1866-239-2826. Joy O’Donnell and Karleigh Csordas at the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant candidate debate It was pre-recorded on Monday at Rogers TV Brantford The newly redistributed Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations federal electoral district for the upcoming 2025 Canada election Brantford-area voters head to the polls April 28 to choose their next member of Parliament in the snap Canadian election These are the confirmed candidates running so far in Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations: This election marks the first time Six Nations is named in the federal riding Leslie Bory (Independent)— Bory has previously run as a provincial and federal candidate he was convicted of promoting hatred and advocating genocide and uttering death threats against politicians and police Larry Brock (Conservative)— Brock is the incumbent MP and previous assistant Crown attorney for Brant Mike Clancy (Independent)— Clancy has worked as an Ombudsman officer and citizen advocate paralegal and ran in the provincial election Karleigh Csordas (Green)— Csordas is a small-business owner and community organizer and represented the party in the last federal and provincial elections Anne Gajerski-Cauley (NDP)— Gajerski-Cauley previously ran for the NDP in Wellington-Halton Hills and is ordained with the United Church Clo Marie (Independent)— Marie is an artist and community activist Joy O’Donnell (Liberal)— O’Donnell is a financial planner a local chamber of commerce vice-president and sits on the Grand Erie Public Health Board Nicholas Xenos (People’s Party)— Xenos has a background in technology and management.  The newly redistributed Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations federal electoral district for the upcoming 2025 Canada election. In addition to the name change, the riding has picked up western Brant County communities like Harley, Hatchley, Muir, New Durham and Cathcart, which were previously part of the Oxford riding. It will also lose some communities to the updated riding of Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North. Conservative MP Larry Brock has held the riding since 2021. Previously, Conservative MP Phil McColeman held the riding from 2008 to 2021. The intimate partner violence epidemic was one of several issues raised during a Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations candidates debate on Monday. Liberal candidate Joy O’Donnell, Green Party candidate Karleigh Csordas, Anne Gajerski-Cauley of the New Democrats and Conservative candidate Larry Brock participated in the exchange. It was held by the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant in partnership with Rogers TV. “A Conservative government will create a new criminal offence, assault of an intimate partner which will carry tougher, mandatory sentences for abusers,” Brock, a former assistant crown attorney, said. “We will end the crime of passion loophole. “There will be no more downgrading of intimate partner murder to manslaughter based on emotional excuses.” “The murder of a partner, one’s own child will be treated as first-degree murder.” O’Donnell said a Liberal government will strengthen the Criminal Code to deal with those who commit intimate partner violence. Eliminating intimate partner violence can be done through education and the various support systems available in the community, O’Donnell said. Those who have witnessed intimate partner violence also need to be helped to ensure they don’t grow up and repeat the scenario,” O”Donnell said. “We have to work with the social services programs that are available in the community and make sure people learn to treat each other with respect.” Csordas said women and children are in a tough spot when it comes to the epidemic of gender-based violence because life is becoming unaffordable. “One single person cannot move out on her own,” Csordas said. “The federal government has not built affordable housing since the 1970s. “We have to make sure that support is there so they (women) don’t continue to be trapped in the same system.” Gajerski-Cauley said she doesn’t see how getting tough with perpetrators is going to solve the problem when many instances of intimate partner violence go unreported. “Women probably feel that it is not worth it to go through the criminal justice system to get justice,” Gajerski-Cauley said. Many women don’t want to get re-traumatized, she said. “We need to provide adequate and full government funding for homes for victims and women in crisis,” Gajerski-Cauley said. Candidates were also asked what their party would do to address the affordable housing crisis. A Liberal government would provide $35 billion in financing for home builders for construction affordable homes and build 500,000 new homes in a year, O’Donnell said. As well, a Liberal government would eliminate the GST for first-time home buyers and reduce the red tape to make sure new homes get built. “We need to get shovels in the ground immediately,” Brock said. “There are too many bureaucratic delays holding us back.” A Conservative government would provide incentives to municipalities to speed up construction and reduce the red tape paralyzing the housing market. A Conservative government would scrap the GST on new homes under $1.3 million, saving home buyers $65,000 on the purchase and reduce mortgage payments by approximately $3,000 annually, Brock said. Gajerski-Cauley said Liberal and Conservative governments over the past several decades have failed to invest in affordable housing. An NDP government would build non-profit housing for those who would like to get into the housing market but can’t afford it. Csordas said first time home buyers are not purchasing shiny new builds. They’re buying fixer uppers and scraping every penny possible to get into the market. A Green Party government will launch the largest public housing program since the 1970s using Canadian materials and creating local jobs, Csordas said. The debate will be televised on Rogers TV cable channel 20 on April 16 at 5 p.m., April 17 at 1 p.m. and April 21 at 10 p.m. It will also be available on the Rogers website at www.rogerstv.com and its You Tube page at www.youtube.com/rogerstvofficial . Other candidates running in Brantford Brant South Six Nations include independents Leslie Bory, Mike Clancy and Clo Marie and Nicholas Xenos, of the People’s Party of Canada. Brant United Way proudly announced the funding of 30 charitable programs serving Brantford committing $650,000 to support a wide range of essential services The announcement was made during a community celebration event made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from Mitsui High Tech The gathering brought together representatives from dozens of non-profit organizations for a warm collaborative lunch and networking opportunity “It’s such a pleasure to bring so many incredible organizations together in one room,” said Cheryl Wiacek Director of Development at Brant United Way and celebrate the work being done across our communities.” The 30 selected programs fund critical needs such as food security workshops for families experiencing challenges in the home children’s literacy and recreation programs Each initiative was selected through a rigorous review process to ensure the greatest possible impact “We don’t decide which programs receive funding,” said Beth Noble Luciani and dozens of community members review the applications and determine which programs should be funded Those are the programs represented in this room today.” Brant United Way also invests in its own initiatives and programs the organization will announce Emerging Needs funding which is reserved for urgent issues and new challenges that arise during the year “We’re incredibly grateful to our sponsors for making today’s event possible,” said Luciani “It means so much to be able to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work and dedication of our local charities.” “Last year was our first-ever Grant Luncheon and we hope to make this an annual event,” said Cheryl Wiacek we can take a moment to acknowledge the impact of these amazing programs without any added costs.” For more information on the funded programs or how to support Brant United Way’s work, visit www.brantunitedway.org.  The County of Brant is assessing what its housing needs are moving forward.  Affordability, stock and varied styles of housing are key issues A study about housing needs revealed essentially what the County of Brant already knew: homes cost too much and there aren’t enough of them. “But now we have the data to support it,” Brandon Kortleve, the county’s policy planning manager, told councillors earlier this month when presenting preliminary findings. The report — a requirement under the Canada Community Building Fund — will ideally net the county some federal funding, but also inform how to move forward, Kortleve said. Furthermore, the data can help the county “advocate for funding and policy changes” in support of options for affordable housing, the county wrote on its community engagement platform. Market and census stats — combined with feedback from community members and organizations — showed the county doesn’t just need more homes, it needs varied types of housing. With primarily single-detached homes in a largely car-dependent area, locals are struggling to find appropriate housing at both ends of the spectrum. Young people are having a hard time breaking into the market, while seniors are struggling to downsize or age in place in the county, the report showed. The municipality hopes to get “meaningful feedback and direction” from residents through an open house in early June, and will aim to have a final report to council later that month, Kortleve said. Average rent for a three-bedroom apartment in 2023 — “well beyond what many local wages can support.”  The percentage of the county’s housing stock that are apartments, as of the 2021 census.  Applications for one available rental unit is not an uncommon number, private landlords said. The average income of local renters — nearly half the $102,000 average income of homeowners. Households in Brant have “core housing need,” meaning people in homes that are too small, in poor condition or unaffordable. Brantford Police Chief Jason Saunders is encouraging area residents to “Draft An Athlete” as the the 2025 Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Summer Games draw near. “For law enforcement being part of and supporting Special Olympics is one of the most meaningful ways we give back to the community,” Saunders said Thursday. “Our role goes well beyond uniforms and duties. “We’re proud to walk beside these athletes, not only as partners in safety, but as fans, champions, and supporters of these dreams.” Saunders is calling on the entire community to support the Special Olympics Draft An Athlete program. “It’s a tangible way to make a real difference in an athlete’s journey to the podium,” Saunders said. The program gives individual, businesses and organizations a chance to directly support Special Olympic athletes by covering their meals, travel and accommodation costs. Every contribution helps remove a barrier to participation enabling athletes to focus on what matters most – competing with pride. Saunders was one of several people to speak at Be A Fan Day at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre on Thursday. The event brought together officers from Brant County OPP, Brantford, Six Nations and Hamilton police to highlight law enforcement’s commitment to inclusion, dignity and empowerment of those with intellectual disabilities through sport. To help promote the games, police services are being encouraged to wear Special Olympics foam fingers, participate in photo opportunities with athletes and community supporters. As well, officers are being encouraged to post photos on social media using the hashtags #BeAFan and #2025BrantfordSummerGames and tag @SpecialOlympicsOntario and @TorchRunOntario. The athletes will be competing in five sports: athletics at Kiwanis Field in Brantford, bocce at the Six Nations Recreation Centre, golf at the Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course, soccer at the John Wright Soccer Complex and softball at Green Lane Sports Complex in Paris. The games take place July 10 – 13. “We’re expecting more than 1,200 athletes from across the province to be here for the games,” Det. Christine McCallum of the Brantford Police Service and the games manager, said. “Right now we have 500 volunteers which is more than enough to support the games. “That being said, if someone wants to volunteer their time for this incredible event, they’re more than welcome.” Spencer Luff is a multi-sport athlete was one of many Special Olympic athletes to attend Thursday’s event. He is a games ambassador and the 23-year-old Paris resident, gamely posed for photographs with local dignitaries. For a photo with Glen Gretzky, Luff flexed his muscles to show he’s ready for the games. “He’s a track and field athlete and he does a lot of different events,” Luff’s mother Tracy said. “He competes in the 100 metre, the 200 metre, the shot put, javelin and long jump. “We’re not sure what event he’ll be doing at the provincials but he’s ready for anything and really looking forward to competing.” The 2025 provincial summer games are being presented by TD Bank and the Wayne Gretzky Foundation. “For me, it’s personal,” Gretzky said. “My parents taught me the values that now echo through Special Olympics – dignity, community and inclusion.” Bailey said the games are about more than sport. “They are about heart, perseverance, and unity – and the power of inclusion to bring people together across regions and backgrounds,” Bailey said. Six Nations Police Chief Darrin Montour said the games is the first time that his community has worked with Brantford and Brant County in this way. “That unity speaks to something powerful: the idea that when we honour each other’s strengths and work side by side, we build something far greater than any of us could build alone.” To learn more about the games visit https://provincialgames.com/ Grade 5 students pictured at Bite of Brant last year trying a cow milking simulator The award-winning program helps youngsters gain an appreciation of Ontario food but is typically restricted to school groups For the first time in a decade, an iconic agricultural event in Brant County is open to the general public this month For 30 years, Bite of Brant has brought Grade 5 students from public Catholic and private schools in Brant County and Brantford to the Burford fairgrounds for a fun and interactive glimpse into where food comes from like grinding wheat for pizza dough and pressing apples into cider demonstrates how food goes “from basically the field to the table,” Jean Emmott told The Spectator helms the program with the Brant Agricultural Awareness Committee and the support of hundreds of local volunteers passionate about the agricultural industry — some who have been involved for the past three decades While the committee aims to offer an open house to members of the general public once every five years the COVID-19 pandemic meant it has been twice as long since that happened When students visit over two days every April they have “very structured and timed” presentations at some of the 20 stations led by local farmers and volunteers But during an open house between 5 and 7 p.m community members will be free to visit the stations at their leisure “and see what it’s all about,” Emmott said The committee is accepting donations to the food bank in lieu of admission “which kind of makes it full circle,” she said For more information, visit Bite of Brant on Facebook. The cost of living and the threat of U.S. imposed tariffs are the top issues for voters in Flamborough Glanbrook Brant North say. Liberal candidate Chuck Phillips said voters want a government that can protect Canada from U.S. President Donald Trump. But Conservative candidate Dan Muys said the cost of living is what’s most on the minds of voters in the days leading up to the April 28 federal election. Peter Werhun, the NDP candidate, said the top issue for voters has changed over the course of the campaign. “At the beginning of the campaign, it was all about Trump and tariffs,” Werhun said. “But in the last week or two, the thing most people want to talk about is affordability and more specifically housing. “People are concerned about the cost of housing.” An NDP government would replace the Housing Accelerator Fund with a $16-billion national housing strategy that includes a new Canadian Homes Transfer and a Communities First Fund. The homes transfer program will reward municipalities that build quickly and encourage homes to be built near public transit. The Communities First Fund will provide support to provinces to build water, transit and other public services to support home construction, Werhun said. Muys, who was elected to represent the former riding of Flamborough Glanbrook in 2021, said the rising cost of living is the issue he hears about most from voters in Paris, St. George and Glen Morris. “People are squeezed with taxes, the cost of housing and groceries,” Muys said “They know Canada has everything the world wants and needs – resources and smart people – and should be booming. “After 10 years of these Liberals, we’re not and that’s why they tell me, it’s time for a change.” Phillips said the Liberals have a plan to address the Number 1 concern – protecting Canada from Trump. “We are going to build up Canada stronger than ever through investments and support to our trade schools and agriculture sectors,” Phillips said. “We are going to ensure that everyone who needs a home can afford one in the places they want to buy. “We are going to expand our trade partners and continue to remove inter provincial trade barriers in partnership with all of the premiers.” The list of candidates in Flamborough, Glanbrook Brant North includes includes Nikita Mahood of the People’s Party and Anita Payne, of the Green Party. The previous riding of Flamborough Glanbrook, was represented by Conservative David Sweet from 2015 to 2021. A photo from the Giuseppe Stuflesser website shows sculptors at work on statuary Trustees travelled to Italy to get artwork for St Signage shows the future site of the Brantford school in a file photo A picture from Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa’s website shows a dish from Ristorante Anna Stuben where trustees ate a four-course meal Some trustees took a cable car ride in Ortisei “to enjoy the views of the surrounding Dolomite mountains,” according to the report Provincial review details expenses and repayment to date of taxpayer-funded trip Aperol spritzes weren’t on the agenda when four Catholic trustees visited Italy over the summer — but they did indulge in mojitos The elected representatives of Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB) racked up $127,000 in travel and art costs on the publicly funded trip — plus nearly $63,000 more in legal costs managing the aftermath — prompting a ministry review The report released Wednesday gives insight into where things went wrong but also how the trustees spent taxpayer dollars which they have since vowed to repay then-chair Rick Petrella and fellow trustees Bill Chopp Mark Watson and Dan Dignard boarded a Lufthansa airlines flight bound for Munich Their flights averaged around $3,500 per person and checked into “deluxe” and “superior” category rooms in the Westin Grand Munich Dinner was included in the $6,700 two-night hotel bill so it’s “unclear” how the $219 receipt Petrella submitted for “dinner at hotel and parking” fits An Oktoberfest hall was their destination for the night — they took an Uber and stayed for an hour and a half but did not expense their “rounds of beer,” the trustees told Shull the trustees toured downtown Munich and the churches and ate the dinner included with their stay a “resort area,” where they would stay for three nights One bill submitted from that time included 27 alcoholic beverages Shull noted it as “relevant” since the trip was described as “professional.” It was February 2024 when Petrella reached out to the Saint Pio Foundation to ask about getting a life-sized statue of St Padre Pio for the new high school being built in Brantford Petrella had an ongoing email exchange with Guido Goller a “master sculptor” at the Giuseppe Stuflesser workshop Padre Pio sculpture for the All Saints Roman Catholic Church in Etobicoke it’s “somewhat unclear” how long they spent at the sculptor’s workshop The accounts varied from “approximately an hour and a half” to “the full day a Michelin-starred spot at Relais & Châteaux-associated Hotel Gardena Grodnerhof the trustees indulged in four-course menus with wine pairings Petrella was reimbursed for the total cost of just over $1,600 for all four of them they explored Ortisei “as tourists.” Some took the cable car “to enjoy the views of the surrounding Dolomite mountains” and “strolled around afterward browsing through the local shops and boutiques.” The trustees expensed four dinners at the Hotel Angelo Engel that night and paid $1,182 to stay at the Hilton Airport hotel for the night they returned to Canada and took a $316 limo from the airport to the board office in Brantford A portion from each trustee’s biweekly honorarium payment is being deducted to repay their trip expenses, as they vowed to do after people expressed outrage over the travel. Of the $12,666 they each owe, as of March 6, the trustees have repaid $2,102 (Petrella), $1,072 (Dignard) and $2,262 (Chopp). Watson has repaid $1,216 of the $12,370 he agreed to, the report said. At this rate, it will be August 2028 before all have settled up — long after their current term ends with the next municipal election scheduled for October 2026, Shull noted. The trustees believed they could cover the nearly $70,000 spent on art through donations. However, Shull didn’t find evidence to confirm any donations, raising questions about “the feasibility” and “whether public funds may eventually be required.” Education Minister Paul Calandra has given the board 30 days to repay the province for the trustee travel expenses, art and artifacts. “To be clear, I expect immediate action in Brant, and if I am not satisfied I will take additional steps,” he said at a news conference Wednesday. Trustees travelled to Italy to get artwork for St. Padre Pio Catholic Secondary School. Signage shows the future site of the Brantford school in a file photo.  Calandra called out other boards he has his eye on. He put Thames Valley District School Board under supervision after senior board officials took a $40,000 retreat at Toronto’s SkyDome hotel amid a “multimillion-dollar budget deficit.”  The “structural deficits over multiple years” at Thames Valley didn’t show “any clear path back to a balanced budget, differentiating its situation from Brant’s,” and preventing the board from the same fate, he told reporters.  However, if BHNCDSB doesn’t “fully implement” the province’s recommendations “and report back to me very quickly that they have done so,” he will take “further actions” to ensure “maximum accountability.” A spokesperson for the board said Wednesday it had “just received” the report and will be “taking time to examine” it. “As always, the board will co-operate with the minister and the Ministry of Education. The board will review the recommendations contained within the report, and once we have thoroughly examined it, we will be able to share additional information,” the statement continued. Conservative Will Bouma’s third term in office was never in doubt after he took an early lead in Thursday’s provincial election and never looked back.  Bouma’s final vote count of 24,169 was more than double that of his closest competitor, Havey Bischof of the NDP, who finished with 12,002 votes.  Bouma had 47.3 per cent of the 51,139 total votes cast. Bischof had 23.5 per cent of the vote share.  The 2022 provincial election ended much the same way for the two challengers when Bouma won with 20,738 votes and Bischof, who served on the provincial executive of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation before entering politics, came second with 13,283 votes.  Placing third in Thursday’s election was Liberal Ron Fox, a Brantford realtor and former longtime Tim Hortons franchisee, who earned 10,364 votes, or 20.3 per cent of total votes cast.   The Green Party’s Karleigh Csordas finished with 2,567 votes, followed by Joshua Carron of the New Blue Party with 1,138 votes, Libertarian Rob Ferguson with 500 votes; Mike Clancy of None of the Above Party with 316 votes, and Jennifer Carruthers of the Alliance Party with 83 votes.  In the 2022 provincial election, 46,953 votes (42% of eligible voters) were cast in Brantford-Brant.      After Bouma and Bischof, Liberal Ruby Toor took third place with 6,083 votes, followed by the Green Party’s Karleigh Csordas with 3,174; New Blue Tad Brudzinski with 2,089; Ontario Party candidate Allan Wilson with 640; Canadians’ Choice candidate Leslie Bory with 490; Libertarian Rob Ferguson with 299; and Independent John Turmel with 157.   A Brant County family is lucky to be alive after fire destroyed their home on Thursday evening. “We went to bed as early as 7:30 p.m., and I woke up to my husband and son screaming,” Aimee Noonan told The Expositor on Friday morning. “There were no flames, it was just full of smoke. We couldn’t see to get out, and we didn’t hear the smoke detectors until we got outside.” Noonan, her husband, and son were able to escape uninjured from their main floor bedrooms, while their daughter got out from her second-storey bedroom. The family dog managed to flee but two rabbits and two cats are unaccounted for. Brant County Fire Chief Darren Watson said the call came in at 8:55 p.m. Thursday with about 30 firefighters responding from Burford, Paris, Mount Pleasant, and Airport Fire Stations. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. “There’s nothing left from what I’m told,” Noonan shared. “I’m just glad we’re out, that’s all that matters. At least we are alive and trying to figure this out now. It could have gone very differently.” The Red Cross has put the family up at a local hotel until Sunday while they try to reach a local response team. The couple were renting the house and did not have tenant’s insurance for their contents. Noonan’s son works next door at Brant County Tire at 1030 Colborne Street West in what was, at one time, Old Country Furniture. The shop is accepting donations of clothing and other necessities for the family. Meantime, family friend Courtney Decator has set up a GoFundMe campaign to assist the family. “I have known this family for over a decade when my son and their son became best friends in elementary school,” Decator wrote. “They are near and dear to my family and I’s hearts. They have nothing but the clothes on their backs.” Former minister of education Jill Dunlop appointed a reviewer to look into Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board’s spending Leave follows months of public scrutiny over Italy trip This story has been corrected to state that trustee Rick Petrella’s leave of absence is unpaid The beleaguered former chair of Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board is on an unpaid leave of absence Petrella was absent from the board meeting on March 25 and committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday a spokesperson for the board told The Spectator the trustee is on an “approved leave of absence” until December 2025 The spokesperson did not confirm when the leave began or if it was related to the Italy trip but a request that had to be approved by the board we will not be responding to questions or inquiries connected to this leave of absence,” reads a statement posted to the board site Wednesday if you have any school-related inquiries or concerns you contact chair of the board Carol Luciani and she will respond to your communication or will distribute it to Bill Chopp Brantford trustee,” the statement continues He “respectfully” declined a nomination for board chair in December the four trustees vowed to pay their travel expenses back the board has not answered The Spectator’s question of how much has been paid to date In December, then-minister of education Jill Dunlop appointed a reviewer to look into the board’s spending. Aaron Shull’s report was due by March 2025, the ministry said at the time. But the spokesperson for the board told The Spectator they have not seen the results of the investigation. Newly appointed Education Minister Paul Calandra said he will be “relentless” in ensuring that the boards “remain accountable” to students and “everybody working so hard to give them all the tools they need to succeed,” in a video posted to X on April 14. When asked, the ministry did not say if it has received Shull’s report or if it will be made public. The Spectator reached out to Petrella but did not immediately hear back on Wednesday. The annual Bite of Brant program attracted almost 1,000 Grade 5-level students to the Burford Fairgrounds over two days this week to learn about agriculture and its importance in the community. “It’s been a very successful program over the years,” said planning committee member Barb Sheardown. “This year it’s filled very quickly. We have 40 classes and a waiting list for 13 so, there’s a real demand for the program.” Groups of children rotated through a number of display stations inside fairgrounds buildings where volunteers – many of them farmers – talked about their farm operations and their products. “This is my first year here. It’s absolutely wonderful,” said Mike Vanka, a Grade 5/6 teacher at Burford District Elementary School. “I’m so happy there are so many local partners that are willing to come out and do this for our students. The kids get to see how some of the daily aspects of their life come together, how that stuff functions and ends up at their house, on their table, and in their garden. I really hope we get to come back next year.” “I learned that Frosted Flakes are not made from wheat, but from corn,” said 10-year-old Abigail Bucek of Burford District Elementary School. “I also learned that cotton can make cloth, and we got to plant seeds that we get to bring home. We had the choice of either basil or tomato.” Vanka noted that a student who attended Bite of Brant three years ago still has the basil plant she planted and took home at that time. Nine-year-old Aaryan Maale of Walter Gretzky Elementary School in Brantford said he learned that cows make dairy products and enjoyed a comparison of historical and current production methods for wheat. “Seeing the live cow, and the piglets,” were the highlights of his day, Maale shared. Esther Brouwer from the Myrtleville House Museum in Brantford showed the history of wheat production for early settlers in Canada. “The kids each get to use our grinder to run wheat into flour,” she said. “The winnowing bowl is taken outside on a windy day, and if you throw the wheat up into the air, the shells of the seeds are lighter and get blown away by the wind, and the seeds fall back into the bowl.” On Tuesday evening, Bite of Brant chair Jean Emmott said she was thrilled with the turnout at the 30th anniversary open house. Families came out for cake and a chance to see what Grade 5 school kids have been participating in for 30 years. “For some of these folks, their kids and grandkids have been through, and this gives them the experience,” said Emmott. Her own son, Wesley Emmott, who was in Grade 4 when Bite of Brant began and is now a dairy farmer, visited with his two-year-old daughter Audrey, saying they were excited to celebrate three decades of the event. Emmott noted that five volunteers and six stations have been present each of the 30 years the event has run, with four families now having a third generation volunteering to help educate the children. “Obviously, it’s a passion of the farmers in the community to show kids where the food comes from locally and tonight gives adults an idea of how important that food is to the community. Especially these days.” bethompson@postmedia.com -with files from Susan Gamble Will Bouma is heading back to Queen’s Park for another term. Bouma was declared the MPP elect for Brantford-Brant less than 20 minutes after the provincial polls closed Thursday night to earn a third term in office. “When the Premier (Doug Ford) called the election he said we needed a strong mandate to combat the tariffs that could be coming from the United States,” Bouma said after he was declared the winner. “The people of Brantford-Brant recognized the need to protect our economy, jobs and our community. Speaking to supporters, Bouma said he is humbled to be chosen to represent the riding for a third term. “I want to thank the people of Brantford-Brant for their confidence and their support,” Bouma said. Bouma became emotional as he thanked his wife Joni and his children for their support. Although protecting the community as best as possible from the impact of tariffs that could be imposed as early as next week is important, Bouma also spoke about priorities for Brantford-Brant. “We have four elementary schools underway right now as well as a new Catholic secondary school that needs to get built,” Bouma said. “Of course, what’s top of mind for everyone is a new hospital. “The premier made a commitment to the community in September and I’m looking forward to seeing what that’s going to look like.” During a visit to Brantford in September Ford announced more than $21 million in funding to repair major infrastructure problems at Brantford General Hospital. He also made reference to a planning grant that’s needed to take plans for a new hospital to the next stage of planning. With all 61 polls reporting, Bouma finished with 24,169 votes or 47.3 per cent of the 51,239 ballots cast. He was followed by Harvey Bischof of the NDP with 12.002 votes or 23.5 per cent of the ballots cast. Ron Fox of the Liberals had 10,364  votes or 20.3 per cent of the ballots cast while Karleigh Csordas of the Greens had 2,567 or five per cent. Bischof thanked the volunteers who worked on his campaign as well as voters who supported him. “We ran a good, positive campaign,” Bischof said. “As for the results, I think they also show that there are thousands of people who need our voice and need our support. “There are thousands of people who have been left behind who can’t afford housing and are having to make tough decisions.” Bischof said the NDP ran a campaign that provided real solutions to problems faced by thousands of Brantford-Brant residents. Although he said it’s too early to commit to running a third time, Bischof said he will continue to be part of the fight to help those who have been forgotten and left behind. Fox also thanked his supporters and those who worked on his campaign. “I think we ran a good campaign and I think we laid a good foundation for future campaigns,” Fox said. “We increased the vote substantially and I think that will help us going forward. “I’m grateful for the work of the campaign team and all of the volunteers who helped out.” The Liberals in 2022 were represented by Ruby Toor who received; 6,083 votes. The Fox campaign generated more than 10,000 votes. Fox thanked the federal Liberal riding association in Brantford-Brant for helping his campaign. Csordas said the results of the election speak for themselves and show that there is a need to change how citizens are represented. “Knocking on doors and talking to people it became pretty clear that they want change,” Csordas said. “But many people feel that they can’t really influence government and as a result don’t bother voting. “I think we need a better way of voting for elected representatives to ensure that all voices are heard.” Csordas said far too many voices are missing and people are being left behind under the current electoral system. This was the third campaign for Csordas and she will sometime soon be embarking on a fourth. She has been approved as the Green Party candidate in Brantford-Brant for the next federal election. “We’re just not sure when it’s going to be called,” Csordas said. “Some say it could be within a couple of weeks some say it could be longer. Meanwhile, Joshua Carron of the New Blue Party received 1,138 (2.2 per cent) in Thursday’s election, Rob Ferguson of the Libertarian Party received 500 votes (one per cent), Mike Clancy of the None of the Above Party received 316 votes (0.6 per cent) while James Carruthers of Ontario Alliance received 83 votes (0.2 per cent). Bouma was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 2018 when he received 24,437 votes (42 per cent of the ballots cast) In 2022, Bouma was returned to office with 20,738 votes while Harvey Bischof, of the NDP, finished second with 13,283 votes. His Majesty’s Royal Chapel of the Mohawks will be open to the public on May 10 as part of Doors Open Along the Grand museums and homesteads will have their doors open — free — to visitors More than 15 unique spaces that help tell the story of Brant County, Brantford, and Six Nations of the Grand River will be open to the public this spring On May 10, the three communities will come together for Doors Open Along the Grand, giving free access to historical societies, museums, homesteads and other spaces with notable architecture or community significance One example is St. Paul’s Chapel (1159 Highway 54 a “living museum” on the banks of the Grand River The 1868-built board-and-batten structure is the only public heritage structure that remains in Middleport When it looked like the village might lose the landmark in 2018 the community came together and established the Middleport Heritage Society It now stewards the building and uses it for community events Another featured church, His Majesty’s Royal Chapel of the Mohawks (301 Mohawk St. is the only structure left from the Mohawk Village settlement and was later fitted with intricate stained-glass windows that tell a story of Six Nations peoples For visitors wanting to learn more about local Indigenous history and culture, Woodland Cultural Centre (184 Mohawk St. Brantford) — which has 50,000 artifacts — will have its doors open down the street The event runs on May 10 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information visit doorsopenontario.on.ca/AlongtheGrand Brant Waterways Foundation will be hosting their annual fundraising event entitled “GRANDELICIOUS BY THE LAKE,” which will take place on Thursday May 22 is a premier community event and a key source of funds for Brant Waterways’ community projects The cocktail party style event will raise funds towards tree plantings improved river access points and local trail improvements GRANDELICIOUS BY THE LAKE is an all-inclusive event – tickets are $150 and features amazing food by Delvins Country Bistro refreshments provided by Sassy Britches Brewing Tax receipts are issued for the charitable portion of the ticket Funds raised will support the following community projects: D’Aubigny Creek River Access Project (City of Brantford); trail signage at Barker’s Bush (County of Brant); an Ecological Study at Rotary Centennial Waterworks Park (City of Brantford); annual tree plantings organized by the Brant Tree Coalition Brant Waterways was the brain child of Mary Welsh and a group of like-minded forward thinking citizens who recognized an opportunity to purchase abandoned railway lines and convert them into a passive trail system Brant Waterways has contributed over $5M to Brant Brantford and Six Nations of the Grand River to projects that protect and enhance the Grand River Valley and its adjacent lands The Grand River and its major tributaries were designated a Canadian Heritage River in 1994.  The mission of Brant Waterways Foundation is to provide funding assistance and advocacy to projects in Brantford Brant County and Six Nations of the Grand River that enhance protect and preserve our natural heritage of the Grand River its waterways and adjacent lands to provide recreational opportunities County of Brant released its new Strategic Plan a comprehensive roadmap to guide decision-making and community development over the next three years on Wednesday The plan reflects the County’s vision of a “charming and play.”  The plan was approved at the December 17 “This plan represents the collective vision of our community,” said David Bailey and preserving the unique charm of the County of Brant.” The Strategic Plan is built around five key priorities: Economic and Financial Resilience: Ensuring sustainable operations through long-term financial planning and fostering a thriving local economy Focused Growth and Infrastructure: Proactively managing development with the necessary infrastructure to support the County’s new Official Plan and Engaged Communities: Promoting equitable transparent decision-making and enhancing opportunities for recreation Stable and Responsive Governance: Strengthening the County’s ability to deliver reliable affordable services through improved resources and communication Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action: Leading efforts in climate change mitigation The plan will guide Council and staff actions through detailed objectives and initiatives including implementing climate action strategies County of Brant staff undertook a public consultation campaign to connect with residents to share their hopes visions and priorities for the future of Brant a virtual meeting and online engagement options through the Engage Brant website quick poll and more. A total of 848 engagements took place across both in-person and online platforms “Thank you to everyone who engaged with us and shared their vision for Brant,” said Mayor Bailey “Community engagement is incredibly important to Council and staff and we greatly value residents’ thoughts and opinions on the future of the County.”