BScene

Residents Encouraged to Donate to Local Support Agencies
Submitted Media Release

The City of Brantford is taking proactive steps to address the needs of our most vulnerable residents. Vulnerable members of our community who may be at risk of homelessness or currently experiencing homelessness are strongly urged to seek support from professional community services rather than engaging in acts of solicitation or panhandling.

Emergency Sheltering

SOAR Community Services supports individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness by providing access to emergency shelter and housing support services. Emergency shelter intake services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you or someone you know is in need of immediate shelter, please contact the Emergency Sheltering Intake Line at 1-888-621-0034 or email [email protected]. In-person shelter intake services are available daily at 73 Murray Street, Brantford, from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. After midnight, individuals can access in-person services at 331 Dalhousie Street, Brantford.

Please note that effective August 15, 2026, in-person intake services at 73 Murray Street will be available daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. After 8:00 p.m., individuals can access in-person support at 331 Dalhousie Street, Brantford. Individuals requiring shelter support outside of these hours can continue to access services by calling 519-759-1290 or 1-888-621-0034, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more information, visit soarcs.ca/housing/programs/housing-resource-centre.

Help with Food and Clothing
- The most updated list for free community meals can be found at www.brantford.ca/FoodBankCalendar
- Brantford Blessing Center: 7 Burnley Ave, Brantford, (519) 753-3507
- Brantford Food Bank: 1100 Clarence Street, Brantford, 519-751-4357,
- Salvation Army Brantford Family Services Food Bank: 33 Diana Avenue, Brantford (Book appointment at 519-752-7814)
- Salvation Army Paris: 25B Dundas Avenue, 519-442-3432
- Friendship House: 452 Grey Street, Brantford, 519-753-8511,
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul: 143 Wellington Street, Brantford, 519-751-0143

Ontario Safe Streets Act
According to the Ontario Safe Streets Act, it remains unlawful to solicit in certain hazardous manners. Specifically, those soliciting are prohibited from:

1) Threatening a person solicited with physical harm, by word, gesture, or other means, during the solicitation or after the person solicited responds or fails to respond to the solicitation.

2) Soliciting a person who is in or on a stopped, standing, or parked vehicle while on a roadway, regardless of whether the solicitation is done in an aggressive or threatening manner.

How Members of the Community Can Help

The City acknowledges and appreciates that people in our community are very generous and want to help. The City reminds the public that the best way to assist vulnerable members of our community who require support is by donating to an accredited, professional community support agency as per those listed above. This ensures that funds are directed to causes and actions that provide meaningful assistance to those who require assistance.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making Brantford a safer and more caring community for everyone.

Event of the Day!
Make sure to Be Seen learning about our community during the Newcomer Welcome Day at Brantford Lion's Park this afternoon!

Newcomer Welcome Day The Brantford Immigration Partnership (BIP) is pleased to invite new Canadians living in Brantford and members of the public to

Brantford Sports Hall Celebrated 2026 Inductees at Best Western Ceremony
Story and Photography by: Thomas Clare

The Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition celebrated its 2026 induction ceremony on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the Best Western Brantford Hotel and Conference Centre. The ceremony brought together more than 120 guests to honour local athletes and sport builders whose achievements and contributions had left a lasting mark on the community.

Four individuals were recognized as part of the 2026 class: Paul Szczechura for hockey, Krista DuChene for marathon athletics, Tom Hawke for lacrosse, and Bill Williams as a boxing builder. Each honouree was set to be showcased in the Sports Hall of Recognition, located inside the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre.

Bill Williams was honoured for his long-standing dedication to boxing as both a competitor and coach. His career included an amateur record of 25 wins, three losses and two draws, as well as decades of volunteer coaching and community boxing development in Brantford. He had helped establish non-profit boxing clubs, developed amateur fighters into professionals, and contributed to events such as the Summerhays Boxing Tournament, Friday Night Fights Under the Lights, Punch out Parkinson’s and Punch out Cancer.

Tom Hawke was inducted as an athlete in lacrosse. He had started in minor lacrosse with the Brantford Warriors and later played for the University of Guelph Gryphons men’s team. Hawke also became the founding coach of the university’s women’s lacrosse team, helping the program earn Ontario University bronze and silver medals in 1998 and 1999.

Krista DuChene was recognized for her outstanding career in marathon running. Known as “Canada’s Marathon Mom,” DuChene had represented Canada at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and became the first Canadian woman in 20 years to qualify for the Olympic marathon. Her accomplishments also included a third-place finish at the 2018 Boston Marathon, competing in all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, holding a Canadian 50-kilometre record, and becoming a two-time Canadian Marathon Champion.

Paul Szczechura was inducted for hockey after a career that began with the Brantford Minor Hockey Association and the Brantford Golden Eagles. He went on to play three NHL seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres, spent several seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League, and represented Team Canada internationally, including at the Deutschland Cup.

The evening also included additional community awards. Assumption College School student Danike Whipple, along with Paris District High School students Sydney Kipp and Canaan Sherbino, received the Ed O’Leary Memorial Award, which recognized commitment to school sport, leadership, sportsmanship and athletic excellence.

Free Sport For Growth was also presented with the Frank Tomlin Memorial Sportsperson of the Year award. The organization, founded by Dave Levac and Ross Enslev in early 2023, had raised funds to provide sports equipment and encourage outdoor activity for local youth. It was the first time the award had gone to a group rather than an individual.

The ceremony highlighted the strength of Brantford’s sporting community and celebrated athletes, builders, and volunteers whose work had inspired future generations. Through the Sports Hall of Recognition at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, their stories continued to be preserved and shared with the community.

Local Students Honoured with Women’s Institute Scholarships
Submitted Media Release

On Thursday, July 23rd, the Cobblestone Commons was filled with celebration as the Women Inspiring Women Women's Institute officially presented its 2026 post-secondary scholarships to two inspiring local high school graduates.

Lexi Rose and Rory Gunn-Pereira were each awarded a $500 cheque to help fund their upcoming university studies. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants across Brant County, the City of Brantford, and Six Nations of the Grand River, both recipients stood out for their exemplary dedication to leadership, peer support, and community work.

As part of the application, students were required to submit a 500-word essay titled "A local person who has inspired me," highlighting a non-family member from the area who shaped their worldview.

“We were incredibly impressed with the applications we received for this year’s scholarship,” said Dianne Edwards, chair of the WI scholarship committee. “The two students selected exemplified both a deep compassion for community and an selfless approach to leadership that matched perfectly with our mission at the Women Inspiring Women Women’s Institute.”

Brantford resident Lexi Rose, 18, is a recent graduate of St. John’s College and will be attending Brock University in the fall to study Child and Youth Studies, with the ultimate goal of becoming a primary school teacher.

Lexi’s essay focused on Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Westad whom she met recently during a HIP (Honouring Indigenous Peoples) retreat. The Women’s Institute scholarship marks her third award of the season. She was previously awarded a scholarship for a speech she delivered at Brantford’s Remembrance Day ceremony, as well as a Memorial Day scholarship.

Paris resident Rory Gunn-Pereira, 18, is heading to Wilfrid Laurier University to pursue a degree in Health Sciences, where she aims to become a nephrologist (a physician specializing in kidney care).

Rory’s inspiration for her field of study is deeply personal. In her essay, she wrote about one of her young dance students who is currently battling a severe kidney condition called Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis Type II. Teaching and supporting her young student inspired Rory to dedicate her future career to studying and treating kidney disease. Rory’s outstanding academic record also earned her an automatic acceptance President’s Choice scholarship to Laurier, as well as a scholarship from the local Kiwanis Club.

The Women Inspiring Women, Women’s Institute takes great pride in supporting youth who demonstrate both high ambition and genuine care for their communities. In addition to their cash awards, both Lexi and Rory have been invited to attend a Women’s Institute meeting in Paris during the Fall/Winter of 2026 to be formally recognized by the full membership.

In the Photo: (L to R) Monique Giroux (committee member), Deb Loyd (committee member), scholarship winners Lexi Rose and Rory Gunn-Pereira, Dianne Edwards (committee member), Tricia Henderson (WIW WI President. Not pictured, but present: Avery Moore Kloss (committee member)

One Week Until Maria's West Fest! Community Invited to Free Family Festival on August 9
Submitted Media Release

The countdown is on! In just one week, Maria's Pizza will welcome the community to the 3rd Annual Maria's West Fest on Sunday, August 9, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 242 Colborne Street West.

This free, family-friendly celebration offers an afternoon packed with entertainment, contests, local vendors, delicious food, and activities for all ages.

Event Highlights Include:
• NEW this year: Comedy in Motion 2.0 busker performances throughout the afternoon
• Pizza Eating Contest starts at 1:15pm
• Spaghetti Eating Contest starts at 3:00pm
• Pup Cup Challenge for dogs and their owners starts at 2:00pm (you can register day of!)
• Live DJ entertainment
• Face painting
• Beer tent
• Family-friendly pizza-themed games and activities
• Marketplace vendors featuring local businesses
• $5 pizza slices, $2 Toonie Kitty Cones, and $1 cotton candy from Duey's Ice Cream

Guests who support local vendors will receive a free slice of pizza with any marketplace purchase (one slice per guest).

"We're excited to welcome the community back for another year of great food, entertainment, and fun," said Angie Risi, Doug George, and Milly George, owners of Maria's Pizza West. "West Fest has become a wonderful tradition, and we look forward to celebrating with everyone once again."

Festival organizers also extend their sincere thanks to Smashing Pixels for producing this year's promotional videos, as well as co-emcees Matt and Giovanni for helping build excitement leading up to the event.

Additional parking will be available at Energuy (248 Colborne Street West) in the rear parking lot.

Admission is free, and everyone is encouraged to come hungry and enjoy an afternoon celebrating community, local businesses, and great food.

Event Details
What: 3rd Annual Maria's West Fest
When: Sunday, August 9, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Where: Maria's Pizza West, 242 Colborne Street West, Brantford
Admission: Free

Follow the excitement on social media using .

Event of the Day!
Make sure to Be Seen cooling off in the water during the Hot Summer Nights event with the Brantford Fire Department at Parsons Park this evening!

Hot Summer Nights Hot Summer Nights include a fire truck sprinkler, a change to learn about fire safety, and free freezies for attendees

Youth Entrepreneurship Celebration Recognized Young Innovators at Brantford City Hall
Story and Photography by: Thomas Clare

The Brantford-Brant Business Resource Enterprise Centre’s Youth Entrepreneurship Celebration was held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Brantford City Hall.

The event celebrated the creativity, initiative and entrepreneurial spirit of young people in the community. It provided an opportunity to recognize their accomplishments, acknowledge the work involved in developing their ideas and encourage them to continue pursuing their business goals.

The gathering also highlighted the importance of giving young entrepreneurs access to guidance, mentorship and practical resources. The Business Resource Centre supported local entrepreneurs through free business advice and workshops focused on starting and growing a business.

Bringing the celebration to City Hall demonstrated the community’s support for youth entrepreneurship. Participants had an opportunity to reflect on what they had learned, share their achievements and connect with others who valued innovation and local economic development.

The celebration concluded with a sense of pride in what the young entrepreneurs had accomplished and optimism about where their ideas could take them next.

Brantford Public Library Announces New Operating Hours Ahead of Historic Third Branch Opening
Submitted Media Release

The Brantford Public Library is preparing to open the new Shellard Lane Branch this fall, marking the first expansion since the St. Paul Branch opened in January 1975. With the addition of the third branch, service hours will be updated across all Library locations.

The Library reviewed community feedback, branch usage statistics, and operational requirements to develop a system-wide schedule that optimizes existing resources to meet community needs.

The unique operating requirements of the Shellard Lane Branch were also considered. As a shared facility with an elementary school, public access to the branch will vary during the school week.

The key upcoming service hour changes are:

Shellard Lane Branch hours are expected to begin in October. The hours of operation have been developed in collaboration with the Blanche E. Williams Public School, to meet school and public needs, both. The official opening date will be posted on the Library website and social media, once confirmed.

Monday services will be introduced at the St. Paul Avenue Branch. Community feedback indicated great interest in Monday hours at the St. Paul Branch. This change in service hours is a result of a redistribution of hours at that location, so it does not require an increase in the operating budget. The new schedule will start in October, to coincide with the opening of the Shellard Lane Branch.

Sunday services will be relocated from the Main Branch to the Shellard Lane Branch. There will be a temporary pause on Brantford Public Library Sunday services for the remainder of 2026, as resources are focused on the launch of the new branch. Sunday services will resume in January 2027, at the new location. Once resumed, a moderate increase in Sunday hours will be introduced, with service running annually from early October until the end of April, for four hours each open Sunday.

Please note: All Library locations may operate on modified hours or close during statutory holidays and the annual holiday period. Current hours are always available at www.brantfordlibrary.ca.

St. Paul Branch (Starting in October 2026 – Timed with Shellard Lane Branch opening)
Mon: 9:30am - 6:00pm
Tues: 9:30am - 6:00pm
Wed: 9:30am - 6:00pm
Thurs: 12:30pm - 8:00pm
Fri: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Sat: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Sun: Closed

Shellard Lane Branch (Starting in October 2026 – No Sunday hours)
Mon: 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Tues: 10:30am - 8:00pm
Wed: 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Thurs: 10:30am - 8:00pm
Fri: 11:30am - 6:00pm
Sat: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Sun: Closed

Shellard Lane Branch (Starting in January 2027 – Sunday hours resume)
Mon: 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Tues: 10:30am - 8:00pm
Wed: 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Thurs: 10:30am - 8:00pm
Fri: 11:30am - 6:00pm
Sat: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Sun: 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Main Branch (Currently in effect)
Mon: 9:30am – 8:00pm
Tues: 9:30am – 8:00pm
Wed: 9:30am – 8:00pm
Thurs: 9:30am – 8:00pm
Fri: 9:30am – 6:00pm
Sat: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Sun: Closed

“The opening of the Shellard Lane Branch is an exciting milestone, representing a significant and much needed expansion in library services for the community. The new, system wide service hours reflect careful planning and our commitment to make the best use of available resources in providing library services throughout Brantford.” - Rae-Lynne Aramburo, CEO/Chief Librarian, Brantford Public Library

Library services are accessible in a variety of ways. In addition to visiting any of the Library's (soon to be!) three branches, customers can borrow and return materials through the self-serve kiosks at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre and Sobeys West Brant. Digital collections and online resources are available 24/7 at www.brantfordlibrary.ca.

Downtown Revitalization Project Weekly Update: August 3 to 7, 2026
Submitted Media Release

Installation of underground infrastructure and road construction on Icomm Drive continues.

Icomm Drive Closure Remains in Place
Icomm Drive has reopened between Market Street South and Clarence Street South. One lane remains open in each direction between Hill Street and Clarence Street South. Detours are available via Colborne Street, Dalhousie Street, and Clarence Street South.

The map below shows the affected lanes and traffic restrictions.

Lorne Bridge Bell Canada Utility Relocation Update
Telecommunications splicing work has been completed throughout most of West Brant. Final splicing at maintenance holes on either side of the Lorne Bridge is planned in the coming weeks. Following this work, Bell Canada’s utility relocation will be complete.

Public Advisory
Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians are encouraged to follow posted signage and allow extra travel time. Detour routes are being monitored and adjusted as needed to support traffic flow.

Stay Informed
The City appreciates the community’s patience as this necessary infrastructure work continues. For information on road closures, including an interactive map, visit Brantford.ca/RoadClosures. To receive updates directly by email, visit Brantford.ca/Subscribe.

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

Happy Civic Weekend everyone!
We're wishing everyone a lovely long weekend with family and friends! Enjoy your summer fun!