Rink recognition date set

John Paris Jr. to be celebrated in Windsor on June 9

Guests will soon be arriving in Windsor from across North America to celebrate a living hockey legend.

John Paris Jr., a trailblazing Black hockey player, coach and scout, is being honoured June 9 by the West Hants Regional Municipality.

On April 26, council unanimously voted to rename the ice rink at the West Hants Sports Complex in his honour.

“John has touched a lot of people over the years,” Mayor Abraham Zebian said in a phone interview. “When you start getting calls out of the blue from individuals (who want) to be here for him, to celebrate with him, that tells you a lot about the individual.”

Paris, 76, has had many firsts, including becoming the first Black coach at the midget AAA major level, the first Black scout in the NHL, the first Black coach and general manager in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the first Black coach in professional hockey when he led the International Hockey League’s Atlanta Knights.

Over the decades, he faced considerable racism yet always persevered.

Zebian said he was “over the moon, beaming” when asked how it felt to have brought forward the recommendation to rename the rink.

Municipal staff are still in the process of ironing out the

details but the mayor said the event will start at 1 p.m., with speeches and a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. This will be followed by a ball hockey game featuring local youth, politicians and celebrities.

Then, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., there will be a community barbecue. All are welcome to attend.

Zebian said the feedback they’ve received since announcing

the renaming has been overwhelmingly positive.

“People are so excited; so happy,” Zebian said, noting that being able to recognize Paris for his achievements ranks high among his political career highlights to date.

When reached by phone in April after council’s decision, Paris was at a loss of words, noting it was such an honour

and that he would be pleased to attend the celebration in June. While he grew up in Curry’s Corner, he now resides in Texas.

“I was just agreeably surprised, very humbled by it. I can’t thank them enough, really, for this. Words cannot express that,” he said in April.

The West Hants Sports Complex is located at 16 Centennial Dr., in Windsor.