The Stratford Fire Department’s fleet will hopefully soon be at full capacity once again.
At the infrastructure, transportation and safety subcommittee meeting on July 24, the committee approved the procurement and the repair of two different vehicles in the department’s fleet.
The most costly was the replacement for the 2007 Rosenbauer Engine, known as Engine 2, which was scheduled for replacement in 2027.
During a recent maintenance procedure, the frame and chassis mounting were found to have heavy rust jacking resulting in the rear spring bracket mounting hardware snapping the heads off the bolts holding it in place.
Though not yet deemed unsafe, fleet technicians recommended its replacement prior to more rust jacking continuing.
Rust jacking occurs when layers of rust bow and push out, permitting divots in the frame and allowing foreign debris to enter between the layers and cause damage. As a result, the frame eventually rusts out or breaks completely.
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
A new plan meant to mitigate the effects of climate change will soon be heading to council for final approval.
In 2023, Stratford city council authorized the development of the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP), an overarching plan for the community’s energy transition and emission-reduction efforts.
On July 24, the plan was unveiled during the infrastructure, transportation and safety subcommittee meeting.
Sadaf Ghalib, the climate change program manager with the City of Stratford, said the plan has been in the making for about 18 months.
“The Community Climate Action Plan is actually a community driven plan,” Ghalib said. “It has been developed for the community, and that includes residents, both renters and homeowners, local businesses that are part of our downtown and beyond, as well as industry partners and other stakeholders in the community. Any and all work that we will do to facilitate or administer this plan will be a direct benefit to the community over the next 30 years.”
Light Up The Night Kayaking. Organizer, Sue Clark held her Christmas in July event on July 27th. Her monthly Light Up The Night Kayaking is becoming very popular. The event was well attended.
(FRED GONDER PHOTO)
CONNOR LUCZKA
Big Erie Lot improvements eyed by committee, surface treatment approved
CONNOR LUCZKA
Coun. Brad Beatty’s proverbial groundhog day may soon finally be over – or it may be starting over again.
At the most recent infrastructure, transportation and safety subcommittee meeting on July 24, the committee approved surface treatment to the Erie Street municipal parking lot, which is in disrepair.
Robert Ritz of R. Ritz Architect took the time to present his vision on what the lot could be with some investment. He wanted to make the suggestion now before work begins so the lot isn’t dug up and then dug up again in the near future for a more-expansive project.
Ritz suggested that the City of Stratford issue a request for proposal to developers to construct underground parking at the lot with storefronts and residential units built above, facing Erie Street.
“The prime goal of the proposal was to provide 247 additional parking spaces in the central and mainly located parking lot at no cost to the taxpayer,” Ritz said. “Yes, the city's credit rating would be used to acquire funds and some of
SURFACE TREATMENT
A mock-up of the development idea Robert Ritz presented to the infrastructure, transportation and safety subcommittee during its July 24 meeting.
8 is
Stratford Branch 8
a
The Stratford Branch 8 Veterans Service Officer William Rothernel, with the support of Veterans Affairs Canada continues to serve the needs of all Canadian Veterans in need of assistance or advice on all service-related situations.
the costs of development, however the property tax generated from the parking spaces, the retail space and the apartments above … will amortize, finance the cost to develop – thus, no cost to the taxpayer.”
Ritz argued no developer would do this if they had to pay for the land, but he is suggesting the land be given to the developer and then sold back to the city once developed – a reasonable request he said.
“You pay him back,” Ritz said, “but that payment is financed by what you’re generating on the site.”
Ritz, at one point, had a developer willing to finance the construction costs, though that was in 2021 when interest rates were relatively low.
He said the idea was denied then because of a plan to build elevated public parking at the Grand Trunk site, but it's been years and there are still no plans for the site and the Erie Street lot is a more-convenient location for visitors and residents alike.
Now, Ritz said he would have to crunch the numbers again to see how exactly it would work this time, though he expressed interest in coming back before
the committee or council to present those numbers.
Ritz’s presentation was met positively by committee members, who largely expressed support for improvements to the lot, whether it be Ritz’s plan or another’s.
Coun. Jo-Dee Burbach inquired about the viability of more retail space downtown, asking if a developer had researched that. Ritz said that, in just brief conversation with some businesses at Festival Square, they had expressed interest in moving to potential new storefronts.
Beatty was one of the councillors who expressed support for further development of the lot, but having served on council for 14 years, called it his “proverbial groundhog day.”
“I’ve seen countless … several proposals for this piece of property,” Beatty said. “Aboveground parking, belowground parking, resurfacing the existing structure as it is. We have put this conversation down that road many times.
“I'm not suggesting that Mr. Ritz’s proposal is the one we should be pursuing. … I think we should be open to other alternatives, beyond just having that existing surface parking lot.”
Nick Sheldon, project manager, clarified for the committee that the surface treatment that was recommended by staff is “routine work” for parking lots and the lot is at the end of its life cycle. The pavement, stairs, retaining wall, lighting and storm infrastructure are in “significant disrepair.”
SHERRIE ROULSTON
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Stratford police investigating homicide after late-night shooting with multiple victims
The shooter and one victim is dead following a late-night shooting with multiple victims on Bradshaw Drive in Stratford Aug. 1, according to Stratford police.
As of Aug. 2 at press time, police were investigating the shooting as a homicide, which involved multiple victims on Bradshaw Drive and McCarthy Road West.
At approximately 10:45 p.m. on Aug. 1, police received multiple 911 calls regarding gun shots that had been fired in the area. Police arrived and found four victims of gunshot wounds. Two victims have passed away as a result of their injuries and two others were transported to Victoria Hospital in London by ORNGE Air Ambulance after being treated initially by paramedics on scene.
In a second press release issued later in the day Aug. 2, police say officers arrived on scene and found four people had suffered gunshot wounds. One person was found deceased at the scene while a second was transported to Stratford General Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The two other victims were transported to Victoria Hospital in London by ORNGE Air Ambulance for treatment. One victim remains in life-threatening condition while the second is receiving treatment for a life-altering injury.
The investigation into this matter revealed that the subject, who was identified by police as Ricky Bilcke, age 31, opened fire and shot the three victims after being involved in an ongoing neighbour dispute before ending his own life.
Police say the shooter initially opened fire from across the road with a high-powered rifle and struck the first victim, Jonathan Bennett, 36, who was later pronounced dead at hospital. The shooter then accessed a shotgun and walked into the roadway where he shot the second victim, David Tokley, 43, who is currently in hospital receiving treatment for life-threatening injuries. The third victim, Stephanie Irvine, exited her residence and was targeted and shot by the shooter.
Police say several other shots were fired by the shooter during the course of Bilcke’s assault against the three victims before he completed his attack by turning the gun on himself and ending his own life.
The Stratford Police Service closed down the area where the attack occurred in order to conduct the investigation into this matter. This area will remain closed to the public as some aspects of the investigation remain ongoing.
The Stratford Police Service expressed condolences to the victims, their families, loved ones and all others impacted by this incident.
Police say they are aware of numerous videos of the incident that have been posted to social media. Out of respect to the victims of this incident and the trauma this has caused to all people involved, police are asking that those videos be removed. Anyone with video of the incident is being asked by police to forward that video to the Stratford Police Service at https://StratfordPolice.ca.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/ st24013979.
CONNOR LUCZKA AND GALEN SIMMONS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter & Editor
Stratford police officers confer with one another as they investigate a late-night shooting on Bradshaw Drive Aug. 1 that left two people dead and sent two others to hospital in London.
(GALEN SIMMONS PHOTOS)
GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
As much as I love the fact that my girlfriend and I found a house to rent well within our budget, there are some things about this house I don’t love quite as much.
The house we’re living in is over 100 years old. According to my insurance agent, it was built in 1911, though our landlord says it’s at least several decades older than that. While it has been maintained through the decades, there are some much-needed upgrades that would solve a few of our problems.
First of all, the basement hasn’t changed since the house was built and I don’t think anyone’s ever been down there with a vacuum. It’s unfinished, it’s only half height, there are spiders and other bugs living in the ceiling, the concrete floor gets wet when it rains and I hate going down there. That last point isn’t so much a fea-
Dear Editor,
The challenges of living in an old house
ture of the basement as it is a warning that if I ever go missing, you’ll probably find me unconscious under a pile of boxes down there.
Though I try to spend as little time in the basement as possible, that – as it usually is – is where the fuse box is located. We have one of those old-style fuse boxes and the last person who lived in this house (or maybe the one before them or the one before them) made sure every fuse was labelled incorrectly. So, last week when my TV and internet went out, I had the joy of testing every fuse in the box. Then, when our air fryer went out, I had to do it all again because I didn’t relabel the fuses and forgot which one went where (that one’s on me, I’ll admit it).
Finally, when I thought I had gotten everything right again, I realized the fuse for our fibre-internet equipment in the basement, which is also where we have or sump pump plugged in, was also not working and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to fix it. So, after hook-
Letters
As a taxpayer in the City of Stratford who has seen my property taxes increase dramatically over the last five years, I must comment on the city's recent announcement that they will be hiring three more people in the human resources (HR) department, thus increasing its size by 50 per cent. To support this increase, the article states “standard HR industry practice is an HR to employee ratio average of 1.7 HR staff, rounded to two, per 100 employees. At over 400 employees, that means the city would support an HR team of eight.”
Letter to the Editor: We need to talk
Thank you for Bruce Whitaker's column, "We need to talk". I think it should be required reading for everyone.
I agree with Coun. Mark Hunter's comment that it shouldn't be this hard to be respectful of people. It's not. Anyone who attended the June 27 public meeting on the Krug site's redevelopment got a master class in how it's
Restoring small-town journalism, one community at a time!
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Contributors
Connor Luczka, Spencer Seymour, Betty-Jo Belton, Julia Schneider, Gary West, Paul Knowles, Emily Stewart, Lisa Chester, Fred Gonder, April Taylor, Sheila Clarke, Irene Roth, Lauren Eedy, Lee Griffi, Stuart Lender, Thomas R. Verny, Sydney Goodwin, Kristen Parker, Alex Hunt, Hannah Kavanagh
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ing up an extension cord, calling in my internet-service technician to help me actually find the fibre equipment and then having my landlord come figure out why it wasn’t working, we now have everything back up and running the way it should.
My landlord and his handyman suggested we not run so many appliances off each circuit, but with only a scant number of electrical outlets in each room and no central air in the summer, that’s not really an option right now.
We also have mice living in our walls. They’ve chewed through some of our food in the basement, they’ve chewed through food in the kitchen cupboard, my girlfriend saw one run across the kitchen floor one morning and they seem to be wise to our attempts to trap them. My cat, Ziggy, is no help – she’s old and her mousing days are long behind her – but my girlfriend’s dog, Phoebe, certainly likes to bark at them in the walls. Maybe she’ll step up and
to the Editor
First off, that is not how staffing ratios work. You can't just round up to suit your needs. The proper calculation should be 400 times 1.7 to give 6.8 HR personnel, which could imply, at most, one new employee being hired.
Secondly, Forbes Magazine states that most HR departments are overstaffed and that a more appropriate ratio is 1.4 HR employees per 100 employees, which would imply the city already has more than enough people in the HR department.
done. All of the delegates expressed their concerns, asked their questions, presented their ideas and, in most cases, offered up some thanks that the site would be redeveloped. Some were heartfelt, others data-driven, but no one shook their finger, raised their voice, hectored council, staff or the developer's representative, or resorted to hyperbole and menacing metaphors like some delegates did at the July 22 council meeting.
But put aside the matters of civil discourse and respect that Mr. Whitaker and Coun. Hunter raised. I attended both
Dear Editor, Stratford is a beautiful city with world-class theatre. We are fortunate to have a beautiful park and walking path around Lake Victoria. I’ve lived here for 11 years and noticed the path that is unpaved seems to get worse every year. Even after light rain, it is muddy with large puddles along many parts of the path making it impassable. I’ve heard many complaints about this. It’s a shame because that side of the river is so attractive and a lovely walk. With all the visitors to our city and the many residents that enjoy that side of the river, it is incomprehensible why nothing is
STRATFORD Editorial
become the mouser this house needs. This house is also in desperate need of a water softener. While my landlord is unrelenting in his opinion that purchasing one would be too expensive, we live in Stratford where the water is notoriously hard. Since we moved in, our dishes, pots, pans, glasses and everything else we put through the dishwasher have developed a hard, calcified layer, and we’ve just about resorted to washing everything by hand – something I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to do after living without a dishwasher my entire adult life. While these challenges haven’t been ideal, I know there are many who don’t have access to or can’t afford the kind of housing we have, so I am grateful to have a roof that doesn’t leak over my head and four walls to the keep the elements out. Someday, we will look for a home that checks off all the boxes, but for now, we’ll just have to live with what we have, and I’m ok with that.
Perhaps these additional hires are needed to enforce the respectful workplace policy?
Finally, at the end of the article, it is stated that these new hires will cost $341,043. That cost will be borne by taxpayers like myself and will no doubt increase every year. What added value will taxpayers see from this extra expenditure?
Regards, Greg Hoggarth Stratford
meetings and, in my opinion, the delegates on June 27 were much more effective communicators. They didn't let their tone or choice of words undermine their message and risk alienating their audience. By audience I mean their fellow citizens and potential allies, not just council.
The June 27 delegates did an outstanding job of bringing forward their concerns and, in turn, earning the support of residents outside of their neighbourhood.
P.J. Lewis, Stratford
done to improve the quality of this path. I would think that our parks and recreation staff, along with city council and our mayor, could get a team together to brainstorm on how this continuous issue can be resolved. Solutions such as pea gravel or decomposed granite could work.
We need to invest some money in one of the city’s most beautiful and popular areas. Why can’t we have a world-class walking path that won’t be an embarrassment for Stratford?
Susan Draper Stratford
Accredited health-care organizations look to future expansion
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Although 10 organizations in the Huron Perth and Area Ontario Health Team (HPA-OHT) recently were accredited under one umbrella, there is still more that can be done, according to the team.
There are a total of 46 member organizations in the team that may be included in future accreditation cycles.
"As we review the accreditation report, updated standards and complete self-assessments and surveys, we will continue to identify areas for continuous improvement," said Kim Van Wyk, HPA-OHT’s project coordinator, in a recent media release. "Our goal is to provide support and knowledge sharing among our member organizations, ultimately enhancing the quality of care for our community."
The accreditation milestone is the first of its kind in Canada, where multiple organizations that are separately governed have come together under the umbrella of accreditation, setting a new standard for integrated health-care delivery.
Accreditation Canada is a national body that sets health and social-services standards, assessing organizations against those standards to help them continuously improve the quality of their care.
The recent joint accreditation process
CORRECTION: On page 12 of the July 12 edition of the Stratford Times, in the story “Local health teams accredited together, first of its kind in Canada,” the author wrote that six health-care partners originally undertook the accreditation process in 2019. At the June 12 event, the joint accreditation of 10 teams was being celebrated. They are: Alzheimer Society Huron Perth, Clin-
started in 2019, according to the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance’s (HPHA) website, with the participation of the HPHA and six health-care partners.
Ten organizations were a part of the successful accreditation that just occurred: Alzheimer Society Huron Perth, Clinton Family Health Team, Community Living North Perth, Huron Health System, Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, Knollcrest Lodge, Listowel-Wingham and Area Family Health Team, ONE CARE Home and Community Support Services, West Perth Village and Huron Perth and Area Ontario Health Team.
Starting in 2024, the collaborative will transition to a four-year continuous accreditation cycle, focusing on ongoing quality improvement and integration of safety practices into everyday operations. They will be focused on:
• Implementing the equity, inclusion, diversity and anti-racism plan created in 2024 to provide education to governors and staff;
• Aligning governance processes and policies across organizations;
• Expanding the collaborative to include more HPA-OHT member organizations; and
• Developing OHT-level emergency and disaster planning by engaging with municipal and county planning initiatives.
ton Family Health Team, Community Living North Perth, Huron Health System, Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, Knollcrest Lodge, Listowel-Wingham and Area Family Health Team, ONE CARE Home and Community Support Services, West Perth Village, and Huron Perth and Area Ontario Health Team.
The Stratford Times regrets any confusion this error may have caused.
Erie Lot improvements
“It’s painful to put money into something that we might be changing in the very near future,” Burbach said, “but I guess the big question is, when could that happen? Even if we did go forward and put out an RFP and ask for proposals … all this decision making takes time and then the actual work also takes time. So, in the meantime, the parking lot continues to deteriorate
and continues to have issues where people will get hurt.”
The committee voted to move forward with resurfacing the lot, the staff recommendation. That decision will still need final approval by city council before work begins.
The committee also referred the matter of further enhancements to the Erie lot to staff, for a more fulsome report to be brought back for consideration.
Notice of Proposed Transition
Preliminary Design, Detail Design, and Class Environmental Assessment Study Highway 7/8 and Road 111 Intersection Improvements, Township of Perth East, Perth County (GWP 3083-21-00)
THE PROJECT
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has retained Egis (formerly McIntosh Perry) to complete the Group ‘B’ Preliminary Design, Detail Design, and Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Study for the Highway 7/8 and Road 111 intersection improvements located in the Township of Perth East, at the boundary of Perth East and the City of Stratford, Perth County.
THE PROCESS
The Study is currently being completed as a Group ‘B’ project in accordance with the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000) PROPOSED TRANSITION
This notice is being issued to inform interested stakeholders, members of the public, and Indigenous Communities of the intent to transition this project to the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways (2024) Transitioning to the new Class EA process will improve the planning process of projects beyond the preliminary design stage, bringing MTO into alignment with best practices observed in other Class EA frameworks. Transitioning from the requirements of the 2000 Class EA to the 2024 Class EA reflects a commitment to optimizing the assessment process by removing redundancies and expediting project planning to facilitate a more streamlined implementation process. Commitments made during the preliminary design phase will be addressed as the project progresses through the design process. Design and construction information will continue to be published on the project website and opportunities for public consultation will be ongoing through preliminary design. Information on the project, including the process under the 2024 Class EA can be found at www.highway7and8perthcountyroad.com
COMMENTS
If you have any comments or questions about this notice, or have questions about the study, we respectfully request you contact one of the following Project Team members by September 9, 2024:
Mr. Steven Pilgrim, P.Eng.
Project Manager
Egis
1-1329 Gardiners Road
Kingston, ON K7P 0L8
tel: 343-344-2629 or toll-free: 1-888-348-8991
e-mail: highway7and8@mcintoshperry.com
Ms. Wendy Xu, P.Eng.
Project Engineer
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
3rd Flr, 659 Exeter Road, London, ON N6E 1L3
tel: 548-588-1937
e-mail: Wendy.Xu@ontario.ca
You are encouraged to visit the project website where project information including notices, background information, etc. can be found. You can also submit comments or questions to the project team on the project website.
Information collected will be used in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments become part of the public record.
Local Community Food Centre looks to rise to the challenge at recent AGM
JULIA SCHNEIDER
Times Correspondent
“Most people aren’t excited to attend an AGM” unless they have an association with the organization involved, said Margaret Smart, executive director of The Local Community Food Centre, at the start of its 2024 annual general meeting July 24.
Despite that, anyone interested in food security, local health and a community agency involved in delivering these would likely find the meeting of interest. It came at the end of a hard year, she continued. Change, challenges and transition were the recurrent themes as staff changes, financial challenges and facility shortcomings had to be faced and overcome.
Some highlights of the meeting were:
• a surplus of revenue over expenses at
the end the year of $30,000 after a deficit of $150,000 at its beginning;
• the Monday and Friday community meals attracting 170 people weekly to the capacious dining room, as compared to the 130 in the previous year;
• over 10,800 meals provided through the Connection Centre with 30,000 servings of warm soup or stew and 700 bags of fruit distributed to people in emergency shelters;
• the number of volunteers increased substantially from 80 to 175; and
• markets in Stratford, St. Marys and Milverton continued with added summer markets at Stratford’s city hall and Dufferin Park, the site of The Local’s large community garden.
All of this happened at a time of great need for The Local’s services. Food insecurity has risen by 26 per cent over the previous year, with visits to profit-driven
grocery stores becoming a stressful experience for many.
Local MP John Nater, Stratford deputy mayor Harjinder Nijjan and St. Marys deputy mayor Brogan Aylward all voiced support for The Local.
“Everything represents individuals,” said Aylward. “We’re here for the people; they come for all sorts of reasons.”
Surveys show the beneficial effect of The Local for those people. Eighty-one per cent of respondents said the community food centre improved their access to nourishing, culturally appropriate food, 87 per cent said it gave them an increased sense of belonging and support, and 91 per cent said it had made changes to their eating habits.
The Local goes into the new fiscal year with a renewed sense of purpose, a dedicated and focused board of director chaired by Katie deBlock Boersma and a
strong staff including Smart, gardener Lucas Tingle and Chef Lucy Dillinger. Even so, as director, local realtor and auctioneer Brent Shackleton said, The Local cannot survive, let alone continue to thrive, without the support of the donors who came through this year. The need for them and to ask for their help continues. Immediately following this statement, Shackleton pledged $50,000 and treasurer Katelyn Cullitin of BMO Wealth Management pledged another $50,000 towards the $750,000 needed to keep the operation going.
Following the meeting, those in attendance were invited to stay for a sampling of what The Local offers: a variety of delicious and healthy treats, a chance to visit the Fresh Produce store that is open twice a week, and a tour of the newly cleared area where an outdoor space is planned –a prelude to more of the same to follow.
City reminds drivers to share the road
STRATFORD TIMES STAFF
stratfordtimes@gmail.com
Drivers and cyclists alike will be noticing new features on Albert Street aimed at increasing road safety.
One of those features, the City of Stratford shared in a Facebook post to its page, is the use of road markings called “sharrows,” which feature the image of a bicycle with two chevron arrows above.
The sharrows on Albert Street between Waterloo Street and Front Street indicate that motorists and
SHARE THE ROAD
Sharrows along Albert Street are a reminder for drivers to expect cyclists on
cyclists share the same one-way lane.
Sharrows are typically used where there is not enough space to provide a dedicated bike lane.
For drivers, the sharrows serve as a reminder to expect cyclists on the road and to share the lane safely.
and
Motorists should give cyclists the same respect and courtesy as they would another motor vehicle.
In other words, drivers should not expect cyclists to move over or get out of the way, the post read. “Please share the road safely and responsibly.”
Queer Book of the Month
July 28 Bill Anderson, Stratford $50 00
July 29 Brittany Myers, London $50 00
July 30 Dianne Downing, St Marys $50 00
July 31 Norman Deakins, Wiarton $50 00
Aug 01 Shelly Bonnett, Embro $50 00
Aug . 02 Jason McKay, Stratford . . . . . . . $50 00
Aug 03 Jason Wolfe, Tilbury $200 00
Aug 04 Simon Duncan, St Marys $50 00
Aug 05 Bill Thomson, St Pauls $50 00
Aug 06 Gerald Scheerer, Stratford $50 00
Aug 07 Jen Burchill, St Marys $50 00
Aug 08 Nancy & Jamie Ready, St Marys $50 00
Aug 09 Millie Koert, St Pauls $50 00
Aug 10 Georgia Ahrens, Stratford $200 00
Stratford Public Library
Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion by Bushra Rehman
@SPL: FIC Rehma
Razia Mirza grows up wearing salwar kameez, reading Quran, and getting into scrapes with her friends in the grapevine-tangled yards of Corona, Queens. When a family rift drives Razia and her best friend, Saima, apart Razia starts hanging out with new friend, Taslima. The two begin rebelling: getting their hair cut, listening to Billboard American Top 40, and wearing thrift store finds. Then Razia is accepted to a prestigious high school in Manhattan and she falls for a female classmate. Family and community expectations conflict with Razia’s desire to live her own truth.
Rehman’s slow-paced, character-driven, coming-ofage story set in New York in the 1980s tips its hat to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Razia is a child of immigrants growing up in a neighbourhood of
immigrants. Her parents and friends’ parents work incredibly hard to make ends meet and find their way in America, while keeping a firm grip on many of their Pakistani Muslim traditions. At times, this culture clash weighs heavily on Razia, adding a layer of complexity to her teenage angst. Nostalgic and sometimes-funny yarns (like the time Razia and her friends find a Playboy magazine) are interspersed with episodes of grim violence and implied sexual abuse. While the second half of the book is continuous in its timeline, each chapter in the first half is a memory recounted by an older, wiser-sounding Razia. Author Bushra Rehman is Pakistani-American and also grew up in Corona. She peppers the text with Urdu words and sheds light on many aspects of Pakistani Muslim culture, traditions, and taboos. A Lambda Literary Awards finalist, Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion is a heart-breaking story of female friendship, community, queer love, and going your own way.
the road
to share the lane safely.
(CITY OF STRATFORD PHOTO)
Community Climate Action Plan presented after over a year of development
The plan is intended to advance priorities related to council’s 2021 climate emergency declaration, inform climate action related to homes, industry, transportation, neighbourhood, energy infrastructure and waste management, ensure alignment with federal and provincial energy strategies, and help reduce community greenhouse-gas emissions.
Through work on the CCAP, baseline data analysis revealed that in 2022, approximately 347,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent community emissions were generated in the city. Buildings, at 46 per cent of emissions, and transportation, at 43 per cent, were the largest sectors.
Those emissions are expected to rise by 20 per cent in 2050 to 416,400 tonnes.
Additionally, Stratford uses nine petajoules of energy each year, again based on data from 2022, and that is expected to increase by 22 per cent in 2050 to 11 petajoules.
“Energy costs are, by far, the most escalating factor when projecting community greenhouse gases and energy usage into the future,” a management report on the plan reads. “Community-wide energy costs range from $230 million in 2022 to between $700 million (low price range) and $1.1 billion (high price range) in 2050 – an increase of 220 per cent to 400 per cent. This translates to approximately $6,630 per capita in 2022 to more than $15,218 (low price range) to $23,913 (high price range) per capita utility cost burden in 2050.”
To curb that rise, the CCAP includes seven program areas and more than 15 actionable items under those program areas.
The program areas reflect community priorities and address the built environment, neighbourhoods, energy supply, transportation and waste. They are:
• Efficient Homes and Buildings
• Efficient Industry
• Low-Carbon Neighbourhoods
• Energy Supply and Distribution
• Efficient Transportation
• Towards Zero Waste
• Governance
To achieve efficient homes and buildings, the plan recommends a deep-retrofit program for existing homes and non-residential buildings, a building-efficiency program for new construction projects, and transparent-energy performance labelling for buildings when selling or renting.
To achieve low-carbon neighbourhoods, the plan recommends the establishment of net-zero neighbourhoods and green-development guidelines.
To achieve efficient industry, the plan recommends the creation of an industrial energy and climate best practice network.
To achieve efficient transportation, the plan recommends the alignment of the CCAP with the city’s transportation master plan to reduce overall time spent in personal vehicles and increase time spent walking, cycling and taking trains and buses, as well as the establishment of an electric and low-emission vehicle-support program.
To achieve energy supply and distribution goals, the plan recommends the creation of a district-energy program, a heat-pump program, a solar hot-water program, and a solar-photovoltaic program. Solar photovoltaics reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and uses solar power as a cost-effective, zero-carbon electricity alternative.
To achieve zero waste, the plan recommends the alignment of the CCAP with existing waste-management activities to reduce compostable waste and amplify waste reduction and recycling.
Each actionable item has a recommended approach and what would be needed to achieve the program from partners, the city and residents, as well as estimated municipal costs and potential emission reductions they could contribute.
For instance, creating a deep-retrofit program for existing homes would need a participation rate of 80 per cent of existing residential buildings and the creation of a business case for such a program from the municipality, costing an estimated $80,000-$100,000, though funding may be avail-
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Bill James-Abra, founder of Climate Momentum, delegated at the July 24 infrastructure, transportation and safety subcommittee meeting, saying that the wider community is “on side” with the Community Climate Action Plan that was presented.
able through upper levels of government.
It could reduce emissions by 19,000 tonnes a year, eight per cent of the yearly emissions in Stratford.
The CCAP is one of two major plans developed by the city to address climate change, the other being the corporate energy and emissions plan (CEEP) that was approved in 2023.
The whole CCAP can be found included in the committee meeting’s agenda at calendar.stratford.ca/ meetings/Detail/2024-07-24-1630-InfrastructureTransportation-and-Safety-Sub-commi/a041025c-792f4674-8491-b1b0013ff0b5.
Bill James-Abra, founder of the grassroots climate change organization, Climate Momentum, delegated to the committee on the CCAP, calling it and any other municipally led action against climate change “critical.”
“It becomes frightening to acknowledge that action is needed because we don't know where to begin,” JamesAbra said. “We don't know where to go and we feel alone in the face of it. … But we're not alone and we have some places to start and it's precisely that opportunity that the Community Climate Action Plan presents us with.
“The Community Climate Action Plan is the kind of roadmap that provides the strategic direction we need and the community engagement that's needed to make the plan work. And one of the big reasons for my being here is … to assure you that the community is on side.”
The committee approved the plan with some like Coun. Larry McCabe praising Ghalib’s efforts and the cost savings this plan could facilitate for residents.
During Ghalib’s presentation, she indicated that through just an energy transition from fossil fuels controlled outside of Stratford to locally generated electricity, it could have a cumulative saving for the community between $5 billion and $7 billion from 2032 onward, as well as keep the money generated within the community.
“I'm happy that it's being brought forward at this time for support,” McCabe said. “As the vice chair of finance, I was quite happy to hear about the $5-7 billion in savings possible for our residents if we get this right.”
The CCAP will be presented to Stratford city council at a later date for final approval. The CCAP was funded through Ontario’s Ministry of Energy with the requirement that it be
endorsed by council no later than Sept. 1. If approved by council, any and all programs suggested by the plan and their costs will still need to be approved separately by council.
More information on the city’s work to mitigate climate change can be found at www.stratford.ca/en/ live-here/climate-action.aspx#Community-Climate-Action-Plan-CCAP-.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
House of Blessing ready to send students Off to School smiling
EMILY STEWART
Times Correspondent
Stratford House of Blessing’s Off to School Smiling fundraiser returns to make sure every student in the region is prepared for the school year.
The organization is collecting new backpacks and school supplies such as binders, pens, pencils, rulers and other classroom essentials for students between kindergarten and Grade 12.
"The idea was that none of the children felt less than everyone else. They all get to start the same as all the other kids with brand-new backpacks and supplies,” said Molly MacDonald, intake coordinator for
New
Stratford House of Blessing.
The need for donations has increased over the past eight years. MacDonald said House of Blessing helped about 200 kids when the program first started. In 2023, 416 students received backpacks full of items.
"I personally have been able to work in the schools and I've noticed a big need since COVID has started,” said Emaly Martin, summer student for House of Blessing. “So, I'm just happy that I'm able to be here and help the need that I see constantly."
All of the backpacks are filled with brand-new school supplies for each grade level. Any student registered with Off to
School Smiling can pick their own backpack to start off the school year.
“I notice the kids walk out excited and proud to start school because they picked their very own backpack,” MacDonald said. “For me, that's a big part of what we want them to feel good about going back to school."
In addition to physical items, House of Blessing is also accepting monetary donations. Eva Hayes, executive director of House of Blessing, said financial donations help make sure all supplies are in equal amounts for every registered student.
“Donations do not always come out in equal measure,” Hayes said. “So, when
we are low in one area, we have the funds then to go out and purchase the items that we need to complete all the backpacks for the students that are registered to come and pick them."
Parents that qualify for Off to School Smiling must be registered with House of Blessing, reside in the food-bank area, have one or more children in any grade from junior kindergarten to Grade 12, and have full or shared custody of the children. Donations will be accepted any time between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, or at an alternative time arranged by calling 519-273-3433.
More information can be found by visiting www.shob.org/off-to-school-smiling.
fire engine expected to cost $2.2 million, while repairs to pickup expected to be just shy of $30,000
Coun. Brad Beatty asked Fire Chief Neil Anderson how something like that could have happened with employees driving these vehicles every day, not to put blame on anyone but to move forward in the future and not have this happen again.
Anderson said the City of Stratford does not employ any emergency vehicle technicians and anytime a vehicle has to be brought to a mechanic, it has to be outsourced to a trucking agency in the area or a shop in Brampton that they go to.
On this particular occasion, a driver was doing a daily inspection and found an empty hole where a bolt was missing. After further inspection, the rust jacking was discovered.
“I cannot answer further how that could happen without having our own professional mechanics in house,” Anderson said, though he also indicated the department now undercoats all vehicles and has since 2017. It was a practice he put in place when he joined the department.
As noted in the management report, Pumper 1, a quintuple combination pumper apparatus, was removed from service due to rust jacking in 2015. That was the last time the local fire department had the ability to respond to emergencies with two aerial vehicles.
The committee approved the procurement of a Pierce manufactured quintuple combination pumper, returning to the 2015 service level of having an aerial vehicle and a backup for when the primary vehicle is in service.
There were a number of reasons Anderson recommended a Pierce manufactured model. The service garage is in Woodstock rather than Brampton, which is considerably closer. Pierce is known as a reliable manufacturer. Additionally, Pierce will provide a 5.5 per-cent rebate if procured through Canoe Procurement Group, which Anderson also recommended.
Buying second hand, given the current market, was not advisable; nor was buying custom, which
wouldn’t be delivered until late 2027 and would be expensive.
The cost is expected to be $2.2 million, with $715,000 coming from the development-charges reserve (which has a total of $1.5 million within) and $1,485,000 coming from the fire capital reserve fund.
Additionally, repairs were approved for another vehicle in the department’s fleet.
Unit 2, the call sign for the Stratford Fire Department’s 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck, was involved in a collision in June that resulted in repairs estimated to cost $28,025 and will take four to six weeks to complete.
Anderson stressed that the driver of Unit 2 was not injured nor were they found at fault.
The vehicle was purchased in 2019 and
has a 10-year lifecycle, meaning it is only expected to run until 2029. A new vehicle is estimated to cost between $90,000 and $95,000 and would have a financial impact on reserves, as a new vehicle isn’t expected until 2029.
Additionally, it would take about a year for a new vehicle to be delivered and, as noted in the management report, there are time sensitive pressures facing the department that would result in impacts to service delivery if not replaced soon.
After a question from Coun. Mark Hunter, Anderson confirmed that after repairs, the vehicle is expected to reach if not exceed its 2029 lifecycle expectation.
Both decisions were done at committee level and will be brought before Stratford city council for final approval.
UTRCA targets phragmites within city
STRATFORD TIMES STAFF stratfordtimes@gmail.com
Residents may have noticed signs indicating that herbicide has recently been sprayed in certain parts of the Festival City, but the City of Stratford is assuring that best practises are being followed.
According to a Facebook post on the city’s page, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)
has sprayed herbicide to control phragmites in several locations within the city to protect unique ecosystems surrounding stormwater management ponds and other locations.
The herbicide is approved for use by Health Canada and was carefully applied by licensed applicators from the UTRCA who follow the best management practices approved by the Ontario Invasive Plant Council and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Schooley Mitchell wins Bronze Wheel Award for Meagan’s Journey
Each year, Schooley Mitchell organizes a walk and fundraises for the Heart and Stroke foundation. This year was particularly special, as Schooley Mitchell walked in honour of former employee Meagan Ellis, who passed away last year on the day before the Heart and Stroke Walk.
“This is probably my fifth year doing it,” said Pamila Kew, a manager at Schooley Mitchell. “We used to do the Big Bike … for three years until they retired it. Then we started organizing the Heart and Stoke Walk because they had retired the bikes.
“This year was different because we were honouring Meagan, who was our HR representative for the last few years here at Schooley Mitchell. Last year on the day of the walk, Meagan was supposed to walk with us. She didn’t come into work … but she was logged in from the day before. Upper management had reached out to the police to see about doing a wellness check on where she was. She had unfortunately passed away. But again, it was on the day of the walk that we found out about it.”
According to Ellis’ father, Peter Ellis, the overall cause of Meagan Ellis’ death was pulmonary thromboembolism and dilated cardiomyopathy with cardiomegaly as well as complications due to the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Schooley Mitchell, the day that this all started, they were above and beyond,” said Peter Ellis. “She didn’t show up at a meeting that day. They noticed she hadn’t logged off on the computer. Knowing her history, they put two and two together and swung into action right away. That takes
an exceptional group of people to do stuff like that. They were there for me, they rescued Chloe, her dog, they were under-
standing. Most companies, I don’t think, could match the quality, care and concern that they gave me and Meagan.”
In July, Schooley Mitchell was bestowed the Bronze Wheel Award for raising $4,150 in honour of Meagan Ellis.
“It’s cool,” said Dennis Schooley, founder of Schooley Mitchell. “It’s nothing that we strive for … we’re just trying to do something good for a really worthy cause and also have our employees involved and get that feeling of contributing, which I think is very valuable to our employees. So that is more of our goal, but the fact that it happened, it’s cool.”
According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, heart attacks, cardiac arrests and stroke can strike suddenly, without warning and the effects can be devasting.
“For 37 years, tens of thousands of people across Canada have rallied together to raise awareness and funds for heart disease and stroke through Heart & Stroke’s Ride for Heart program,” said Anne Guilfoyle, vice president of community programs and engagement. “Through our participants’ generous fundraising efforts, they are making a difference in the lives of people living with heart disease and stroke, and those at risk, by helping drive world-class heart and brain research as well as health promotion and advocacy efforts. In fact, research funded by Heart & Stroke has led to the discovery of several life-saving advances including surgery techniques, treatments and risk-factor identification.
“Heart & Stroke is extremely grateful for our Ride for Heart participants’ generosity and passion. Together, we can beat heart disease and stroke and keep families together.”
Editor’s note: Julia Paul is a freelance reporter for Grant Haven Media and is currently employed by Schooley Mitchell.
JULIA PAUL Times Contributor
BRONZE WHEEL AWARD
On June 24, Schooley Mitchell, Peter Ellis and family dog Chloe pose for a photo in front of the Meagan’s Journey banner.
IN HONOUR
Meagan Ellis and her dog, Chloe.
(SCHOOLEY MITCHELL PHOTO)
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
STRATFORD TIMES STAFF
stratfordtimes@gmail.com
Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae was at Knollcrest Lodge in Milverton last week to announce local long-term-care homes will receive $132,898 through the Province of Ontario’s Local Priorities Fund.
This funding will help residents with complex needs like dementia and bariatric care receive care in the right place.
“Our seniors helped build our local communities and this province, our government will ensure we take care of them in their golden years,” Rae said in a press release. “This funding will allow our rural long-term-care homes to continue supporting our seniors as they age and receive the care they need when they need it and where they need it.”
In Stratford, Spruce Lodge Home for the Aged will receive $12,650 and Hillside Manor will receive $3,398, while Kingsway Lodge Nursing Home in St. Marys will receive $63,174. Knollcrest Lodge in Perth East will also receive $53,676.
"The team at Knollcrest Lodge is thrilled about the opportunities these funds present,” said Denise Bedard, CEO of Knollcrest Lodge, in the press release.
“They will play a crucial role in our vision to develop and implement a Small House Alternate Level of Care Model in the near future."
"We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Long-Term Care for their continued support and investment in our community," added Chuck Meyer, vice chair of the board of directors at Knollcrest Lodge. "This funding underscores the dedication of our staff, the trust of our residents and their families, and the collaborative efforts of all involved in providing exceptional long-term care."
The Local Priorities Fund will help longterm-care homes purchase items such as IV equipment, bariatrics equipment, bed support, bladder scanners and ECGs. The funding even goes towards important everyday things like slip-proof floor mats, wraparound bed rails and grab bars.
Launched in 2022, the Local Priorities Fund invested $20 million in 2022-2023 to help long-term-care homes purchase specialized equipment and train staff to provide more specialized care.
“Our government is continuing to take action to ensure long-term-care residents across Ontario get the right care in the right place,” said Minister of Long-Term Care Natalia Kusendova-Bashta in the
PROVINCIAL FUNDING
Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae was at Knollcrest Lodge in Milverton last week to announce $132,898 in funding through the province’s Local Priorities Fund for long-termcare homes in Stratford, St. Marys and Milverton.
release. “This funding will expand specialized staffing, equipment and other services at homes across the province so long-term-care residents with complex needs can connect to the care they need when and where they need it.”
“Through the Local Priorities Fund, our government is continuing to ensure that Ontarians at every stage of life have access to the care and support they need when they need it,” said Deputy Premier
and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones in the press release. “This investment builds on the historic work our government is doing to provide people with the right care in settings most convenient to them, whether in their community or in their home.”
This funding builds on last year’s announcement of over $80,000 for local long-term-care homes through the Local Priorities Fund.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Perth County council eliminates Cultivating Opportunity Grant program; directs funds toward public AEDs
hours each year to administer the program.
Perth County will scrap its $10,000 Cultivating Opportunity Grant program and instead direct those funds to support a Perth County Paramedic Service initiative to replace and enhance publicly available automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) across the county.
At the county’s July 4 meeting, councillors asked staff to bring back a report on the viability of the Cultivating Opportunity Grant program, which supports charitable and non-profit organizations in the county with programs and services that benefit county residents, to determine whether the grant program could be scrapped to help lessen the tax burden on county ratepayers in light of the jaw-dropping 12.31-per-cent 2024 tax levy increase approved by council earlier this year.
“The overall feedback for the Cultivating Opportunity Grant program has been positive (and it) showcases council’s community support within the county,” said county clerk and manager of legislative services Tyler Sager at council’s Aug. 1 meeting, noting county staff in the communications, finance and legislative services departments spend a combined 32
“ … We looked at eight different (neighbouring) municipalities, of which six had community grants. Those grant (programs) ranged between $750 to $100,000. … Overall, the program has functioned fairly well since the refresh (in 2022).”
While Sager noted previously the program had seen an uptick in the average number of applications each year from 2.6 between 2018 and 2022 and 7.5 for 2023 and 2024, and he said staff recommended maintaining the program, Coun. Todd Kasenberg pointed out the majority of the community grant programs offered in neighbouring and nearby municipalities were not geared toward supporting charities and non-profits similar to Perth County’s program. Instead, those programs are aimed at enhancing economic development and supporting businesses in their respective municipalities or counties.
“I fundamentally have a concern about a grant program that sort of picks some winners among various community entities and projects and organizations for taking various sorts of community development actions,” Kasenberg said. “ … In most of those cases, it there are people in the community who want to see those
things happen, they will donate to the cause, they will contribute hours to that cause. So, I’m one who is not enamoured with continuing the Cultivating Opportunity program.”
Though Coun. Hugh McDermid reiterated his talking points from the previous meeting around the need to reduce the annual budget impact on ratepayers as the cost of living continues to increase, Coun. Dean Trentowsky instead suggested council reallocate the annual $10,000 budget for the grant program to Perth County Paramedic Service’s Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program. At that same July 4 council meeting, councillors learned that PAD’s goals are to streamline and ensure consistent service delivery to the public, enhance accessibility of AEDs and ensure AEDs in public places comply with provincial requirements and best practices.
“When I asked the question, ‘How much does one AED, brand new, typically cost,’ (paramedic service deputy chief of program development Chris Keyser) said around $2,500,” Trentowsky said. “To me, it seems like the perfect opportunity to allocate the $10,000 that we normally put toward the community grant program … towards AED purchase. Ten-thousand
dollars would purchase four new AEDs. That would be one new AED for each of the lower tiers.”
“What we’re speaking about is replacement of AEDs that are existing in the community,” added paramedic service chief Mike Adair. “ … Some of those (AEDs) were funded by the county, some were by donations and now we’re at the point where those need to be replaced. … What we’re talking about today would certainly be helpful to replace those particular AEDs. That’s not to say that we wouldn’t want to expand AEDs in our communities to create safer and healthier communities so we have opportunities to respond to these emergencies … and every year we can save lives. But (we would apply this funding) to replacement AEDs.”
While council ultimately voted both to scrap the Cultivating Opportunity Grant program and reallocate that funding to the PAD program, Coun. Jerry Smith noted his opposition to scrapping the grant program in the first place, suggesting $10,000 is just 0.005 per cent of the county’s annual budget and would make little-to-no difference for ratepayers. Ultimately, Smith said he was in favour of reallocating the funding towards replacing public AEDs.
Council approves 160-bed long-term-care home in north end of city
Stratford city council approved the sale of surplus land for a new, 160-bed long-termcare (LTC) home in the north end of the city, but not everyone is happy with that decision.
Paul Brown, a long time health-care advocate, delegated at the July 23 special council meeting when the decision was made, arguing it is a “staggering liability for its citizens.”
He said the construction of an LTC is a good short-term solution for Stratford’s needs, but not a good long-term solution.
Brown claimed a conservative estimate for what a 25-year mortgage will cost the taxpayer is $400 million, but Stratford citizens won’t own a piece of the facility.
“The taxpayer pays for 80 per cent of the total project cost yet the developer retains 100 per-cent ownership of the home and the land,” Brown said. “The amount of money for all this … institutionalizing our elderly amounts in the trillions of dollars and the taxpayer pays for that.”
He advocated for supportive housing, where seniors can age in place and have the support they need in their homes, and further investment in caregiver support.
He characterized Ontario’s problem as “a system of not investing responsibly.”
Coun. Mark Hunter, after Brown’s delegation, pointed out that the tax figures he used were provincial tax dollars, not municipal dollars, and the provincial government is planning on creating 30,000 LTC beds.
“So, if we don't put those beds here, it seems to me they would go somewhere else,” Hunter said. “And if that's what the province is trying to do, if we reject it here, I think it's probably going to end up in a different community and we're still going to have the same tax burden.”
“It’s kind of a situation of playing the best hand we can, but that doesn’t mean we stop playing,” Coun. Taylor Briscoe later said. “This is a very good hand that we can have to meet an immediate need that the city has with an aging population. And there's also things that we can do … systemically to bring change.”
Jane Marie Mitchell delegated as well, arguing that such a site was not large enough to house the amount of people suggested, as well as suggested that plans be put in place for climate mitigation such as solar panels, alternatives to natural gas and other green-building initiatives.
Robert Verdun also delegated, saying he was happy that at least the provincial government was doing something and asked council to expedite this “long-overdue” development.
Verdun did air a grievance. He said that when he went to research the special council meeting that morning, the city’s website said the meeting had already occurred.
In early 2022, the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care approved the construction of a 160-bed LTC in Stratford by peopleCare.
The new build would restore 60 beds from the previous Stratford home on Mornington Street, which was closed after a flood, and was considered to be built on either the Grand Trunk site or the vacant greenfield property identified as 3188 Vivian Line 37 that was approved.
The approved site on Vivian Line 37 was preferred, according to a management report, as it is approximately 5.7 acres in area with access to servicing.
After delegations, council approved the authorization of sale and conveyance of the surplus land. As said by Hunter and Coun. Larry McCabe, the proceeds of the sale of this land could go towards other housing initiatives – be it supportive housing like Brown advocated for or affordable housing.
“There is an opportunity to use some of the proceeds to get other objectives done regarding housing and the attainable housing at some point,” McCabe said. “But this is definitely a need in the community. You hear about it all the time. People are concerned about what they're going to do with their parents. So, to be able to tell our citizens that we've got this done, I think, is a great thing for this council and I'm hugely in support of it.”
peopleCare is working on timelines with the Ministry of Long-Term Care to obtain construction funding approval for this proposed development by November 2024.
GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Shopping for snazzy specs in Stratford
MERCEDES KAY GOLD
Nicole Streicher and Nikki Wagler are the dazzling duo behind the exceptional eyewear shop Coles and Keys.
The business name is a quirky nod to Ni-COLE and Keys to Ni-KKI. Their brick-and-mortar store is as adorable and unique as the women who own the business. Coles and Keys is a stylish space, decorated in chic navy blue with gold accents and an array of eye-catching art by local artists. Eyewear heaven is located at 25 York St., nestled neatly behind the hustle and bustle of Ontario Street and a stone’s throw away from the picturesque path along the Avon River.
The girl boss team is no stranger to the world of eyecare, and met while working in an
optometry practice in a neighboring small town.
Nicole, a registered optician, and Nikki, a certified optometric assistant and lab tech, are both currently living their best life in New Hamburg. The dream team decided to join forces, opening their sensational space on Feb. 28, 2023. Stratford, an epicenter of artistic expression famous for Shakespearean theatre, is a super spot to showcase their snazzy collections.
Nicole and Nikki are the perfect pair bringing you the perfect fit. The dynamic duo view glasses “as an expression of individuality and creativity.” So true! Whether you wear glasses to block out the bright sun, help you read a best seller or a dayto-day necessity, frames are wearable art.
It all begins with the basics
according to Nicole.
“Eye exams can be given as early as six months and should be performed once a year unless otherwise specified by an optometrist. For adults, most would follow a one-and-a-halfyear to two-year routine unless, again, an optometrist suggests otherwise.”
When choosing frames, the girls agree, “Great eyewear is about balancing exceptional optics with durability and comfortability.”
The next piece of the puzzle is letting your personality shine. Shape, size, colour and thickness are unique like you. Standout specs are their thing!
Nikki attends incredible eyewear events around the world and 2025 promises to be exciting. She will be attending trade shows in New York, San Francisco and the largest and most notable optical fair, Silmo Paris in fabulous France.
After trying on a slew of stylish and super chic fabulous frames, I was curious about upcoming trends. It seems Blake Kuwahara is the man behind the most sought-after collection. Chambers, the name for the crystal frames worn by the designer himself, showcase the architecture and craftmanship of the collection. It appears 2025 will bring carefully tailored
shapes, and Nikki and Nicole will bring in geometric lens shapes in petit frames, a nod to styles of the early ‘90s but with a futuristic appeal.
A passion for eyewear optics and genuine love for their clients drives the dazzling duo to offer supreme service, balancing their own family life with retail expectations.
Coles and Keys is open for shopping fun Tuesday to Saturday while Sunday and Monday are put aside for private shopping appointments.
Follow on social @colesandkeysoptical to stay up to date with the latest and greatest eyewear.
Gay Coffee cold brew crafted with pride right here in Stratford
Coffee drinks are a serious business these days as evidenced by the wonderful array of coffee shops available in Stratford. Gay Coffee, specializing in cold-brewed coffee, is a relatively new, online company based in town from partners in life and in business, Shane Kirkland and Matthew Vaile.
They launched Gay Coffee last February. Their cheerful demeanor is found throughout their sleek website, gaycoffee.ca, where Vaile’s background in design and e-commerce shines. The name was inspired by popular memes circulating social media about how much the gay community loves their cold brew.
“There’s a joke, a meme that went around the internet, that gay men love iced coffee, or the gay community,” said Kirkland.
“It’s a funny stereotype that gays like
to drink iced coffee; even memes in the middle of winter that they are drinking iced coffee instead of hot chocolate and I thought that was funny,” added Vaile. “I saw the domain was available so, for the joke, I bought the domain. I used to have a background in coffee at Starbucks back in the day and Shane has a background in beverages.”
From a joke was born a serious business. As an expert mixologist, Kirkland has developed an outstanding sense of taste and crafted a blend unlike others.
“We found cold brew was typically sour or acidic a bit because most of the time it’s a lighter roast, so we decided to find a coffee that was suitable for cold brew but not as acidic. So, a little bit more dark chocolate notes to it that you would see in hot coffee but bring it to cold coffee,” said Kirkland.
They have partnered with To Bean or
Not to Bean in Stratford after seeing them while passing by on their way to the ReStore. They discovered that what they bring in is fair-trade, ethically sourced beans that are roasted locally, qualities that are important to the couple.
“Last summer, we were testing the beans that they had and making them using the cold brew method to see which beans made the best-tasting cold brew and what flavour notes we were liking, and then how can we highlight those notes with what types of beans we could blend to give the best flavour profile,” Vaile said.
They settled on Mexico and Papua New Guinea as sources of beans, giving a medium and lighter roast respectively that is less acidic. To make a cold brew, the beans are steeped like tea is. The beans, once coarsely ground, are steeped in cold water for six to 12 hours, or overnight.
“Grind it like you would for a French
press – so a coarse grind just enough to break up the beans and the water can touch the ground bean – and soak it for six to twelve hours and enjoy,” said Vaile.
The beans couldn’t get any fresher. The website accumulates orders throughout the week and the roasting is done Tuesdays with shipping on Wednesdays. For the purist, Gay Coffee can be used to brew hot coffee or espresso as well.
Currently, beans are shipped whole but they are working on a new product that is like a tea bag with ground beans that makes four cups of cold brew.
“We are working on a new product that is tea bags of this coffee, so they are larger sized, pre-ground and individually packaged so you can make four cups of cold brew by simply dropping the bag in a pitcher of cold water. That is coming on the website in a couple of weeks,” Vaile said.
STYLING DAZZLING DUO
New Hamburg’s Nikki Wagler and Nicole Streicher are the dazzling duo behind the exceptional eyewear shop Coles and Keys in Stratford.
STOP INTO THE YORK STREET SHOP Visit Coles and Keys at 25 York St. in Stratford to find the eyewear right for you.
(MERCEDES KAY GOLD PHOTO)
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
LISA CHESTER Times Correspondent
Gay Coffee cold brew
SPECIALIZING IN COLD-BREWED COFFEE
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Gay Coffee founders Matthew Vaile and Shane Kirkland appeared at Stratford Perth Pride Festival with their custom-built coffee cart.
They also offer a monthly subscription service which gives those who have fallen in love with the beans a monthly discount. Starting at two bags a month, the freshly roasted beans will be shipped to customers ready to enjoy. Additionally, customers will receive a mesh, cold-brew bag in which to steep their beans. While this is primarily an online venture for now, curious coffee enthusiasts can sample Gay Coffee cold brew at El Cactus Taco Shop. Take it to go with the cold-brew, bottled
coffee concentrate. Just add 16 ounces of water to the bottled cold brew to make 32 ounces of joy. Also, keep an eye out for their upcoming appearance at the Vintage Market Sept. 28 at Factory 163. Local delivery is free in Stratford. Shipping applies in Canada and the United States. Visit gaycoffee.ca to order packages of cold brew and see recipes developed especially for the blend. Also available in the online shop are stickers, brew bags, tumblers, t-shirts and much more.
With their seven-game exhibition schedule weeks away from beginning, the Stratford Hunter Steel Ltd. Warriors have continued adding to their 2024-25 roster.
Up front, Stratford has signed Dax Vader. The forward from Listowel spent the majority of last season with the U18 Waterloo Wolves, scoring 13 goals and 20 points in 35 games. He also appeared in four games with the Goderich Flyers of the PJHL where he was a point-per-game player, posting one goal and four points. Vader is also familiar with the GOJHL as his older brother Tate and twin brother Teague have both played for the Listowel Cyclones.
Coaches and/or parents are invited to send in your sports reports and pictures to the Stratford Times to let Stratford and area know how your teams are doing throughout the 2024 season (and to create some great scrapbook material to be reflected upon in future years).
Game reports should be kept to a
Director of hockey operations Jason Clarke told the Times the team has long believed in Vader’s potential.
“Dax has impressed us every time we’ve watched him,” said Clarke. “He is another young, hungry and hardworking forward who has lots of upside. His brothers have both had success in our league and we think the same is in store for Dax.”
The team also recently an
nounced they acquired defenceman Logan Van Den Akker from the Cambridge RedHawks. The sixfoot-one, 170-pound blueliner from Kitchener has 71 GOJHL games under his belt, 27 of which came with the St. Thomas Stars before going to Cambridge last season. With the RedHawks, Van Den Akker recorded two goals and 10 points in 44 games.
According to Clarke, the team’s interest in Van Den
Akker also goes back to when they had the rearguard at last year’s development camp.
“Logan is a defenceman who we really liked in our camp last season, but we lost him to Cambridge. He is a solid, honest defender who has a good amount of experience in our league. We hope that experience and calm playing style will help our group on the backend.”
The Warriors open their exhibition schedule against Van Den Akker’s former team when they host the RedHawks on Aug. 23. Stratford also plays homeand-home series as part of the preseason against the Fort Erie Meteors, London Nationals and St. Marys Lincolns.
Stratford opens the 2024-2025 regular season Sept. 13 when they host the Elmira Sugar Kings.
maximum of 100 words. Please include a brief description of what happened during your games, including the names of those who scored and any special efforts made by your players.
Please have all reports and pictures in by the end of the month by emailing stratfordtimes@gmail.com.
STRATFORD NISSAN
Award-winning author and former Stratford Festival associate director to launch new book in Stratford
GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
Award-winning author and former Stratford Festival associate director Rod Carley may not be able to launch his new book, RUFF – a fictional tale about William Shakespeare’s efforts to remain relevant in a changing world – in Stratford Upon Avon, but Stratford, Ont., will do just fine.
From noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 24, Carley will return to the Festival City to launch his North American book tour at Fanfare Books.
“Since the novel concerns itself with a bad year in the life of Will Shakespeare, what better place to hold the launch than in Stratford?” Carley said.
RUFF, Carley’s fourth novel, is described as a theatrical odyssey packed with an unforgettable cast of Elizabethan eccentrics. Suffering from a mid-life crisis, a plague outbreak and the death of the ancient queen, Shakespeare’s mettle is put to the test when the new king puts his witch-burning hobby aside to announce a national play competition that will determine which theatre company will secure his favour and remain in business. As he struggles to write a Scottish supernatural thriller, Shakespeare faces one obstacle after another including a young, rival, punk poet and his activist wife fighting for equality and a woman’s right to tread the boards.
Shakespeare and his band of misfits must ensure not only their own survival, but that of England as well. The stage is set for an outrageous and compelling tale of ghosts, ghostwriting, writer’s block and the chopping block.
“It goes back, originally, to my second book, KINMOUNT, where the central character, Dave Middleton, who was a down-and-out Shakespearean director; I wrote him as a descendant of an Elizabethan playwright named Thomas Middleton,” Carley said. “We have evidence that Thomas Middleton possibly wrote some of the supernatural scenes with the witches in Macbeth and possibly added scenes during Shakespeare’s lifetime or after his death. That’s kind of fuzzy, but we know there was some kind of collaboration.
“So, I thought that was kind of the magic what-if. What would happen if I put these two characters together in a book. And if you look at it, there’s an age difference of 17 years. Shakespeare’s turning 40, so I imagined, like many writers, he’s middle-aged, he’s having a mid-life depression, he’s got domestic troubles back in Stratford, he’s never home – his daughters think he’s an uncle they see only at Christmas – and he’s grieving the death of
his son, and his father’s just died. There’s a plague outbreak, the queen died, so everything is topsy turvy and he’s facing a lot of financial stressors. Then you add to it the new rival writers – the punk writers – are coming up and they view him as yesterday’s news.”
Carley, who has directed Shakespeare’s plays and written about people directing Shakespeare and, now, about the man himself, said he wanted to humanize the larger-than-life playwright by portraying him as a man struggling with the same personal insecurities and fears of what the future will bring that many of us struggle with today. And while Shakespeare, as Carley writes him, is terrified of the supernatural, he teams up with Thomas Middleton – a man obsessed with ghosts and witches – to help him write a play that appeals to the new King and the monarch’s own fascination with the occult.
Carley purposely set his story at a time in history not unlike today.
“The same way there’s no point in doing a Shakespeare play unless it’s accessible to audiences today … there’s no reason to write a novel about William Shakespeare unless it’s fresh and it’s got something new to say. … One of my quests in writing this was to also write a book that’s more modern than tomorrow. The book is set in 1604 … but it’s amazing the similarities between what was happening then and what was happening now.
“ … For example, Shakespeare was dealing with the plague; we are dealing with the pandemic. He was dealing with the hyper-conservative puritans who
now had a majority in Parliament; we’re dealing with the crazy, right-wing evangelists in the States. We’re fighting global warming; during his era, they were fighting what’s called ‘the little ice age’ where the climate changes and everything got unseasonably cold. … Fake news then; fake news now. … The homeless situation was terrible in Elizabethan society. They would go down to the ports and steal all the sails form the boats and they made makeshift camps in London. That’s not too far from what’s happening right now.”
While his novel is fiction, Carley did extensive research to ensure it was grounded in real history, and he used whatever details we know about Shakespeare today – though there are few – as inspiration to
create a character and a story that seems possible, if not plausible.
With this year’s Stratford Festival production of Something Rotten – another story featuring a fictionalized version of Shakespeare – in full swing, Carley said Stratford is the perfect place to launch his book tour.
“I had an absolute blast writing this story and I think it will be great fun for readers whether you like Shakespeare or you don’t like Shakespeare,” Carley said. “You don’t need to have any kind of Shakespearean knowledge to pick up this book and read it.”
For more information about Carley, RUFF, or any of his previous books, visit rodcarley.ca.
The book cover for award-winning author and former Stratford Festival associate director Rod Carley’s newest book, RUFF.
Award-winning author and former Stratford Festival associate director Rod Carley will launch the North American book tour for his new book, RUFF, at Fanfare Books in Stratford Aug. 24.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Stratford Winter Pride presents The Laramie Project 25th anniversary production
EMILY STEWART Times Correspondent
Stratford Winter Pride will be commemorating a monumental anniversary of a theatre production that details what happens after a hate crime shocks and shapes a community.
A recent press release announced Stratford Winter Pride will commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Laramie Project with two staged readings on Feb. 8. The Laramie Project, written by Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Project, centres on the aftermath of the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student. The murder occurred in Laramie, Wyo. in 1998 and sparked movements
against hate crimes.
“The Laramie Project has been a landmark production in the history of North American Theatre,” said Ron Dodson, director of the upcoming production. “To have it in Stratford, I think, is a real coup in a sense for Stratford itself and for the larger community of both theatre goers in general and the gay community as well."
The writers of The Laramie Project created a verbatim-style play by visiting Laramie and interviewing residents. They used their names, with permission, and the interviews are used word-for-word in the dialogue.
Dodson said the play has several parallels with Stratford in terms of its approach to community and the city’s size. Before
Shepard was killed, Stratford mourned the loss of Stratford Festival prop maker Doug Grass, who was also murdered as the result of a hate crime in 1993.
“It shocked and shook Stratford residents to their core,” Dodson said. “As a result of that murder, we have become a different city. The Laramie Project reflects that feeling that something catastrophic, something calamitous that happens in a community changes the core feeling of the residents toward their city."
He added Grass, who was also involved in community theatre, was popular and well liked in Stratford.
“Everybody who knew Doug absolutely loved him,” he said. “I was one of those people and it was a real shock to hear what
happened to him."
The Laramie Project also touches on what kind of community to aspire to, and what kind of community the municipality is now.
“In this particular case, The Laramie Project shows us some ugly truths, also some very positive truths about our community and it forces people to think and to feel and that's the real power of the play,” Dodson said.
The staged readings will be held at the James Reaney Auditorium at Stratford Intermediate School. Ticket prices will be announced in early 2025. Updates on 2025 Stratford Winter Pride programming can be found by visiting stratfordwinterpride. com/news.
Perth County council approves
A nearly four-year project aimed at modernizing the Perth County Paramedic Service fleet with power-load systems and power stretchers is almost complete after Perth County council approved the purchase of the final three power stretchers.
Paramedic service deputy chief Tristan Barter presented a report on the purchase of three Stryker PowerPro stretchers to county councillors at their regular meeting Aug. 1. The purchase marks the end of a project that started in 2020 aimed at improving both patient outcomes and safety for front-line paramedics.
“In 2020, paramedic services started a modernization of our fleet which included a power-load unit, which went into the back of the ambulance, and power-load stretchers to aid in the movement of patients in transport,” Barter said. “ … This investment modernizes our fleet and demonstrates our dedication to leveraging cutting-edge technology to improve emergency medical services in our community.”
The Stryker PowerPRO stretcher, when integrated with the Stryker PowerLoad system, represents a significant advance-
ment in patient-handling and ambulance-safety technology, Barter wrote in his report to council. The power stretcher is designed to enhance operational efficiency and patient-care delivery by using powered assistance for lifting and loading, thereby reducing the physical strain on paramedics during transfers. This technology ensures smoother and more controlled movements of patients, minimizing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries among health-care providers.
The integration with the PowerLoad system further enhances these benefits by automating the ambulance loading and unloading process. This system uses a battery powered lift to safely and effortlessly load stretchers into the ambulance, reducing the potential for mishandling or drops during transfer. The PowerLoad system not only enhances patient safety but also reduces the time required for loading and unloading, enabling paramedics to focus more on patient care rather than manual handling tasks.
While the purchase of the final three stretchers was budgeted for in the county’s 2024 capital budget at an estimated cost of $72,000, Barter told councillors that cost had increased by just over $8,000 to a little more than $80,000 – preferred pricing
secured through a purchasing agreement between the manufacturer and Medavie Health Services, the organization that operates Perth County’s paramedic service.
Perth County Paramedic Service Chief Mike Adair told councillors funds to cover the additional cost will be taken from the county’s capital medical equipment reserve.
The Perth County Paramedic Service currently has 11 ambulances in its fleet, all of which are or will soon be equipped with the power stretchers and power-load systems.
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GALEN SIMMONS
Regional Editor
As pointed out by many during a celebration of this year’s Emancipation Day, Canada’s involvement with the slave trade may not be well known by Canadians – but all the more reason why Emancipation Day is so important.
On Aug. 1, representatives from the Multicultural Association of Perth Huron (MAPH) invited the community to join them at the Falstaff Family Centre to celebrate Emancipation Day, a day for Canadians to reflect on emancipation in this country and beyond.
Stratford and area residents gathered in the family centre’s basement and shared refreshments and company.
Nadine Williams, a Jamaican-Canadian poet, artist and educator, among other vocations, joined the group via phone, thanking city councillor and MAPH founder Geza Wordofa for organizing the celebration. She read one of her poems, “Ase Ase,” about Emancipation Day, and unveiled one of the many quilts entitled The Fabric of Our Being she made for the International Decade for People of African Descent.
The decade is from 2015 to 2024 and was declared by the United Nations to recognize that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.
“The decade’s theme of recognition, development and justice is found running along the bottom,” Williams said. “And the country of Canada is covered in Anka-
CELEBRATE EVERY DAY
ra fabric, indicating that people of African descent are tightly woven into Canada's fabric.”
According to Wordofa, the organization will be keeping Williams’ quilt for one month and can be brought across the city as a teaching resource. He said they are privileged to be selected to have this symbol in the community.
Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma spoke at the event. He said he thinks about Emancipation Day on a number of different levels.
“When I grew up as a young man in schools, we never ever heard about Emancipation Day,” Ritsma said. “That was
something that happened south of the border, not in Canada. But there were times in Canada, before emancipation, where government leaders actually had enslaved people.
“I think days like today bring some awareness that is needed and we have much work to do. … We're living in a world of racism, and that is the child of slavery.”
Omar Alshehri, founder of the Stratford Mosque, shared his own experiences with racism.
“When I came to Canada in 2009, I made a decision with myself that I will never feel difference. I will be part of the
community,” Alshehri said. “So, if someone yells at me or someone kicks me from his store … I will treat it on an individual basis. So, I had a peace of mind and a beautiful life.”
Alshehri shared that one day he didn’t follow his own advice and was jogging in his neighbourhood in Waterloo when a woman came outside and told him to leave. He assumed she acted that way because he was Muslim, but her son came outside and explained he was an addict and she was worried that he was a drug dealer coming to sell him drugs.
“Imagine if I just walked off with this idea in my mind,” Alshehri said. “It would have been toxic to me – I would feel (like) a stranger, outsider.”
He clarified he is not denying racism, rather is entreating people to interpret what happens to them in a way that lets them live in peace.
Emancipation Day began in 2021 after the Canadian House of Commons voted unanimously to recognize the day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British empire.
Each Aug. 1, Canadians are invited to reflect, educate and engage in the ongoing fight against anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination as Canadians are not always aware that Black and Indigenous Peoples were once enslaved on the land that would become Canada.
But, as Wordofa said, it doesn’t always need to be on the first day of August.
“We can celebrate every day,” Wordofa said.
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Stratford and area residents gathered at the Falstaff Family Centre on Aug. 1 to celebrate Emancipation Day with a commemorative quilt made by Jamaican-Canadian poet, artist and educator Nadine Williams. Emancipation Day is a day for Canadians to reflect on emancipation in this country and beyond.
Geza Wordofa, Stratford city councillor and founder of the Multicultural Association of Perth Huron (MAPH), phones Williams so she can share not only her story, but a wider perspective on Emancipation Day. MAPH organized a celebration for the day that evening.
Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma shared that growing up, his generation was taught that emancipation was something that was needed and done south of the border – but Canadians need to recognize this country’s involvement in slavery and racism, too.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTOS)
Stage set for world premiere of Salesman in China at the Stratford Festival
It’s an exciting time in Stratford as a major artistic endeavour, Salesman in China, prepares to make its world première, with previews beginning on Saturday, August 3. Leanna Brodie 白仁耐 and Jovanni Sy’s 施崇梵 new play brings to life an ambitious and daring act of cultural cross-pollination: the 1983 Mandarin production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman in Beijing.
The play, a Stratford Festival-Banff Centre co-commission, produced in association with Canada’s National Arts Centre, is directed by Jovanni Sy 施崇梵 with Chinese translations by Fang Zhang. It will be presented in English and Mandarin with surtitles in both languages.
The production features two titans of the stage, Tom McCamus as Arthur Miller and Adrian Pang 彭耀順 as Ying Ruocheng, the historical figures whose diaries inspired the play.
In 1983, playwright Arthur Miller made history by travelling to China to direct a production of his classic play Death of a Salesman starring Ying Ruocheng. Working with the Beijing People’s Art Theatre, Miller and his collaborators struggled to bridge the gap between languages, cultures and national identities for an audience long shut off from the West.
“I know the feeling of living between worlds and serving as a bridge between cultures,” says Sy, who is at the helm of the production, which features 22 actors, and is
thrilled to bring “so much incredible Asian talent” to the Stratford stage. Salesman in China features Jo Chim 詹 翠珊 as Wu Shiliang, Phoebe Hu 胡馨勻 as Zhu Lin, Derek Kwan 關顯揚 as Cao Yu, Ying Qianli, Mo, Street Busker, Sarah Orenstein as Inge Morath and Agnes Tong 唐若馨 as Liu Jun, Qiu with George Chiang 江重仁 as Zhu Xu, Harriet Chung 鍾 浩賢 as Auntie Zhao, Hui Li, Howard Dai 戴中豪 as Ding, Policeman, Justin Eddy as Chinese Opera Performer, Theatre Patron, Tai Wei Foo 符岱微 as Chinese Opera Performer, Theatre Patron, 郝邦宇 Steven Hao as Li Shilong, Kim Horsman as Understudy, Ziye Hu as Guan, Nestor Lozano Jr. as Chinese Opera Performer, Gordon S. Miller as Anthony Calderon, Matthew Wang as Ying Da, Nick Fangzheng Wang 王方正 as Understudy, Asher Albert Waxman as Ying Da, Angus Yam 任孝聰 as Mi Tiezeng, Red Guard, and Harmony Yen as Shen Huihui, Red Guard.
The creative team includes Set Designer Joanna Yu 余頌恩, Costume Designer Ming Wong 黄慧明, Lighting Designer Sophie Tang 菲, Composer and Sound Designer Alessandro Juliani, Co-Projection Designers Caroline MacCaull and Sammy Chien (Chimerik 似不像), Co-Dramaturges Nina Lee Aquino and Bob White, Fight Director Anita Nittoly, and Movement Director Harriet Chung 鍾浩賢 Salesman in China, which hits the stage
on August 3, officially opens on August 23 and runs until October 26 at the Avon Theatre. Tickets are available at stratfordfestival.ca or by calling 1.800.567.1600.
The 2024 season also features Twelfth Night, Something Rotten!, Romeo and Juliet, London Assurance, La Cage aux Folles, Wendy and Peter Pan, Cymbeline, Hedda Gabler, The Diviners, The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? and Get That Hope. For more information, visit stratfordfestival.ca.
This production is dedicated to the mem-
ory of scenic carpenter Gordon Balmain, a remarkable craftsman who was central to the Festival’s work for 42 seasons.
The 2024 season is generously supported by Ophelia Lazaridis.
Developed with support from the National Arts Centre's National Creation Fund. Proud 2024 Season Partners: BMO Financial Group and RBC.
Production support is generously provided by Marilyn Gropp, Martie & Bob Sachs, Esther Sarick and Sylvia Soyka.
Tom McCamus (left) and Derek Kwan, Salesman in China. Stratford Festival 2024.
(TED BELTON PHOTO)
Our Buildings Tell a Story: The Bandshell – a stage for the Festival?
The first octagonal wooden bandstand was built in Battery Park, opposite the current YMCA. But in 1889, it was moved to the intersection of Erie and Ontario streets, and in 1914 to the park near where the bandshell is now.
As the wooden bandstand was falling into disrepair, it stirred much talk about a replacement. Tom Orr, who was named to a three-man parks board committee, approached the city for funding.
The city agreed to pay half the proposed replacement cost of $1,500. The board accepted plans from James Russell, a prolific Stratford architect, for a new bandshell, but it was amid controversy. In addition to the present site of the bandshell, two other sites gained some favour. Orr preferred the present site, and set about selling others on that location. Again, he prevailed.
But controversy continued. The Musicians Protective Association wanted a stand open on all sides. There was a peti-
tion to oppose Orr’s shell design. Dr. Henry Eidt, who led the movement for a parks board in 1904, came out in favour of Orr’s bandshell. Still, there were hurdles. City
Remember that time when Amazon sponsored your church fundraiser?
engineer William H. Riehl thought the design contravened the fire bylaws, so the city was not prepared to fund the project.
Ultimately, the de sign problems were re solved and the financial problems were solved when Orr and other supporters of the bandshell gave their personal guarantee for a bank note and a Lions’ Club campaign netted $500.
Mayor John Andrew officially opened the bandshell on Saturday Sept. 21, 1929, when the Royal Canadian Regiment Band of London played afternoon and evening concerts. It was proclaimed Tom Orr Day because it was Orr who introduced the idea of a bandshell to Stratford after seeing some during a visit to the southern United States.
Thousands of concertgoers flocked to the bandshell during the big-band era. The Orr design was vindicated when the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto and Victoria Park in London, Ont., patterned their bandshells after the Stratford design.
A stage for the Festival? As written in Phyllis Hinz and Lamont Mackay’s book, “Stratford for All Seasons: Theatre
Remember when Facebook bought a case of Girl Guide cookies to support your daughter?
and Arts,” in 1952, Tom Patterson was touring Tyrone Guthrie, the British artistic director he hoped to impress, around Stratford for the first time. Patterson stopped the car at the bandshell along the river. His dream was to hold a Shakespearean festival outdoors. He felt the bandshell, surrounded by a natural, sloping amphitheater surrounded by trees and backdropped by the river, was the perfect setting and it was just a short walk to the centre of town.
Tyrone Guthrie ruled out the bandshell, perhaps because of the small stage and the lack of dressing rooms and washrooms. He thought they could use what is now Tom Patterson Island as backstage for the performance of Shakespeare plays on barges on the river. Just as quickly as he had dismissed Patterson’s bandshell idea, he dismissed his own. Turning toward the area where the festival now stands, Guthrie said, "I guess up there would be better,” and the rest is history.
For more on Stratford’s built history, visit www.streetsofstratford.ca.
Remember when Google provided free pizza to your child’s soccer team when they won the championship?
PAUL WILKER AND GORD CONROY Times Contributors
Band Concert 1939, 10 years after opening.
The bandshell on Veterans Drive in Stratford.
A plaque commemorates the bandshell’s designation under the Ontario Heritage
(VINCE GRATTON PHOTO)
(FRED GONDER PHOTO)
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
News Media Canada
Médias d’Info Canada
Comprehensive canine first aid and CPR course comes to Stratford
EMILY STEWART
Times Correspondent
Stratford residents will have a chance to become certified in first aid and CPR for dogs with an in-person training course.
The comprehensive canine first aid and CPR Course, run by Laurie Jamieson of Laurie’s K9 Consulting, will be held at Zion Lutheran Church Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the course, Jamieson will outline preventative measures and steps to responding to emergencies such as poisoning, drowning, digestive issues, broken bones, heat stroke and parasites.
"There's a lot of comprehensive knowledge covered in the course,” said Chris-
“The double whammy of population growth and richer diets will require us to roughly double the amount of crops we grow by 2050,” according to National Geographic. Not an easy task considering that our planet is 71 per-cent water and 29 per-cent land – and much of the land is uninhabitable. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that only 50 million square kilometres (out of 149 million) of the planet remain productive farmland. Historically, more food has
tine Foster, owner of Pawsitive Difference Professional Pet Care.
Jamieson will also have her own dog with her as well as practice dolls that look like dogs so participants understand what it is like to perform procedures on a real dog. Participants will also learn how to create an Elizabethan collar and emergency muzzle, and will leave the course with a manual and both wall- and wallet-sized versions of the certificate, which is valid for three years.
Foster took the course online during the COVID-19 pandemic, but finds the course is more beneficial with hands-on, in-person training. She found the curriculum, certification and resources provided after
been created by clearing old forests for farming, which has been catastrophic. Today’s added challenge is climate change, shrinking the spaces where crops can be grown. The UN warns that farmable land could be halved by 2050. Every time the temperature rises one-degree Celsius, wheat yields could fall by six per cent, rice by three per cent and maize by seven per cent.
Census data from 2020 reveals that Ontario loses 319 acres of farmland every single day to urban sprawl, which is 58 city blocks. One need simply drive on the outskirts of Stratford to see the evidence of urban sprawl. The Ontario government is doing little to prevent further sprawl, rather it is about to exploit the green belt. What can we do in Stratford to counter the further destruction of our farmland? Densification is a start – building taller residences in our downtown core. The benefits of densification go beyond conserving farmland including:
• Lower cost to maintain in-
the course were all comprehensive.
Foster said there was a lot of interest leading up to the registration deadline. Pet businesses, residents of Stratford and clients of Pawsitive Difference Professional Pet Care have all signed up to become first aid and CPR certified for dogs.
“People are really excited that this is coming and that we're offering this,” she said. “The more people in the community that know these skills, the better they can help.”
Foster, who had plenty of experience as a lifeguard and in first aid and CPR, carries a first-aid kit with her at all times.
“I'm prepared to respond. I have had to bandage a paw and I've had to assist with
frastructure. Public roads, services and utilities are much more expensive to maintain when homes and business are spread apart
• Higher density attracts new employers and employees, especially younger ones. Communities that are convenient for work and lifestyle are more attractive for both employers and their workforce.
• Residents of dense cities drive shorter distances, use public transit more, have fewer cars and tend to have smaller housing units that are located in more energy efficient attached or multifamily buildings.
• Urban density is associated with facilitating the exchange of information and innovation, particularly in industries requiring a high degree of skill and education.
A move to densification will likely cause dissension between baby boomers who want quieter, perhaps quainter places, and the younger set, the future lifeblood of successful cities, who want the excitement of a dense neigh-
STRATFORD TIME S
Erie Street Esso
Strickland's Toyota
Fix Auto
Stratford KIA
Expressway Ford
McDonald's - Erie St
Tim Hortons - Erie St
Stratford Mazda
7-Eleven - Erie St
Joe's Diner
The Urban Barber
Erie Convenience
Mr. Sub
Balzacs Coffee
Shoppers Drug Mart - Ontario
New Orleans Pizza
Zehrs Food Basics
Tim Hortons - C.H. Meier
Festival Marketplace
Stratford Nissan
Stratford Subaru
Peavey Mart
Stratford Honda
Quality Festival Inn
McDonald's - Ontario St.
Papa Johns
Fore Everyone Golf
WalMart
Stratford Motor Products
A&W
Toner & Ink Shop
STRATFORD
TIME S
Rutherford Funeral Home
Athens Greek Restaurant
Stratford Legion
Gino's Pizza
Rosso's
Buzz Stop
Union Barber
Mornington Variety
Split Rail
Stratford Rotary Complex
Agriplex
No Frills
Cozyn's
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Dave's Diner - Sebringville
Stratford-Perth Museum
a dog that was choking, and I did have to jump in a pool and save a dog from drowning,” she said. “I'm confident in that and I want to be more confident and bring that confidence to other pet professionals."
In a follow-up, Foster said there are five more spots available for the September course. She will also talk to Jamieson about bringing in more courses to Stratford. The course costs $210 and includes lunch and refreshments.
Updates can be found on Pawsitive Difference Professional Pet Care’s Facebook and Instagram pages. More information about canine CPR and first aid can be found by visiting lauriescanineconsulting. ca or caninehealthcanada.com.
bourhood. Tourist towns such as Stratford rely heavily on the service industry, from hotel workers to cooks and cleaning staff. These folks, typically younger, require affordable housing (e.g. apartments). To remain a desirable and a truly sustainable city, we need to expand by offering dense, diverse and sustainable accommodation.
The Cooper site provides an ideal location to introduce densification. It has few neighbours reducing any negative impact from shadows cast by larger buildings of four to eight stories. Being in the downtown core, the Cooper site provides perfect access to city infrastructure, transportation (in-city and VIA train service) and is within walking proximity to the city’s core.
Densification has been successful in Europe through the formation of efficient, low-impact cities. While there has been significant population growth in Europe over the last decade, most people have moved into inner cities rather than subur-
ban homes with garden plots and double garages. To support densification, the European Commission introduced a “no net land take by 2050” initiative whereby any urban expansion has to be balanced by converting developed land into green areas. The City of Stratford could provide a Canadian model for densification in smaller cities through planning and zoning that accommodates larger residential builds. Such developments should offer different sizes and prices for housing, a mix between ownership and rentals, and variances in styles that appeal to a large cross-section of people (singles, young families, retirees). To encourage developers, a tax incentive is likely required. Any such developments should offer shared amenities and public spaces for common use. Such amenities include recreational facilities, car-sharing services, commercial services (e.g. grocery stores), public-transit access and seamless connection to technology and cultural attractions.
Pick Up Locations
Sobey's
Shoppers Drug Mart - Huron
Circle K - Huron
West End Pharmacy
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Stratford Hospital
Video 99 - Erie St
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Stratford Medical Pharmacy
Stratford Chamber of Commerce
A.N.A.F.
Freeland's Diner
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HH Delea
AJ's Hair
Features
United Way Perth Huron
Sinclair Pharmacy
Blowes Stationery
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Stratford Public Library
The Parlour Restaurant & Inn
Dick's Barber Shop
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Town Crier Marketing
BRUCE WHITAKER
Times Freelance Columnist
Living car free isn’t easy, but there are environmental benefits
ANNA KOWALCHUK
Most of us are familiar with the cautionary tale featuring those hapless frogs sitting in a pot of water, blissfully unaware of its rapidly rising temperature and the rather unfortunate conclusion that awaits. It seems that some are likening the fate of said oblivious amphibians to that of us humans as we continue to ignore the perils of the rapidly rising temperatures and resulting climate chaos in our pot, planet Earth.
“Nonsense,” I think to myself. “We are not frogs! We have intellect, knowledge, choice, freewill!” But as I look around my circle, I see how easily and often these advantages are compromised and rendered ineffectual by humanity’s two greatest enemies, complacency and fear.
Well, dear reader, I for one (and you for another, I’m sure) choose not to accept this sad state of inertia. There must be folk out there somewhere who refuse the status quo, who refuse to stay put, who choose instead to become environmental frogs a’leaping. So, I set out recently to
Times Freelance Columnist
In our fast-paced, productivity-obsessed world, idleness often gets a bad rap. We are bombarded with messages that equate busyness with success and worth. Yet for most human beings, being busy all the time can cause a lot of frustration and anxiety.
Yet, the ancient wisdom of idleness, a state of doing nothing, has profound benefits for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Far from being a waste of time, idleness can be a powerful tool for creativity, stress reduction, and overall life satisfaction.
Many great minds throughout history have celebrated idleness. The philosopher Bertrand Rus-
find them and once I began searching, I discovered I didn’t have to go far.
Indigo is a Stratford artist, committed volunteer and self-described seeker of simplicity who has, for the last seven years, chosen to live car-free.
“I don’t like cars and I don’t need a car,” they said. “I can do everything I want to without one.”
Dealing with a chronic illness, Indigo does have to conserve energy but finds that in a city the size of Stratford, walking or occasionally, when needed, getting a ride with friends who are going in the same direction works perfectly well in accommodating a busy and happy work and social life.
In fact, being out in the world, connecting with the community and observing up close the marvels of nature has been of great benefit to Indigo’s overall health and sense of wellbeing. For longer distances including visits to family in Kitchener and to places further afield, renting and borrowing a car have been effective options, as have travelling by bus (see Onex and PC Connect) and especially by train,
a particular favourite.
Living car free is not entirely without its challenges. Compromises sometimes have to be made, for example, on when, where and even if to travel as it is not always possible to coordinate with the schedules of transit options that are out of our control.
But for Indigo, this is an almost negligible inconvenience and the benefits of living car free greatly outweigh the difficulties in terms of financial savings, environmental harm reduction and the elimination of the countless stresses associated with car ownership. Imagine if you can, dear reader, never having to worry about finding, or rather, not finding another parking spot again. Clearly, being car free is no longer a wild-eyed, theoretical possibility, it is a thinking-and-actingoutside-the-box reality that is being lived with quiet courage and dignity by environmental heroes like Indigo. While this is Indigo’s story, it is not really about them. It’s about all of us and the choices we make or don’t make and why. Indigo has chosen a somewhat rar-
In praise of idleness
sell, in his essay "In Praise of Idleness," argued that a certain amount of leisure is essential for a healthy society. He believed that reducing the number of hours people work would not only improve their well-being but also increase their productivity. Similarly, ancient philosophers like Aristotle saw contemplation and leisure as crucial components of a fulfilled life.
One of the most significant benefits of idleness is its impact on creativity. When we allow our minds to wander without a specific goal, we give our subconscious the space to make new connections and generate innovative ideas. This phenomenon, known as "incubation," is well-documented in psychological research. Many creative breakthroughs have occurred during periods of rest and relaxation.
The writer J.K. Rowling, for example, famously conceived the idea for Harry Potter while staring out of a train window, daydreaming. Similarly, the mathematician Henri Poincaré made significant contributions to mathematics during his idle moments, allowing his mind to drift and explore new possibilities.
At a time where stress-related illnesses are on the rise, the importance of idleness cannot be emphasized enough. Constant busyness leads to chronic stress, which can have severe consequences for our health, including anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular diseases. Taking the time to be idle allows our bodies and minds to recover from the demands of daily life.
Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and deep breathing, have been shown to reduce stress and improve mental health. These practices encourage us to focus on the present moment, letting go of worries about the past or future.
In addition, periods of idleness can enhance productivity. The brain cannot maintain high levels of focus without fatigue. Short breaks and moments of idleness throughout the day help refresh our minds, making it easier to concentrate and perform tasks efficiently when we return to them.
Idleness also plays a crucial role in our social lives. In our hectic schedules, we often neglect quality time with loved ones. Idleness allows us to be fully present with friends and family, fostering deeper con-
ified lifestyle, living downtown, working from home with no dependents to care for, so living car free will certainly not be as easy or convenient an option for everyone. But as Greta Thunberg noted and as we have been witnessing daily on the newscasts, “Our house is on fire,” and easy and convenient have become luxuries we can no longer afford.
It is now about courage and resolve, about digging deep and about making hard choices for ourselves, our families and our beautiful home. Again, if not now, when? If not me, who? What can I do to turn this appalling thing around?
PS: This article is not intended in any way to disparage the good folk whose livelihoods depend on the various car industries – some innovative and creative solutions to transitioning into alternative transportation options will be examined in future installments.
If you know of an individual, company or organization that deserves recognition for their innovative and sustainable environmental practices, please contact me at frogsaleaping@yahoo.com.
nections and improving our relationships. Shared moments of doing nothing, such as sitting quietly together or enjoying a leisurely walk, can strengthen bonds and create lasting memories.
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we rarely have time for self-reflection. Idleness provides the opportunity to introspect, evaluate our goals, and understand our true desires. This self-awareness is essential for personal growth and fulfillment. It helps us align our actions with our values, leading to a more meaningful and satisfying life.
Incorporating idleness into our lives requires a shift in mindset. We must challenge our societal norms that equate busyness with self-worth and recognize the value of rest and relaxation.
Here are some practical tips to embrace idleness:
Schedule Downtime:
Just as you schedule work and social activities, make time for idleness. Block off periods in your calendar for relaxation and unstructured activities.
Unplug from Technology:
Constant connectivity can prevent true idleness. Set boundar-
ies for technology use and create tech-free zones or times in your day.
Practice Mindfulness:
Engage in mindfulness practices that promote idleness, such as meditation, yoga, or simply sitting quietly and focusing on your breath.
Enjoy Nature:
Spend time in nature without a specific agenda. Whether it's a walk in the park or sitting by a lake, natural settings encourage a state of peaceful idleness.
Resist Guilt:
Let go of the guilt associated with doing nothing. Remind yourself that idleness is not laziness; it's a necessary component of a balanced and healthy life. As we enter the last month of summer, perhaps this could be a good time to be idle. Sit in your backyard and just stare at the sky for a few minutes. Or just sit on your back deck and do nothing. Walk around the Avon River without your cell phone. We too often are doing something. We may be sitting at a most picturesque vista and yet we’re on our cell phone, reading or just distracted. Perhaps we should just try to be idle. Put away your cell phone and give yourself permission to just be.
IRENE ROTH
Times Contributor
Curiously, recently, casually in conversation – a dear friend of mine requested that I read her “journal" of sorts, for a very specific and personal reason before she dies. She isn't imminently dying, but of course, she will one day. It's a request that flouts the standard practice of keeping whatever personal musings and secrets one has to oneself, hidden in a drawer somewhere.
Thinking about the request made me ponder – these diaries and journals that some of us deliberate over, filled with our most private stories and sentiments –for whom are these scribblings
SHEILA CLARKE Times Freelance Columnist
Ross Brockwell emerged July 17 after spending more than 12 months with three crewmates inside a 157-square-metre habitat – claustrophobic! The habitat was designed by NASA to practice for an eventual mission to Mars. The mission included Mars walks, daily health checks and growth of veggies in trays. No, it’s not the 2022 film, “Viking,” although there are some eerie similarities.
A group of four NASA volunteers really did leave their families and regular lives to stay together in an isolated facility for more than 12 months. Brockwell, a structural engineer who
Until soon. Live well: Ok-ness
written? I would imagine most of them are abandoned and forgotten on into our twilight years only to be found behind the socks for posterity and those left to read and reflect upon them. Perhaps they are written for us alone. Therapy. A way of working through. These posts I drop here are like that. As much for you, perhaps, as they are for me. But the request humbled me, while at the same time made me proudly grateful that someone, no matter what the relationship, would ask me to deliberately read their private thoughts. Why?
My friend, while jovial, led a solitary life despite her often very populated interactions through her professional work – in boardrooms, at livingroom tables and her being “on display" in her successful profession to promote her brand. As a child she grew up ostensibly alone and I would presume, somewhat lonely, feeling herself largely to be an outsider looking in. That might sound somewhat sad, but she would tell you that despite that sense of being solitary as a child, as she grew, she was in
control of her life and no sadder than many. She was good at what she did, and she moved forward through her days like most of us, traversing mountains of joy and valleys of despair.
That “solitary life" was a life shared with friends, on and off, but never a lifelong companion – and I think it was that companionship that she missed now in her later years. A sharing of sorts, a sense of belonging that might be most deeply felt through the bond of days spent together with someone she cared for – whether husband or wife or simply a close confidant. Sharing – the good, the bad, the triumphs and the let-downs. But over the years she became very aware of herself in a different way from many of us. Not through the interactions in her lifetime, but through her sense of lack. She became hyper-aware of her endof-life reflections and through that, she focused on the fact of her secluded nature.
So, back to the “why?" Why would she ask me to read what she has spent years of her life writing? It's in this space right here; in the reflection of a life-
time where meaning must be found. And her journal had become, for her, the most intimate and immediate method of sharing her life and its meaning with someone she trusts. Tangible proof that she existed between a specific start and end point. The cry of a soul yearning to be known. If this practice isn't recognized daily, then it could conceivably come to a head in the end.
Jean-Paul Sartre in his most talked about play “No Exit" has been famously quoted as saying “hell is, other people." And while we all must find our stable ground to live with one another in harmony, I believe, more accurately, that hell is perhaps living a life that we personally feel to be without meaning when we reflect back upon it. And this is the great soul journey – to make, to find, to bestow meaning upon our lives. As we move closer to that end point, we become more amazed perhaps, or anxious, or maybe more understanding, that it is we who have or have not given ourselves the grace of our own acceptance. That desire that we all have
Web-crawling through overshoot
served as the mission's flight engineer, says the experience taught him the importance of living sustainably for the benefit of everyone on Earth.
"I'm grateful for the chance to live the idea that we must utilize resources no faster than they can be replenished and produce waste no faster than they can be processed back into resources," Brockwell said during the post-mission press conference.
That truly fits the present time period and may sound familiar. We cannot say welcome to Mars today, but we can say welcome to Earth Overshoot Day on Aug. 1. Overshoot Day recognizes what happens when we don’t live sustainably. Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year.
There are no ceremonies and
no huge bells to signal that we have moved into overshoot. What happens is that we survive the rest of the year using resources that are needed in the next year and on into the future. Each year, our use of our resources is growing, so Earth Overshoot Day comes a little bit earlier every year. We maintain this deficit by destroying and using up ecological resources and by accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which increases global warming. We’re paying dearly for that global warming at present as Jasper burns and Toronto copes with a flooding deluge.
We know that governments and large corporations need to address sustainability as they address growth and profit. It’s worth thinking about what moves governments and corporations. Advertising and media may work to convince
and that we all too often hide away from ourselves through our constant outwardly searching, can and will only be found inwardly. Whether a solitary life or one of great social interaction, whether a life of humble means or excess, secularism or faith –the meaning of us comes from the inside out.
We are called to first find our own acceptance, and then our “ok-ness" within the world we walk through. That sense can be fed from many sources, but the sources are not who we are. They may be good experiences or they may be bad. They don't define us. They do what anything external from us is meant to do – help us to see ourselves, alter ourselves, move ourselves from starting point to end point graciously, help us to know the “I” who is presently living and the “I” who will one day be dying.
Stuart is a celebrant and the manager of Rutherford Cremation & Funeral Services. It is his privilege to serve, dispel myths, and give information concerning his field of compassionate service.
us of what we need and want, but those decisions are ours. And it is our decisions as voters and consumers that elect governments and drive industry production. When we purchase a plastic water bottle or when we provide them for an event, we have decided to support that oil-dependent industry. Or, when we drive to a store that is a few blocks away, releasing GHG from our car, we have made a decision to increase global warming by not walking or cycling.
One positive decision we can make is to increase our support of nature. Conserving nature through growing native, pesticide-free gardens is a great way to preserve our biological resources. We can support native pollinators, insects and birds, which in turn help to lessen the effects of climate change. Stratford’s native gardens are growing! Almost every street has at least one and the Churchill Circle garden is a treasure in our city thanks to Garden Stratford. If you haven’t been in that direction recently, take a look, it’s a riot of colour and native plants that invite pollinators and birds.
Felicity Sutcliffe, volunteer coordinator for the garden, would welcome more help! If you could lend your support even for an hour or two each week, email felicitysutcliffe@hotmail.com.
Instead of making decisions that result in overshoot, opt for positive decision making that can preserve our planet’s resources and services. Live sustainably for the benefit of everyone on Earth including you and your family.
Updates:
1. Carbon ppm (parts per million) as of today is 425.8. Safe level is 350 ppm, left in the dust in 1990.
2. Stay hydrated in hot weather! Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real. When the humidex is up in the 30s, it’s really important to drink plenty of water, even better if you’re drinking from a refillable water bottle.
Sheila Clarke is a Stratford advocate for the environment, of our community and of our planet. She is a member of CFUW Stratford, Stratford Climate Momentum, and the Perth County Sustainability Hub.
STUART LENDER
Times Contributor
OH,
THE PLACES
WE’LL GO: Cabbage
Key
– a paradise for cheeseburgers?
Cabbage Key, off Florida’s west coast, is the place of inspiration for Jimmy Buffet’s famous ode to fast food, “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” “Cheeseburger in paradise/ Heaven on earth with an onion slice.” Or, then again, it’s not.
The actual “paradise” of Buffet’s song has long been debated by Parrotheads – a self-description proudly claimed by Buffet fans. In fact, the late songwriter himself once tried to explain the source of the song but that only left fans arguing about the geographical details of Buffet’s comments, leaving the question still unanswered.
The truth is, although Jimmy Buffet did visit Cabbage Key, that’s almost certainly not the source of the Cheeseburger ditty. So don’t go there in search of a genuine Jimmy Buffet song-writing connection.
Instead, go there because the boat trip to Cabbage Key and your time on the 100-acre island is a terrific experience, an ideal day out as part of any trip to Florida.
We travelled to Cabbage Key on the Lady Chadwick, which is owned and operated by Captiva
Cruises, sailing out of Captiva Island – a not-to-be-missed destination in its own right.
The voyage is very pleasant. What’s not to love about sailing in the Gulf of Mexico under sun and blue skies? And our experience was augmented by commentary from a knowledgeable guide, and even more, by the antics of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins that gamboled beside the ship for long stretches of the journey.
Our guide suggested that the Lady Chadwick sailings are “a good opportunity for dolphins to see humans in captivity.” Well, they certainly seemed to enjoy something about the experience, even though the marine mammals had to slow down to stay with the boat – dolphins can travel at 30 miles per hour, while our ship topped out at 10 miles per hour.
The dolphins had left us behind well before we arrived at Cabbage
Key – so named for the cabbage palms that grow there. Cabbage palms are also known as sabal palms, and they are the official tree of Florida, although they are not actually a tree at all, being more closely related to grass. For some reason, this factoid amuses me greatly.
Cabbage Key was occupied by the Calusa tribe for about 15 centuries until 1570 AD, and remnants of their occupation can still be found in the shell mounds on the island. More recently, the island was purchased by mystery novelist Mary Roberts Reinhart, in the 1930s. Her claim to fame is coining the phrase, “The butler did it.”
The property eventually became an inn and restaurant – which it is to today. The rustic restaurant is decorated with about $70,000 in autographed dollar bills, a practice that allegedly goes back to fishermen who left signed bills
in the bar as a “line of credit” in case they were broke on their next visit. And yes, just to keep the mystery alive, there is in fact a dollar bill on display behind the bar signed by Jimmy Buffet! There are also carefully protected bills signed by Presidents Kennedy and Carter.
I’m told that $10,000 to $15,000 worth of dollar bills fall off the walls and ceiling every year; the money is donated to a local charity. New visitors are quick to replenish the supply.
You can visit the island on the Lady Chadwick or another cruise ship, or privately, but the former is a better idea since the restaurant is a very popular place, and the cruise ticket includes immediate admission. You jump what can be a very long queue.
So… should you order a cheeseburger on Cabbage Key? Well, thousands do, in a nod to the probably apocryphal story, but I opted for a totally delicious grilled ma-
hi-mahi sandwich, accompanied by a local mango wheat beer. I didn’t regret my no-cheeseburger order for one minute.
I love the fact that the servers in the restaurant wear T-shirts with ten answers to questions on the back. For instance, answer one is $70,000; two is $10,000; four is “The Cabbage Palm Tree.” If you have been paying attention as you read this piece, you already know the questions.
Answer five is “Yes, we live here” – the staff does not have to commute. Answer eight is “underwater cable” – the source of power.
And answer ten is “Thru the bar on the left” – the location of the loo.
Your stay on Cabbage Key includes enough time for a stroll along the nature trails around the island. You are sure to encounter a variety of birds and beast, but most famous are the gopher tortoises. They hang out outside their holes around the restaurant, and you will also find them along the trails.
Eventually, unless you have booked one of the accommodations on the island, the time will come to re-board the Lady Chadwick and find a comfortable chair on the top deck for the voyage back to Captiva Island. You’ll probably spot more dolphins; you’ll certainly hear recorded music by Jimmy Buffet; and I am pretty sure you will be adding your trip to Cabbage Key to your short list of “best travel experiences.”
Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and President of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@golden. net.
PAUL KNOWLES Times Contributor
A plaque on Cabbage Key honours the long-time occupation of the Calusa Native Americans. Shell mounds left by them remain on the island.
(PAUL KNOWLES PHOTOS)
Dining at Cabbage Key for a few bucks under $70,000 in dollar bills.
The Lady Chadwick.
Why did the cowboy die with his boots on? Because he didn’t want to stub his toe when he kicked the bucket
What did the fireman’s wife get for Christmas? A ladder in her stocking
What lies at the bottom of the sea and shivers? A nervous wreck
What do you call an American drawing? Yankee doodle
Have you ever seen a man eating tiger? No, but in the cafe next door I once saw a man eating chicken
What do cannibals eat for breakfast? Buttered host
What do you call a cat with eight legs that likes to swim? An octopuss
What is the best way to communicate with a fish? Drop it a line
What do you call Rodents that play Hockey? ‘ Rink Rats’
LEO
Leo is an extra large, goofy boy looking for someone that will love him and all of his goofiness. Only two years and six months old, Leo would love a family that will keep him active and give him lots of daily exercise and enrichment to keep him busy and happy. He would love to be an only fur baby in the house so he can have all the attention to himself. He also has a discounted adoption fee to help find him his furrever home sooner! If you’re interested in adding Leo to your family, submit an application at kwpshumane.ca.
STREETS OF STRATFORD
COMING EVENTS
FOOD TRUCK MONDAYS
Monday, August 12, 2024 at Grace United Church in Tavistock, 116 Woodstock St. S. • 4:30 until 7:30 pm
Proceeds supporting Camp Bimini
enjoy delicious food prepared by: 'Fo Cheezy, Moreish Ice Cream and Ish n Chips
YARD & BAKE SALE
Saturday, August 17; 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Legion Branch 8, 804 Ontario St. (behind A & W)
Stop in and enjoy back bacon on a bun, find a treasure and support your local Legion.
FOOD TRUCK MONDAYS
Monday, August 19, 2024 at Grace United Church in Tavistock, 116 Woodstock St. S. • 4:30 until 7:30 pm
Proceeds supporting Tavistock Assistance Program (TAP) enjoy delicious food prepared by: Crystals Fries, Born2Eat and The Food Truck Conestoga
FOOD TRUCK MONDAYS
Monday, August 26, 2024 at Grace United Church in Tavistock, 116 Woodstock St. S. • 4:30 until 7:30 pm
Proceeds supporting Grace United Church enjoy delicious food prepared by: Ish n Chips, SWAT and Moreish Ice Cream
STRATFORD TIMES
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GARDEN STRATFORD GENERAL MEETING
Monday September 9, 2024; 7:15 – 9:00 p.m.
Army Navy Hall, 151 Lorne Ave. E., Stratford
Featured Presentation: “Bees and Native Bees”, Jennie Girard, Master Gardener. Meeting Open to Everyone; Free Admission.
TREES: Shade trees, Fruit trees, Apple, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Sweet and Sour Cherries, Apricot, Nectarines, Blueberry, Haskopp, Black Chokeberry, Grapes etc. Lots of Spruce, Pine, Cedars for windbreaks and privacy hedges, Sizes 1 to 6+.
STRATFORD TIMES
Flowering shrubs and much more.
Come check us out Mon-Sat 7:00am - 6:00pm Martin's Nursery 42661 Orangehill Road Wroxeter (1 concession north of Wroxeter on Belmore Line)
Have you been affected by someone else's drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups could help YOU! Call for time and place. 1-800-706-9833 or App Available
WANTING TO BUY – All collectibles including sports cards, beanie babies, Funko pops and stamps. Highest prices paid. Free appraisals. Are you downsizing or need an estate clean out? We can help. Call or text Stan anytime 519-868-3814.
Fair value offered for your vinyl records, cassette tapes & hifi components. Please contact Sound Fixation, 519801-5421, 4 George St. W, Stratford.
I WILL PAY CASH FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES – Coca Cola Pepsi any pop company, Brewery items Kuntz, Huether Labatts etc. Old radios and gramophones, Wristwatches and pocket watches, Old fruit jars Beaver Star Bee Hive etc. Any old oil cans and signs Red Indian Supertest etc. Any small furniture. If you are moving or cleaning out stuff please contact me - 519-570-6920.
$ Cash Paid $ for your RECORDS and LPs. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Pop, Folk, Soundtracks, and more. Selectively buying CDs, Cassettes, Turntables, and Stereo Equipment. For more information: DIAMOND DOGS MUSIC 114 Ontario St. Stratford / 226-972-5750 A WORKING CAMCORDER that will play Hi-8 digital tapes. Phone 519-284-3774
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