STRATFORD
A Passion for People
SHERRIE ROULSTON
Real Estate Broker
email: sherrieroulston@royallepage.ca
Direct: 519-272-3578
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Provocation Ideas Festival (PIF) is asking what Stratford’s Avon River could become in the years ahead with its newest initiative.
Flowing Futures: Avon River Design Challenge is a partnership between PIF, BMI Group, the Stratford Public Library, Our Stōr(y), Pathways to Poetry Festival and the Boathouse Stratford, with support from the Destination Development Fund. It invites artists, students, designers, environmental thinkers and community members to propose bold new ideas for the iconic river.
Mark Rosenfeld, PIF founding director, and other partners gathered on the banks of the river on April 2 to announce the project. As he said, the Avon River is not just scenery to Stratford.
“It is part of Stratford’s identity,” Rosenfeld said. “It is part of our memory. It is part of how people experience this city – whether they live here, visit here, walk here, paddle here, gather here, or simply pause here. And today, we are asking a simple but powerful question: What could this river become in the years ahead?
“… It is about imagining new possibilities for the Avon River – but doing so with care, creativity and a deeper sense of connection to place,” Rosenfeld went on to say. “This initiative invites people from Stratford and the surrounding region to imagine how the Avon River could evolve as a place of ecological stewardship, climate resilience, creativity and culture, community connection and public life. And one of the things that
$72,000
AMANDA NELSON Times Reporter
The Canadian Dairy XPO (CDX)’s annual Calves for a Cause auction raised more than $484,000 during this year’s live sale April 1 in the Cow Coliseum at the Stratford Agriplex. Thousands attended to show their support and submit bids on this year’s lineup.
Calves for a Cause is a live auction featuring elite dairy calves, embryos and genetics from breeders across Canada. Proceeds from the sale support programs and care for children at London Children’s Hospital.
The initiative was started by dairy producers Darryl and Sarah Markus to give back after their son, Brooks Markus, received care at the hospital.
The average sale price was $6,942 across 47 live lots, with a total gross of $484,248, including frozen genetics. Jordon Underhill, CDX director, said more than $72,000 will be directly sent to Children’s Health Foundation.
“The cool part about it is that this donation helps people outside of the agricultural industry,” said Underhill. “It’s a bigger picture. Everybody knows somebody who’s had a child who’s been in a children’s hospital, and it’s such an
CONNOR LUCZKA
Sales crew and staff join Darryl and Sarah Markus and family at Wednesday’s CDX Calves for a Cause. Some of the money raised from the sale supports the London-based Children’s Health Foundation.
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
Calves for a Cause grosses over $484,000 for Children’s Health Foundation – London
important cause. I like the fact that the cause is helping all children, even those outside of the ag industry.”
Top sellers at this year’s auction included Lot 20, Hilrose-I Altitude Red Annalee, which sold for $19,000 to Alphie Stoltzfus of Pennsylvania. Coming in second was Lot 21, Budjon-Vail Ec Citron, purchased for $17,000 by Mark-A-Valley Holsteins in Arthur. Third was Lot 44, Echo Glen Major Irene, which sold for $13,500 to Martin-View – David Martin, also of Arthur.
“The calves are selected for a combination of conformation, but also genomics,” said Underhill. “So some of it is about physical appearance, and some of it is genomics. The top-selling calf happened to have both, and when you get that combination, then you hit those kinds of sale numbers.”
The sale attracted buyers from across Canada and the United States, something Underhill said is encouraging.
“The show definitely started off in the first couple of years mostly with southwestern Ontario farmers, and obviously, there’s a high concentration of dairy farms in this region,” said Underhill. “But over time, it’s definitely pulling from the east coast to the west coast of Canada, and other parts of the world as well. It’s pretty cool to see that it’s become the industry show.”
Those in attendance who purchased calves included dairy farmers from Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Pennsylvania and California.
“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended our sale last night,” the Markus family wrote in a follow-up post on Facebook on April 2. “Thank you to all the consignors and the buyers who invested in these great heifers. As a family, we are also so grateful for everyone who has played any part in this sale. Your dedication to our sale does not go unnoticed.”
The Markus family also thanked the Canadian Dairy XPO for its support and for providing a platform to run the Calves for a Cause auction.
(AMANDA NELSON PHOTO)
Brooks Markus kicks off the Calves for a Cause live auction with Lot 1, Fraholme Apollo Aneeda-P, consigned by Fraholme Farms and born Jan. 6, 2026. Bidding opened strong, and the Holstein calf sold for $4,200.
PIF invites city to reimagine its river
makes this project especially exciting is that we are opening the door very wide. This is not just for architects. It is not just for environmental planners. It is not just for artists. This is also for students, young people, community members, designers, storytellers, environmental thinkers and interdisciplinary teams of all kinds.”
As Rosenfeld explained, challenge participants are encouraged to submit ideas in any creative format, from ecological design proposals and public art concepts to storytelling, digital media, models, sound works, or performance ideas.
Selected submissions will be showcased in a city-wide public exhibition from October 1-17, with installations and displays planned at Copperlight (Knox Church), Our Stōr(y), and along the Avon River pathway.
The initiative is designed to spark new thinking about how the Avon River could evolve as a place of ecological stewardship, cultural expression, community gathering and climate resilience. The challenge welcomes both simple ideas and more developed concepts, making participation accessible to people at every level of experience. Individuals and teams may submit anything from a sketch and short description to a fully developed design proposal.
Workshops, mentorship sessions and a “River Clinic” with planners, artists and environmental experts will support participants as they develop their ideas. Additionally, the Stratford Public Library will support participants through access to its MakerSpace during regular hours of operation.
Finally, complementing Flowing Futures is Writing The River, a collaboration between PIF, Pathways to Poetry Festival and the Boathouse. Writing The River is an immersive 60- to 90-minute guided writing and paddling experience that invites participants to slow down, listen deeply and write in conversation with the river. It takes place April 24 at 2 p.m.
More information on Writing The River can be found at https://visitstratford.ca/ events/writing-the-river-a-nature-writingexperience-on-the-water/.
Participants of Flowing Futures are being asked to first submit a statement of interest by May 30, followed by a final submission deadline of Aug. 28. A multidisciplinary jury will select projects for exhibition, and visitors to the October exhibitions will also be able to vote for a People’s Choice Award.
An awards celebration is scheduled for Oct. 17.
More information and submission guidelines will be available at provocation.ca.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Kevin September, Mark Rosenfeld, Eric Ball and Kelan Herr and Heidi Sander afloat on the Avon River, announce the Flowing Futures: Avon River Design Challenge on April 2, a community challenge to reimagine the river’s future.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Heidi Sander, founder of Pathways To Poetry, took to the river during the Flowing Futures and Writing The River announcement. Writing The River is an upcoming 60- to 90-minute guided writing and paddling experience that will complement Flowing Futures.
It’s another record-setting year for United Way’s fundraising efforts
the campaign, smashing the $2.52 million goal.
After another record-setting fundraising year for the United Way Perth-Huron, the community came out for a night of celebration – specifically marking a total of $4.8 million for the United Way and its partner organization United Housing.
“We combined have raised more than $4.8 million, which is an incredible achievement for our organization,” said Ryan Erb, executive director of United Way. “We set out with a goal to raise over $2.5 million for our annual campaign and needed to raise (that) money to get housing projects off the ground – and combined, it’s quite an achievement.
“... The big thing is to remember why we’re doing what we’re doing,” Erb continued. “At that evening, there were stories shared from people who receive support and service in the community and what we want to help everyone understand is that approximately 25,000 people are helped every year because of people investing in United Way, and it really makes a difference in people’s lives.”
The annual celebration for the United For Good campaign was held the evening of April 2 at the Best Western Plus Arden Park Hotel in Stratford. While $4.8 million was raised in total this year, $2.56 million was raised specifically for
The other portion of funds raised, $2.27 million, was secured for United Housing, which is focused on building affordable housing across its service area across Perth and Huron counties, through a mix of donations, grants, low-interest municipal loans and community bonds.
Community bonds are a new tool used to raise funds. They are essentially an investment in a local property, offering a percentage of return after a short term. Once the term is reached, purchasers of a community bond have the opportunity to receive their capital back or roll it into another investment.
Erb said that $735,000 was raised through community bonds in about three months, a colossal amount of money in a very short amount of time.
United Housing is currently working on a 10-unit affordable housing development in Listowel. Erb also revealed to the Times that they have secured the former Molly Blooms property in downtown Stratford, with the plan of converting it into nine-units of affordable housing with commercial space for a not-for-profit organization.
More details on that project will be forthcoming, Erb said.
On a night full of inspiring stories, gratitude and celebration, the United Way also
took time to honour the contributions of outgoing campaign co-chairs, John Wolfe and Kristin Sainsbury. Erb thanked John and Kristin for their kindness, generosity and passion.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve as campaign co-chair over the past two years,” said Kristin in a media release from the United Way. “We couldn’t have done this without the generosity of the businesses and people in our community who stepped up to support the campaign. I am blown away by the dedication of the volunteers and staff at the United Way who work tirelessly to raise awareness in our communities.”
“My biggest takeaway from the past two years was the energy of the volunteers and the commitment of the United Way staff. The team is outstanding – people who give their all to ensure that much-needed
services are delivered throughout Huron and Perth counties,” added John. “It’s also been amazing to see the generosity of our community. We truly live in an area where people really care for and help each other.”
That night, the United Way also presented volunteer awards to Ellen Barnett, Gwen Bradley, Sarah Bussey, Sally Desjardine, Karen Dickins, Patti Fievoli, Bernice Glenn, Wendy Hutton, Andrea Loohuizen, Nick Skinner, Tom Soltys, Terri Sparling and Denise Winger. UWPH also presented Spirit awards to Beth Blowes, Peter Maranger & Associates, Ward & Uptigrove, Soup Surreal and Jayden’s Mechanical.
FIO Automotive Canada once again topped the list of workplace fundraising campaigns, raising $174,696 including a dollar-for-dollar corporate match.
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Campaign co-chairs John Wolfe and Kristin Sainsbury watch United Way Perth-Huron's fundraising total reveal.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Perth County council directs changes to proposed forestry bylaw update
GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
Perth County council has directed staff to revise several key components of a proposed update to its forest conservation bylaw following months of public consultation and ongoing feedback from the agricultural community and other stakeholders.
At its April 2 meeting, council received a draft of the updated bylaw – now titled a bylaw to regulate the destruction or injuring of trees in woodlands and woodlots in the County of Perth – presented by county executive director of legal and corporate services Stefan Zhelev and chief administrative officer (CAO) Lori Wolfe.
The draft reflects feedback gathered through the consultation process, which has highlighted the challenge of balancing environmental protection with the practical needs of farmers and rural landowners.
Among the most notable proposed changes was the inclusion of a permitting process intended to address the small number of situations in which a notice of intent (NOI) to destroy or injure trees would not meet the criteria outlined in the bylaw but may still warrant consideration.
According to Zhelev, approximately 100 notices of intent are submitted annually, with roughly 95 per cent resolved through the existing process. The proposed permit option was intended to address the remaining small percentage of more complex cases.
Under the proposal, landowners whose NOI applications were denied could apply for a permit allowing tree removal or injury under specific conditions, with the potential for an appeal process should the permit also be denied.
“What happens currently, at the point where the bylaw official is contacted and they make a determination on whether or not the proposed activity falls inside or outside of the bylaw, effectively no decision is made,” Zhelev said, explaining why there is no appeal process currently included as part of the NOI process. “In theory, there is nothing in writing from the municipality and it makes it difficult to appeal. What are we appealing if there is no decision?
“ … In theory, (an appeal) could happen at the divisional court level, but to my understanding, it has never been done.”
Council, however, expressed concern the additional process could be unnecessarily complicated for landowners and difficult to administer. Instead, councillors suggested incorporating a peer-review process involving another registered professional forester when an NOI application is denied, allowing for a second expert opinion without adding another layer of bureaucracy.
“This is less than five per cent; we’re spending a humungous amount of time on something that is very, very small,” Coun. Rhonda Ehgoetz said. “If they don’t like the process, go to court. I’m sorry. That’s how you do it. … We’re supposed to be simplifying the process and adding this permit, to me, doesn’t simplify it.”
“I think the suggestion of just having a peer review if the notice of intent is turned down is the solution to this,” added Coun. Matt Duncan. “It does give an individual that feels he needs another avenue; it gives them an avenue. If at that point, the peer reviewer decides yes, the notice-of-intent refusal was correct, then they have the position to go to court then. But at least it gives them the chance to be
heard – a sober second thought.”
The draft bylaw also includes proposed changes intended to clarify how agricultural practices intersect with forest-conservation rules, particularly along the edges of cultivated fields.
Among those changes are provisions allowing farmers to selectively trim tree branches along field edges to allow farm equipment to pass safely, as well as permitting the repositioning of dead trees that have encroached on cultivated land or access routes adjacent to woodlands or woodlots.
Council also directed staff to refine definitions within the bylaw, including removing the standalone definition of woodlot and incorporating the definition of windbreak within the woodland definition to better distinguish between the two.
The distinction between windbreaks and woodlots has been a focal point throughout the consultation process, with some farmers expressing concern certain windbreaks could inadvertently be classified as protected woodlots depending on their size or density.
Windbreaks, generally defined as linear treed areas consisting of one to three rows of planted trees, play an important role in reducing soil erosion, protecting crops and livestock, and improving overall farm productivity.
By removing the woodlot definition and clarifying how windbreaks are treated within the bylaw, council signalled its intent to allow farmers greater flexibility to manage windbreaks and living snow fences without concern those features could trigger additional regulatory requirements.
“Given the relatively small impact against the
Calling young artists and musicians – Art in the Barn looking for submissions for second annual event
Young artists in Huron and Perth counties will once again have a chance to showcase their artwork in Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma’s barn.
The Art in the Barn Huron Perth Youth Art Show will return on June 5 and 6. The event will feature a coffee house showcase in the barn from 7 to 10 p.m. on June 5 and the art show and live and silent auction on June 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. Art in the Barn, a collaborative effort by the City of Stratford and Kind-HeARTed Studio, is currently collecting submissions from artists and musicians between six to 24-years-old and living in either Huron or Perth County. Visual artists can send up to three photos of their drawings, fashion designs, paintings, sculptures and/or jewellery and musicians can send up to three music videos of their performances.
“There's no platform for younger kids to showcase their work,” Vanessa De Groot, art instructor and psychothera-
pist for Kind-HeARTed Studio. “Stratford is such a creative and vibrant town and we wanted to provide a platform for young artists to share their creativity with the community while fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment. By inviting students to submit their artwork and showcasing their talents in a public exhibition, we hope to inspire and support the next generation of artists in our city.”
The art show will also feature food trucks, face painting and live and silent auctions featuring the artwork. The live auction will be run by auctioneer extraordinaire Dave Jacob of Jacob Auction. DeGroot encourages Huron and Perth residents to see young artistic talent at Art in the Barn.
“It’s a great way to support local kids and their creativity. It helps build their confidence, brings the community together, and it’s honestly a fun and inspiring experience to see the world through their artwork,” she said. “And they might leave with a new piece of art.”
Submissions can be emailed to artinthebarn.hp@gmail. com by the April 20 deadline and must include the name, age and address of the person entering the showcase.
total tree canopy of Perth County, I’m starting to lean towards saying let’s just take that woodlot definition out,” Coun. Todd Kasenberg said. “It’s woodlands that we’re concerns about. We’ll protect those with vigour and if we take out the woodlots, we still probably need the provision for windbreaks against woodlands because there could be an override.
“Generally, we’re not going to lose it all. … I don’t think people will go crazy and take (all the woodlots) down.”
According to Zhelev, woodlots make up just 813 acres of the 50,661 acres of total tree canopy in Perth County – roughly 1.6 per cent. Woodlands, meanwhile, account for 49,849 acres of the total tree cover in the county.
The bylaw review process began in 2024 following direction from council to examine how Perth County’s existing regulations compare with those in neighbouring municipalities and to ensure the bylaw reflects current forestry practices and legislative requirements.
Throughout the consultation process, staff have received significant feedback from conservation authorities, agricultural organizations, municipal councils and members of the public, reflecting a wide range of perspectives on how best to balance environmental stewardship with agricultural productivity.
County staff will now incorporate council’s direction into a revised draft of the bylaw, which is expected to return for further consideration at the May 21 council meeting.
By Jake Grant
What is the only country that begins with "q"? 2. What American restaurant chain is the biggest purchaser of lemons worldwide?
3. A cutlass, gladius and katana are all types of what?
4. In Greek mythology, who are Artemis’ parents?
5. Which U.S president was a peanut farmer before entering politics?
6. Finish the saying, "April showers bring ______"
7. Mount Everest is part of which mountain range?
8. In Scrabble, each player starts with how many letters?
9. What acid gives sourdough its tangy flavor?
10. What is the strongest currency in the world?
EMILY STEWART Times Correspondent
Curator of Hockey Hall of Fame guest speaker at 2026 Minor Sports Council Banquet; Wall of Fame inductees announced
beyond just hockey – which is where the banquet comes in.
This year’s Stratford Minor Sports Council (SMSC) Banquet will be one to remember. Phil Pritchard, curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame, will be the guest of honour and emcee of the evening – and he’ll be bringing a few trophies for those in attendance.
As Murray Patterson of the SMSC explained, Pritchard will be bringing the Four Nations Cup, the Clarkson Cup and the Hart Memorial Trophy. Stratford, a hockey town through-and-through, has strong ties to the sport, with multiple local legends like Tim Taylor and Craig Hartsburg, which is why Pritchard is coming.
But its sporting accomplishments go
Each year, the SMSC holds an annual banquet and awards ceremony, recognizing Stratford’s prominent minor sporting successes and the athletes and volunteers which achieved greatness in hockey, soccer, softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball and more. Three awards are given out to Female Athlete of the Year, Male Athlete of the Year, and Sports Person of the Year.
Marianne Hawley of the SMSC explained the judging panel looks at which sport the applicants are involved in, as well as what other extracurricular activities they are involved in, their grades, volunteering and community involvement.
Fourteen nominees are shortlisted for
the prizes this year, including:
• Sloan Cameron, hockey and soccer.
• Olivia Leppington, soccer and volleyball.
• Lyla Straus, softball and volleyball.
• Zack Davidson, basketball.
• Owen Hearn, hockey.
• Owen Holloway, soccer.
• Grady Murphy, baseball.
• Ethan Priestap, softball.
• Jashanveer Singh, basketball.
• Corey Bridges, baseball.
• Treanna Gropp, softball.
• Graham Heaton, basketball.
• Kira Hughes, soccer.
• Jessie Jacob, hockey.
In addition to the minor sports awards, the 2026 Stratford Sports Wall of Fame inductees will also be honoured that evening. Patterson and Hawley revealed
Kevin Aitcheson, Robert Keith “Swede” McCully and Oren “Lefty” Price will be going up as Wall of Fame Athletes. The 1941 Kist Canadians Jr. B Hockey team and the 1978 Bantam Hishon Sports team will be going up as Wall of Fame Teams. John Kastner is this year’s Wall of Fame Builder.
The banquet takes place April 25 at the Army Navy & Air Force Veterans hall at 151 Lorne Ave. E. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner starts at 6 p.m.
Presentations will follow dinner, and attendees are encouraged to stay and socialize afterward.
Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased from the clerk secretary at the Stratford Rotary Complex’s arena doors, or over the phone by calling 519-2710250, ext. 245.
CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Sloan Cameron has played for 10 years as the goalie for the U18AA Stratford Aces hockey team and played from 2018-2022 with the Stratford Strikers soccer team.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Owen Hearn plays hockey with the Stratford Rotary Hockey League.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Olivia Leppington has played for the Stratford Strikers soccer team and the Stratford Stingers Black volleyball team.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Owen Holloway played for the Stratford Youth Soccer U21 men’s team as a striker, as well as for Stratford City Football Club in the Kitchener District Soccer League.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Lyla Straus has played for the Stratford Minor Girls Softball Association since 2016 and the Stratford Volleyball Club since 2022.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Grady Murphy plays for the Stratford Nationals baseball team as well as Junior C hockey with the Tavistock Braves.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Zack Davidson played with the Stratford Revolution basketball team, where he was team captain.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Ethan Priestap has played on the Stratford Nationals baseball team since he was eight years old. He plays hockey with the Stratford Rotary Hockey League and umpires for the Stratford Minor Baseball Association and Stratford Minor Girls Softball.
SMSC hosts banquet
April 25
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Jashanveer Singh, not pictured, has played with the Stratford Revolution basketball team. He has also played with the Stratford Cobras volleyball team and the Stratford Black Swans rugby team.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Corey Bridges coaches both hockey and baseball and is a member of the Stratford Minor Baseball Association, serving six years as treasurer of the board.
Perth County awards $760,000 tender for culvert replacement south of Shakespeare
GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
Perth County council has awarded a contract worth just over $760,000 for the replacement of a culvert on Perth Road 107 south of Shakespeare, a project that will require a full 19-day road closure later this year but is expected to come in well under budget.
At its April 2 meeting, county council accepted the tender results presented by director of public works Bill Wilson and awarded the contract to Cope Construction & Contracting Inc., the low bidder, at a cost of $760,785.80 excluding HST. The project had been budgeted at $1.3 million in the county’s 2026 capital budget, meaning the accepted bid is significantly below the approved funding amount for the work.
“This project includes the replacement of a cast-in-place (culvert) that was originally constructed in 1950,” Wilson said. “Over its 75-year service life, this structure has developed several condition-related concerns which have been documented in several OSIM (Ontario Structure Inspection Manual) reports.”
The culvert that will be replaced is on Perth Road 107 between the CN Rail line and Perth Line 33, where the existing concrete culvert carries the Shakespeare Municipal Drain beneath the roadway. The culvert has been identified in multiple inspections as requiring replacement due to structural deficiencies related to age, alignment issues and deterioration of the existing footings.
According to the report presented to council, the replacement culvert will feature a pre-cast concrete box design measuring 3.6 metres in span and three metres in rise, providing improved alignment with the watercourse and increased flow efficiency through the structure.
“This will support better flow through the site and the cast-in-place structure provides a service life of up to 100 years,” Wilson said.
While staged construction was initially considered to allow traffic to contin-
ue flowing during the work, the county determined that approach would significantly increase both project costs and construction timelines. Instead, Perth Road 107 will be fully closed between Perth Line 33 and Highway 7/8 for 19 days to allow the culvert replacement to be completed as efficiently as possible.
A detour route utilizing Highway 7/8, Perth Road 101 and Line 33 will be established and maintained for the duration of the closure.
Construction timing is also subject to environmental regulations associated with the Shakespeare Drain, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA). In-water work is only permitted between July 15 and March 15, meaning construction is expected to begin after mid-July and be completed no later than Nov. 6.
Fifteen bids were submitted through the county’s online procurement process prior to the March 17 deadline, with staff and the county’s consulting engineer reviewing submissions to confirm compliance with bonding, insurance and technical requirements.
The report notes Cope Construction & Contracting Inc. has demonstrated experience completing similar bridge and culvert projects for other municipalities including the City of Sarnia and Lambton County, and has received positive reference checks supporting the company’s suitability for the work.
The culvert replacement is being completed in advance of broader road rehabilitation work planned for this section of Perth Road 107 in 2028.
Additional project costs, including engineering, permitting, quality-control testing and contract administration, will be managed separately but are expected to keep the overall project within its approved budget allocation.
Electronic message boards and project signage will be used to notify motorists of the upcoming closure, and updates will be provided through the county’s website and social media channels as construction approaches.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Kira Hughes has been a volunteer coach with Stratford Youth Soccer for over 19 years, starting to coach when she was 16 years old.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Treanna Gropp, not pictured, has volunteered with the Stratford Minor Girls Softball Association for six years.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Jessie Jacob coached a number of different sports and teams and has been head coach of the of the U11 C Stratford Aces team.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Graham Heaton coaches basketball and has been a board member of the Stratford Tennis Club for 12 years and counting.
‘King and Queen of the Pumpkin Patch’ and Depression-era writer are this year’s
to Agricultural Wall of Fame
A couple from Shakespeare and a long-remembered Mitchell area dairy farmer and writer are this year’s inductees to the Stratford-Perth Museum’s Agricultural Wall of Fame.
Richard and Jean Smelski of Shakespeare are probably best known for their well recognized pumpkin patch, which they operated as a farm retail business along Highway 7 and Highway 8 for over 20 years. Most area neighbours called them the “King and Queen of the Pumpkin Patch.”
Few people will realize, that the equivalent of their revenue from the pumpkins was donated to community causes, including sponsoring a room in the cancer ward at the Stratford General Hospital, along with their many other noted charities.
In 1973, Richard and Jean became founding members of the Ontario Pork Congress (OPC) in Stratford, where the head office was located in their home on the farm for 38 years, with Jean being the longtime secretary and treasurer.
Richard served as manager of the OPC for many years, as well as its president in 1993. During those many years, he oversaw the entire organizing of the three-day show, which eventually became a two-day show, and is still operating in Stratford to this day, 54 years later.
Richard also helped arrange for internationally recognized speakers for the
OPC education program. Meanwhile, as secretary Jean ensured all programs and logistics came together for the third week of June for the show, and during this time, also taught full-time at Conestoga College and raised their two children, Owen and Pamela.
Fostering the OPC was certainly a combined effort of both Jean and Richard as a shared contribution to the swine industry, family and community. At this time, Richard and Jean have both received lead-
ership awards from the OPC and the Ontario Pork Board, in recognition of their contribution to the swine industry.
For over 20 years, Richard regularly wrote articles for the press, notably the Ontario Pork magazine, on various topics pertaining to the swine industry. He often received accolades from the industry and pork producers, for the value of the information that he portrayed.
After leaving his job as swine specialist with OMAFRA in Stratford, and later during his 18
years with Ralston Purina, also as a swine specialist, he received seven Ralston Purina awards, including one with international recognition.
Jean received the King Charles award in 2024 for her volunteer work and community contributions while Richard received the 125th Canadian Commemorative award, recognition for his value over the years to the swine industry.
Jean continues to serve her community as a director with the Stratford General Hospital Foundation, as well as a longtime volunteer at the Stratford Festival. She has been a longtime volunteer with the Shakespeare Opti-Mrs. Club, as well as on the Probus Executive and Friendship Force Organization. Jean is also active in horticulture, travel and serves as an elder at the Shakespeare Presbyterian Church.
Richard, as well as being one of the founding members of the Stratford-Perth Community Foundation, the OPC and the Ontario Pork Industry Council, is currently involved with the Shakespeare Optimist Club, Fryfogel Inn board and Friendship Force, and has also served on the Stratford-Perth Museum board, the Trillium foundation and the Ontario Agriculture Tribunal.
Just recently, Richard and Jean were the producers of a new play at Easter entitled, The Table, which was presented at the Shakespeare Presbyterian Church at the end of March, for two nights of sold-out performances.
In addition to the Richard and Jean, the late Harvey William Ische is being inducted to the wall of fame.
GARY WEST Times Correspondent
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Jean and Richard Smelski, pictured here on their farm’s pumpkin patch, are being inducted this year to the Stratford-Perth Museum’s Agricultural Wall of Fame.
Innovation and youth focus highlight Canadian Dairy XPO 2026
The Canadian Dairy XPO was held in Stratford from April 1-3, drawing a record 18,000 attendees. The show, considered Canada’s largest dairy showcase, featured more than 350 exhibiting companies from around the world, bringing innovation, education, genetics and hospitality to Canadian dairy producers.
Opening ceremonies included several Canadian dignitaries, among them Heath MacDonald, Rob Black and Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma.
“It’s really great to see these people show up and stick their neck out,” said Jordon Underhill, CDX director. “Getting in front of and speaking to the people who produce their food means a lot to the farmers and everyone they talk to.”
Underhill said the record attendance is notable at a time when the dairy sector is consolidating across Canada, with farms growing larger.
“We don’t have fewer cows or less milk being produced; we just see small farms getting bigger and medium farms getting even bigger,” he said.
“We’re seeing consolidation in the dairy and agricultural sector by up to five per cent a year, so the fact that we’re holding attendance and even slightly growing each year is pretty incredible. It really comes down to the quality of the audience, which obviously we have with dairy farmers, but we’re still seeing more people attending each year.”
Event features included the Canadian Dairy Business Summit, held March 31. The one-day educational program focused on discussions about the future of Canadian dairy, including market outlooks, trade pressures, artificial intelligence, profit-
ability and farm succession.
DairyFEST also hosted its annual Irishthemed opening night, presented by Enterprise Ireland, featuring food, networking and entertainment.
Youth Day was held April 2, offering students a career-focused program connecting them with dairy employers for résumé reviews and networking.
“It’s a chance for youth to drop off résumés at the companies that are hiring,” said Underhill. “Over half of the 150 companies that participate in CDX are actively hiring. There are a lot of great job opportunities not only in agriculture but also in agri-food.”
Featured events also included the Youth
Dairy Showing Clinic, Calves for a Cause sale, producer pancake breakfast, Hoof Trimming Corral show presented by Diamond Hoof Care, Blondin Sires Youth Clipping Clinic, John Deere Kids Zone, Genetics in Motion showcase and international pavilions from Germany and the Netherlands.
“The Canadian Dairy Expo is for Canadian dairy producers, but the idea is that we give them access to international innovations,” said Underhill. “We’ve had the German pavilion for years, and this year we added a Netherlands pavilion showcasing companies interested in doing business in Canada and North America.”
Underhill emphasized the importance of encouraging youth to consider careers in
dairy farming, noting innovation is helping improve work-life balance on farms.
“You hear people say this is an industry show, and it’s become the place to be seen, whether you’re an agribusiness or a producer,” he said. “You see families walking around with their sons and daughters, and it becomes more than just a trade show. There’s a cultural component – a real need for it.
“With farms getting bigger and dairy farmers having less time off, this is a chance to get away, network and share ideas. That camaraderie has become really important.
“The magical thing about the dairy industry in Canada is that it’s attracting young people. Whether it’s robotics or the ability to have some work-life balance –which is important to younger people now – those opportunities weren’t really part of agriculture in the past, but with robotics, they are.”
Underhill said innovation plays a key role in attracting and retaining the next generation of dairy farmers.
“It’s attracting and keeping intelligent young people on dairy operations. Youth and innovation go hand in hand. I don’t think we’d have the youth without the innovation, but we do.
“The show’s concept is giving Canadian dairy producers access to international innovation to make them more efficient and help them produce a safer product for consumers. In turn, that’s keeping young people on these dairy operations.
“I think the Dairy Expo does a good job of capturing and showcasing the Canadian dairy industry to the rest of the world. We have so much to be proud of living here in Canada and being dairy farmers in Canada. It’s a great snapshot of what the industry has to offer.”
AMANDA NELSON Times Reporter
(AMANDA NELSON PHOTO)
A Jersey calf born in January is part of the Calves for a Cause auction at the Canadian Dairy XPO. Bidding opened strong, with proceeds supporting the London Children’s Health Foundation.
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
Sue Orr, mayor of South Perth and deputy warden for Perth County, stands with Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma. Both say they are pleased Stratford and Perth County continue to host the international show each year and are grateful CDX is held in a region that boasts one of the highest numbers of dairy cows per capita in Canada.
(GARY WEST PHOTO) EastGen, based in Guelph, Ont., has long been a major sponsor of CDX, along with parent company Semex. From left are retiring CEO Brian O’Connor, Amanda Stokes, recently hired as EastGen’s CEO, and EastGen director of sales Jamie Howard.
‘King and Queen of the Pumpkin Patch’ and Depression-era writer are this year’s inductees to Agricultural Wall of Fame
Ische was a Jersey dairy farmer and columnist for the Stratford Beacon Herald from the Mitchell area.
In many ways, his story begins when he started writing a column for the Farmers Advocate at the age of 19 in 1920, using the pen name of “Rusticus.”
He got married to Pearl Rapien in 1928, bought the family farm and took over his father’s herd of Aberdeen Angus. Later that year the herd was found to have tuberculosis and had to be destroyed.
In 1929, Ische took out a loan to purchase three Holstein and three Jersey cows to rebuild a milking herd and become a dairy farmer. To repay the loan, Ische felt he had a “knack” for writing, and went to the editor of the Stratford Beacon Herald, offering to write a weekly column appearing on the editorial page on the Saturday edition. For this effort he earned $2 per week under his Rusticus pseudonym.
He wrote the column on various farming subjects, such as life on the farm and how current and world events affected local farmers in and around Perth County. Some of his columns were also captured in the Farmers Herald magazine, the Montreal Star and the Philadelphia Farm Journal, among other publications.
Ische gradually sold the Holsteins and
concentrated on the Jersey breed. He showed 14 of the herd (which he eventually increased to 40 cows) at various fall fairs in Perth and Huron counties. With the
help of his sons, he took home many top prizes.
At the Stratford Fall Fair, there was a class of any dairy breed with the best udder.
Ische won the class seven years in a row, and each year took home a winning a silver platter donated each year by the T. Eaton Company Limited.
With a family of seven children, Ische and his wife had a large garden and would sell produce and also churn butter on Thursdays, selling the butter and garden produce at the Stratford Farmers Market on Saturdays. At the same time, his father had started a feed mill during the depression. Men would stop by and work hard just to put food on the table.
In 1938 the banks took over the farms, from farmers who couldn’t pay, displacing them and their families from their livelihood. Ische made it through the “Dirty ‘30s” by making the farm a place of business, thus shutting down the feed mill and custom threshing business to concentrate on milking more cows on their dairy farm.
In June 1938, he purchased a McCormick Deering milking machine from a London firm, making it the first milking machine in Ellice Township in Perth County. For the next couple of months, the herd of Jersey cows were not impressed with the milking
machine and showed their contempt for it. On most nights, there were eight to 10 visitors to check out the new milking machine and some people even showed up at 7 a.m. to catch the morning milking with this new modern way to milk cows.
During the depression, men would help for the day to earn food, and many city boys would come to the farm to work for food and lodging at the same time. In 1968, after Ische had passed away, one of the city boys who worked for him when he was a kid came back to the farm. At that point, his son Wayne had taken over. The boy thanked Wayne while telling him that being on the farm with his father was where his life really started in the right direction. He couldn’t say enough good things about Ische and his great demeanour.
Ische always seemed to be ahead of his time and was glad to teach or confer with others, if they were in need of a hand up. He truly cared about the welfare of his family and community, over the many hard-working years of his life.
The induction ceremony for the Smelskis and Ische will be held at the annual Rural Urban Dinner on April 16 at 7 p.m. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Stratford at the Stratford Rotary Complex, tickets and more information are available at https://tinyurl.com/23uchcm9.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Harvey William Ische, a Jersey dairy farmer and columnist from the Mitchell area, is another inductee this year – known for his writing, hard-work and community-building.
Stratford Poet Profiles: Jennifer Paquette
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Jennifer Paquette’s poem “shelter” is about a childhood lived and played in a setting not unknown to many in southwestern Ontario: the lake.
“Cottage culture – while not uniquely Canadian – is a cornerstone of our identity,” Paquette said. “For many, and certainly for me, going to ‘the lake’ is the quintessential Canadian summer experience ... Inspired by the Canada Is Our Poem initiative, I decided to revisit a non-fiction piece I wrote a few years ago about my family’s row of cottages on a parcel of land in the Kawarthas. Shifting from prose to poetry helped capture those childhood memories in a new way. ‘shelter’ is a tribute to the cousins I grew up with, and the sanctuary that didn’t just shape our lives, but, in many ways, saved them.”
As Paquette said, "shelter" was written for local poet Heidi Sander’s Canada Is Our Poem contest, which asked Canadians across the nation to write about what their country means to them. It will be included in an upcoming anthology of the same name.
shelter
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Jennifer Paquette is one of the Stratford-based poets who are included in local poet Heidi Sander’s Canada Is Our Poem anthology, shortlisted in the contest of the same name.
Paquette, a retired business owner and
piling into Dad’s Oldsmobile, squeezed between the coolers and sleeping bags
windows cranked, beagle in my lap the heaviness of home falling away Canadian summers with my cousins, my first friends
heading north, seven cottages tucked neatly in a row perched atop limestone cliffs above clear, deep water a healing place for the Anishinaabeg our healing place too
unplugging from 1970’s TV long before forest bathing was a thing swimming and fishing, paddling in canoes and hiking to the meadow to pick wild raspberries for our mothers
playing cards and boardgames
roasting marshmallows around stone fire-pits at sundown telling stories and singing old camp songs
hearing mom with her cousins, laughing on long walks down the gravel road or swimming together, perms tucked into floral bathing caps
watching dad with my uncles a circle of lawn chairs on a screened-in porch the curling smoke of unfiltered cigarettes the sounds of ice clinking and cracking
jumping and splashing in the shallow, rocky waters meet at the tetherball pit for hide and seek pulling cotton shorts over wet bathing suits and slipping into muddy sneakers
counting to 100 arms and legs flying; scattering hiding under cottage steps, in sheds and outhouses and behind grandfather trees
calling ready or not, here I come then silence; slowly revealing ourselves sneaking and scurrying back until tag, you’re it!
theatre educator, has been directing and producing voice-over work recently, as well as serving as creative director for Provocation Ideas Festival’s True Tapestries initiative, a city-wide callout for Stratford stories to be performed and included in an anthology. As she said, her connection with the arts and writing has been lifelong.
“As a child, I fell in love with stories and discovered my love for telling them after joining a children’s theatre troupe,” Paquette said. “After decades of directing and designing for theatre, my creative focus has recently shifted to writing. I have adapted literary works for the stage, and (have) been a submissions reader for writing contests. My work has appeared in magazines and on teaching platforms. I have published two children’s books –one with local artist Shane Norrie. Poetry is relatively new to me. In January, my poem, ‘Nesting Dolls’ was published in the Gold Poetry Project’s Time, Memory and Legacy anthology. As I grow older, I’ve come to enjoy the meditative solitude that writing affords.”
As a published author with experience in both prose and poetry, Paquette said the
laughing, shrieking, running and falling rolling and tumbling into home base the taller boys dominating then their swimmer legs carrying them through the air
growing older pushing game-time later stretching the playing field deeper playing at dusk now, thrashing though the woods with flashlights
climbing into trees; perching, deliberating the quiet broken by crackling undergrowth or a yelp, as one of us steps face first into a spider’s web raining; the sweet smell of rotting leaves filling the air
risking; the game growing more dangerous bruises and scrapes, tripping on tree roots scratches from thorny branches, twisted ankles pine needles embedded in sunbaked hands
leaving our flashlights at home base walking the stony path with only starlight to guide us knowing every dip and hill every patch of weed and jutting rock
diving into adolescence
much of it messy, some of it ugly all of it real
holding on to this special time in this special place
spending long days on the water a speed-boatful of shiny bronzed bodies trading hickory sticks and Pop Shoppe root beer for Molson Canadians and lemon gin
gathering around a boozy bonfire singing Neil Young at the top of our lungs another game, then a midnight swim the haunting call of loons echoing back at us
connecting in those dark gentle hours under the towering pines and blue spruce like greedy little caterpillars linked together to survive finding shelter in this place and one another — a spot to hang until it is safe to fly
distinction isn’t a hard line.
“I think I unintentionally blend the two,” Paquette said. “I value efficiency in all forms of literary expression but poetry offers more choice in structure and rhythm. To establish the momentum of childhood and create a driving energy in ‘shelter', I employed parallelism by beginning every stanza with a verb.”
Paquette is currently working on her first play, based on her relationship with her mother who recently died by MAiD at the age of 92. To see that work published, she said, would be deeply rewarding.
And for any aspiring poets or writers, Paquette had three words of advice:
“Read, read, read!” Paquette said. “And try to write daily – even if it’s just a few words. Writing is a muscle that needs to be worked. Also, don’t imitate or compare. Allow your own voice to surface and trust that it knows best.”
Stratford Poet Profiles is an ongoing series by the Stratford Times, casting a spotlight on some of the Stratford poets who submitted to Heidi Sander’s Canada Is Our Poem contest. An upcoming anthology with selected works from the contest will be out in spring.
– Jennifer Paquette, for Heidi Sander’s Canada Is Our Poem contest
STRATFORD SPORTS Warriors dethrone the Maroons, Williams wins Coach of the Year
lead as they travelled to the Chatham Memorial Arena for Game 3.
7-1 rout of the Chatham Maroons, taking a 3-1 series lead.
In this GOHL Western Conference Semifinal series, everyone expected a close contest after the first three games, but no one could foresee the final outcome or how it would develop.
After all was said and done, a new Sutherland Cup Champion will be crowned as the Stratford Hunter Steel Warriors advanced to the Western Conference finals after defeating the reigning Sutherland Cup Champion Chatham Maroons in five games.
Before the series resumed, the GOHL announced that Warriors head coach Dave Williams received the Kernsy Memorial Award for Coach of the Year in the Western Conference on March 31.
Williams describes the experience of winning the award as humbling and attributes it to the hard work and effort of the players, staff and hockey operations team.
“It’s a humbling experience to win it. I think it's a true reflection of the hard work and effort of our players, our staff and our hockey operations for 50 games. So (I’m) just a small part of it, but you know, very proud to have won it. There are a lot of good coaches in our league,” Williams said.
With the Warriors winning Game 2 on March 30, they looked to take the series
Stratford Warriors Player Stats
(Playoffs) (as of April 6, 2026)
Player Pos GP G A PTS
Quinn Kipfer F 12 8 5 13
Coen Galbraith F 12 6 5 11
Max Wildfong F 12 4 6 10
Aaron Green D 11 3 7 10
Jonas Schmidt F 10 5 4 9
Dominic Marshall F 11 4 4 8
Cruz Ferguson F 12 4 4 8
Jaxon Broda D 12 3 5 8
Will Coward D 11 0 7 7
McQuen Haylock F 12 3 3 6
Rhyse Brown F 12 2 4 6
Grady Murphy F 12 2 4 6
Haden Frayne D 12 1 5 6
Joseph Curtin D 12 0 5 5
Evan Arnold F 11 2 2 4
Lucas Minard F 12 2 2 4
Dax Vader F 11 1 3 4
Drew Hodge D 12 1 3 4
Mateo Craievich D 4 0 0 0
Colten Brenzil F 3 0 0 0
Goalies Record
Trevor Zanutto opened the scoring for Chatham at 3:40 into the first period. Then, within 28 seconds at the midway point of the period, the Warriors took the lead with goals by Jonas Schmidt from Drew Hodge and Coen Galbraith from Jaxon Broda.
Ian Lachance tied the game for Chatham at 5:22 in the second period, and the Maroons regained the lead on a double-minor power play 58 seconds into the third period with a goal by Santiago Jimenes.
With 1:48 remaining in regulation, the Warriors tied the game with Schmidt’s second goal of the game, assisted by Haden Frayne and Cruz Ferguson. Veteran Rhyse Brown scored the game-winning goal at 2:36 into the second overtime, securing Stratford's victory and a lead in the series.
Stratford netminder Noah Bender delivered a stellar performance with a 45-save effort in Game 3's win.
Brown commented on the overtime winner and praised his team's resilience, noting that the goal secured a crucial win and set the tone for the remainder of the series.
“Yeah, obviously it feels great. I mean, it's a huge goal. I was lucky that the puck found me there, and I was able to put it into the back of the net. But yeah, as I said, it was a grind. Throughout all of those overtimes, we've stuck together and played as a team, and luckily, we came out on top,” Brown said.
Game 4 took place on April 3 at the William Allman Memorial Arena, with a full house of 1,186 Warriors and Maroons fans packed the arena.
For the second time in the series, the Warriors scored the first goal as a shot by Aaron Green from the blueline went past Chatham netminder Samuel DiBlasi for the 1-0 lead. Quinn Kipfer connected on back-to-back goals, putting the Warriors ahead 3-0 through 20 minutes. Following the second Stratford goal, DiBlasi was relieved for Viljami Kukkola at the 8:22 mark of the period.
Max Wildfong from Ferguson and Green on the powerplay at 2:02 put the Warriors in a commanding 4-0 lead. Zanutto on the powerplay with 4:14 left in the middle frame put the Maroons on the board, but Kipfer’s hat trick less than 90 seconds later put the Warriors back up by four.
Bender and the Warriors' defence faced their toughest challenge of the game during a five-on-three powerplay late in the period. They stepped up and successfully killed the crucial penalty, which ended at the start of the third period.
Kipfer scored his fourth goal of the game at 6:57, assisted by Green and Ferguson. Galbraith, with assists from Evan Arnold and Ferguson, sealed the Game 4 victory with 3:02 remaining, leading to a
Kipfer and Green both led the Warriors with four points each, and a total of 10 players scored in the win.
Williams appreciated the fan support in Game 4 and recognizes the difficulty of the team closing the series in Chatham.
“Well, tonight we got on the board early, scoring some goals, right? And this is a great rink to play out. It can be intimidating for the other side. So I thought our guys did a really good job jumping out to a lead there and trying to get the crowd in behind,” Williams said.
“So I thought our guys played a really solid game from start to finish, and you know, now we've got to go down there and try and close out the series. It's always the toughest game to win the fourth game, and you know, maybe even more so against the team that finished first during the regular season, and it's the defending champions.”
Brown said the game plan was successful, resulting in a Game 4 win.
“We had enough intensity to be carried over, and we just rolled all four lines tonight, which is really good to see,” Brown said.
Kipfer praised his team's impressive performance, highlighting his personal success with the four goals and the team's overall victory. He noted the team's growth over the past three wins, stressing their increased confidence and understanding of their abilities.
“Obviously, a great performance from the team. Feels really good to get for myself. Every line was playing good tonight, so it's just really good to get a big win like this at home,” Kipfer said.
“We've realized how good a team we are. We can compete with these guys. We know that we're better than them, and we can just kind of go out and play our game. Everyone got their roles, and we just got to stick to that and make sure we're putting the puck in the net.”
Frayne emphasized the importance of maintaining their current form to secure the win, highlighted the home crowd's significant role in motivating the team, and expressed confidence in their ability to perform well.
“Yeah, it feels really good, obviously, but it's a lot huger than you think. Yeah, we really earned this, this two-game lead here. We've been playing really good hockey, and we just have to keep going and really, really focus on closing this out,” Frayne said.
“The crowd was amazing tonight. They really pushed us, and we just want to perform for them. So it's pretty cool being out there.”
When asked about the strategy for Game 5, Frayne, Brown and Kipfer agreed there’s no plan to change anything and intend to stick with the successful formula to close
out the series.
On April 5 at the Chatham Memorial Arena, the Warriors looked to slay their demons from the previous playoffs and advance to the Western Conference Final.
Wildfong got things started for Stratford on the powerplay at 1:05 in the first period after he tipped in the shot from Green. Schmidt put the Warriors ahead 2-0 with 6:10 remaining in the opening frame. Much like for the large duration of the series to this point, Stratford kept the high-powered Maroons offence to a minimum impact and preserved the lead after 20 minutes.
The Warriors continued to pour on the goals in the second period as Green scored his second goal of the playoffs from Kipfer and Wildfong on the powerplay at 3:36. With two points, Green has accumulated six points in the last two contests with two goals and four assists.
Haylock and Ferguson added to the goal scoring at the midway point of the middle frame to put the Warriors in a commanding lead for the second straight game, this time in a 5-0 score through 40 minutes.
Kipfer has given the Maroons problems as he tallied seven points in the last two games, ten overall in the series (six goals and four assists) after recording three assists in the game.
Wildfong was another key offensive contributor for the Warriors, tallying six points in the series.
Evan Krell ended Bender’s shutout in the third period, scoring with 8:53 remaining to put the Maroons on the board. Less than 90 seconds later, frustrations erupted when Aydan Doyle checked Bender along the boards in Stratford’s zone, leading to multiple penalties, mostly to Chatham, which continued for the rest of the final period. After a tense sequence involving some Chatham fans, police and arena staff intervened to calm the situation, and the game resumed.
Fortunately, Game 5 concluded without further tension, and both teams and their coaches shook hands in the middle of the ice after the Warriors' series-ending victory. Bender made 40 saves in the decisive win. In the four wins in this series, the Waterloo netminder posted a 1.55 goalsagainst average and a 0.953 save percentage.
For the first time in their 51-year history, the Warriors will compete in the Western Conference final. This also marks their deepest playoff run since winning the 2023 Cherrey Cup when they competed in the Midwestern Conference before the GOHL introduced the current two-conference format in 2024.
Following the game, Williams was proud of the team’s performance in the series and acknowledged the physical and mental exhaustion of playing seven games in 10
MICHAEL WILLOUGHBY Times Correspondent
Valiant Lakers conclude their season at the OHL Cup
The 2025-2026 season for the Huron-Perth U16 AAA Lakers came to an end following a commendable showing at the OHL Cup in Toronto.
Held at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto, the Lakers began their round-robin play against the OHL Cup Wildcard winner and OHL Cup’s 8th-ranked Hill Academy on March 30.
Huron-Perth got off to a strong start on the four-minute powerplay in the first period as Evan Miller from Wyatt Finch and Callum Brooks opened the scoring for the Lakers, and Owen Jarmuth from Evan Fisher and Joseph Haskett put the Lakers ahead 2-0 early in the first period.
Hill Academy got on the board midway through the first period on the goal from Tanner Adams and scored again to tie the game in the 1:06 mark of the second period. Hill Academy took the lead less than three minutes into the final frame on a goal from Kieran Gray. Despite a late push from the Lakers, the visitors sealed the victory on Adams’ empty net goal with under two seconds remaining.
Lakers netminder Rylan Da Costa had a strong outing in the loss, stopping 26 of 29 shots.
Head coach Jason Brooks says, despite the toll of not playing for three weeks, he is satisfied with the team's competitive spirit and resilience.
“We competed and battled. I mean, up 2-0 on the power play early, capitalized on the penalties. It was a physical game, and it's starting to take a bit of a toll on us, not playing in three weeks, probably didn't help, but the Hill Academy is a very good hockey team, and we battled with them to the end, and as a coach, that's all I can ask for,” Brooks said.
Looking ahead to the key doubleheader on March 31, Brooks highlighted the importance of concentrating on each game separately, beginning with the first, and executing their strategy effectively.
“Play it as hard as you can, fight and compete, hopefully you're in a W, and then you worry about the second one when it's there. But why? We just got to get battling and competing, really. That's what it comes down to: winning bottles, winning races, and executing our game plan. I don't care if we play two, three or just one game. We have to do a good job at that,” Brooks said.
The Lakers opened their March 31 doubleheader schedule against the OHL Cup’s 9thranked York-Simcoe Express.
York-Simcoe opened the scoring at the 7:13 mark of the first period on the goal from Gage Kirk. The Express took control of the game in the second period, with goals from Joshua Miles, Cooper Niquet and Jacob Bertucci putting the home side ahead 4-0 heading into the third period.
Miller’s second goal of the tournament from Fisher and Sullivan Kipfer prevented the shutout defeat, and put the Lakers on the board with 50 seconds left in the game. Tyler Wilkinson stopped 23 of 27 shots in the losing effort.
Brooks says the Lakers’ mistakes due to the Express’s aggressive playstyle led to the outcome.
“York-Simcoe plays hard and fast and makes you make mistakes, and then they capitalize on your mistakes, and that was the case again today. They forced us into mistakes, and they capitalized on the opportunities. We weren't able to get much going, and when we did get chances, either we missed the pass or will tend to make a good save. So, know what our third period is pretty good. We battled, but we need to have that effort for the first 30 minutes of the game,” Brooks said.
Looking forward to the evening game against the Toronto Marlboros, Brooks highlighted the importance of playing hard, making smart puck decisions, and fighting for puck possession.
“Got to battle and make good puck decisions. You know, it's the same story: whether it's in the regular season, in the Alliance, or in tournaments, the puck plays. What matters is your decisions matter, and we have to do a better job of it,” Brooks said.
With hopes of qualifying for the next round hanging by a thread, the Lakers faced the OHL Cup’s most accomplished hockey program, the Toronto Marlboros, in the evening portion of the doubleheader.
Preston Hebert scored the opening goal for the Marlies just 3:35 into the first period. Later, around the middle of the period, Declan McCotter scored his first tournament goal assisted by Bridges and Brooks, levelling the score for the Lakers.
However, Will Cameron quickly responded for the Marlboros with a goal less than two minutes later. Early in the second period, Miles Reilly pushed the Marlboros ahead by two goals, and the Lakers struggled offensively for the rest of the game, ultimately losing 3-1 and dropping their third loss in the tournament.
Despite the loss, Da Costa made 36 saves in a solid performance between the pipes for the Lakers.
A frustrated Brooks states that the team battled hard against Toronto but couldn’t execute at a key point in the game, and commends Da Costa for his performance in goal.
“First off, the Toronto Marlies (Marlboros) are a great team. They work hard. They had lots of skill and speed, and I thought we competed with them. We had some opportunities that, unfortunately, we didn't cash in on, and that was the difference in the game. The Marlies capitalized on the chances they created, and unfortunately, we didn't,” Brooks said.
“(Da Costa) gave us a chance. He battles, and he competes. That's all you can ever ask of a goaltender, and he did a great job.”
After being eliminated in the OHL Cup, the Lakers looked to finish their tournament play on a positive note as they faced the OHL Cup’s top-ranked Detroit HoneyBaked on April 1.
Miller opened the scoring for the Lakers with an unassisted goal at 6:06 into the first period, giving them a 1-0 lead. The score stayed the same until late in the second period, when Blake Stephens pounced on a loose puck in front of Lakers’ netminder Wilkinson, levelling the game as they entered the third.
In the third period, Detroit broke through, scoring three goals in the second half of the final frame, ultimately securing a 4-1 victory
and ending the Lakers’ OHL Cup run with a record of 0-4.
Wilkinson put on a goaltending clinic as he made 47 saves against one of the tournament’s top contenders.
HoneyBaked would go on to win the OHL Cup Championship, defeating the Toronto Jr. Canadiens 3-1 in the final at Maple Leaf Gardens on April 4.
Brooks reflected on his team's performance in the OHL Cup and expressed pride in their overall effort during the season.
“I’m very proud of them for what we accomplished during the season. We had an excellent hockey season, a great record in the Alliance, very competitive in tournaments. You come to the best tournament at the end of the OHL Cup, and we played four great teams and came up on the short end of the stick, but it wasn't enough,” Brooks said.
“It just wasn't our best results, obviously. But the boys, the boys I'm so proud of, the way they are. They're just a great group of kids, and they work their butts off and did everything we could ask as a coaching staff.”
The Lakers finished the 2023-26 season with an overall record of 40-15-4.
MICHAEL WILLOUGHBY Times Correspondent
(BREANNA MCNEIL PHOTO)
Huron-Perth Lakers forward Ethan Bridges (19) skates with the puck during an OHL Cup round-robin game against the Toronto Marlboros on March 31.
Warriors dethrone the Maroons, Williams wins Coach of the Year
days, emphasizing the importance of rest for the next round.
“It's fabulous. I mean (Chatham is) a really good hockey team. We've had the battle here, you know, through all five games. I like how our group played through all five games. Really proud of how we played over the last seven to 10 days, and really happy for them that they're going to get this opportunity to move on,” Williams said.
“It'd be nice to get a little bit of rest. I mean, these are hard series. When you start them up, you play seven games in 10 days. So a little bit of rest. Our guys have battled really hard, so I think a little rest will be good for our group, both physically and mentally. Just take a little bit of a break, and I'm sure they'll be interested to follow along to see who we're going to play next, and once we determine who that is, we'll start getting ready for them.”
Schmidt, Green and Curtin expressed their excitement about playing in the conference final. Alongside Brown and Frayne, Schmidt is the last remaining member of the 2023 Cherrey Cup Championship squad.
“Oh, it's awesome. We worked really hard to get here, and it's just a reflection of
what we've done so far, and we should be proud of it, but there's a lot of work left to do, and we're all really eager to keep playing hockey, so it's been really exciting,”
Schmidt said.
“Oh yeah, it feels really good. Everyone's worked so hard for this, and we've earned it. So we're gonna have fun with it moving forward and see what we can do,”
Green said.
“It feels amazing, right? I mean, we were so close last year, and to be back in this building and have a different outcome. It feels great to kind of get our revenge, and we're ready to go for the next round,” Curtin said.
The Warriors will face the outcome of the series between the Elmira Sugar Kings and the St. Marys Lincolns. At this point, the Lincolns are ahead with a 3-2 series lead.
GOHL Western Conference Semifinals (#1 Chatham Maroons vs. #4 Stratford Warriors)
Game 1 – Stratford 2 Chatham 3
Game 2 – Chatham 2 Stratford 6
Game 3 – Stratford 4 Chatham 3 (2 OT)
Game 4 – Chatham 1 Stratford 7
Game 5 – Stratford 5 Chatham 1
Stratford wins series 4-1
Clemmer
Stratford Branch 008
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Mason Clemmer competed March 20 at the Skate Ontario Provincial Championships in Hamilton. Clemmer placed fifth overall in the Star-Eight Men's event.
OnStage Dance Studio awarded Top Studio of the Weekend in Cobourg competition
Dancers from OnStage Dance Studio have returned from the Dance Attack competition held in Cobourg March 27-29. The Cobourg Community Centre was transformed into a proper dance stage complete with lights just for the occasion.
Competitions held at the different venues poses challenges for the dancers as the need to adapt to different types of flooring than they are used to, the size of the stage can be different, different lighting or the house of the theatre can be different.
After three competitions the dancers are achieving improved performance. “We are definitely improving every time we get out there which is evident in the results. I think all the dancers are feeling more confident as they gain more experience performing these particular routines,” said Meghan Seaman, owner and artistic director of OnStage Dance Studio.
And the results were outstanding. Out of 11 studios competing, OnStage was awarded Top Studio of the Weekend.
“This means that our routines had the highest average score. There was a really fantastic prize for that. The entire team gets to go to see the musical And Juliet at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. The value of that is really high and it’s exciting to go and see it as a team,” said Seaman.
There was also a great deal of success with the individual dancers. One of the senior soloists, Graeme Rooke, won top overall soloist of the competition of which there were about 400 to challenge.
“His solo scored the very highest so that’s a huge honour for him. It’s really nice when the senior dancers see their work paying off like that as they get into their final year of dance. All the time and energy and effort they are putting in since they were six or seven and working toward this, they are seeing come to fruition,” said Seaman.
Additionally, teacher and senior choreographer Shaina
Wood was acknowledged with multiple choreography awards in multiple styles in terms of overall choreographer of the weekend as well.
Seaman was surprised to be awarded the Jennifer Horvath Memorial Award of Distinction for guidance and leadership toward students, a validating award for her and her studio.
The students learn so much through competition that cannot be taught in studio. “The chance to get on stage and the chance to conquer that fear of being on stage in front of people is one of the biggest fears people have,” said Seaman.
“They are learning how to conquer that fear and they are learning to win or lose graciously,” she added. “If some -
thing goes wrong in the routine, they have to just continue on and keep it going. There is a lot of benefit in the whole competitive process in the group, that together we start from scratch but together we work with a common goal, and we need all the team members to work equally and with each other. Some people are going to be leaders sometimes and that same person has to take the teammate role sometimes, but together we have that shared purpose and that shared goal that we are continually working toward over the long term. … It’s not just that instant gratification, they’re not going to get it the first time, it is going to be a long process.”
There remain two competitions of the season, April 1012 in Toronto and April 17-19 in London.
(MEGHAN SEAMAN PHOTO)
Dancers from OnStage Dance Studio pose together as they win Top Studio of the Weekend in the Dance Attack competition in Cobourg.
(MEGHAN SEAMAN PHOTO)
Senior soloist Graeme Rooke was thrilled to take home the award for Top Soloist of the competition.
LISA CHESTER Times Correspondent
Bowling League High Scores
Men's
Rob Price 326
Carter Lupton 831 triple
Tyler Cook 826 triple
Mike Palmby 852 triple
Monday Seniors
Brian Wagler 227
Wednesday Ladies
Joanne Ehgoetz 243, 216-611
Bonita Baranyi 200
United League
Sydney Smith 227
Shawn Yampolsky 224
Steven Walker 214, 239-624
Autumn Stadtlander 210
Nichele Butcher 207
Paul Boyd 201
Pin Pals
Thomas Holland 117
Gregory Jones 111
YBC Scores
Bowlasaurus
Dominic Rowe 109
Owen Farthing 102
Pee-Wee & Bantam
Caleb Derks 151
Lincoln Butcher-Cassidy 109
Grey Davidson 107, 267 series
Addi Kollman 101-278 series
Scarlett lllman 118
Annika Klomp 121
Stella Hurley St. Pierre 123,131-346 series
Patrick Adair 153, 169-453 series
Roland Rains 183, 194-506 series
Caleb Luckhardt 159
Connor Tiegs 169
Clayton Lundrigan Patey 165, 175-420 series
Junior
Ruby Parker 202-477 series
Mckenna Morris 186-457 series
Anna Ward 187, 205, 266-658 series
Brianne Bauer 150, 166, 169-485 series
Lauren Furtney 174, 171-490 series
Ryan Scheerer 153, 193, 215-561 series
Hayden Martin 165
Brent Louwagie 191-461 series
Abby Smith 162, 166, 186-514 series
Sydney Shillolo 198
Hugo Black 165, 178
Austin Janmaat 178, 165-465 series
Myla Douglas 153,182, 184-519 series
Senior
Austin Bauer 200, 217-532 series
Zachary Clarke 173, 204, 308-685 series
Jake Sippel 176, 200
Alex Ward 194, 248, 311-753 series
Sydney Smith 154, 155, 182-491 series
Wiatt Robinson 150, 188, 199
Jocelyn Gethke 216
Dominic Boyles Keating 215, 297-677 series
Owen Martin 190, 220
Austin Martin 189, 233
Payton Petrie 221, 224, 225-670 triple
Payton Kainz 213, 214, 250-676 triple
Special Olympics
Nicholas Quintero 130
Luca Scipione 156
Dan Noon 248 (105 POA)
Luke Patterson 197
Phoebe Bootsma 181
Franny Hitchcock 153, 196
Michael Hitchcock 153
Rob Vannatter 152
Sydney Cain 187
Jacob Kaufman 185, 215
Andy Van Schaik 153, 161
Tiffany Keller 155
Meghan O’Donovan 154
Celebrating Duke Ellington’s birthday with a deep dive of memories hosted by Tim Elliott
Duke Ellington has been such a huge influence on local musician Tim Elliott that he has spearheaded two events to appreciate the talented bandleader and composer. In advance of the July 13 concert of Stratford Swings Ellington with the Brian Barlow Big Band, Elliott is hosting a birthday celebration for Ellington where special guests like Brian Barlow will share their memories and perspectives of him.
The Duke Ellington birthday party will take place at 3 p.m. April 25 at Avondale United Church. The free event will be of interest to any enthusiast or even those who remember the four visits Ellington made to Stratford in 1956, 1957, 1965 and 1968.
“In the early days, the Stratford Festival was music and theatre. There was the tent, then there was the concert hall on Lakeshore Drive and Water Street where the Tom Patterson is now. They had music all summer long and Ellington came in ‘56. Ellington loved Stratford and Stratford loved Ellington. They commissioned him to write a Shakespearean suite called Such Sweet Thunder and he wrote it in 1956, then performed it in 1957. It is rarely heard,” said Elliott.
Band leader and composer Duke Ellington will be celebrated at a birthday party hosted by Tim Elliott. This free event taking place at Avondale will be of interest to all jazz enthusiasts keen to learn more about Ellington’s time in Stratford.
Elliott thought that 70 years since that commission was something worth celebrating so he proposed to the Stratford Festival to consider presenting this Shakesperean suite in 2026. He had worked with Brian Barlow on other projects and they came together for this. To promote the concert and support the conversations around it, he thought to have an event where Barlow is the guest speaker. Thinking Ellington’s birthday and Shakespeare’s birthday are close, he chose this April date.
Guests include Stratford locals Gordon Conroy and Laura Pogson who remember the visit and will share their stories. Bill Harris, general manager of the Stratford Film Festival has firsthand experience with family stories to share. Barlow will talk about Ellington and his music from his point of view.
“Talking to others, there were a number of people who were around in those years that were at the concert. People have been emailing me and calling me after learning about my interest to tell me their stories. Two of them are going to speak at the birthday party. Bill Harris will speak. He remembers stories growing up and Ellington was in his living room. The main speaker is Brian Barlow. It is his band that
is presenting Such Sweet Thunder at the festival July 13,” said Elliott.
The talk will conclude with a Q-and-A and singing happy birthday. “We’ve got some special birthday treats for the audience and door prizes. There’s a lot of interest. Ellington is very interesting because of his similarity in approach to Shakespeare who wrote roles in his plays for specific actors in his company. Ellington wrote music specifically for his soloists in his band and he was a Shakespearean scholar,” Elliott said.
The purpose behind the event is twofold. The first is obvious, to celebrate, but the second is to gauge the level of ongoing interest in Ellington for future events. There are a lot of jazz fans around town who would appreciate more events in Stratford.
“I think when you start to see the connections here in Stratford and the history of Stratford as a community, and when you look at what it meant to welcome actors and world-famous musicians, it’s a big deal,” said Elliott.
The free birthday celebration for Duke Elliott takes place April 25 at 3 p.m. at Avondale United Church. No RSVP is required and all are welcome. For more information, email: rtimothyelliott@gmail.com.
Filmmaker Moze Mossanen to appear at screening of documentary You Are Here – A Come From Away Story
The Stratford Film Festival, as part of the 2026 return of Doors Open Stratford, is screening the Canadian documentary You Are Here – A Come From Away Story on April 18 at the Stratford City Hall auditorium. The film tells the extraordinary story of some 7,000 “plane people” who landed in Gander, Nfld. after North American airspace was closed following the attacks of 9/11. Both screenings, at 5 and 7 p.m. will feature a post-screening discussion with the filmmaker Mose Mossanen.
The wildly successful play Come From Away was the precipice from which Mossanen launched his journey into seeking out the real story behind the people of Gander and how they opened their hearts and home to thousands of strangers stranded in their town when all planes were forced to land. What followed was nothing short of an extraordinary and very Canadian story that Stratford audiences will want to experience.
“This all started with Gander. I wondered who these people were that were immortalized in the show, Come From Away, so I reached out to the community in Gander and the Come From Away people were really helpful in putting me in touch with them. Then I took a trip to Gander to kind of introduce myself because if you don’t have trust in a documentary, you have nothing,” said Mossanen.
Meeting the people characterized in the
play left him with so many stories. His favourite is the second day of shooting the mayor of Gander sought them out in the park where they were working and said, “Hi Boys, just wondering how you’re doing and what are you doing Tuesday night? I want you to come to the house for dinner, we’re doing a Jiggs dinner.”
“I said to my producer, ‘Where can you go where the city’s mayor approaches you and invites you to the house for dinner?’ He prepared a great and wonderful traditional Newfoundland Jiggs dinner. My other favourite story is the day we were leaving, we shot a scene with the air traffic controllers prior, and the day we were leaving, I heard my name being called, Moze, Moze, and I looked up and at the top of the control tower one of the guys had climbed out the window and was sitting on the edge waving to me saying ‘Have a nice flight’ and I thought, this doesn’t happen at Peason or La Guardia,” laughed Mossanen. They truly accepted and took in the crew, much as they did the plane people. Everywhere they went people would greet them and told them how happy they were that the story was being told. There is a history of Newfoundlanders looking out for each other and helping each other and the crew was witness to this.
There were powerful and unexpected experiences as the people revisited that time as both locals and those that come from away. 9/11 is a day that was immortalized in memory and affected almost everyone, much in the
bed, made scrambled eggs every morning for breakfast, brought sandwiches, gave medicines and needles and drinks. The drug store supplied drugs and sanitary napkins and baby food, anything that was needed was donated for free. The Red Cross was very helpful and I have to acknowledge their participation. They opened church doors and made beds. It’s not like a big city with infrastructure, this was a small place with two hotels,” said Mossanen. Making this film had an impact on his own perspective on connection and community. It serves as a reminder to be more generous, to be more cautious with people in need. The importance of community, being kind and empathetic are values learned as children but sometimes a reminder is needed.
This film, released in 2018, has been recognized by the Canadian Screen Awards and was released on HBO becoming its most watched documentary. The message is universal and impacts everyone.
same way as the Kennedy assassination or the moon landing; people remember where they were.
“There were lots of times I was in tears listening to their stories of what they did with so few resources. They gave shirts off their backs and pulled blankets and sheets off their own
“I think the message of kindness is something everybody believes in. We’re living in a time where greed and opportunism is so rampant we’ve lost sight of the fact that we’re human and how important humanity is. I think that especially in the last few years the film continues to resonate. On the day we saw the worst of humanity we saw the best in humanity as well,” said Mossanen.
Screenings with the Q-and-A following are on April 18 at 5 and 7 p.m. in the auditorium of city hall. Tickets are available at www. stratfordfilmfestival.com.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Writer/director Mose Mossanen will be appearing in person post screening of his successful 2018 documentary You Are Here – A Come From Away Story. The film is screened as part of Open Doors Stratford courtesy of Stratford Film Festival and the City of Stratford.
LISA CHESTER Times Correspondent
LISA CHESTER Times Correspondent
Foster’s Dinner Concert series concludes with Canada’s Queen of Americana Lynne Hanson
relationships and mental health issues, being able to find the light once you’ve lost it.
Foster’s Dinner Concert series concludes with the highly anticipated appearance of Lynne Hanson in concert beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23. The series has been wildly successful in connecting Canadian singer/songwriters with appreciative audiences eager for the music and stories told.
Hanson’s music is said to be “porch music with a little red dirt,” meaning the lyrics are pretty gritty with a nice mix of folk and blues. When she first started out, she was inspired by singer/songwriters like Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. As the youngest of eight children she listened to the record collection of her siblings and their influences affected her.
“I tend to write a lot of emotional stuff. They are not always my stories but they tend to be rooted in what it is like to be a human being. A lot of what it’s like to be a human is emotion and that tends to be the focus of my writing,” said Hanson. She typically starts writing songs on guitar beginning with a chord progression that develops into a melody and lyrics start to emerge. Her songs are driven by the music.
Her most recent album, Just a Poet, is very intimate and personal dealing with
“It goes back to what it’s like to be alive. Someone said about my songs that I was writing what was in their head,” Hanson said.
The title track, “Just a Poet,” had her thinking about how the music business is now and how difficult it is in the current landscape. Like many of her musical companions, questions without answers left her feeling challenged in ways not experienced before. Themes of what humanity means are relevantly explored.
While her songs are gritty, her stories are humorous and will keep the audience entertained. The accolades for Hanson’s work are many and include Canadian Folk Music Award nominations and a win for English songwriter and ensemble of the year as The LYNNeS (with Lynn Miles). She has received the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award recognizing excellence in songwriting presented by the Ontario Arts Council. Her style is casual and comfortable making for an easy and intimate concert at Foster’s.
“You get energy from the audience, there’s a feedback when it happens. You play a song and it affects people and it connects with people so there’s this energy that passes back and forth. I don’t think there’s any substitute for a live per-
formance. You can listen to a record, and it might sound perfect but there’s something really cool about the live presentation of songs, you can’t replicate it except to be there in person,” said Hanson. Her goal is to make the audience laugh, cry, make you think. She is looking forward to coming to Stratford for the first
time and sharing music and stories with those in attendance.
The dinner concert series features a three-course prix fixe menu, tickets are $99 per person or, for the concert only, $25. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.fostersinn.com and select the menu option Buy Concert Series Tickets.
Out Brief Candles hosting CD release party for debut Every Single Rotten Weed
After headlining Rock the Muse last fall, the Out Brief Candles are hosting a CD release party and concert for their debut album.
Stratford’s Out Brief Candles will have a CD release party for their album Every Single Rotten Weed at the Hall on April 18 at 7:15 p.m. Every Rotten Weed is Out Brief Candle’s debut album.
“I'm very excited for it. It's great to throw a show for ourselves. This is actually the first show that we've booked and headlined locally and it's celebrating our record which is now out in the world,” said vocalist Will Gerhard. “It's the first full-length record that I've released and we've released as a band so it's very exciting to share that with everyone.”
Gerhard said he wrote the songs featured on the album over a decade-long period and channelled some of his personal growth through the music. Guitarist Jason Turriff produced the album and Ryan Campbell and Raphe St. Pierre of the rhythm section tie it all together.
"It didn't have an intentional theme, but what emerged over the song-writing process and I realized after we completed the record was that it’s really all about re -
lationships – every angle of relationships from the way we relate to strangers to the relationships that we fall in and out of, to sometimes the relationships that we refuse to enter and keep ourselves lonely,” Gerhard said.
He added that he’s appreciating the positive feedback from the old friends who listened to Every Single Rotten Weed and listening to the album on repeat. Gerhard said he was moved nearly to tears the day the album came out and he was putting promotional material together.
"A full-length record, that’s what I’ve cared about as a musician since I was a young kid listening to Weezer records in high school, so it means a lot to have our own record and I think we did a pretty good job with it,” he said.
Hello Heather, another local band, and Toronto’s Rhynos, featuring Jack Rudy of Stratford, will be opening for Out Brief Candles. Gerhard wanted to bring bands from different generations together and said Stratford’s arts community is a welcoming one.
“There's a lot of opportunities for people to get on stage for the first time and it's not a super big music community, but I think that means there's less opportunity for artists to fall into like cliques or sub communities, so we do all share with
each other,” Gerhard said.
Tickets for the Every Single Rotten Weed release party are $20 in advance online via https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ the-out-brief-candles-debut-album-party-tickets and $25 at the door.
The album can be purchased at Sound Fixation on 4 George St. West and streamed online on any music platform. The Out Brief Candles can be followed on Instagram via @theoutbriefcandles.
LISA CHESTER Times Correspondent
(JEN SQUIRES PHOTO)
Canadian singer/songwriter Lynne Hanson will be appearing for the first time in Stratford on April 23 as part of Foster’s Dinner Concert series.
EMILY STEWART Times Correspondent
(WILL GERHARD PHOTO)
(Clockwise from left) The Out Brief Candles, made up of Jason Turriff, Raphe St. Pierre, Ryan Campbell and Will Gerhard, will be celebrating the release of their debut album Every Single Rotten Weed at the Hall on April 18.
Our plan to protect Ontario is building new nuclear facilities
As Canada stares down economic uncertainty, we’re ready with a plan to protect Ontario. We’re building the first small modular reactors in the G7, and the first large-scale nuclear facilities in decades. Creating 150,000 new jobs.
That’s how we protect Ontario.
T:12.429"
Are you thinking about running for council? Here’s a few things to keep in mind
In a few short weeks, candidates in cities and towns across the province will begin formally declaring their intent to run for a seat on their local council in the Oct. 26 municipal elections.
The nomination period officially opens on May 1, and prospective candidates will have until Aug. 21 to file their nomination papers with their municipal clerk’s office. The process for filing nomination papers includes collecting endorsement
signatures from residents in the municipality where you live and wish to serve on council, and the paying of a nomination fee –$200 to run for mayor and $100 to run for councillor.
However, the decision to run for a seat on council should be much more involved than finding people to endorse you and paying a small fee. Having covered municipal politics for the entirety of my career, including three municipal elections, I can tell you with certainty that serving on council goes well beyond what the job may appear to be from the outside.
First, you need to be the kind of person who has a deep desire to serve their community. You must be committed to representing all your constituents, even if you don’t always agree with everything they tell you. You must be willing to make decisions that impact neighbours, friends and local businesses, and have an interest in shaping the long-
term direction of your municipality.
Some of your friends and neighbours may not appreciate the decisions you and your council colleagues make, and you need to be ready to accept criticism from anyone at any time and take accountability for those decisions.
The general public may only see their mayor and local councillors at public events like ribbon cuttings and community gatherings or read about the decisions they make in the local newspaper. The real work, however, includes hours of combing through reports and asking questions of staff to ensure you as a councillor understand what you’re reading, and often even more time discussing those reports with your fellow councillors and community members at council, committee and board meetings.
Having read many of those reports myself, I can tell you
that part of the job can be boring and tedious, but each of the informed decisions that come from that work are crucial to shaping both the future and the day-to-day operations of your municipality.
In most municipalities, the pay councillors and mayors receive doesn’t even come close to fair compensation for the work they put in every day, often on top of regular day jobs and responsibilities at home. So, if you’re doing this for the money, you’re doing it wrong.
The ability to communicate, both with the public and around the council table, is another important part of the job. Being able to express your thoughts and opinions and giving fair consideration to the thoughts and opinions of your colleagues and constituents is a huge part of the overall decision-making process. While speaking in public doesn’t come naturally to all of us – me included – it is a skill
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that can be learned and honed.
A knowledge of local issues is also a key piece for any member of a municipal council. If this is something you truly want to do, I would strongly encourage you to attend a council meeting and join an advisory committee to get a sense of the issues facing residents and how council and committees discuss and address those issues ahead of the election in October.
And look beyond your municipality, too. Give some thought to how new provincial and federal legislation is impacting your community, and how local politicians and staff are adapting to those changes.
If any of this concerns you, running for a seat on council may not be for you. If, however, you find yourself undaunted and ready to work collaboratively with council, municipal staff and the public towards the betterment of your community, you already have my vote.
“This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together. Earth is an oasis amid a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe where humanity exists as one”
– Pilot Victor Glover of the Artemis II shared on the weekend on the crew's flight to the moon which includes Canadian Jeremy Hansen.
GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
Opinions
The art of living joyfully with chronic illness
Living with chronic illness can feel like carrying an invisible weight. Pain, fatigue, uncertainty and the constant need to adapt can quietly drain the colour from everyday life. Yet joy is not off-limits to those who are chronically ill. It may look different than it once did, and it may arrive in smaller doses, but it is still deeply possible – and profoundly meaningful.
One of the most important shifts is redefining what joy means. Many of us were taught
that joy comes from big moments: travel, productivity, social success or constant motion. Chronic illness often makes those expectations unrealistic. When we cling to them, disappointment follows. Joy for the chronically ill is often quieter. It lives in gentle moments: a warm cup of tea, a pet curling up beside you, sunlight on the floor, a good book read slowly without guilt. When we redefine joy as something small and accessible, we stop waiting for “someday” and begin noticing what is already here.
Listening to the body is another key source of joy. Chronic illness forces a relationship with the body that many people never develop. While that relationship can begin in frustration or grief, it can evolve into respect. Choosing rest before exhaustion sets in, stopping when pain whispers instead of screams, and honouring limits without apology can bring relief – and relief itself is a form of joy. There is quiet satisfaction in caring for yourself
Managing our thoughts
“It’s not the events of life that change us emotionally, it’s the way we view those things in life.” – Epictetus
We think a lot. Estimates range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of thoughts a
day. Most of them are tiny and automatic – a glance at your phone, a replay of yesterday’s conversation, a quick plan for lunch. Even so, those fleeting thoughts steer how we feel and act especially the ones we believe and hold onto.
A lot of our thinking tends to be negative and repetitive. In fact, researchers have found that, on average, 80 per cent of our thoughts tend to be negative and 95 per cent of thoughts are rumination. People replay awkward moments, worry about work or dwell on how their family or a relationship has let them down. That’s just the way our brains are wired.
Back when noticing danger meant survival, paying attention to threats helped people
well, even when the world tells you to push harder.
Letting go of comparison also matters deeply. Chronic illness has a way of shrinking life, and it is easy to measure ourselves against healthier versions of who we once were or against others who seem to move through life effortlessly. Comparison steals joy faster than pain ever could. When we release the need to keep up, we free energy for what truly matters. Joy grows when we ask, “What works for me today?” instead of “Why can’t I do what they can?”
Another powerful way the chronically ill invite joy into their lives is by releasing the need to explain themselves. So much energy is lost trying to justify rest, cancelled plans or changed priorities. Joy grows when we stop defending our needs and start honouring them quietly. Boundaries are not walls; they are acts of care. Saying no, choosing simplicity and protecting limited energy creates space for what truly nour-
ishes the spirit. In that protected space, joy has room to breathe – unrushed, unpressured and free from the weight of other people’s expectations. Creativity and meaning offer another doorway to joy. Writing, crafting, gardening, cooking simple meals, listening to music or even daydreaming can reconnect us to a sense of purpose beyond illness. These activities do not need to be productive or impressive. They simply need to feel nourishing. Creating something – no matter how small – reminds us that we are more than our symptoms.
Connection is also essential, though it may need to be reimagined. Chronic illness can be isolating, especially when plans are often cancelled or energy is limited. Joy can come from fewer, deeper connections rather than many shallow ones.
A heartfelt conversation, an understanding friend or a supportive community – online or in person – can help us feel seen rather than judged. Being
understood reduces loneliness, and reduced loneliness makes room for joy.
Perhaps most importantly, joy grows through self-compassion. Chronic illness already demands so much. Adding self-criticism only increases suffering. Speaking kindly to yourself, allowing bad days without labelling them as failures and celebrating small victories – like getting through a flare or asking for help –builds emotional resilience. Joy often appears not when pain disappears, but when kindness replaces harshness.
Chronic illness may limit energy, mobility or predictability, but it does not eliminate the capacity for joy. Joy does not require a perfect body or a painfree day. It requires permission – to slow down, to adjust expectations, to honour what is possible and to find beauty in the ordinary. In a life shaped by chronic illness, joy becomes not a destination, but a gentle practice – one moment, one choice one breath at a time.
live. That bias stuck around, which helps explain why bad news catches our attention and why we replay painful moments like they matter more.
Constant negative thinking has real effects. It can raise stress hormones (hello, cortisol) and lower serotonin, which can nudge us toward depression, anxiety, sleep problems and even physical illness.
The surprising part is that we can change it. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s lifelong ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections, adapting to experiences, learning and injuries. Think of it as an internal rewiring process that allows the mind to grow and meet new and increased demands.
We can’t change our family
history or life experiences, but it’s possible to change the way we think and to learn positive coping strategies that can mitigate and reduce stress levels.
So, how can we improve our thinking?
• Notice and label the thought. Is it planning, problem-solving, worrying, imagining or rumination? Naming it creates distance.
• Question it. What evidence supports this thought? What evidence doesn’t?
• If it’s actionable, take a small step. Break big worries into tiny tasks.
• Use self- compassion. Replace harsh self-talk with something kinder: “I’m struggling right now; I can handle this.”
• Distract yourself with ac-
tivities that will interrupt the negative thinking and focus on more positive memories.
Constructive thinkers are aware of negativity, use it to assess and work through underlying problems and then let it go when it’s no longer useful. They are careful about what they allow to manifest in their brain. They choose thoughts that build strength and lead to growth.
Bottom line? Thoughts matter, but they’re not our destiny. By noticing, questioning, and gently shifting how we think, we can change how we feel and over time, reshape our brains and our lives. If you need greater willpower, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be effective at changing patterns.
IRENE ROTH Times Columnist
BRUCE WHITAKER Times Columnist
UNTIL SOON. LIVE WELL: DEPARTURES
What is left to me are the images really – never what was or should have been said at the departure. After all, what was there left to be said at the departure? Nothing. It’s all been said. But sometimes we do ... don’t we? We speak. We think ... perhaps there is some pithy comment or a profoundness in the delivery that dresses the final words the other hears, as memorable, or awakening. Hence, our propensity to know the last words of the famous ones who died before us, I suppose.
Sometimes, due to timing or circumstances beyond our control, departing words are not
forthcoming. My brother missed our father’s dying by fifteen minutes as he drove like a madman speed king from Montreal to Markham. I attempted to console him in the knowledge that he couldn’t have said anything that wasn’t already known. But I knew “I love you” would have tasted differently to him had he been able to say it. It is not merely the words at the proverbial deathbed that resonate though. Oh no. There are also those that resonate at the conclusion of a series of other life events – all of the exits after friendships fall out, marriages dissolve, business dealings go under and even when the ghosts of ourselves leave us, to reveal the truth of who we are in the naked light of our own confrontations.
There are sharp barbs that need to be dislodged, deep in the fleshy layers of memory, aren’t there? Hooks – like those in a floundering fish. Phantom pains, that we thought exorcized long ago, that reappear down emotional pathways. And those – we sometimes embellish in all manner of nuanced blame, punishment and melancholy. How often have I walked away? From
this place, from that place, from this friend, from that situation –only to return to the scene of the crime in some form or another to punish myself. How many times was the departure conjured up in the mind before becoming a reality in measured distances? What timeline did I follow to get here?
Sometimes it feels so turbulent, so jagged and at other times a spiralling whirlpool, like a plug pulled, and I just let myself slide down the drain, spinning into the now. At other times I’ve clawed my way out to get to it. “Now” is the right place to be. Recognizing “now” means I’m still moving along a line, some kind of string is still unbroken – tied to the past but searching the far horizon. Mostly, I try to let the past go and use the fuel of the burning to propel my life forward, keeping just enough of it to remember the lessons, rather than burn it up altogether. I’ll most likely go much further back when I die, as others have said, before the “now” of time slingshots me forward into the blinding light.
I’m doing much of my overthe-shoulder glances lately, through my daughter, what with
all the tiny alterations and bigger upheavals she experiences – and with my partner who feels for the boundaries of her own existential walls, my brother whose lifestyle is far removed from my own, and all those I once knew lost in the void of losing touch and letting go. The lost ones too, still speak to me. They’re all alive in my head, and while I don’t miss them terribly, I desperately want to remember what they’re lives meant to me and how they’ve contributed to who I’ve become. So many entries and exits. And for some of them, I imagine, I am only their memory now as they are mine. And of course, there are new friends, new acquaintances every day, moving along the line with me – weaving in, weaving out.
Memories can stack up like pancakes, one on top of the another. I try to stay true to all of them, to all that’s happened, so I try not to pour syrup on them to make them sweeter. If I do that, I know I’ll try to get back there and that’s an impossibility. Likewise, if they’re bitter – they’ll likely have more to teach me than a coating of saccharin days. The bitterness will
dissolve of its own accord. As example, I think on my broken marriage, the bloated turmoil inside that finally ruptured out into something new. Where did the pain of that go? It was safely stored in the life-lessons drawer rather than the drawers of anger, blame or regret. It didn’t go looking for fault. And lo and behold, over time it became washed in forgiveness and shaped itself into the newer blossom we now share. Sharp truths are smoothed down and rounded out, not by overthinking them, but through vulnerability and gratitude for still living.
If only for the imperceptible space of my life, within the grander scheme of never-ending infinities, I’m grateful the situations I’ve created haven’t taken my song away. I still have a voice that can sing, that guides me, and that I know is a wise one. But most importantly – that it’s mine, and not merely the world’s noise. 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.
STUART LENDER Times Columnist
(FRED GONDER PHOTOS)
The Stratford swans are officially back on the water, being released on a brisk April 8 morning.
COMING EVENTS Email to inquire
STRATFORD SCRABBLE CLUB
Anne Hathawy Residence 480 Downie St., Stratford Meets every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for 3 games. Check our website for further details stratfordscrabble.ca
CROKINOLE
Every Tuesday at the Agriplex in the Ritsma Room from 1-4 p.m. Ladies and gentlemen, fingers or sticks. For more information call Oliver Davidson 519-508-5664
STRATFORD ASTRONOMY GROUP MEETINGS
St. Michael Catholic Secondary School, 240 Oakdale Avenue, Stratford
Rear parking lot off Matilda. Room # l104 - 1st Tuesday of each month from September to June. 7-9 p.m.
We are night sky enthusiasts. Everyone is welcome to attend. See our website at https://stratfordastronomy.com/ or call 519-275-4472 for more information
TAOIST TAI CHI® OPEN HOUSE
670 Ontario St., Stratford
Monday, April 13, 2026 at 10:00 am
For more information: www.taoist.org or stratford@taoist.org or 519-273-5614
TAOIST TAI CHI® OPEN HOUSE
670 Ontario St., Stratford
Monday, April 13, 2026 at 7:00 pm
For more information: www.taoist.org or stratford@taoist.org or 519-273-5614
GARDEN STRATFORD GENERAL MEETING
Monday April 13, 2026, 7:15 – 9:00 p.m.
Army Navy Hall, 151 Lorne Ave. E., Stratford
Featured Presentation: “How to Grow and Care For Hydrangeas”, Stephanie Fletcher, Grey County Master Gardener
Meeting Open to Everyone; Free Admission.
BEER/LIQUOR TASTING AND CHILI NIGHT
LEARN2SHINE PERFORMANCE CLUB
Monthly on Sundays from 2-4pm at Infinity Dance 451 Erie St. Next meeting April 19. Suitable for everyone in the family aged 7 and up. A chance to sing, dance, say lines. Registration $20+HST/person, with 15% discount if registering 3 or more. www.mckinnamanagement.com
EUCHRE NIGHT
Friday, April 24; 6 p.m.
Legion, 804 Ontario St., Stratford
Enter your 2-person team for $20 by calling Anne at 519-301-0914, Dave at 519-703-6544, or the Legion at 519-271-4540. Prizes for 1st to 3rd place. Registration is brisk, so call now.
Deadline: Tuesday prior at 3 p.m.
Contact: stratfordtimes@gmail.com
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STRATFORD TIME S
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STRATFORD TIME S
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Pick Up Locations
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Annie’s Seafood Restaurant Avon Pharmacy
OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO: The silly side of travel writing
I get a lot of comments from people who are a bit jealous of my gig as a travel writer. They’re right – it’s a great job. I will insist that it does involve work – being on a busy, dusk-to-dawn travel “familiarization tour” can be exhausting, but still fun and sometimes unexpectedly hilarious.
Often, these silly moments involve food. Like in Hong Kong, where I was taken out to breakfast at a congee restaurant. Congee is rice porridge, usually served with tea, and you add meat to the congee. My host recommended that I add, wait for it, bull’s penis. I did not and opted for chicken – at least, I hope it was chicken.
In Locarno, Switzerland, in the Italian canton of this multi-lingual country, I asked my waiter if he spoke English. “Yes,” he said with a vigorous nod of the head. So, I ordered. My meal, when delivered, bore no resemblance to what I had asked for. I explained. He nodded, hopefully, but clearly without comprehending my comment. I asked again, “Do you speak English?” “Yes!”
I pondered. And then, knowing that French is one of the four official languages of Switzerland,
I asked, “Parlez-vous Anglais?”
He laughed and shook his head. “Non!” Well, that at least explained that.
And speaking of food, there was the time I punched a pigeon. I was in Ottawa exploring the Byward Market and decided to have a Beaver Tail. Yum. I sat down and was immediately approached by a herd of rather aggressive pigeons. Foolishly, I thought that if I threw a couple of bits of Beaver Tail well distant from me, they would leave me alone. Wrong. They got more aggressive and one flew straight at my face. I reached out to defend myself and, yep, I accidentally punched a pigeon.
In Ponce Inlet, Fla., at a diner, I ordered a salad. “We’re all out of salads,” said the waiter. “Really?”
“Yes.” “Okay, I have a question,” I said. “If I order a hamburger, can
I get it with lettuce, tomato and onion?” “Sure.”
“That’s a salad,” I pointed out with some emphasis. Made no difference, of course. Salads were off.
Occasionally, the unreal reality of being a travel writer does lead to amazing things – circumstances you still have to laugh about because they really are so genuinely unreal.
Like the time in San Diego when I was supposed to go tandem hang-gliding off the cliffs. This seemed an ill-conceived idea, so I asked if there might be an alternative activity. “Do you want to play golf,” asked my host, “at Torrey Pines?” Did I want to play golf at one of the most famous golf courses in the world? We arrived. I was escorted to my golf cart, complete with a beauti-
ful set of loner clubs, balls, tees, wate, the works. I asked “Am I playing with anyone?”
“No sir,” came the answer, “we closed the course for you.”
I looked at my host. He quietly said, “I don’t know who they think you are, but go with it.” So, I did. I played well – about which, I have no proof and no one believes me.
I have been bit on the lip by a sea turtle in the waters off Barbados; I have kissed a stuffed beaver in New Brunswick; I have marched in two parades in Québec City, one in full, brilliant blue costume as a 16th century seigneur; I have felt my underwear fall off during a walking tour of Lugano; and I have been trussed up like a hippopotamus in bondage gear to go ziplining in the Jamaican rainforest.
But it was in Mexico where two incidents left me laughing and feeling rather humiliated at the same time.
We went snorkelling; the transportation to the coral reef involved two-person speedboats. Upon arrival at the reefs, they tethered the boats together and said, “Jump in.” Jumping in, I could do, but there was no way I was going to be able to haul myself back up and into the boat. I tried to ask, but our guide spoke as much English as my Locarno waiter. What the heck – I jumped in. The snorkelling was great; eventually, we were called back to the boats, and I was first to return. I went to the back and started to try to board the beast. No luck, of course. The guide motioned that I should come to the front, which was even farther out of the water. I obeyed. Whereupon he grabbed me by the life jacket and landed me unceremoniously on the prow. It’s hard to laugh hysterically with the breath knocked out of you, but I managed it.
And also, during that visit to Mexico, I was offered a moment of self-awareness. A small group of media folk went to the amazing attraction called Xcaret, where you can swim in an underground river. You don a life jacket, but it takes some effort to complete the course. When we finished, a much younger member of the group told me, “If I ever live to be as old as you, I hope I am able to do as well as you just did.”
Sigh.
Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and past-president of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@golden.net.
The Beaver Tail kiosk in Ottawa, where our hero punched a pigeon.
Kissing a stuffed beaver at the Big Fiddle Still in Harvey, N.B.
The famous Van Doos marching band, which led a parade in Québec City.
PAUL KNOWLES Times Columnist
(PAUL KNOWLES PHOTOS)
food stall
35. Move quickly on foot
36. Gathered
41. A way through
45. Another name for Thor 46. Sharp dueling sword
47. The supreme commander of a fleet
50. Seasoned sausages
54. Path
55. Christian hermit
56. Ancient region of Asia Minor
57. Where wrestlers go to work
59. Roman statesman
60. Explosive
61. Licensed for Wall Street
62. Where golfers start
63. Grow old
64. Autonomic nervous system
65. No seats available
CLUES DOWN 1. A legally binding command 2. General feeling of discomfort 3. Dribble
4. Soft touch
5. South American plant
6. Clouds of gas and dust in space
7. Warm-blooded vertebrates
8. Lines created by folding
9. Strong belief 13. Senior officer 14. Adult
17. Joint entrance examination in India
18. Passports and drivers’ licenses are two
20. Those who go against an accepted authority
22. One point east of northeast
27. Journalist Tarbell
28. One’s mother (British)
29. Nowhere to be found
31. A way to save for old age
32. Fall behind
33. Midway between northeast and east
37. The work of a sailor
38. Mark with striae
39. Energy, style and enthusiasm
40. Sticky situation
41. Monetary units of Spain
42. Three-banded armadillo
43. Chooses
44. More disreputable
47. Defensive nuclear weapon
48. “The Partridge Family” actress Susan
49. Livestock owners assn. in Spain
51. Duplicating machine (abbr.)
52. OJ trial judge
53. Politician
58. Airborne (abbr.)
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CLASSIFIEDS
OBITUARY
STEPHEN WAYNE HESSE
February 28, 1954 – March 30, 2026
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Stephen Wayne Hesse, age 72, of Stratford.
Stephen was born in Exeter, Ontario and was an employee of Livingston International in Stratford. He later worked for the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board.
Dear husband of Brenda Diane (Marriott). Brother-inlaw to Nancy Ladouceur-Hesse and Diane Hesse. Lovingly remembered by mother-in-law Delores Beauchamp and the Marriott family Bruce (Cyril), Larry (Roxie), Barbara, Bonnie (Randy), Ronald (Heather), Donald (Kathy), Alan (Connie), Michael and Susan (Tom). Also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Predeceased by his father Donald Hesse, mother Marjorie Hesse, brothers Paul and Peter Hesse, brothers-inlaw Craig and Stephen, sister-in-law Donna.
Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Stephen’s life in the Reception Centre of the W. G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford on Sunday, April 19, 2026 from 2-4 p.m. Memorial donations in Stephen’s memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice. www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
“Ron” William Ronald Dale Brant passed away at the Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth on April 5, 2026 at the age of 77.
Beloved husband of Tracy (nee Thompson), married 34 years. Father of Sherri Barclay (Derek), Jamie Brant (Sheila) and Randi Lumley-Brant. Grandfather of Aurora and Ellie. Brother of Bob, deceased (Donna) Brant, John Brant (Linda), Carolyn Thorton, deceased (Bob), Barry Brant (Peg), both deceased, Sharon Tully (Charlie, deceased), Brian Brant (Gloria MacDonald), Brenda Verellen, deceased (John), Jim Brant, deceased (Vicki), Deb Mills (Tim) and Ed Brant (Wendy).
Ron will also be missed by many nieces, nephews, extend family members and Willow “Peewee.” Ron’s family wish to sincerely thank the nurses and volunteers at the Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth for their wonderful care.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life Open House will take place at the St. Marys Legion, 66 Church St. N. St. Marys, on Sunday, April 12, 2026 from 1 – 3 pm. Memorial donations may be made to the Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth. Online tributes at www.hodgesfuneralhome.ca.
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.
IBLES – Coca Cola Pepsi any pop
AND
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.
Seeking an RMT, Registered Massage Therapist. Conveniently located in downtown Stratford. We are wheelchair accessible. Contact: Thespa@quadro.net
Shade Trees; Maples, Oaks, Birch, Beech, Honey Locusts, Elms, Magnolia, Hydrangea Tree, Tulip Tree, Crab apples, Ivory Silk Lilac, Chanticleer Pear, Golden Weeping Willows and more. Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Apricots, Nectarine, Blueberry, Haskap etc. Lots of healthy strong Spruce, Cedars and White Pine for your privacy hedges and windbreaks. Hundred of flowering shrubs. Reg Hours 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Mon-Sat at Martins Nursery c/o Emanuel Martin. 42661 Orangehill Rd., Wroxeter, ON
JUNK REMOVAL – Garbage, Basements, Yards, Dump Runs. Call Mike 519-276-7766
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