STRATFORD
SHERRIE ROULSTON
Real Estate Broker
email: sherrieroulston@royallepage.ca
Direct: 519-272-3578
Local school boards post mixed EQAO results
After recent reports that nearly half of Ontario’s Grade 6 students failed to meet the provincial standard in math, the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board (HPCDSB) and the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) say it’s not all bad news.
Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra released the latest Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) testing data, noting only 51 per cent of Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in math this school year.
“When I got results, it frustrated me and made me quite upset,” Calandra said during a press conference early this month. “If we were doing it right, then we wouldn’t have 50 per cent of our students not meeting provincial benchmarks.”
In a media release, the HPCDSB said 68 per cent of its students in the primary division met the provincial standard in math, 55 per cent of junior division students met the standard and 51 per cent of Grade 9 students achieved the standard.
The AMDSB reported that 67 per cent of Grade 3 students met the provincial math standard, 52 per cent of Grade 6 students met the standard and 47 per cent of Grade 9 students met the standard.
Though math scores throughout the province were not as strong as expected, both AMDSB and HPCDSB
A local manufacturer has received a huge investment from the Government of Ontario in direct response to U.S. protectionism.
Aisin Canada Inc. has secured $2.2 million through the Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF), a fund specifically created in response to U.S. tariffs. This investment will create 30 new jobs and further protect 530 local positions.
As Wayne Robert, president of Aisin Canada Inc., told reporters, the Stratford location has never had layoffs, DECEMBER 12,
“It’s great to see that onshoring production to Ontario and Canada – and the good-paying jobs that come with it,” said Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae in a Dec. 5 announcement at the Stratford facility on Wright Boulevard. “I know our government is doing everything in our power to ensure that we can continue to support businesses across Ontario and the employees that they employ.”
In a winter wonderland befitting the holiday season, the 2025 Santa's Parade of Lights wound around Lake Victoria on Dec. 7. For more photos see page 12.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE Times Reporter
Aisin secure $2.2 million in provincial funding
but with the current sunroof it manufactures going out of production, there was potential for the loss of some employees.
The $2.2 million is part of the company’s $11.1 million investment (though Robert said the investment is closer to $16 million) to manufacture the Lexus NX panoramic sunroof, a production program newly awarded from Toyota which is slated to start production in December 2026.
The production program is expected to diversify their existing products and reshore panoramic sunroof production from Japan to Ontario, making Aisin the first manufacturer outside of Japan to do so. Additionally, this investment in its production capabilities could be modified for future programs beyond the Lexus NX.
“This funding is a critical step forward for us. It will allow Aisin to localize pro -
duction that is currently based in Japan, ensuring we maintain economic stability here in Stratford. By doing so, we are not only preventing potential layoffs but also creating new job opportunities for our community,” said Robert in a media release. “Despite the challenges posed by current tariff threats, Aisin remains committed to investing in the Stratford plant. This grant reinforces that commitment and strengthens our ability to grow and contribute to the local economy, while supporting families and communities. Thank you again for the partnership and confidence in Aisin. Together, we are building a stronger future for Stratford and for Ontario.”
Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma was at the announcement, reminding those there and the wider public just how important companies like Aisin are to the economic
health of the city.
“… Our manufacturing sector … makes up 65 per cent of what we do economically in Stratford – and of that 65 per cent, 85 per cent is automotive. Of that 85 per cent, Aisin is one of our leaders.”
First announced as part of the 2025 Ontario Budget, the OTTF is part of the province’s nearly $30 billion tariff relief and support plan, dedicated to protecting the province’s workers and businesses from economic uncertainty and building a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy. With a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises, the program will help businesses across a diverse range of sectors make the necessary investments to strengthen operations in Ontario, expand market reach and protect workers.
Since its launch, the OTTF has received
overwhelming demand, according to the provincial government, with more than 140 applications submitted as of October 2025. In response to this, the government recently announced an additional $100 million investment into the program, bringing the total funding to $150 million over three years.
“As U.S. tariffs continue to threaten Ontario’s critical industries, our government remains focused on ensuring our businesses have the resources needed to adapt and expand,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, in a media release. “By investing in Aisin Canada Inc. through the Ontario Together Trade Fund, we are taking decisive action to enhance the competitiveness of our economy and increasing opportunities for Ontario businesses and workers, now and for generations to come.”
Saturday, January 10th 2026
11:00 A.M. 2:00 P.M. Stratford Rotary Complex ~ ADMISSION BY DONATION ~ ~ SOUPONS 5 for $5 ~ CASH ONLY EVENT ~
Sample a variety of delicious soups, enjoy live music, a silent auction, and kids’ activities
Local school boards post mixed EQAO results
say results show improvement that exceeds provincial standards in reading, writing and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).
The AMDSB reported improvement across all eight measures, with some increasing by as much as 11 per cent over the previous year.
The HPCDSB said it is proud of its ongoing focus on student achievement, which continues to be reflected in test results. The board also reported having one of the highest participation rates in the province.
Both boards note these results are just one of many assessment tools used to measure and support student achievement. They add that the data represents a snapshot in time and is most useful when examined as part of long-term trends.
“Our EQAO results reflect the hard work of students and staff as they continue to progress toward excellence in literacy and mathematics,” said Mary Helen Van Loon, chair of the HPCDSB board of trustees. “We are proud of their achievements but recognize there is still work to be done. As a board, we remain diligent in our efforts to provide the support and resources necessary to reach these goals.”
To see the provincial scores – as well as local data – visit https://www.eqao.com/results/.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Members of Aisin Canada Inc.’s Stratford plant joined area politicians for a $2.2 million provincial funding announcement on Dec. 5. The investment will create 30 new jobs locally, as well as further protect 530 positions.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Wayne Robert, president of Aisin Canada Inc., called the funding a “critical step forward” for the plant’s longevity.
After debate, council supports private bid for battery storage system in principle – more discussions, analysis to
A private company’s bid to house a battery storage system in Stratford has gotten preliminary permission from Stratford city council.
At its Dec. 8 meeting, Cordelia BESS Inc. requested support from the city for its proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) at 465 Wright Blvd., to be constructed in containers next to the vacant warehouse owned by Festival Hydro. The request is part of the company’s bid under the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) Long-Term 2 Capacity RFP, a competitive province-wide procurement effort to secure new energy storage capacity to support Ontario’s growing electricity demands. It is expected Ontario’s energy needs will grow by 75 per cent by 2050. BESS is a preferred technology where lithium batteries are housed in containerized units and charge during off-peak hours and discharge during peak demand. The Stratford project is designed to store and discharge up to 8.8 megawatts of power (110 megawatt-hours) using a modular, container-based setup. According to information submitted with the request, it will be connected to Festival Hydro’s 27.6 kV distribution network and would operate for about 20 years. The project would support grid stability, local energy resilience and Festival Hydro’s infrastructure, according to a staff report. Additionally, according to a letter from Chris McGillivray, director of Cordelia, the project would have community benefits such as “improved local power reliability and quality, local construction and service jobs, industrial tax base contributions and support Festival Hydro’s grid modernization.”
However, according to that same staff report, if Cordelia’s plans move forward at the forecasted rate, commercial operations would only start by 2030.
After a review across city departments and with external agencies, staff are of the opinion that the use aligns with provincial policy, the city’s Official Plan, zoning bylaw and Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP). There are concerns related to aesthetics, assessment value and fire safety, and recommend these be addressed through the Site Plan Control process, which Cordelia has formally committed to. The decision made by council is for procurement purposes and does not exempt the project from normal municipal processes.
As Adam Betteridge, the director of building and planning services with the city, said, the bulk of the work on this project would be done at the Site Plan Review process.
However, for at least one councillor around the horseshoe, the promise of more details during that process was not enough to assuage concerns.
“I'm apprehensive because there are community benefits and incentives provided, and that, to me, raises a bit of red flags,” Coun. Cody Sebben said. “… I know we have site plan, we have framework in place to safeguard ourselves, but I'm also concerned about a private entity handling something that is being handled now by Festival Hydro … The accountability with a private entity who is corporation is, in my mind, a lot less, and we can put framework in place to make it more accountable, but I just have reservations.”
The motion to issue a municipal support resolution was passed with only Sebben opposed.
CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Finding friendship in Stratford
One of the best things that happened to me after moving to Stratford was making so many friends.
I had my kids young. I went back to school after taking a year off, and over time I lost touch with my high school friends. I always felt like I didn’t have much in common with anyone around me. The people who had kids the same age as mine were
much older, and the people my age were still out drinking until two in the morning while I was home in bed with my babies. In those early years, I found it hard – almost impossible – to make friends. Eventually, I just stopped trying.
When I moved to Stratford about eight years ago, I worked in family medicine as a nurse but soon after started my own nursing foot care business. I travelled around Stratford and New Hamburg providing medical foot care to patients – some of you may even remember me from those days!
excuse in my head not to attend Chamber events – but reluctantly, I went. And every time I did, I ended up meeting great people.
A few months into attending, I met one of my now best friends, Krysta Nesbitt, who was there representing her family business, Nesbitt Financial. We hit it off immediately and became fast friends.
After that, I kept attending, this time with a friend by my side, which made it so much easier. Through those events, we met Cassie Barclay, who owns a recreational therapy business, and we bonded over our shared backgrounds in healthcare. Through Krysta and Cassie, I met more wonderful people –Rebecca Cheney, who works in real estate; Rebecca Scott from United Way Perth-Huron; and Andrea O’Shea, another St. Marys entrepreneur.
friends with Steph Donelle, who owns Lavender and Lemon and recently started another business with her partner. I’ve even reconnected with former foot care patients for coffee at the Wild Hog. All of this has shown me that being involved in your community can lead to some truly meaningful friendships. These friendships are now some of the most important parts of my life. I call friends to hang out on Friday nights or go for morning walks during the week. We talk about life, loss, love, kids and community. We share books, support each other and sometimes even play sports – like hitting golf balls at the Stratford Country Club, even though we’re terrible. These friendships have shaped who I am today.
that time turned into lifelong friendships and helped me grow as a person. For a long time, I thought I was someone who “didn’t need friends.” I figured maybe I just wasn’t meant to have close friendships with other women. But as I’ve met more and more people over the years, I’ve realized how wrong I was. These friendships aren’t just nice to have – they’re necessary. They’re the building blocks of who I am today, and I wouldn’t be the same without them.
Joining something like the Chamber of Commerce can feel intimidating, especially for introverts like me. But starting with small connections in your own backyard – your community – is one of the best decisions you can make. It not only helps you feel more connected but can also lead to lasting, meaningful relationships that can truly change your life. AMANDA
One thing about owning your own business is that connecting with your community is essential. This led me to join the local Chamber of Commerce, where I met Eddie Matthews and started to become more engaged in the community as a whole. As a bit of an introvert, I made up every
More recently, I became
Although I knew I didn’t want to be a foot care nurse forever, the connections I built during
Letter to the Editor: GTR project needs discipline
The Grand Trunk renewal project demands a level of strategic rigor equal to its size and importance to Stratford. Residents are already carrying a very high property tax burden, and any major civic investment must acknowledge that reality from the outset. Large, multiphase developments require specialized governance, deep infrastructure knowledge, and long-term operational planning, areas where a municipality of our scale cannot meet the full requirements without significant risk and cost exposure.
Restoring small-town journalism, one community at a time!
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Stewart Grant • stew@granthaven.com
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Connor Luczka • connor@granthaven.com Times Reporter
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Graphic Design / Sales Inquiries
Sarah Cairns • stratfordtimes@gmail.com
Business Development
Heather Dunbar • heather@granthaven.com
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Cindy Boakes • boakescindy1576@gmail.com
Contributors
Galen Simmons, Spencer Seymour, Julia Schneider, Gary West, Paul Knowles, Emily Stewart, Lisa Chester, Fred Gonder, Sheila Clarke, Irene Roth, Lee Griffi, Stuart Lender, Sydney Goodwin, Alex Hunt, Julia Paul, Patrick D. Burk
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The conversation must also account for the true cost drivers of any development: design, construction and, perhaps most importantly, the ongoing operations and maintenance (O&M). If O&M requirements increase substantially for prospective anchor tenants such as a police station or the public library, the resulting financial impact will not be isolated. Those cost escalations ripple outward through municipal budgets, increasing funding pressures across services and adding long-term strain on taxpayers. These are precisely the future risks we must avoid.
At present, the undeveloped Cooper Site provides a significant competitive advantage that we overlook at our peril: free parking. Free downtown parking has long supported accessibility for residents and visitors, helping sustain Stratford’s tourism economy, from restaurants and retailers to our cultural and theatre organizations. Any future vision must recognize this existing value proposition if we want to remain a welcoming city for both locals and tourists. Treating parking primarily as a revenue generator requires a clear-eyed assessment of the possible negative ramifications.
If the adaptive reuse or redevelopment of the site is to succeed, it must be led by a developer with a demonstrated track record in designing, constructing and managing large-scale rental housing, condominiums and complex community facilities. Expertise matters. Stratford needs a partner capable of delivering cost discipline, life-cycle durability and long-term O&M sustainability, an entity experienced not only in construction but also in building operations, tenant mix planning and ongoing asset management.
Rather than advancing piecemeal, council could adopt a clear set of guiding principles for site development. With these principles established, the city should proceed with a formal Request for Proposals (RFP), open only to qualified developers with proven experience managing large mixed-use and residential assets. Further capital should not be allocated for construction but rather to procure the right expertise, evaluate submissions thoroughly, and protect future generations of Stratford residents from undue financial risk.
Mark Wilson, Stratford
I think I’m ready for winter. Bring it on!
It may seem silly to say this when we’ve been blanketed with snow for several weeks, but I think I’m finally ready to admit winter is here to stay.
Though it feels like I only just admitted to myself fall had arrived and summer was over, I realized early on this year, after last winter’s deluge of snow and ice, the inevitable cold and snowy weather
would arrive faster than I’d prefer.
In stark contrast to last winter, when Julia and I were forced to move at the end of January and we had no time to prepare our new home for winter, this year, we’ve done everything we can to prepare, no matter how much snow falls or how cold it gets.
Throughout the course of the year, and with the help of Julia’s dad, we made a few small but important upgrades to our home.
First and foremost, we built a new fence and gate, and installed a doggy door, that allows our dogs safe passage to and from the backyard to do their doggy business whenever they like. No more lacing up my boots, zipping up my coat and bundling up with gloves, toque and scarf to take them out when it’s cold enough to freeze tea as soon as it leaves the kettle (if you catch my drift).
Secondly, we reinforced our existing backyard fencing with wooden supports. It wasn’t long after we moved in last winter when we noticed the fences were leaning at an alarming angle – a problem that only got worse as the wind raged and snow continued to pile up. Whoever installed our fences used those stupid metal spikes to anchor the fence poles into the ground. We may need to replace our fence at some point, but for now, at least, we’re confident they’ll survive at least a few more winters.
We also got a new furnace. While this upgrade was more of a serendipitous happenstance – it was replaced as part of an insurance claim for damage caused by ice damming last winter – we took the opportunity to pay a little more for a more energy efficient furnace that has already proved to be more effective at heating the house.
The permeation of snowmelt and groundwater into our basement was also something we contended with in the spring. While we weren’t in a position to dig trenches and install a sump pump as the house inspector suggested, I did take what I like to describe as a half measure by sealing the back wall of our basement with some waterproof paint. Sure, it’s not perfect, but I’ve already noticed our basement appears to be drier than it once was. We’ll have to wait see if it holds up against the spring melt, but I am confident the work I put in was better than doing nothing (which was my alternative at the time).
Finally, to prevent the ice damming that plagued so many homes this past winter and resulted in more than $20,000 in repairs to our home (thank you, insurance), Julia and I installed heat-tracing
cables along the back of our roof. The idea, according to one electrician I spoke with, is the heated cables keep ice from forming along the edge of the roof and inside the eavestrough and downspout. This allows melting snow to drain as it normally would instead of being forced by a build-up of ice caused by heat escaping from our kitchen into the cracks and crevices of our back wall, through our windows and into the basement as it did in February.
All of that combined with an electric snowblower gifted to me for my birthday, which has already made the job of clearing the driveway easier on my shoulder, has given me the confidence to declare our home ready for whatever winter may bring.
Now, let’s see what Mother Nature can throw at us to prove me wrong!
Redrawing conservation authority boundaries would be a mistake
In its latest bid to speed up development, the province is proposing to redraw the boundaries of its conservation authorities.
As it stands now, the province has 36 conservation authorities, with boundaries based on the wa-
tersheds of the major rivers that feed into the Great Lakes. The mandate of the conservation authorities is to undertake watershed-based programs to protect people and property from flooding and conserve natural resources.
Locally, the Long Point Region Conservation Authority does that, and much more. LPRCA is the steward of more than 11,000 acres of woodlots and wetlands, and operates numerous conservation area parks. It also works with landowners to plant trees and develop erosion control plans.
Although it’s not entirely clear yet what is driving the proposed change in conservation authorities, it appears to be the planning aspect of the organization’s re -
sponsibilities. In the province’s rhetoric, the speed of approvals and consistency of policy are mentioned. If this is the case, the simple solution is to transfer these responsibilities to a centralised agency while leaving each local authority to manage its other programs.
But wait – is there an overarching problem with approvals?
Many stories exist of a landowner waiting months for an approval and spending thousands of dollars on studies. Yet, conservation authority staff are operating based on provincial legislation. While there is no doubt that, in many cases, the oversight is warranted, there are like-
CORRECTION: In the Dec. 5 cover story on the 2026 municipal budget, "GIS enhancements" was incorrectly referred to as "Guaranteed Income Supplement enhancements," rather than the correct "Geographic Information System enhancements." The Times regrets any confusion this caused.
Quote of the Week
“The year ahead sits like a blank canvas before us. The paints are set to one side, and the brush to the other. That canvas is waiting to be filled … From this moment forward, I invite everyone in this room to collectively pick up that brush together, dive into the paints and, together, let’s paint a picture in 2026 – a masterpiece we can all be proud of.”
– Perth County Warden Dean Trentowsky during his inauguration on Dec. 4.
ly instances where it is overkill. Maybe the solution is for the province to go back to the drawing board on its own regulations instead of laying blame on those enforcing them?
The present proposal to amalgamate the 36 conservation authorities into seven would see Long Point amalgamated into a huge entity that would encompass territory from Lake St. Clair, down the Lake Erie shoreline to past the Grand River. This is a large area with different features from the Norfolk Sand Plain, which dominates the Long Point watershed. To lose local control
would be the wrong way to go, and the proposed conservation area would see the number of member municipalities jump to 81 from eight.
It should be added that in the case of LPRCA, it operates efficiently, generating 67 per cent of its own budget, partially from conservation areas and woodlot operations.
The province needs to remember that bigger is not better. A 2015 Fraser Institute study on municipal amalgamations came to this conclusion. Hopefully, the present provincial government will as well.
GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
JEFF HELSDON Times Contributor
80 coyote sightings and encounters reported in first year of Perth County tracking and education program
Residents of Perth County’s four lower-tier municipalities, Stratford and St. Marys reported a total of 80 coyote sightings and encounters in the first year of Perth County’s coyote tracking and public-education program.
After county council instructed staff early last year to launch and promote a web portal at www.perthcounty.ca/coyotes, which was officially launched in November 2024, that includes both a coyote-sighting form allowing residents to report coyotes online, and information on how to safely live alongside coyotes and what to do during a coyote encounter, county staff presented the data collected as of Oct. 31 of this year to county council at its regular meeting Dec. 4.
“Since launch, we’ve received over 3,000 views to the page and the form linked on the page offers residents an easy way to report sightings and provides public information on how to safely coexist with coyotes,” county communications officer Sarah Franklin said. “ … As
of Oct. 31 this year, 80 sighting reports were submitted; 72 of those were considered to be sightings, eight encounters (with people or pets) and zero concerns about sick or injured animals.
“Reports came in from across the county with higher numbers in more populated areas, likely as there are more people present to observe them.”
Some of the reports submitted through the county website indicated sightings or encounters with multiple coyotes. Additionally, reports could be submitted by multiple people who saw the same coyote.
Breaking those numbers down further:
• The highest number of individual coyotes seen in a single month was 80 in November 2024 with 28 reports submitted online;
• The lowest number of coyotes reported in a single month was zero in August 2025 with no reports submitted; and
• There were 38 coyotes sighted in North Perth, 53 in Perth East, 14 in Perth South, 20 in West Perth, 43 in Stratford and three in St. Marys;
Additionally, in the eight reported encounters with coyotes:
• Coyotes observed near chicken enclosures commonly resulted in an interaction with a pet;
• There were two reports of a coyote observed in close proximity to a home – in one instance, the coyote had to be verbally discouraged from moving closer;
• There were two reports of a coyote moving towards a dogwalker in an urban area; and
• There was a close encounter with a coyote when a person was hiking on a local trail, but they were able to scare the animal away with loud noises.
Prior to the launch of this program by the county, there was no method for tracking coyotes in Perth County except for when farmers reported coyote interactions with livestock through the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program run by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.
“I wonder if, down the road, there is an avenue we should be looking at further, and I guess my question is, are there any counties surrounding us that actually have a bounty or some type of reimbursement for coyotes?” Coun. Walter McKen-
zie asked.
In response, county CAO Lori Wolfe said council had considered a formal program for the management of coyotes last year prior to council approving the tracking and public-education program. At the time, she said the county did not have enough data to justify a predation program similar to the one in Huron County.
While both Wolfe and McKenzie suggested that, should coyote sightings and encounters escalate in future years, there may be cause to consider such a program, Coun. Rhonda Ehgoetz cautioned against offering a bounty on coyotes.
“A bounty could bring a lot of problems,” she said. “When you put bounties on them, you have people coming into the area, coming onto people’s property. Sometimes they just cut the ear off of the animal to prove that they got it and leave the carcases all over farmers’ properties. Bounties will cause a whole lot of issues.”
Ehgoetz did note that coyote hunting is permitted in some areas of the county, and both her husband and Coun. Jerry Smith cull between 40 and 50 coyotes each year.
GALEN SIMMONS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Avondale offering Longest Night of Year Service to process anxiety, grief
nity.
For those finding that the holiday season comes with mixed feelings, including grief, Avondale United Church is offering a quiet space of reflection.
Avondale United Church will hold their Longest Night of the Year sermon on Dec. 21 starting at 7 p.m. The service, previously known as Blue Christmas, is for those who are experiencing grief, anxiety and weariness during the holiday season and offers a quiet place of reflection.
"Christmas often gets branded with a certain tone and tenor to it and not everyone is up and enthusiastic and joyful and hopeful this time of year, so we're wanting to offer an alternative where people might find a place to land during a difficult time of the year for them,” said Rev. Keith Reynolds.
The church changed the name from Blue Christmas to Longest Night of the Year to expand the invitations out to the commu-
"The Longest Night can resonate a little bit better as a metaphor sometimes than Blue Christmas can," Reynolds said.
The sermon usually has a small group of people from all walks of life coming together. However, Reynolds said the church is more concerned about best meeting the needs of those attending, rather than the number of people attending.
"At Avondale United Church, we're trying to offer an invitation for people wherever they are on their journey, wherever they find themselves at this stage and place of their life and this season leading up to Christmas,” he said. “This is one way that we're trying to connect with people and offer a place away, a venue to express the yearnings and the hunger and the absence and the loss that they might be feeling."
For more information, contact Yvonne Casey of Avondale either by sending an email to yvonne.avondaleuc@wightman. ca, calling 519-271-7946, or visiting the church on 194 Avondale Ave., Stratford.
Saturday, Dec 20 Christmas Meat draw, doors open at 2:00 p.m., meat draw starts at 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 1 New Year’s Day Brunch, Scambled eggs, sausage, bacon, Roast Beef, mashed potatoes, salad and dessert bar. Dine in ONLY, 11:00 a.m., $30 adults, $15 6-14, 5 and under eat free. Call for reservation Frank 519-271-9669 or Legion 519-271-4540
Wednesday, Jan 14
Friday, Jan 23
Saturday, Jan 24
Friday, Jan 30
Sunday, Feb 8
Wednesday, Feb 11
Ladies Auxiliary Ham and Scalloped Potatoes Luncheon. $16
Call Mary Helen 519-273-1389 for reservation
Friday Night Euchre, $20 per team. Call Dave 519-703-6544, Anne 519-301-0914 or the Legion 519-271-4540 to register your team
Winterfest Breakfast - Two eggs any style, bacon or sausage, homefries, toast, juice, tea or coffee $12 per person. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. NO reservations required
Poutine and Draft Night - 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. $20 per person
Call Dave 519-703-6544 or the Legion 519-271-4540 for tickets.
Sweetheart Dinner - 3 course served Dinner. $25 per person
Take out 4:30 p.m., Dine in 5:00 p.m.
Ladies Auxiliary Luncheon, to be determined. $16
Call Mary
EMILY STEWART Times Correspondent
killed at Polytechnique Montréal
Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte.
Those are the 14 women who were killed at Polytechnique Montréal on Dec. 6, 1989. All of them were engineering students and all of them were specifically targeted for being women.
Now, 36 years later, those women are still remembered across Canada during the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, an anniversary enshrined for Canadians to fight the hatred that led to the tragedy back then, and the misogyny that still exists today.
On Dec. 5, the City of Stratford and the Stratford branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) lowered the Canadian Flag at city hall to half mast in honour of the 14 women. Cambria Ravenhill of CFUW told the Times that even 36 years later it is important to remember those women, no matter where in Canada or the world you are.
“These women were killed because they were women,” Ravenhill said. “The perpetrator, whom we never name, had been at the school in engineering and had failed it, flunked out, essentially. And he blamed
the fact on women being in the class, taking space for men, if you like. And so when he came into the school, he went to the engineering classrooms, and he separated the men and the women that he told the men to leave the class and he shot the women.
“… It was an intentional massacre of women for the crime of being women and taking engineering. And so it's really important to understand it was femicide, it was purposeful, it was a hate crime – it was violence against women.”
CFUW was joined by Mayor Martin Ritsma and Perth-Wellington MP John Nater for the occasion. As Ravenhill said, CFUW is incredibly grateful for local government support and leadership and, regardless of its own advocacy, the city will be having a yearly memorial for the day moving forward.
She highlighted that, although the issue isn’t exactly related to the femicide that occurred in Montreal, it is also important to note that the city joined with over 100 municipalities to declare another form of gendered violence, intimate partner violence, an epidemic.
Importantly, Dec. 6 is a day of remembrance and action. To not only remember violence against women but to fight against it. In that respect, Ravenhill advised the public to look at Optimism Place’s Not Ok. campaign.
The campaign, as previously reported by the Times, is focused on getting people talking about gendered and intimate partner violence openly and to learn the signs of escalating risk, including:
• The person fears being hurt, and/orfears for the safety of a child or another family member.
• The partner has a known history of do -
mestic violence.
• The partner shows obsessive behaviour such as stalking, harassment, excessive gift-giving, sexual jealousy, and/or possessiveness.
• The partner has made threats involving weapons, and/or has access to firearms or knives.
• There have been threats to kill the person, a family member, and/or themselves.
• The partner has violated a no-contact and/or other court order.
• The relationship is ending, and/or there has been a recent pregnancy or birth.
• The partner is currently unemployed and/or without stable housing.
• The partner’s substance use contributes to an increase in violent incidents.
• The frequency or severity of violent incidents has escalated.
“Don’t be a bystander,” Ravenhill said. “Notice the signs.”
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Members of CFUW Stratford are joined by Mayor Martin Ritsma, MP John Nater and other members of the public – as well as photos of the 14 women killed at Polytechnique Montréal on Dec. 6, 1989 – a day before the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
It’s Not Ok: Optimism Place urges families to look out for loved ones this holiday season
AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE
Times Reporter
The holiday season is often seen as a time of joy and togetherness. But for many people living with domestic violence, it can bring added stress, isolation and an increased risk of harm.
Donna Jean Forster, executive director of Optimism Place, says the holidays are an important time to check in on family and friends who may be struggling.
She says silence is never the right response when you’re concerned about someone’s safety, and learning how to reach out can make a difference.
“An abusive pattern is isolation, and so being able to break that isolation by having people be comfortable talking about it is vital,” said Forster.
Forster says that while emergency shelter is available when needed, most women access Optimism Place’s services without entering shelter.
“For the most part, the people we serve don't ever come into shelter, and they can access supports from their home,” she said. “Even if it's an abusive rela-
tionship, we can still go to where they are and serve them that way.”
The holidays can also create natural moments for private conversations with loved ones. Forster says to pay attention to how partners interact.
“People are often on their best behaviour when they're in a family setting sometimes, but I think there are things that you can notice in relationships,” she said. “Like, how do they talk to each other? How does he speak to her? Is he putting her down? Is he not letting her talk to other family members? Is he questioning her right after she talks to someone else? Is he controlling what she eats or how much she eats? Is he paying extra attention to her? Does he want to keep her separate from her family members? Those are some of the initial early signs to watch for.”
To build a safer community, Forster says learning how to talk to loved ones and creating space for honest conversations is essential.
Four steps to support someone you’re worried about 1. Ask your loved one to reflect on
whether their partner:
• Puts them down, embarrasses them or shames them
• Prevents contact with family or friends, or interferes with work
• Leaves them “walking on eggshells” about where they are or who they’re with
• Accuses them of cheating or checks their phone
• Threatens to harm themselves, them, children, family members or pets
2. Listen without judgment
Your instinct may be to encourage them to leave, but Forster says the most important first step is to listen and validate.
“I’m so sorry this is happening to you” is often the safest response, she notes. Keep the focus on their feelings and needs, not on their relationship status.
3. Create a safety plan
Work together on a plan that might include a code word to signal danger, a safe place to go, emergency contacts, possible transportation and financial supports. A safety bag can include toiletries, medications, identification, a phone charger and a change of clothes.
Smaller recycling bins now provided for no cost
CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
After a push from Stratford city council – and in particular Coun. Jo-Dee Burbach – Circular Materials will now be providing a smaller recycling cart for Stratford residents free of charge.
Within the next week, an online form will be available to request a 240-litre cart that is considerably smaller than the 360-litre carts that have been delivered in the last few weeks (and have been lampooned on social media).
However, if that smaller cart is still not suitable, the City of Stratford has placed an order for 120-litre carts, which are roughly twice the size of a standard blue bin
SIX TIMES SLOWER THAN THE WORLD
(on the occasion of the howucstratford project, Our Story/Invest Stratford)
There is a way here that the evening sky settles on the Avon, a liquid ease and method to it all, an event belied of pace, the way a cat might yawn before the doorway, the blessed, measured nestle of swan on nest.
and will be compatible with the new province-wide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) recycling program that begins Jan. 1.
These carts are expected to arrive early in the new year and will be made available to residents at a reduced, bulk-order price (compared to a retail price). Contact the city at 519-271-0250 ext. 5279 for more information about this option.
The EPR system is a new initiative that places the responsibility of collecting, managing and recycling materials upon the companies that make or import the products themselves. Circular Materials is the administrator for the EPR and Emterra is the local contractor collecting recycling from the curb.
Time waits here, woven into water and willow, melded into the hallowed York Street bricks, the silky milk of timelessness in this place six times slower than the world, where history lingers not as weight but as stories soaked in wood and stone.
Our swans are statements, metaphorical, sleek and graceful business cards for what we are all about. The theatres might insist their hours upon the clock,
but their ghost lights slow us down again, the slumberous burn of curtain calls and wine in waiting.
Our Stratford doesn’t need to shout. Lovers never do. It is a presence within the soul, that pressing ear worm line that calls our name and tells us it’s okay to just sit here over coffee, watching rain stipple the river’s mirror, never wanting to leave.
My mother is watching.
-- David Stones, Stratford poet laureate
4. Guide them to support Optimism Place offers a 24-7 support line at 519-271-5550 for women, family members and friends. Staff can provide shelter, transportation, legal support, referrals and safety planning. Calling can help you understand what steps to take next.
Optimism Place launched its Not Ok. campaign on Nov. 25 to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, kicking off 16 days of global activism. The long-term campaign highlights warning signs of intimate partner violence.
“Our staff are available all the time to answer these calls,” Forster said. “And we would rather answer these calls to support people than have people uproot their lives and have something really terrible happen. Being able to support people early and often is really important.”
For more information on how to help someone, visit itsnotok.ca/i-want-to-help-someone/. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.
By Jake Grant
1. The Four Horsemen of the ________ appear in the Book of Revelation.
2. What is the 2nd largest Hawaiian island?
3. What year were seatbelts made mandatory in Canada?
4. What do Americans commonly call Emmental cheese?
5. The flowers on the St. John's Wort are which colour?
6. Who originally sang "Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer"?
7. What year was the Toonie introduced?
8. What part of the body is affected by glaucoma?
9. What is the capital of Norway?
10. Which star guided the three kings to baby Jesus?
Former deputy warden and West Perth deputy mayor accepts the gavel as Perth County warden
The 2025 deputy warden and deputy mayor of West Perth, Dean Trentowsky, has officially accepted the gavel and chain of office as Perth County’s 2026 warden. At the annual Perth County warden’s election at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford Dec. 4, Trentowsky – the only county councillor who put their name forward for warden – was officially acclaimed as the top elected official and CEO of the county. After officially accepting the chain of office and gavel from past warden Doug Kellum, Trentowsky delivered his first official remarks as warden, setting the tone for the year ahead.
“The year ahead sits like a blank canvas before us. The paints are set to one side, and the brush to the other. That canvas is waiting to be filled,” Trentowsky said. “To borrow and adapt the Bob Dylan lyrics that were covered by The Grateful Dead, ‘Some day, everything is going to be different when I paint my masterpiece.’ Starting from here, from this moment forward, I invite everyone in this room to collectively pick up that brush together, dive into the paints and, together, let’s paint a picture in 2026 – a masterpiece we can all be proud of.”
Also elected at the ceremony Dec. 4, county councillor and Perth South interim
mayor Sue Orr took over from Trentowsky as deputy warden for the 2026 term of county council.
The warden’s election is held annually on the first Thursday of December. The warden and deputy warden are elected by their peers on county council, which is made up of council representatives from
All veterans and First Responders are welcome at the branch Tuesday mornings 10:30 to noon for a social visit at the Buddy Check Coffee.
The Branch Chaplain can provide Mental and Moral support. Veterans and spouses are entitled to CF1 cards which provide discounts at various locations. Veterans are also entitled to an identification card “NDI75” which can be used to indicate that they have served.
Please contact Branch 8 - 519-271-4540 email: StratfordLegion008@gmail.com or the Branch Service Officer Steve Zurbrigg - 519-305-1125 email: SteveZurbrigg@gmail.com to arrange an interview. 804-B Ontario St., Stratford N5A 3K1 stratfordlegion008@gmail.com
each of Perth County’s lower-tier municipalities – West Perth, North Perth, Perth East and Perth South.
Though it has been past practice for council to agree on their nominees for the position before the election, should there be more than one candidate for each position, councillors would vote on their preferred options at the election itself.
The election is also an opportunity for local dignitaries to recommit to collaborating with Perth County council and staff on shared priorities in the year ahead. During this year’s election, Perth-Wellington MP John Nater attended the ceremony virtually from Ottawa, Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae delivered his congratulations to the new warden and deputy warden by video and Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma and St. Marys Mayor Al Strathdee attended in person.
“I want to thank the County of Perth for your collaboration and partnership over
the years,” Ritsma said. “ … When we talk about our relationship with the county, whether it’s the shared services that we collaborate with, the trade and investment trips to countries like Japan, Germany and France, cultivating opportunities for both the county, city and St. Marys, or working together to promote PC Connect – the connection between the rural part of the county and our urban, and then the first and last mile to places like Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto, etc. – we know that working together will benefit our residents and our businesses.”
“We have a longstanding relationship with the county; we appreciate the partnership,” Strathdee said. “As everyone knows – there’s probably provincial legislation that passed this morning that no one knows what it means again – the change is rapid and very tough for staff. So, sincerely, we appreciate the efforts and emergency services and shared services. I also think that, given the changes in the political climate, now more than ever it’s important that we work together to move forward because it seems critical mass is important for the government when we talk about housing and grants and so forth. It’s important more now than ever that we try and work together and be on the same page.”
In addition to the local dignitaries, members of the Perth County Past Wardens Association were on hand to congratulate both Kellum on a job well done and Trentowksy and Orr on their new positions as the heads of council. Past warden, chair of the Perth County Past Wardens Association and Perth South deputy mayor Bob Wilhelm officially presented the past-wardens pin to Kellum in recognition of his service to the county.
Following the election, members of county council, county staff and special guests enjoyed a short reception before the first county council meeting of the 2026 term under the leadership of Trentowsky and Orr officially commenced.
Stratford Branch 008
GALEN SIMMONS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
(GALEN SIMMONS PHOTO)
Newly acclaimed Perth County Warden Dean Trentowsky delivers his first official remarks of the 2026 county council term.
(GALEN SIMMONS PHOTO)
Introduced by county clerk Tyler Sager (left), newly acclaimed Perth County deputy warden Sue Orr prepares to declare her oath of office.
Mitchell’s Claire Nicholson makes Grinch ornaments for Childcan fundraiser
EMILY STEWART Times Correspondent
Six-year-old Claire Nicholson of Mitchell, a three-time cancer survivor, is once again making ornaments to raise money for Childcan.
The Grinch ornaments are $3 each and proceeds from the sales will support Childcan, which provides support services for families dealing with childhood cancer. Mother Mandy Nicholson said the ornament fundraiser began in 2023 when Claire, who loves to craft, made a snowman Christmas ornament from a crafting kit. Mandy posted a photo of Claire with the ornament, as part of the daily updates done since her daughter’s cancer diagnosis in 2020, and some were interested in purchasing them.
Mandy’s personal Facebook page posting updates on Claire and the family has a large following, including in Stratford, where members of community groups can often see her posting.
In 2023, just over $3,000 from the sale of 1,500 snowmen ornaments was raised and in 2024, the sale of 600 ornaments raised about $1,200 for Child-
can. This year, about 2,000 Grinch ornaments were made for the fundraiser.
"We spent the whole year working on them in preparation because Grinch is quite popular and we thought they might go over well,” Mandy said.
Through Claire’s cancer journey, Mandy and the rest of the family know first-hand how Childcan supports families experiencing childhood cancer through programs for the whole family, including the sibling programs. Childcan also helps families during urgent and unpredictable situations.
“Having them was such a blessing to us and it took so much stress and worry out of the day-to-day of 'Okay, how are we going to pay for parking? How are we going to eat while we're in the hospital with Claire?’” she said.
The Nicholsons do a lot of fundraising through the year, including the Childcan Pajama Walk every September in Mitchell, for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. They also plan to continue making holiday ornaments to fundraise for Childcan year after year.
Ornament orders can be made online via Facebook by contacting Mandy Leann Nicholson.
(MANDY NICHOLSON PHOTO)
Claire Nicholson (right), with her brother Clayton, loves to make crafts. She’s been making ornaments since 2023 to raise money for Childcan.
2025 Santa's Parade of Lights in pictures
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Members of the Early On float wave to the camera.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Stratford came out in droves for the parade, as it does every year
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Kate Ahrens, afternoon host at CJCS, waves as the radio station’s car follows the parade.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
The Stratford and District Secondary School marching band played holiday favourites that evening.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Music filled the air that night as multiple music groups were involved in the parade.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
The man himself, Santa Claus, speaks to the crowd of children that gathered around his sleigh float.
2025 Santa's Parade of Lights in pictures
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
A parade volunteer hands out candy canes to the crowds that gathered along Lakeside Drive.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
The Stratford Winterfest swan gave a prelude to this winter’s upcoming festivities.
STRATFORD SPORTS
Warriors soar past Stars, Galbraith scores first GOHL goal in win over Legionnaires
MICHAEL WILLOUGHBY
Times Correspondent
The Stratford Hunter Steel Warriors continued to build on their winning streak with wins over the St. Thomas Stars and the Sarnia Legionnaires.
Warriors head coach Dave Williams addressed the Times on the game plan for their mid-week matchup against the St. Thomas Stars following practice on Dec. 1.
“We've had two games with them, and I think they play with a lot of paces. They're a young team with some good skills, and their coach, Jason Williams, does a really good job with them. So, we're gonna have to match their speed,” Williams said.
“I think we, typically, our team (skates) well, so we're going to have to do a really good job … going to have to put pucks in good areas, match them through the neutral zone and work hard."
Williams also mentioned to the Times about not taking the Sarnia Legionnaires lightly despite the win-loss record.
“I think our guys in our room recognize the parity in the league and that you have to come prepared every night to win.
Stratford Warriors 2025-26 Stats (as of December 8, 2025)
Player Pos GP G A PTS
Jonas Schmidt F 16 10 11 21
Max Wildfong F 22 12 7 19
Quinn Kipfer F 20 7 11 18
Lucas Minard F 22 11 5 16
Colin Slattery F 22 5 10 15
Jack McGurn F 22 5 8 13
Will Coward D 21 1 11 12
Dax Vader F 21 3 8 11
Evan Arnold F 13 5 5 10
Rhyse Brown F 20 3 7 10
Joseph Curtin D 21 3 6 9
Coen Galbraith F 20 2 7 9
Dominic Marshall F 22 6 2 8
Aaron Green D 15 2 6 8
Grady Murphy F 20 6 1 7
Haden Frayne D 20 1 6 7
Drew Hodge D 21 1 6 7
McQuen HayLock F 20 1 5 6
Matthew Blake D 17 0 5 5
Mateo Craievich D 15 0 4 4
Beckham McLeod D 6 0 0 0
Goalies Record GAA SV-%
Noah Bender 10-2-0-1 2.12 0.927
Gage Hurst 5-0-0-1 1.78 0.920
Connor Davis 1-1-1-0 3.34 0.841
There are no easy games this year,” Williams said.
"I think it's just really hammering down on the details of things that we need to do when we're good and just trying to do that, and at the same time, consistently, you always have to recognize there are always 20 other guys on the other side trying to disrupt how you play. So, I think it's important just for that consistency of things."
In a wintry night at the Joe Thornton Community Centre in St. Thomas on Dec. 3, they poured on a fountain of shots and came away with the 3-1 win over the Stars.
After a scoreless first period, the Warriors got on the board first on a shorthanded, unassisted breakaway goal by Joseph Curtin 84 seconds into the period. The Stars equalized midway through the period, and the score remained deadlocked at one apiece heading into the third period.
Quinn Kipfer scored his seventh of the season from Aaron Green and Matthew Blake, with under nine minutes remaining, giving the Warriors a 2-1 lead. St. Thomas pressed for overtime, but the Stratford defence locked down during the closing seconds, and then Max Wildfong received the neutral zone pass from Kipfer to shoot in the empty net for his 11th of the season before time expired.
Kipfer and Curtin discussed the sequence that led to their key goals.
"I think just kind of a rush to transition there in the neutral zone, and Greener (Aaron Green) drove in and saw me high, and I was able to walk in and take the goalie high blocker," Kipfer said.
"We were five on four. I was just kind of following my guy at the wall, and he got trapped under," Curtin said. "I poked it and went down in and saw him drop low and went high. So just saw how it happened."
Williams was pleased with the team's all-around performance against the young, high-powered St. Thomas squad.
“I really liked our effort to compete from the drop of the puck. I thought we put together three good periods against a
good, fast-skilled team and were territorially sound," Williams said.
"We did a good job managing the puck in the offensive zone. We just struggled to get rewarded around the net. Very good effort tonight."
The league’s hottest team faced off with the league’s cellar-dwelling Sarnia Legionnaires on Dec. 5 at the Allman Arena.
Despite being heavily outshot, Sarnia took advantage of its limited time on offence and opened the scoring with 5:19 to go in the first period. The score remained 1-0 for the visitors, although the Warriors had a shots-on-goal ratio of 4-to-1 in the opening 20 minutes of play.
Stratford responded with a pair of goals from Jonas Schmidt early in the second period to lead 2-1, but the Legionnaires responded with over nine minutes left in the period. Following the Sarnia goal, the Warriors broke through the Sarnia defence and unleashed an overflow of goals.
The overflow began with six minutes remaining in the middle frame, as another career milestone was reached when Coen Galbraith scored his first GOHL goal, giving the Warriors the 3-2 lead. Galbraith made a warm gesture to his family members in the crowd after his milestone goal.
Schmidt completed his trick with 3:27 left to double the Stratford lead, and Dax Vader put the finishing touches with 2:01 left to give the Warriors a commanding 5-2 lead heading into the third period. For the second straight game this week, the Warriors pounded the opposition in the shots-on-goal category 86-29 through 40 minutes in both games.
Galbraith’s second goal and Wildfong’s goal added insurance for the Warriors in the final frame as the Warriors won 7-2 to win their ninth game in a row and improve their overall home record to an unblemished 10-0-1-0 in the season.
Following the game, Galbraith shared what it meant to score his first career goal in front of his family in attendance.
"Oh, it's great. Lots of my family got me here. They supported me throughout the
GOHL Western Conference Standings
way, all the long drives, all the weekends we had to spend away from Murmur. It’s just great to see them,” Galbraith said.
Williams liked that Galbraith got the elusive first career goal, along with his work ethic so far this season and the positive impact the rookie has had on his teammates.
"He (Galbraith) has come in and played incredibly well. I know everybody wants to contribute offensively, and we need to get some contributions from everybody in the lineup. But he's come in, and he's played the way we wanted him to play," Williams said.
"His teammates were incredibly happy for that goal. There was a lot of excitement on the bench because, you know, everybody wanted to get him rewarded with the goal. So hopefully that's, you know, the first two of many here pushing into the second half of the season."
Schmidt praised the head coach and his teammates for their performance in the game, especially in the second period, when the Warriors were in a tough predicament early on.
"Sometimes the game goes like that for you," Schmidt said. "We had a tough one at the end of the first, but thanks to Willy (Williams), he put us back out there and gave us some trust in a second. I thought my line mates and the defence did an excellent job."
Williams was appreciative of the effort but pointed out the importance of generating more quality chances in front of the opposition's goal.
"Liked a lot about our game. I thought we did a good job generating shots. I think we still need to focus on getting higher-quality shots. But with respect to volume, I thought we did a good job territorially playing in their end," Williams said.
"It took us a little while to get going there and get a few in the second, a little momentum, and maybe allowed us to take a bit of a breath, given how the game up to that point had been pretty tight."
Next up for the Warriors is the first "Battle of Highway 7" matchup of the season, as they head to St. Marys to take on the Lincolns on Dec. 11, host the London Nationals on Dec. 12, and play in the GOHL Spotlight Showcase game against the Listowel Cyclones on Dec. 14.
The Warriors showed their holiday spirit by giving back to the community
During the weekend of Dec. 6 and 7, the Stratford Hunter Steel Warriors gave back to the community by hosting the annual "Skate with the Warriors" at the William Allman Memorial Arena and taking part in the Santa’s Parade of Lights.
Williams explained the importance of the team's involvement in the community during this time.
"It's always important. We're fortunate
Irish shipwreck Lakers, get stung by Killer Bees in Teddy Bear Toss game
MICHAEL WILLOUGHBY
Times Correspondent
The Stratford Irish looked to climb back up on the contention ladder as they faced the last-place Woodstock Lakers and the division-leading Alvinston Killer Bees on the weekend.
Stratford continued to restock its roster for its imminent playoff run, making another series of moves on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4.
On Dec. 3, the Irish acquired Travis Winkworth from the Tilbury Bluebirds in exchange for Ethan Nother. The next day, the Irish made notable moves to improve their goaltending, signing Jesse Grimes and making a key trade by acquiring Mario Cavaliere from the Halton Hills Coyotes in exchange for Marek Pavlas.
The opening night starter for the Irish, Pavlas appeared in three games with the team, going 2-1 with a 4.62 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .896. Cavaliere comes to the Irish with a 2-2-0-1 record, a 4.44 GAA and a .906 save percentage.
The Irish got back to their winning ways in convincing fashion with a 10-2 road win
Stratford got on the board under three minutes into the first period on a goal by Jeff Silver from Matthew Montgomery and the newcomer Winkworth.
Midway through the period, the Irish increased their lead on the powerplay by Thomas Maia from Winkworth. Cole Thiessen from Brandan Charlton and Ethan Salter late in the period gave the Irish a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Irish team captain Zach Magwood joined the goal-scoring barrage early in the second period from Magwood and Thiessen, and Maia’s second of the game midway through the period put the Irish in a commanding 5-0 lead.
Woodstock answered back with two goals of their own in a span of over a minute, but their comeback efforts proved difficult in this game as the Irish continued to pour on five more goals in the final frame. Thiessen and Salter both led the Irish with four points, while Winkworth had three assists in his debut. Cavaliere made 44 saves in his first win as a member of the Irish.
On Dec. 6, the Irish hosted their annual
over the Woodstock Lakers on Dec. 5. Like the acquisitions from last week, both newcomers Cavaliere and Winkworth made an immediate impact with their new squad.
(FRED GONDER PHOTO)
Stratford Irish players and staff collects the teddy bears on the ice at the Allman Arena on Dec. 6.
Van Geffen and Brooks set sights for the future as Lakers resume ALLIANCE regular season play
Huron-Perth Lakers U16 AAA defenceman Colten Van Geffen says he's a shutdown defender who plays his best after Toronto Maple Leafs Simon Benoit, and his future ambitions are inevitable if he plays efficiently.
“I'd like to get drafted this upcoming year, just kind of see where the road takes me, but obviously I want to end up playing well,” Van Geffen said.
Forward Callum Brooks says he's best described as a 200-foot player, a versatile forward, and that he plays his game to the style of the OHL Brantford Bulldogs' Jake O'Brien. Brooks said his priority is to pursue major junior and then the professional ranks.
“I think next year is to get drafted to the OHL, and then hopefully make it as far as I can, and then eventually, hopefully get drafted to the NHL," Brooks said.
On Dec. 5, the first-place Huron-Perth Lakers squared off with the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks at the Stratford Rotary Complex.
Evan Fisher opened the scoring for the
Lakers with less than ten minutes left in the first period from Wyatt Finch and Declan McCotter. Fisher scored his second goal of the game from Joseph Haskett and Christian Circelli 95 seconds into the second period to extend their lead to 2-0.
McCotter put the Lakers up 3-0 at the 12:52 mark of the middle frame from Brooks and Ethan Bridges, and Bridges connected for the third time before the end of the period from McCotter and Luke McLean to give the home side a 4-0 lead heading into the final period.
The Canucks broke the Lakers' Tyler Wilkinson's shutout bid early in the third period, but a pair of goals from Brooks and the first goal of the season from Blake Moore cemented the 7-1 rout by the Lakers over the Canucks.
In the afternoon of Dec. 7, the Lakers hosted their second game in three days against the Waterloo Wolves.
The visitors got in front 76 seconds into the game, but the Lakers responded with a goal from Circelli, Fisher and Tanner Luczka.
Waterloo retook the lead less than 90 seconds later, only for the Lakers to reach level terms before the first period
ended, with a laser from McCotter, his 18th of the season, from Bridges and Kipfer, with 53 seconds left.
After a scoreless and near penalty-free second period, Waterloo regained the lead sixteen seconds into the final frame. Brooks responded with a goal 1:19 into the period, and three minutes later, Fisher gave the Lakers their first lead of the contest with 15:41 to play.
But the Lakers got into penalty trouble late in the period, and the visitors made them pay with the equalizer with 1:51 left in the contest. As a result, the game ended in a hard-fought 4-4 draw.
After the game, Lakers head coach Jason Brooks shared his thoughts on the draw.
“I don't think it was the best game today, but I'll give full credit to Waterloo for the hard work. I thought we struggled early, early through the first two periods. We fought back to get the lead in the third, which was positive, and then we got in trouble at the end, and I thought (we'd) done an excellent job killing that off," Brooks said.
“But then unfortunately, they get a puck to the net, they got a rebound, and they were able to whack it in, which got
it to a tie, something for us to learn from those and get back on track.”
Kipfer says the team didn’t play to their capabilities, given the recent performances from the Silver Stick and against Elgin-Middlesex.
“I don't think we had our best today. I think we were coming off a high. We had a good silver stick. We played a good game against Elgin on Friday night there, and I think we just came out flat-footed,” Kipfer said.
“Waterloo wanted it more than us, and it showed in the first period, and we were chasing all game, and we got the lead back, which was good. And take two stupid four-minute penalties that'll cost us in the long run.”
Looking forward to next week, Brooks says it is back to the fundamentals.
“We'll do some video; we'll watch what we did. We'll learn from what we did wrong and look to improve on it,” Brooks said. “We'll get back to practice, back to some hard work and what we'll try to get back to playing our game well."
The Lakers head to Komoka for their game against the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks on Dec. 14.
MICHAEL WILLOUGHBY
Times Correspondent
MINOR SPORTS SCRAPBOOK
...Warriors soar
to have the support of the local community. The hockey clubs have always been well supported. So, any chance we get, give a little back, and talk to the guys even after the game, to make sure that when they're off the ice, if they're connecting with anybody who comes out," Williams said.
"Most of them were probably in that stage a few years ago when they were coming out, and especially local kids who grew up in the community, getting a chance to meet guys on the team is always special. Same thing for the Christmas parade, just trying to interact with as many people as possible, because we got a great group of young men, and like to get as many people as possible out to watch them."
Assistant captain Jonas Schmidt says he always looks forward to being involved with the community.
“I mean, we love doing that stuff. The community supports you so much. It's really the only way this organization runs, and we really enjoy doing this stuff,” Schmidt said.
...Teddy bear toss game
Teddy Bear Toss game against the Alvinston Killer Bees at the Allman Arena.
Alvinston got on the board early in the first period to lead 1-0. In the second period, the Killer Bees added a pair to have a commanding 3-0 lead through 40 minutes. The Irish got on the board at 3:43 in the third period as Salter scored the magical goal, and the fans filled the rink with teddy bears.
Although the Irish put on the offensive pressure, the visitors added an empty netter with 12 seconds left to win the game 4-1. Zachery Weir took the loss in goal for the Irish, making 27 saves on 30 shots.
Following the game, Salter commented on scoring the special goal.
“It was very exciting. Typically, when I
score goals, stuff isn't thrown on the ice. And it was great to see all the fans that came out and supported the good cause tonight,” Salter said.
“And you know, we play for the kids, right? The kids in the community. So, it was a very exciting moment when I saw the teddy bears raining down after that puck went in.”
Weir reflected on the teddy bears on the ice when Salter scored the goal.
“It's awesome. I mean, it's always a good showing here in Stratford. It's good to see that many people are here for a good cause. I'm glad we were able to get one tonight so that everyone can let them fly,” Weir said.
Stratford hosts the Strathroy Jets in a crucial matchup for playoff positioning at the Allman Arena on Dec. 13.
(PAIGE CAMPBELL PHOTO)
Bryce Burdett releases a quick shot off his stick during the U13 BB Stratford Warriors game last Saturday.
(PAIGE CAMPBELL PHOTO)
Brayson Binkle plays the puck down the wall from the point during last Saturday’s U16 BB Stratford Warriors game.
(PAIGE CAMPBELL PHOTO)
Nate Van Bakel maneuvers the puck into the offensive zone during last Saturday’s U18 Stratford Warriors game.
(PAIGE CAMPBELL PHOTO)
Myla Macey backhands the puck from the blueline during the U18 AA Stratford Aces game last Saturday.
U18 Warriors losing streak continues as they prep for
Ajax Winterlude
The U18 Stratford Warriors looked to end their regular-season losing skid when they faced the St. Thomas Jr. Stars on Dec. 6 at the Stratford Rotary Complex. Stratford got on the board just over four minutes into the first period. Late in the opening frame and early in the second period, the Warriors received eight minutes of powerplay time and had a golden opportunity to extend their lead. Despite their best efforts, the Warriors were unable to break through, but they still led 1-0 at the end of 40 minutes.
The inability to score on earlier power plays proved costly for the Warriors, as St. Thomas scored the equalizer at the 7:34 mark of the third. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, extending the Warriors' draught to 10 straight games (0-8-2 in that span).
Warriors head coach Riley Mathieson shared his thoughts on the draw against St. Thomas.
“I thought we played a pretty good game. I know it's a little frustrating for our group, where we keep working away at things. We're having a hard time getting the win right now, but I think, all things considered, that was an improvement. We worked a lot during the week there to get ready for the weekend. In practice, we worked hard on our forecheck, on our positioning in the offensive and defensive zone,” Mathieson said.
“We worked a lot on breaking out and exiting, and I thought that we started to see some results tonight. Unfortunately, they didn't always end up in the back of the net, but all in all, as a coach, and if I could speak for the other coaches, we're happy with the effort and the transformation that we saw over the last week there. We did an excellent job, I think, getting prepared for the weekend, and showed tonight."
The Warriors played in London on Dec. 7 against the London Jr. Knights. After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, London scored a pair of goals at the halfway mark and with 5:46 to play in the second period. The score remained 2-0 until London scored with 8:40 left in the game, and London won 3-0. The Warriors extended their losing streak to 11 regular-season games with the loss.
Later in the week, Stratford will participate in the Ajax U18 Winterlude tournament from Dec. 11 to Dec. 14.
The Warriors will play in the Frenchman's Bay group during the round-robin play. On Dec. 12, they play the Clarington Toros in the matinée and play the Aurora Tigers in the evening slot. Then on Dec. 13, the Warriors conclude their round robin play with games against the Milton Jr. Menace in the late-afternoon tilt and the Ajax Pickering Raiders in the evening. If placed in the top four in the group, the Warriors could play in the division semis and eventually, the division championship on Dec. 14.
Mathieson evaluates the team's expectations for the forthcoming tournament.
“We're looking for two things in the Ajax tournament. I think one of the most important ones is team bonding. We haven't had a lot of time off the ice, away from the rink, yet this year, I think that's going to be significant for a group. It might not see some results pay off right away, but I think the more time we spend together, the more it will pay off. It's a new group, a lot of guys here that haven't played with each other, and I think that you get some of that mixed in, and over time, it's gonna lead to some just some good things,” Mathieson said.
“As far as results go, next weekend, we're looking to look and be competitive. We're in the double-A side of things, and there are some teams over there that are strong. There are some teams over there, I think we can be successful with.”
MICHAEL WILLOUGHBY Times Correspondent
Mike’s Bowling Lanes High Scores December 1-7
PINPALS
Gregory Jones 108
BOWLASAURUS
Dominc Rowe 169
Owen Farthing 106
Theo Brown 101
Evangeline Butcher 101
Henry Barclay 101
PEEWEE
Avah Davidson 88
BANTAMS
Kylie Smith 102
Grey Davidson 109
Roland Rains 202, triple 506
Stella Hurley-St.Pierre 142, triple 371
Scarlett Smith-Illman 203 triple
Coen Everitt 269 triple
Rowan Eckert 245 triple
Cole Casey 107
Joey Robinson 128
Emmett Martin 160
Kayleigh Heegsma 153
SENIORS
Jake Sippel 213
Zachary Clarke 254, triple 594
Dominic Boyles-Keating 285, triple 699
Alex Ward 312, triple 659
Sydney Smith 206, triple 515
Wiatt Robinson 230, triple 596
Austin Martin 191
Austin Bauer 196, triple 471
Owen Martin 219, triple 628
Claire Turner 268, triple 620
Julian Colalillo 228
Carter Bage 225
Jocelyn Gethke 193
Peyton Petrie 208
ADULT LEAGUES HIGH SCORES
MEN’S
Kevin Wickert 359, triple 857 Jon Gagan 363, triple 896
Dan Clarke 363, triple 938 Brad McIntyre triple 878
Kyle Turner triple 858
LADIES’
Irene Louwagie 306
Caylie Beuchlen 311, triple 758
MONDAY SENIORS
Cindy Baker 204 Marlene Crerar 321, triple 673
Steve Van Klooster 243, triple 626 Brian Wagler 252
WEDNESDAY LADIES
Bonita Baranyi 218, 215
Helen Fulton 220
Coaches and/or parents are invited to send in your sports reports and pictures to the Stratford Times to let Stratford and area know how your teams are doing throughout the new 2025-26 season (and to create some great scrapbook material to be reflected upon in future years).
Game reports should be kept to a
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ST. JOE’S
Jay Smith 221, 225 Martin VanBakel 324
Jana VanRooyen 216 Mary Lyoness 227
UNITED LEAGUE
Autumn Stadtlander 218, 232 Glenn Rohrer 247
Paul Boyd 271 Steven Walker 248
TOURNAMENT
Mike’s Bowling Lanes hosted the Provincial Singles Championship on Dec. 7. In the bantam division, Roland Rains posted a five-game scratch total of 885 to finish third place and take the bronze medal. In the senior division, Dominic Boyles Keating totalled 1075 for seventh place.
maximum of 100 words. Please include a brief description of what happened during your games, including the names of those who scored and any special efforts made by your players.
Please have all reports and pictures in by the end of the month by emailing stratfordtimes@gmail.com.
Staples and Kiwanis support Stratford House of Blessing with over $8,700 donation
STRATFORD TIMES STAFF
stratfordtimes@gmail.com
Staples Stratford and the Kiwanis Club of Stratford presented over $8,700 to the Stratford House of Blessing, money raised through the annual Staples/ Kiwanis Back to School Program. These much-needed funds will help children and youth obtain school supplies that are essential to learning, a media release said.
The multi-year partnership between Staples and Kiwanis saw the amount raised through the Back to School program almost double this year thanks to the generosity of Staples customers who donated at the check-out.
Dean Peckham, manager of Stratford
Staples, stated, “I am very impressed with the generosity of this community. We received several large donations and are grateful that we were able to help Kiwanis raise funds for the Stratford House of Blessing.” Peckham went on to say that the Kiwanis Club of Stratford was highly engaged and a pleasure to work with.
“Kiwanis is an organization that is committed to improving the world – one child and one community at a time,” said past president Heather Herman. “We are pleased to have a corporate partner like Staples who shares our values.”
Kiwanis member David MacLennan, who coordinated with Staples added, “Working with Dean and Abbie at Staples was a true partnership. They encouraged a Kiwanis presence in their store that helped to enhance donations.”
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MacLennan went on to say that Dave Evans, another Kiwanian, has long served as a liaison between Kiwanis and the Stratford House of Blessing.
Eva Hayes, executive director of the House of Blessing, stated, “The Stratford House of Blessing is grateful for the funds provided in support of our Off to School Smiling program, ensuring
children receive much needed school supplies to help them succeed.”
The Kiwanis Club of Stratford has been serving the community for over 75 years. Projects include the Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts, the Stratford Kiwanis Garlic Festival, the CJCS/ Kiwanis Christmas Basket Campaign, Summer Concerts in the Park as well as helping upgrade playgrounds in area schools and
parks.
The Kiwanis Club of Stratford encourages individuals or corporations, who are interested in giving back to the community, to join them. They offer many ways to serve, as well as having interesting meetings with dynamic speakers. They can be reached through www.kiwanisclubstratford.ca or email at kiwanisclubstratford@outlook.com.
To Brian, Ivan, and the entire team at Elliott Motors:
IATSE Local 357 would like to extend our sincerest gratitude for Elliott Motors’ generous donation of a truck, trailer, and driver for our float in the December 7th Santa Parade of Lights.
From our team to yours, a thousand thanks, and we wish you the absolute best this coming holiday season!
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Kiwanis president-elect David MacLennan, director of Stratford House of Blessing Eva Hayes, Kiwanis past president Heather Herman, Staples assistant manager Abbie Haase and Staples manager Dean Peckham pose with a cheque for $8,700, all for the House of Blessing.
you want to take a
Stratford Police Service
unveils Next Generation 911
STRATFORD TIMES STAFF
stratfordtimes@gmail.com
The City of Stratford Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is proud to announce the successful launch of Next Generation 911 (NG911), marking a significant milestone in its commitment to enhancing public safety and emergency response services.
NG911 represents a multi-stage transformative upgrade to the traditional 911 system. While the process for callers to connect with a 911 operator remains the same, the technology driving the system offers several improvements:
• Quickly provides emergency operators with more accurate data to help determine the caller’s location and phone number.
• Increased reliability and cyber security.
• Provides more backup capabilities should a failure within the system occur.
• Includes plans to support real-time text and live emergency video calls in the future.
The City of Stratford PSAP is dedicated
to providing timely and effective emergency response services to the residents of Stratford, St. Marys and Perth South. Its trained team of dispatchers and state-ofthe-art technology ensure that it is always ready to assist those in need.
“Upgrading Ontario’s public safety communications will be a game changer,” said Michael Kerzner, solicitor general of Ontario, in a media release. “Next Generation 911 gives first responders real-time, life-saving information which means a faster, more effective emergency response. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government will always have the backs of those who protect our province. That’s why we are proud to provide funding to Stratford police for this new technology, which will mean more calls will be answered, more lives will be saved and people across the city can count on emergency services when it matters most.”
As noted in that release, the Province of Ontario has provided more than $1.1 million since 2022 to support this transition.
For more information, visit https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/911/gen.htm.
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
If
drive down William Shakespeare Street in the village of Shakespeare, be prepared to see one of the tallest and widest snowman ever. Pictured here is mom Sarah and daughter Bella of the Johnston family in front of their behemoth.
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
When the Santa Claus parade rolls into the Festival City every year, Perth County milk producers are always excited to hand out fresh dairy products to those watching. This year the dairy farmers, dressed up as Holstein cows, were able to hand out over 2,500 bottles of chocolate milk to those braving the cold. Pictured here are Megan Louwagie, Hans Pfister and Georgia Louwagie, all dairy farmers from the Mitchell area.
“This is just chaos”: UTRCA board opposes consolidation of conservation authorities
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
At the most recent Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s board of directors meeting on Nov. 25, Brian Petrie, mayor of Ingersoll and one of the UTRCA’s directors, warned that municipalities need to wake up.
“I think the problem I have with what’s going on now, and generally the government’s scope, is that local governance model – whether its school boards, health units, municipalities, conservation authorities – is being lost and turned into an administrative role to levy our residents for money that the government changes their priorities on …” Petrie said. “Unfortunately, if we don’t wake up as municipalities and put the brakes on here and fight back … that’s where I think the message needs to be.”
Petrie was speaking on the Province of Ontario’s proposal to consolidate 36 conservation authorities into seven large regional authorities. The UTRCA, which covers an area of 3,421 square kilometres and is focused on conservation, flood control and the preservation of the watershed, is proposed to amalgamate with Catfish Creek CA, Essex Region CA, Grand River CA, Kettle Creek CA, Long Point Region CA, Lower Thames Valley CA and St. Clair Region CA to form the Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority. The proposed authority stretches as southwest as Windsor and as north as Shelburne. Within its boundaries there would be 81 municipalities and, to put that into perspective, the UTRCA is currently composed of 17 municipalities.
As presented by Tracy Annett, general manager of the UTRCA, there are not many concrete steps put in place by the province yet. So far, it has made changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, including the establishment of a new agency, the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, to provide leadership, governance and strategic direction to conservation authorities. The changes to the Act were part of Bill 68, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act, which was introduced and passed without any consultation.
The province’s news release on the proposed change states legislation to create a new Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency will be released soon. The goal of the change is “improving the province’s conservation authority system to help get shovels in the ground faster on homes and other local infrastructure projects, while strengthening the vital role conservation authorities play in managing watersheds and protecting communities from floods and natural hazards.”
Petrie was only one of many directors to voice their frustrations with the idea. Skylar Franke, London city councillor, called the legislation “absolute garbage” and “a big time waste.”
“This is just chaos,” said Tom Heeman of Thames Centre. “… What we’re looking at it’s the freight train of inevitability
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is opposed to a provincial plan to consolidate 36 CAs into just seven regional CAs. If approved, UTRCA would join with seven other CAs to form the Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority.
… the reality is that this is going to have chaos for the next four years. This is also downloading from the province because that board is going to be funded by municipal taxpayers.”
In a recorded vote, a motion to oppose the consolidation was nearly unanimous. Only Peter Cuddy, a London city councillor, was in opposition.
In a Dec. 8 post on its website, and in accordance with the sentiments of its board, the UTRCA has advised the public to tell the province a few key messages while its public comment period is still active, including:
Reduce the size of the proposed region
“The proposed Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority is much too large to remain responsive and effective,” the UTRCA advises. “The province should consider smaller, more focused regional models that improve efficiency while preserving local knowledge and relationships.”
Ensure local representation in governance
“The UTRCA was created in 1947 as a partnership between member municipalities to use local knowledge and expertise to make decisions regarding the management of the watershed’s natural resources,” the UTRCA advises. “The 17 watershed municipalities appoint a board of 15 members who determine the programs and services the UTRCA provides to watershed communities. A single board representing 81 municipalities will dilute local voices. The governance model must ensure meaningful local rep -
resentation that balances rural and urban priorities and interests, so watershed priorities remain community driven.”
Keep conservation local “Local conservation staff and offices understand the water, land, people and challenges of the Upper Thames River watershed in ways centralized decision-makers cannot,” the UTRCA advises. “Decisions made from afar will not reflect the area’s unique environmental, agricultural, and community needs. Local expertise is essential for public safety, environmental protection, and the delivery of effective community services.”
Protect existing programs and services
“The UTRCA delivers programs that directly support the unique requests and needs of watershed landowners, municipalities and communities,” the UTRCA advises. “Our residents value our species-at-risk initiatives (turtles and fish), environmental education for students, specialized technical advice and outdoor recreation – but these are just some of the programs that may be lost under a centralized, standardized regional model. These locally developed services must be protected. A regional model may lead to reduced service levels, loss of expertise or diminished community access for local residents.”
“This is just chaos”: UTRCA board opposes consolidation of conservation authorities
Support efficient planning and permitting
“UTRCA provides timely responses and approvals that meet or exceed provincial timelines,” the UTRCA advises. “In 2024, 99 per cent of permit applications were completed within the provincial guidelines. Regionalizing permitting must not create delays, bottlenecks or reduced access to technical expertise.”
Ensure fair and transparent funding
“A regional funding model must be fair to rural municipalities and avoid cost shifts that disadvantage small communi-
ties,” the UTRCA advises. “Member municipalities contribute 34 per cent of the UTRCA’s operating budget through levies and cost-sharing agreements, 34 per cent is self-generated through user fees and donations, and 30 per cent is obtained through applications to foundations and other levels of government to leverage municipal contributions and provide more robust programs to watershed residents. The provincial contributions represent just two per cent of the UTRCA’s operating budget.”
Recognize the value of UTRCA’s local
assets
“The UTRCA owns and/or manages more than 5,790 hectares (14,300 acres) of land within the watershed,” the UTRCA advises. “Decisions about lands and resources should stay close to the communities that use and care for them.”
Maintain the principles of integrated watershed management “Watershed decisions should be based on science, geography and local hydrology, not overly large administrative boundaries,” the UTRCA advises.
Ask the province to listen to local
communities
“The province should carefully consider input from municipalities, landowners, conservation authorities and community groups before any final decision is made,” the UTRCA concludes.
Comments from the public will be accepted by the province until Dec. 22 at https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1257.
The UTRCA is also asking the public to provide comments to their local MPP, who is Matthew Rae in Perth-Wellington.
With files from Jeff Helsdon, Tillsonburg Post editor.
Opinions
WEB-CRAWLING THROUGH CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES
Once upon a time, while living in England, I saw the River Wye on the Welsh border. Designated a national landscape, it was incredibly beautiful, alive with birds, fish and plant life. Now? It’s designated “unfavourable-declining.” Wow, what happened? Sewage happened, farm runoff off manure and fertilizer happened and excessive algae happened.
Once upon a time, while living in SW Ontario, I saw the Thames River – in fact I’ve canoed parts of it. It was, and still is, a lovely river, alive with birds, fish and plant life. Why is that? Welcome to Ontario’s conservation authorities. There are 36 conservation authorities in Ontario and each one works in an area anchored by multiple municipalities, responsible for a large part of their funding base, along with donations. The province funds about two per cent of conservation authority budgets.
Conservation authorities are formed of teams of highly trained officers and support staff. Their mandate is to protect our communities from floodwaters. Have you heard of Hurricane Hazel in 1954? The impact was catastrophic. Municipalities, together with the provincial government, created conservation authorities to make sure devastating floodwaters never darkened our doors again.
The conservation authorities know something not many of us appreciate. Everything is connected. You can’t take a river
in isolation, nor can you take a wetland and destroy it without a kickback. You can’t separate the floodplains around a river from the forests that anchor the soil nearby. Nor can you assess the health of the river without attention to the fish, the crayfish, the insects, the birds, the beavers, the deer and all the biodiversity of the area – because they are all dependent on each other. Not only that, but we are dependent on all those extensions of the river as well – for our own health and for the safety of our water supply, both ground water and watersheds.
The conservation authorities make sure the River Wye isn’t going to happen here. Their knowledge of water courses, of the markers of a healthy ecosystem and of the areas they work in protects us and the health of our environment. Where do you see them? Everywhere. They are planting native plants and making fish cradles by the River Avon, they are meeting with farmers regarding manure management, they are engaging
with children and adults, helping them to understand what makes a healthy ecosystem and what they can do to keep it that way. When there are development questions, they ensure that water tables are safe, flood plains are avoided and wetlands are maintained for flood control and for critical habitat.
There is a plan. It is called Bill 68, schedule 3. It is an Ontario proposal to take the 36 current conservation authorities in Ontario and reduce them to seven. For us in Stratford, that would mean our conservation authority, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), will become part of a HUGE Lake Erie authority. The thinking is that all the Lake Erie watersheds drain into Lake Erie, so of course we should all have the same
needs and protocols. Within the Lake Erie authority, there are 81 communities and geographic areas. I assure you, they are not all the same. Conservation staff know every environmental area within their conservation area, they know the companies and services that might influence the biodiversity and the water in the area and they work with agriculture within their areas. They make sure that flood safety and overflow absorption are maintained, and that the Wye River will not happen here.
The Wye situation resulted from removal of monitoring
control – of sewage, of agriculture and of industry. Control of our conservation authorities is maintained by local boards. They are local to the area, know the area, and know the elements within the community that need to be a part of the health of water and ecosystems to maintain the water.
The proposal for control of the seven conservation authorities is a single board situated in Toronto, appointed by Cabinet, and chaired by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Reasons given for the change are faster permits for development and housing. That is a stretch. No one wants to live in an area with unsafe flood conditions or compromised water supply. It takes time to do an environmental assessment, and the conservation authorities monitor areas that are challenged. We are grateful for their knowledge and expertise. Public response to Bill 68 schedule 3 will be received by the Environmental Registry of Ontario until Dec. 22 at https:// ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1257. Another contact would be your representative in Queen’s Park, our MPP Matthew Rae. Your support for our local conservation authority, UTRCA, is needed. It protects our water, our environment – and us.
Sheila Clarke is a Stratford advocate for the environment, of our community and of our planet. She is a member of CFUW Stratford, Stratford Climate Momentum, and the Perth County Sustainability Hub.
SHEILA CLARKE Times Columnist
Opinions
A humble holiday: Redefining what really matters
Every December, the world seems to hum with urgency. Storefronts glow with elaborate displays, inboxes flood with flash sales and advertisements insist that joy can be purchased – if only we find the perfect gift, decorate more beautifully or host more impressively. The commercial rhythm of the season is loud, relentless and carefully designed to convince us that more is always better.
But beneath that noise lies a
quieter truth, one that feels increasingly important in these complicated times: the most meaningful holidays have very little to do with consumption. They grow, instead, from gratitude, connection and the humble pleasures that can’t be wrapped or bought.
This year, many people are facing financial strain, personal challenges or lingering fatigue – emotional, physical or both. And perhaps, for many of us, the idea of a “humble holiday” isn’t just appealing; it’s necessary. It offers a gentler way to move through December, one that honours our limitations as much as our longings.
A humble holiday begins with gratitude, the simple practice of noticing what remains steady when life feels unsteady. It’s the warmth of a kitchen filled with the scent of baking bread, the soft glow of a candle on a dark afternoon, the comfort of a familiar song drifting through the house. These small, grounding
moments remind us that abundance is not measured by the number of presents under a tree but by the capacity of our hearts to appreciate what is already here.
Connection, too, becomes richer when we slow down and step away from the frenzy. A long conversation with a friend can mean more than a mountain of gifts. A quiet afternoon spent with someone you love – sharing tea, memories or simply space – can become the season’s most treasured moment. When we look back on holidays past, it’s rarely the expensive purchases that stay with us; it’s the people, the stories, the shared laughter, the unexpected tenderness. Meaning, however, is the heart of a humble holiday. This is the part of the season that often gets buried beneath obligations and expectations. To reclaim it, we must ask ourselves: What truly matters to me? What brings peace rather than stress? What fills me, rather than empties me?
For some, meaning is found in spiritual reflection or the quiet rituals of Advent. For others, it’s in giving back – donating to a local food bank, supporting a shelter or offering time to someone in need. Meaning may also arise from simple acts of creativity: writing cards by hand, baking something homemade, crafting a small gift, or sharing a story or poem with someone who needs encouragement. These gestures carry a sincerity that no storebought item can replicate. A humble holiday also invites us to embrace imperfection. The house doesn’t need to be spotless. The gifts don’t need to be extravagant. The schedule doesn’t need to be full. In fact, some of the most memorable moments unfold when we allow ourselves to be human – when we let things be a little messy and real. The pressure to “do it all” has never been part of the true spirit of the season; it’s a cultural script we’re allowed to rewrite.
What many people quietly
Down on the farm: The power of cows, now!
One day in 2009 a man representing Biogas stopped at the Athlone Farm near Tavistock to talk to its owners about his product. In the 16 years since then, veteran farmers Wendy and Brian Anderson, who bought into Biogas that day, have learned a great deal about Biogas’ processes, its benefits – and its challenges.
On Nov. 27, a cold afternoon in the city, the dairy farming couple faced a primarily urban audience at the Parlour Inn to impart some of that learning in their talk entitled Cow Power! In the process they created a new respect for how much farmers do to do their best for their animals, their customers and the environment.
Who knew all that was involved in converting cow manure and its methane gas into power, clean bedding for the animals, and a superior fertilizer for crops?
Certainly not this listener. That, however, is what the Andersons and their family do with their 145 cows, each of which produces 40 kilograms of dung a day – in addition to the liquid nourishment they provide for people’s tables.
“We like our cows to be pretty enough to take their pictures,” said Wendy, as she displayed a photo of one of their impressive Holsteins, “but that doesn’t matter (in this discussion); poop is poop!”
What happens to that poop, after being added to organic materials diverted from landfills, is that it is conveyed to heated coils next to the barn for pasteurization at a high temperature before it is put into one of two enormous anaerobic biodigesters for 60 days. At this point there is a lot of sulphur in the mix (which gives manure its distinctive odour) which has to be removed. This happens in the digester, as microorganisms break down the organic matter, converting the meth-
Remember that time when Amazon sponsored your church
ane into biogas in the process.
After its time in a biodigester the manure comes out, 16 cubic metres at a time, in a form that is much better than “ordinary” manure, to be used as fertilizer for field crops, soft bedding for the cows –“lying on it is like a day at the beach” for the animals – and power (enough to heat 500 homes). The last is conveyed to the Hydro One grid near the road.
Along the way, there is a lot of monitoring and adaptation going on. When they started, the Andersons expected to be able to use organic waste produce from Loblaws to supplement their manure (they would need 800 cows to produce enough fodder to fill their two biodigesters) but found that impossible due to the plastic packaging and elastics it contains. Instead, they have an employee who sources and delivers acceptable landfill to Athlone and the dozen or so other area farms using the Biogas technology. For
Remember when Facebook bought a case of Girl
long for in December is not more stuff, but more peace. More stillness. More authenticity. More opportunities to breathe deeply and feel grounded. A humble holiday gives us permission to choose those things – to prioritize what nourishes rather than depletes us.
As the year comes to a close, perhaps the most meaningful gift we can offer ourselves is the reminder that we are enough, as we are. We don’t need to buy our way into joy. We don’t need to perform holiday cheer. We don’t need to match anyone else’s pace. Instead, we can choose presence over perfection, intention over excess and love over pressure.
So let this December be softer. Let it be simpler. Let it be shaped not by what we purchase, but by what we cherish. Because in the end, the holidays are not made bright by what we own – but by the humble grace of gratitude, connection and meaning. Happy holidays!
those interested, disposing of organic waste this way is cheaper than any other. Speaking of manure, what cows produce is ideal. That from other animals is possible but there are caveats. Pig manure, for instance, can be high in copper, so it has to be tested before use.
Athlone’s investment in Biogas was $2 million, which is slowly being recouped. In the meantime the farm produces many benefits: the breakdown and use of methane to produce power and the diversion of organic waste for valuable end products.
At the conclusion of his presentation Climate Mixer organizer Karen JamesAbra asked Brian what he would like urbanites to know about rural life these days.
His answer? “We (farmers) see effects on our land more than you do. Given a choice to do something better, (we) will choose to do it.”
Remember when Google provided free pizza to your child’s soccer team when they won the championship?
IRENE ROTH
JULIA SCHNEIDER Times Columnist
Time to get familiar with AI
The world is certainly facing challenges from climate change to resource shortages, and even in Stratford with issues like the Cooper site, budgeting and how to make housing more affordable. Many of us wonder: can technology help? The good news is, yes and one of the best tools is called artificial intelligence, or AI. As you probably already know,
AI is a type of technology that allows computers and systems to do things that usually need human smarts, like recognizing images, understanding words or finding patterns in data. What’s really impressive is how fast and accurately AI can work, processing huge amounts of information much faster than any person could. AI isn’t just for tech experts or giant companies; it’s becoming easier and more accessible for all of us to use.
One of its earliest adopters was healthcare. Doctors use it to spot health problems earlier and develop personalized treatments. AI can analyze medical images like x-rays very quickly and help catch issues sooner. You may want to keep a thorough record of your medical history, as you can now feed the information into AI for recommendations.
In the world of finance, AI helps protect people from fraud.
It looks at patterns in transactions to spot suspicious activity faster than humans can. This means safer banking and investing. It can analyze financial data and trends much more quickly, improving the likelihood of you making a sound financial decision.
Cities like Toronto are using AI to improve traffic. By analyzing data from cameras, sensors and GPS devices, AI can direct traffic lights to change or suggest alternate routes. The result? Less sitting in traffic, less pollution and happier drivers. City planning is aided by AI ensuring well designed cities for today and into the future based on highly accurate population projections.
Weather forecasts have taken a leap forward, too. Thanks to AI, predictions about storms, snow and heatwaves are now more accurate and for longer periods, reducing the chances of getting caught in a snowstorm between
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Shakespeare and New Hamburg. So then, how do you start gaining some experience? AI can support you by answering questions based on thorough research and enabling you to better prepare for the unforeseen.
Experiment with simple AI tools like ChatGPT (my pick), Google Bard or Microsoft Copilot. They’re designed for everyday use, and you don’t need to be a programmer to get started. I started by asking ChatGPT to write a reference letter. It took 10 seconds and was very well done. You will obviously need to feed AI with a bit of information to start.
Think about tasks that take up your time. Maybe it’s writing a quick email, brainstorming ideas or learning a new language. AI can help. A recent Uber driver I had uses AI to debate issues from the NBA’s best basketball team to the future of the planet. It occupies his time between pickups in
a constructive way.
Learn a little about how AI works. There are plenty of free tutorials online that give a quick intro and show you how to use popular tools. You might want to consider Google Essentials to start. Choose Coursera to become more proficient. Start small. Try using AI for simple projects first (like your own scheduler), then see what more it can do. It’s all about experimenting and exploring. Keep in mind: good results come from good info, so review what AI gives you and use your judgment.
In the end, think of AI as a helpful digital assistant, ready to assist, inspire and save you time. As technology keeps evolving, getting comfortable with AI today can make a real difference, helping us address big challenges and make our own lives a little easier.
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BRUCE WHITAKER Times Columnist
OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO: Travelling through 12,000 years in a few footsteps
As we were slowly making our way to the summit of the citadel in Antequera, Spain, we encountered an unexpected figure: an elegantly robed, Moorish aristocrat. And, it turned out, that was exactly who he was – for the moment, anyway. He was an actor in character for a television show being filmed in a site that includes elements dating back thousands of years.
This juxtaposition of a 21st century TV crew and ancient ruins seems an apt symbol of the complexity you’ll find in Antequera, one of the many interesting places we visited during our Senior Discovery Tours sojourn in the Costa del Sol.
I am always fascinated by places where you find layer upon layer of history. I have to say that few have more on display than Antequera.
Let’s start back as far as history will allow us to go – with the Lovers’ Rock. As you stand on the hilltop that is home to the Moorish Citadel, you have a view of a rock formation that looks remarkably like the profile of a man’s face. In most circumstances, it would be called “The Sleeping Giant,” but there is a legend attached to it that gives it its actual name, the Lovers’ Rock. The name comes from
a story in which a Muslim girl and her father’s Christian slave boy fell in love, fled the city, were pursued by her father and chose to leap to their deaths together rather than be separated.
However, while the rock may owe its name to this story, its historical significance dates back many centuries before the (probably fictional) lovers’ leap.
If you shift your focus to a spot closer to the citadel, you will see a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was created in the Neolithic era (10,000-2,000 BCE). This is the locale of the Dolmen of Menga, “an important masterpiece of megalithic architecture” that served as a spectacular tomb millennia ago.
The Dolmen can be visited today.
Turning away from the view of the dolmen, the Lovers’ Rock and the ancient city panorama, we
walked past ancient walls and began the climb to the top of the citadel.
Even here, there was an intriguing mix of historical eras. The walls were built by the Moors – the Muslim conquerors of southern Spain who ruled here for more than 700 years, finally defeated in 1492. The citadel dates back to the 11th century.
However, we couldn’t help but notice that the walls included some features that were clearly older –they were stone tablets from the time of Roman rule in Antequera. The Romans were here from a couple of centuries BCE until the fifth century, and evidence of Roman times is everywhere in Antequera, including built into the Moorish walls.
Higher up, at the top of the citadel, there is an impressive, excavat-
ed Roman tomb.
And, back to the view of the dolmen and the Lovers’ Rock, what we didn’t notice when we were gazing back into the Neolithic age were excavations closer at hand that had revealed an extensive Roman bathhouse.
All of this time travel can be a bit overwhelming, but the solution is close at hand in the Municipal Museum of Antequera. This truly excellent, 5,000 square-metre museum carries visitors through the history of the city and also presents some modern elements. The museum boasts that it’s where “the Roman past comes to life and the cultural present awaits you.”
Antequera’s rich history is well presented, of course, including an indoor restoration of a Roman tomb, and its cultural heritage is celebrated with paintings and
sculptures dating back through the city’s complex past. One of the best examples is a delicate sculpture of the head of the goddess Venus from the Roman era. Even better, a unique, life-size bronze of a young man, also from the time of the Romans.
Moving ahead several hundred years, I was especially impressed with an ethereal, life-sized statue of St. Francis of Assisi created in 1665 by Pedro de Mena.
But the museum comes as advertised, bringing visitors right up to date with the current artistic accomplishes of this part of Spain. The museum’s art collection includes 692 works by 34 different artists. Not all are on display, of course, but you can actually see most of them if you visit the museum’s excellent website, museoantequera.es/en/. And yes, that gets you the English site.
One current Antequera artist who captured my attention at the museum was Cristobal Toral. The museum has an extensive collection of his paintings, many of which include dramatic images of – wait for it – luggage! A biography accompanying a Toral exhibition at the museum explained he is intrigued by the fact that “humanity is essentially nomad … the continuous transit of human beings. … For this reason, Toral has chosen the suitcase to be an icon of our time.”
And there we were, facing an artistic expression of “our time” only steps away from Neolithic, Roman and Moorish times. What more could any would-be time traveller wish for?
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.
A view of the Lovers' Rock, and the neolithic dolmen (the hill in mid-range in the photo)
An unexpected Moorish aristocrat roaming the Citadel in Antequera.
Recently excavated Roman baths in Antequera, with the Lovers' Rock in the distance.
A Roman tomb on the heights of the Moorish Citadel.
PAUL KNOWLES Times Columnist
(PAUL KNOWLES PHOTOS)
29. A doctrine
30. Popular Dodge truck model
Dekagram 33. Naturally occurring solid
Company officer
Villains 38. Cricket frogs 40. Influential German psychologist
Endured
43. A female domestic 44. You can get stuck in one
Cigarette (slang)
47. Fiber optics network
48. Group of blood disorders (abbr.)
51. Employee stock ownership plan
53. Belonging to the bottom layer
55. Sound
56. MLB legend Hank
58. Very attractive person
59. Late beloved sportscaster Craig
60. South Dakota
61. Mocking
64. Symbol for gold
65. Longtime Braves pitcher Julio
67. Humor
69. Shawl
70. Preliminary patient assessment
CLUES DOWN 1. Animal disease 2. Commercial 3. Necklace material 4. Containers
5. A way to save for your future 6. Colorado Heisman winner Rashaan
7. Dipped down
8. Head injury (abbr.)
9. Lay about 10. Intestinal
11. Opposite of yes
12. Caused to be loved
13. Spiritual leader of Islam
15. Businesslike
18. Not in
21. Number above the line in a fraction
24. An animal with its own day
26. Pouch
27. Swedish krona
30. Start over 32. Field flowers
35. Fourteen
37. A visual way to interact with a computer
38. Up-to-date
39. Campaigns
42. Touch lightly
43. “Boardwalk Empire” actress Gretchen
46. Violent seizure of property
47. Supporter of the Pope
49. Anxiety
50. Body fluid
52. One who’s faking it
54. Title of respect
55. Chilean city
57. City in central Japan
59. Silk garment
62. A form of dance
63. Automobile
66. The man
68. Justice Dept. head honcho
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PATRICK “KELLY” WALKER
“I have had a wonderful life and have been gifted with many talents, friends, and I have enjoyed my time on this earth.” Patrick Kelly Schuett Walker.
Kelly Walker, age 84, died suddenly Saturday, November 29, 2025.
He was participating in a Stratford Concert Choir event at St. James Anglican Church in his home town, Stratford Ontario. The concert, titled Christmas in Canada, featured music, songs and readings from various regions of the country from the 1700’s to the present. Kelly was one of four readers. He died to The Twelve Days of Christmas, moments after us all singing “Hark! The Angels Sing”!
Born in Walkerton Ontario August 11, 1941; Kelly was the son of Lucille Eleanor Lettner and Leonard Edward Schuett (died 1942). They lived in Mildmay, Ontario. His mother remarried a few years later and Harold Walker became his adoptive father. In 1951, he became the brother of Michael who lives with his wife Betty in Mono, Ontario. In 2006, Kelly and Ray Harsant married. Together for 30 years, they have lived in Stratford for the past 20.
Once a Dominican friar, prior, and priest, he left the Order in 1983. Drawn to a more secular altruism on a larger palette, he continued to spread his messages of generosity, love, compassion, peace, acceptance and much more to thousands of people throughout Canada and far beyond.
When hearing him, in seeing him, in being hugged or held by him, he was with you.
Kelly died living – just as he hoped.
In keeping with Kelly’s wishes, cremation has taken place.
Visitation: Friends and community are invited to pay their respects at Avondale United Church, 194 Avondale Avenue, Stratford ON Friday, December 19, 2025 2:00-4:00 PM & 7:00-9:00 PM All are welcome.
A Celebration in Thanksgiving for Kelly’s life is planned for May 2026.
Details to follow through W.G. Young’s Funeral Home’s website www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
Kelly’s spirit of generosity supported a multitude of causes and communities. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation to a charity that holds meaning for you.
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WANTING TO BUY – All collectibles including sports cards, beanie babies, Funko pops and stamps. Highest prices paid. Free appraisals. Are you downsizing or need an estate clean out? We can help. Call or text Stan anytime 519-868-3814.
Fair value offered for your vinyl records, cassette tapes & hifi components. Please contact Sound Fixation, 519801-5421, 4 George St. W, Stratford.
I WILL PAY CASH FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES – Coca Cola Pepsi any pop company, Brewery items Kuntz, Huether Labatts etc. Old radios and gramophones, Wristwatches and pocket watches, Old fruit jars Beaver Star Bee Hive etc. Any old oil cans and signs Red Indian Supertest etc. Any small furniture. If you are moving or cleaning out stuff please contact me - 519-570-6920.
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