Stratford Times July 11, 2025

STRATFORD

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Happy Canada Day Stratford!

Stratford’s Market Square was filled with red and white on July 1, as families from across the city gathered for Stratford’s Canada Day celebration.

The city’s annual community festival ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and featured live musical performances, family-friendly activities and interactive programming hosted by local organizations.

Highlights included hands-on crafts with Gallery Stratford and Playmakers Theatre, esports gaming with NextStrat, local history exhibits by the Stratford Perth Museum and free Canada Day tattoos, flags and stickers offered by Stratford Day Camp and the Stratford Lions Pool.

The celebration officially kicked off with a performance by the Stratford District Secondary School Jazz Combo, followed by a noon ceremony that included the singing of O Canada and a land acknowledgement.

Entertainment continued throughout the afternoon with performances by the Eagle Flight Singers, The Fitzgeralds and Pressgang Mutiny.

Visitors also enjoyed a variety of food vendors, free public swims at the Stratford Lions Pool and a festive Canada Day parade hosted by the Stratford and District Saddle Club and Bethel Pentecostal Church. The day ended with a crowd-pleasing fireworks display at the Stratford Education and Recreation Centre, hosted by the Stratford Kinsmen. For more on this year’s Canada Day celebrations in the Festival City, see more photos on page 3 and a story on why some might have seen an American flag amongst the Canadian flags on page 5.

A Passion for People

SHERRIE ROULSTON

Real Estate Broker

email: sherrieroulston@royallepage.ca

Direct: 519-272-3578

Stratford Festival nets $250,000 in provincial funding; AD says season is off to “strong” start

CONNOR LUCZKA

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae said, pound-forpound, the Stratford Festival punches above its weight –which is why the Province of Ontario has awarded $250,000 to the local theatre company in one-time funding.

“Actors such as Christopher (Plummer), William Shatner, Colm Feore and Maggie Smith, to only name a few, have graced the stages of the Stratford Festival Theatre,” Rae said

during the funding announcement. “And it's not only a jewel in Ontario's theatre scene, but also a major economic driver – locally, provincially and nationally contributing over $275 million in annual economic activity and now employing over 1,000 workers – and I know our provincial government continues to stand with our theatres and the larger arts and culture sector across Ontario.”

The announcement was made on June 25 in the Tom Patterson Theatre, where Rae was joined by Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Mayor Martin Ritsma, CONTINUED TO PAGE 2

Remi Bradley, Bryar Chandler, Lennon Bradley and Charlie Bradley came out to enjoy live music and kids' activities on July 1. See more photos on page 3.

(AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE PHOTO)

AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE Times Reporter

Stratford Festival nets $250,000 in provincial funding; AD says season is off to “strong” start

Stratford Festival executive director Anita Gaffney and artistic director Antoni Cimolino on the Spriet Lounge stage.

Gaffney and Cimolino thanked Rae and Cho for the funding, with Cimolino in particular reminding attendees that it was actually economics that spurned the creation of the festival in 1952, rather than a pursuit of the arts.

“The artistic reasons were there, and they were very strong,” Cimolino said. “But the first impetus for the citizens of this community is they needed something to drive the economic engine of the town. And as Anita said, we have done that extremely successfully, but simultaneously, we created a theatre of national and international importance, an organization that Ontarians can be very, very proud of.”

The grant comes from the Experience Ontario Fund, a $20 million pool to support 350 arts and culture festivals and events across the province. Specifically, the festival’s funding comes from the “marquee fund,” a stream for larger organizations.

Speaking with reporters after, Cho said that Rae’s advocacy was the “majority of the reason” the marquee funding was awarded.

“But the premier also heard the business case that was being presented – that the Stratford Festival is a major economic driver. I mean, you heard the statistics, almost $300 million in economic activity, 1,500 jobs, most of those local … and arguably even more importantly than the economics of it all, it's a true source of national pride. I mean, the Stratford Festival is special.”

The $250,000 injection will go towards its marketing efforts domestically, such as bill-

boards along Highway 401, and internationally, such as outreach in Michigan (a major market for the festival). It bolsters an $80 million 2025 budget, according to Gaffney.

Along with Cimolino, they both shared that with rising attendance and provincial support, this year is off to a “strong” start.

“The support from this government has been fantastic,” Cimolino said. “We are

in fantastic shape … We’re having a very strong year. American attendance is up. It’s a terrific year.”

Last year was a different story, however.

In 2024, the festival posted a $1.1 million deficit, despite cutting expenses by four per cent. Due to the financial pressure, earlier this year Cimolino publicly petitioned Stratford city council to sell the Normal School to the festival for $1, stating that while the festival couldn’t put up the capital for the building, it could be a good steward of the historic landmark.

When asked if this recent

funding or the start of a successful season changes their bid for the school, Gaffney answered that they want to put their investments into more economically impactful endeavours.

“We love the Normal School, it's a treasure of the community,” Gaffney said. “It's something that is really convenient for us to have because it's right next to us, and we hope the city (is) considering the possibility of transferring it to the festival for $1. We'd like to put our resources into creating plays and attracting visitors, and we hope that that creates prosperity for the community.”

According to a 2024 impact study commissioned by the festival and undertaken by Sport Tourism Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Tourism Research Institute and the Conference Board of Canada, the festival has an economic impact of $276.7 million. In 2023, it generated $147.3 million in local spending and supported $46.2 million in federal, provincial and local taxes.

The Stratford Festival has netted $250,000 in one time funding from the Province of Ontario, expected to bolster an $80 million 2025 budget and improve the festival’s marketing efforts.

(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)

Hadley Matheson, Alexa Handegord and Avalon Phillips participating in one of the many kids' activities at the Canada Day event.

Mayor Martin Ritsma and Jamie Cottle of 107.1 Juice FM enjoying the beautiful weather downtown Stratford for the Canada Day celebrations.

The annual Stratford Canada Day parade kicked off on Lakeside Drive, winded through local streets, before ending at the Stratford Rotary Complex.

Terence McCallum, who just celebrated his 100th birthday, was this year’s parade marshal, leading the floats just after the Stratford Police Service cruiser.

(AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE PHOTO)

(AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE PHOTO)

(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)

(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)

Stratford Times becomes weekly newspaper in August

STEWART GRANT

Publisher

Four years ago, on August 12, 2021, we launched the Stratford Times as a brand-new monthly newspaper. Starting small, we planned for gradual growth as we gained traction with readers and local advertisers. We dreamed that one day in the future we would be able to provide the community with a weekly publication.

I’m thrilled to say that this day will be coming soon. On August 14, 2025, as we celebrate the completion of four years of operations, the Stratford Times will become a weekly newspaper.

This milestone is due to you. Thank you to our readers, local business owners and organizations. This is your achievement. Your community spirit has made this possible.

In this modern era that has seen doubt about the viability of printed newspapers, you have helped us prove that interest in local news remains strong, and that, given the right model, a print publication can still succeed.

From the start, we have committed to grow the newspaper as fast as the community would allow us to.

As a free publication, the en-

gine of our growth is advertising sales. This is what covers printing expenses, employing staff, paying for distribution and other administrative costs.

• In year one, we began as a monthly because it was all we could afford. Without an established track record and beginning with a very small advertising base, we lost money with every issue but hoped these losses would someday be overcome.

• In year two, we doubled our sales and greatly reduced our losses. As we neared our second birthday, we switched to a twicea-month publishing schedule. More advertisers jumped on board as confidence increased that we were here to stay.

• In year three, we doubled sales again. Printing twice-amonth instead of once-a-month made it easier for us to meet the

needs of advertisers and to provide timelier local news to our readers. On March 7, 2024, we upped our production schedule slightly by moving from twicea-month to bi-weekly.

• Year four has continued our positive momentum. Sales are up 20 per cent over year three and, combined with the efforts from our deepening editorial team, our papers are bursting with local content. As the year progressed, talks of “going weekly” began to make more sense.

A free weekly newspaper is not a new concept for the city of Stratford. With roots as a locally formed publication, the Stratford Gazette did a wonderful job serving the community until being abruptly closed on Nov. 27, 2017 as a result of a transaction between Toronto-based conglomerates Postmedia (owner of

the Stratford Beacon Herald) and Metroland Media (owner of the Stratford Gazette).

Sarah Cairns, who was the Gazette’s graphic designer, has been with the Stratford Times ever since we started four years ago, and thus I want to give her a special shout out for her role in helping us reach this goal of becoming weekly. A Stratford resident, Sarah cares deeply about the success of our newspaper, as do all members of our Stratford-area team. In total, the Stratford Times employs seven local people, plus we have more than a dozen others on our extended team who make valuable contributions to each issue we print.

These are still early days for the Stratford Times, and with your continued support, the best is yet to come.

Don’t be boring? Alright, here goes nothing …

I recently picked up Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and the Washington Post by Marty Baron, a revered news editor that oversaw the publication of the Boston Globe’s investigation into the cover-up of abuses by the Catholic church and the Washington Post’s splendid coverage of the first Trump presidency, among other notable Pullitzer prize-winning stories. To sum up his career succinctly, it is safe to say he is one of the most influential editors in journalism today, having just retired relatively recently.

STRATFORD TIMES Editorial

Restoring small-town journalism, one community at a time!

STRATFORD TIMES

Publisher

Stewart Grant • stew@granthaven.com

Editor

Connor Luczka • connor@granthaven.com Times Reporter

Amanda Modaragamage • amandajanewriter@gmail.com

Graphic Design / Sales Inquiries

Sarah Cairns • stratfordtimes@gmail.com

Business Development

Heather Dunbar • heather@granthaven.com

Billing Administrator

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

36 Water St. St. Marys, ON, PO Box 2310 N4X 1A2 stratfordtimes@gmail.com | 519.655.2341 | granthaven.com

He was seven months into the job when it was announced Jeff Bezos would take over ownership. Baron asserts that the only time Bezos gave input into journalistic coverage was during an initial town hall to past and present Post reporters and the advice he gave was simple:

“Don’t be boring.”

I read that and put down the book, turning in my office to the stack of Times editions that has been rising in the corner for the year and change I’ve been reporting for it. Without even picking them up I can recall assignments, meetings and conversations I have had that may be considered by some to be “boring.” I certainly wouldn’t say that. Each and every story I have been involved in has been an important community story in its own way.

That being said, what is and isn’t boring is in the eye of the beholder, and judging by the amount of people engaged at city hall each week, I don’t think Stratford residents by and large find the world of municipal politics riveting stuff. At least, not unless there’s some big “gotcha” story circulating.

So how can we make things not boring while maintaining our mandate and reporting on important developments in local government – when often important developments are buried in zoning changes, bureaucratic babble, and line items in budgets and 200-page reports? Oftentimes to make a story not boring the answer is simple: focus the story on just the drama, what readers will get angry, anxious or concerned about and cut away the fluff – but that isn’t right. Good, fair journalism tells

the whole picture. So how can we make things not boring but also not incendiary at the same time?

I have been editor of the Times for a little over two months and already I think about that question, and Bezos’ three-word direction, far too often.

“Don’t be boring.”

The answer, as always, is you. Part of our guiding principles (just below) is documenting history for tomorrow’s historians, as any good newspaper should. In our case, we chronicle what happens in the Festival City in our 30-some-odd pages each edition. That means a front-page story may turn to a page two story that is completely different. On one page we may have tragedy, another comedy and on another a very exciting zone change or a citizen doing what they can to uplift the community. We tell Stratford’s stories – and I don’t need to worry about keeping them interesting. Stratford will keep us on track.

In our publisher Stewart Grant’s above editorial, he announces that we make the big jump to weekly next month – a daunting prospect but one everyone here at the Times is excited for. It’s a moment to reflect, a moment to adjust and, importantly, a moment to get to work. We will be covering all the events and milestones we would otherwise be covering and much, much more as Stratford continues to grow and Stratforders continue to excel. So starting on August 14, pick up your hot-off-thepress Friday copy each week. I promise, we won’t be boring.

Yes. We understand that some people might like the convenience of the Stratford Times arriving at their home (located near or far) through Canada Post, so we do have subscriptions available for this purpose. The price for a subscription is $51.43 + GST = $54.00 “I

CONNOR LUCZKA Times Editor

Here’s why you saw an American Flag during this year’s Canada Day parade

CONNOR LUCZKA

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Spectators might have seen an odd sight at this year’s Canada Day parade: a lone American flag flying amid the hundreds of Canadian flags that marched through Stratford streets.

The flag was held by members of the Lakeside Lutheran High School Warrior Marching Band, all the way from Lake Mills, Wis.

Glen Pufahl, director of bands at the school, told the Times that the band was starting a 15-day eastern tour, which veered into southwestern Ontario for a stint before ending in New England. By chance, they were in the country on July 1 and wanted to join a local parade.

“When we're looking through to see who has a parade on this day, Stratford popped up on our radar,” Pufahl said. “And so we kept it on our hopeful schedule, if that works out, as far as the schedule goes. And it did work out.”

The Canadian-American relationship has been more tenuous in recent months, due mainly to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his repeated public call to make Canada the “51st state,” though for Pufahl and the band, this was

an opportunity to show that the time-honoured relationship can weather the storm.

“We love Canada,” Pufahl said. “We’ve always loved Canadians; Canadians have always been welcoming to us … I think this is a really great thing for us to continue to do, to keep that friendship there. We’re marching with both American and Canadian flags everywhere we go this year.”

Pufahl, speaking just minutes before the evening parade was about to start, shared that the band had earlier marched in Windsor that day for its morning parade. Other than one vocal heckler, Pufahl said that the crowd was as welcoming as ever.

Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma, who has faced repeated calls to lower American flags on City of Stratford property since Trump began talking about a 51st state, has long held that the bond between Canadians and Americans goes beyond this political moment.

He said that when he got Pufahl’s phone call asking to be involved in this year’s parade, he questioned Pufahl but ultimately felt that their inclusion was a boon to the parade – and for their respective countries’ relationship.

“There’s not a more timely time than now to say, ‘This is bigger than the present

moment,” Ritsma said. “(Our relationship) goes hundreds of years back and it’ll go hundreds of years forward. And for youth

to be part of that, saying ‘Yeah, we want to maintain that relationship’ … I thought it was serendipitous.”

Members of the Warrior Marching Band from Lakeside Lutheran High School – located all the way in Lake Mills, Wis. – lead their troupe in the Stratford Canada Day parade on July 1, a show of solidarity and mutual respect in the wake of rising Canada-U.S. relations.

(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)

Community consultations aim to shape 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion training across Perth and Huron counties

The Proud Community Project, in partnership with Stratford-Perth Pride, is launching a series of community consultations this August and September to help shape a new 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion and equity training program.

The program is being developed for local organizations, businesses, service providers and municipal representatives across Perth and Huron counties.

These consultations are not just about this workshop, they aim to lay the groundwork for future 2SLGBTQIA+ initiatives in the region, said A.J. Ashley, executive director of Stratford-Perth Pride.

"By listening deeply and inclusively, we're not just creating a workshop, but building a foundation for meaningful, lasting change that will support and empower our 2SLGBTQIA+ community for years to come."

Whether you’ve faced barriers, want to improve local services or simply hope to contribute to something meaningful, your insight matters, said Ashley.

“We want to learn what the community wants from us. We want to gain a better understanding of what could work in Stratford and Perth County; what people want to see and what people want to learn from us to help make conversations at workplaces better and more accepting across the region.”

Organizers are especially encouraging input from rural residents, racialized individuals, youth, elders, trans people, people with disabil ities, frontline workers and anyone with lived ex perience in local queer and trans communities.

standing of how to address things professionally, politely and respectfully with everyone in the community, regardless of who they are.”

“We want anyone who works with the public or interacts with the public to take part,” said Ashley. “We want to help people be more comfortable and under-

The regionally specific workshop, which will run two to four hours in length, aims to reflect the lived experiences, challenges and aspirations of 2SLGBTQIA+ residents from diverse backgrounds and communities.

Organizers say meaningful community input is essential to ensuring the training is relevant, responsive and rooted in the voices of those it’s meant to support.

In-person and virtual community consultations will be held throughout August and September as part of a regional 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion and equity ini-

tiative.

In-person consultations will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the following locations:

Stratford: August 5 at the Stratford Public Library, 19 St. Andrew St. Listowel: August 14 at the Steve Kerr Memorial Arena, 965 Binning St. W. St. Marys: August 19 at the Town Hall Auditorium, 175 Queen St. E. Goderich: August 26 at the Huron County Museum Theatre, 110 North St. Virtual consultations are also scheduled, including:

QTBIPOC community session: Sept. 2 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. This session is specifically for Indigenous and racialized community members.

General virtual session: Sept. 6 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Open to all residents of Stratford, Perth and Huron counties. All sessions are led by facilitator Markus Harwood-Jones, a white queer and trans person.

Register at https://www.stratfordpride.com/proud-community-project. For more information, email proudcommunityprojectspp@gmail.com.

AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE

Times Reporter

Local school boards post balanced budgets for 2025/2026 school year

CONNOR LUCZKA

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After posting a $2 million deficit for this school year, the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) has successfully balanced the budget for next year.

“As shared in the prior year, one of our 2024/2025 goals was to undertake a fiscal review process, to ensure we are well positioned to continue to make data driven decisions that maximize our students’ learning experience,” Graham Shantz, director of education, wrote in his message that precedes the 2025/2026 budget. “… We are pleased to report that the result of this internally imposed fiscal review is a balanced operating budget for the 2025/2026 year.”

The board of trustees approved the balanced budget at its June 24 meeting. As it states, the board’s revenues are expected to equal $259,913,248 and its operating expenses are expected to equal $260,775,753, leaving an operating deficit of $862,505.

Cheri Carter, superintendent of corporate services and treasurer with the AMDSB, explained that school boards use a modified Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) standard for their financials.

“The Ministry's ‘for budget compliance’ calculation has us remove various accounting entries, specifically some surplus transfers,” Carter explained. “So from the Ministry's perspective, we are balanced while from a PSAB perspective we are in deficit … Without getting too much into details,

examples of the items excluded from the budget compliance calculation includes asset retirement obligations valuation changes, surplus funded committed capital and interest accrual value change on Ministry funded loans. All very much ‘accounting’ entries, with nil impact on our cash flow or operating income.”

Likewise, the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board (HPCDSB) posted a balanced 2025/2026 budget, after its board of trustees approved it at the June 23 meeting.

The 2025/2026 budget for the catholic board lists both a revenue and expenditures line of $85,889,896.

“Despite ongoing challenges, the board recognizes and commends the hard work of our superintendent of business,

Mary-Ellen Ducharme, and her talented team,” Mary Helen Van Loon, chair of the board of trustees, said in a media release. “Their vision, diligence, and competence are truly exceptional, enabling us to consistently present a balanced budget year after year.”

“Our budget reflects the board’s unwavering dedication to presenting a financially responsible budget that champions student achievement and upholds the rich tradition of Catholic education,” Ducharme added.

For further information, readers can find the AMDSB’s budget at https://22.files.edl. io/ec80/06/24/25/164521-c121cbdd-5ce54377-9021-adf8d52d1f49.pdf.

The HPCDSB’s budget can be found at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lFi-y9CiQRw9xxIYLzmCFObFuuDx0SoF/view.

Perth County Courthouse entrance officially open to the public; No

public parking on 1 Huron St.

STRATFORD TIMES STAFF stratfordtimes@gmail.com

Perth County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month to celebrate the grand opening of the new courthouse entrance and administrative offices.

Council members celebrated the occasion alongside past wardens, Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae, members of the construction crew and county staff.

The connecting link and office renovation project began in late October 2023 with the goal of creating additional office space for staff and providing a new central entrance for the facility.

“I am pleased to welcome the public and staff into this new space and to see the successful completion of this project,” said Doug Kellum, warden of Perth County.

“These past few years have been incredibly transformative for the court-

house campus – with the addition of a modern elevator to the courthouse itself, the creation of this beautiful new central reception and connecting link atrium, and the renovation of the new administrative office wing in the former 5 Huron St. building.”

Access to the Perth County Courthouse (1 Huron St., Stratford) can now be made through the new central entrance located off the parking lot. Central reception staff will be available to direct members of the public upon their arrival at the facility.

Limited customer parking is available during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) in designated customer parking spots in the adjacent lot. The county reminds the public that the remainder of the parking lot is reserved for county staff only; there is no public parking available at 1 Huron St.

Lawn mower & weed eater to complete job, most residential town lawns $35 each.

Eavestroughs cleaned out & pressure washed with water, (Bungalows Only) $100 each house. Both are available for in town residential properties.

The Perth County Courthouse front entrance renovation is now complete and open to the public. Staff would like to remind visitors that there is limited customer parking available during business hours.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

SKARB’s new Stratford plant to revolutionize construction with prefab wall systems

SKARB Inc., an innovative building materials company, is pleased to announce it has received a minor variance approval from the City of Stratford, paving the way for a new 30,000 square foot industrial manufacturing warehouse at 9 Humber St.

The facility is expected to produce prefabricated wall systems designed to accelerate construction across residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

"This is an important step in bringing modern manufacturing into the construction industry," said David Cambria, chief executive officer at SKARB. “By building components in a controlled facility, we can improve quality, reduce delays and help get new housing and infrastructure built faster and more sustainably.”

These wall systems are a key component of modular construction, enabling buildings to be assembled faster and more efficiently while reducing waste and on-site labour.

The project is expected to generate 20 to 30 skilled jobs in the local manufacturing and construction sectors, thereby supporting the community’s economic growth.

“This is just the beginning for us,” said Cambria. “We will need 20 to 30 skilled workers; individuals who work on online

processes that actually fabricate the interior walls as well as skilled millworkers. We will be having a job fair for Stratford and surrounding area residents.”

Made from fibre cement – a sustainable alternative to drywall – they require less finishing and offer superior resistance to moisture, fire and pests. This durability helps create high-quality, efficient buildings with less waste.

“Speed becomes one of the key aspects to our system,” said Cambria. “Secondly, our environmental impact is very important. We're able to reduce the waste that you see

on a typical job site as we're able to keep that in-house. Almost all of our products are sustainable, reusable and non-combustible.”

The prefabricated wall systems are also very sought after in northern Ontario and cottage country due to their quick and efficient building techniques.

“We've seen a great deal of interest in the northern Ontario cottage country with our modular home systems,” said Cambria.

“Now we're able to come in and basically fabricate a secondary building in two to three weeks, whereas you'd have the tough time getting labour and materials up there in

that amount of time. This is also important because it doesn’t disrupt the environment in the same way.”

Once fully operational, the facility will be capable of producing a 10-foot section of interior wall every minute, continuously on the production line.

Each panel will include built-in electrical wiring, plumbing setups, and insulation. Every wall is time-stamped, recorded and barcoded, allowing inspectors to access detailed photos of its internal components for streamlined approval processes.

“We are proud to support SKARB’s new manufacturing facility, which brings cutting-edge construction technology and new skilled jobs to Stratford,” said Joani Gerber, CEO of investStratford.

“This project will strengthen our local economy, expand manufacturing capacity, and support faster delivery of building projects across residential, commercial and industrial sectors.”

The committee of adjustment approved a minor variance to reduce the required setback for a parking area from an arterial road at its June 18 meeting. The next step in the planning process is site plan approval, which will review the detailed design and layout before construction can begin.

The new facility is expected to be fully operational by late 2025.

City will consider public land inventory after push from housing advocates

According to members of the Stratford Affordable Housing Alliance (SAHA), a public City of Stratford land inventory and a land bank (land specifically designated for future sale and development) are critical to tackling the housing crisis in the Festival City and beyond.

On June 26, representatives from SAHA said as much when they petitioned the heritage and planning subcommittee to create and publish those lists, as well as to have equity and inclusion at the core of the 10-year housing and homelessness plan’s renewal, to explore community land trusts as an answer to the affordability crisis and to “preserve the city’s equity-focused definition of affordability.”

After a discussion between staff, subcommittee members and delegates, the advocates got at least part of their wish. The subcommittee passed a motion to investigate the publishing of a publicly accessible inventory of municipal land and the possible creation of a land bank for affordable and mixed-income housing.

"We recognize that the city’s finances are currently tight and that the planning department is understaffed,” Niki Andre, co-founder and director of SAHA, said

in a subsequent media release. “That being said, as city staff begin the process of renewing our 10-year housing and homelessness plan and finalizing our Official Plan, the delivery of a public inventory of land and property – and the creation of a land bank – is not only timely, but critical. These steps lay the essential groundwork that enables community organizations to plan, fundraise and form alliances to activate future affordable housing developments."

Adam Betteridge, interim chief administrative officer (CAO), said during the discussion that a public inventory was certainly possible. There is currently one individual that maps the city’s land and has not posted the list due to not being given that direction. He warned the subcommittee and public, however, that the list of parcels is so small, with much of the land not being serviceable and not being developable, that city-owned land is not the silver bullet answer to the housing crisis.

“It's often construed that the city does own a lot of lands, but they’re lands meant for specific purposes other than development,” Betteridge said. “Can a list be done? Yes. Is our staff working towards putting that list together, but that includes the data that needs to be associated with

it. How big is it? When was it acquired? Is it serviced? Is it zoned? Is it in a location outside of a flood or control flood plain control or regulated area, those sorts of things. So we are working on that, but that's amongst other priorities that we're working on as well.”

During her delegation, Andre also criticized council’s decision to enter into negotiations with Pol Quality Homes Inc., a for-profit development company, to develop two parcels of as of now city-owned land. She criticized the tender-award process for not publishing the matrix used to judge bids and the developer’s housing plans themselves. Pol aims to build a combined 27 housing units on the parcels, including eight affordable units.

“Affordable to whom remains unclear, as the city's Official Plan is still under review and its definition of affordability is being revised,” Andre said. “… Pol's successful bid includes just six to eight affordable units out of 27, so about a third. In contrast, United Housing's mixed income model typically aims for 50 per cent, so they likely proposed 13 to 15 affordable homes in their bid. Home Sweet Home’s proposal was also for 15 fully affordable tiny homes. Had these notfor-profit proponents been awarded land, would Stratford soon have around 30

more truly affordable homes, most, if not all, offered to people on the homeless and (Rent-Geared-to-Income) list and kept affordable indefinitely through not-for-profit or city management? What is going on? How and why did this happen?”

Coun. Lesley Biehn, later in the discussion, clarified that the reason why Pol was selected was because they were the only bidder with funding. While many proponents presented ideas, Pol presented a plan. Furthermore, the land transfer currently being negotiated is a way to address the housing crisis without burdening the tax base.

“The way that I'm seeing it is that this is an opportunity for us to add to our affordable housing stock, where … it's not driving up taxes to do so,” Biehn said.

Betteridge said that the process was followed per the city’s procurement process “to achieve housing options on those parcels of land that would be in the public interest.” He suggested that a follow-up report on the method of tender-awarding could be provided at a subsequent meeting.

The city, through investStratford, is currently in negation with Pol. If an agreement is reached in the 90 day period, it will be presented to council for final approval at a later council meeting.

AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE Times Reporter

A rendering of the new 30,000 square foot SKARB Inc. manufacturing facility planned for 9 Humber Street in Stratford. The plant will produce prefabricated wall systems designed to speed up residential, commercial, and industrial construction while supporting local skilled jobs and sustainability goals.

(AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE PHOTO)

CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Perth County youth build more than farm stands –they build community pride

Ten new farm stands featuring fresh local produce are now open across Perth County – each one built from the ground up by local high school students.

The Discover More Flavour Farm Stand Project is a community initiative that saw local high school shop students design and construct stands to celebrate what makes Perth County unique.

The colourful structures are on display this summer at participating locations as part of the broader Discover More Flavour campaign, which aims to boost business visibility and enhance the visitor experience.

The project was created to empower youth while showcasing Perth County pride.

“The Discover More Flavour Farm Stand Project was inspired by the broader Shareworthy Moments initiative to encourage visitors to share their experiences using unique infrastructure,” said Ricky Zhao, Perth County tourism officer and project coordinator. “We also wanted to blend community, creativity and collaboration.”

The initiative provides students with meaningful, real-world experience in both skilled trades and artistic expression.

“Through the hands-on building process, students not only developed practical abilities but also gained confidence, creativity and a sense of ownership in their work,” said Zhao. “The project strengthened the connection between young people and their communities by allowing them to contribute to something visible and valuable.”

For the broader community, the farm stands serve as symbols of rural pride and collaboration. They also promote local agriculture and encourage farm-based entrepreneurship.

According to Zhao, feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive. Teachers involved in the project

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said it was not only fun and engaging for their students but also a valuable opportunity to build practical skills.

“Local leaders have praised the initiative for empowering youth and fostering community pride, and businesses were eager to participate,” Zhao said.

“It’s incredible to see our youth engaged and empowered through hands-on learning,” added Deputy Warden Dean Trentowsky, County of Perth. “Projects like this highlight the value and importance of skilled trades, while at the same time helping ignite passion, instill confidence and fuel a strong sense of purpose in our future leaders.”

The farm stand project is currently a pilot, and the county will gather feedback from community partners –including students, educators, businesses and the public – to evaluate its impact.

Based on this input, the county will consider opportunities to continue or expand the initiative in the future by involving more schools or exploring additional creative elements to engage youth and support local tourism and agriculture.

By Jake Grant

1. When was Oxford University founded?

2. Carlo Mastrangelo was a member of which 1950s band?

3. Which iconic ship sailed the Pilgrims across the vast Atlantic to land in North America in 1620?

4. What is the name of the famous sea monster in Scotland?

5. What do you call a female sheep?

6. What was the first DVD shipped by Netflix?

7. What do the letters of this boy band spell out "NKOTB"?

8. Who does Pocahontas fall in love with?

9. In Greek mythology, who rules the underworld?

10. Who is the youngest driver to ever compete in an F1 race?

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One of the 10 new farm stands created by local high school students. The mobile farm stand hosted at Martinville Micro Market, is located at 3648 Road 122, Perth South.

PHOTO)

“No Kings”: Stratford artist goes viral with antiTrump artwork ahead of U.S. protests

AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE Times Reporter

Inspired by political artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Banksy, Stratford’s own Carlie Pearce is going viral with her latest work – a “No Kings” U.S. President Donald Trump playing card protest poster that’s now being printed and shipped around the world.

Initially inspired by her feelings about the recently elected President Trump, Pearce took to her easel to create a piece that she hoped would draw attention and show what side of history she stands on.

“A lot of people don't realize that all art can be political. This particular one is clearly touching on that in a pretty big way,” she said.

“I wanted to show people that I'm not afraid to put my art out there and take a stance. Especially right now, I want to make it known what side of history I'm on.”

The painting was first shared online, and within a week, it gained significant traction on social media.

“At first, I posted the progress video of me painting it from start to finish. I had a hunch that it might go viral if it picked up on the algorithm the right way – and sure enough, I started getting comments and shares,” she said.

“Now it's about a week and a half later, and it’s getting a second wave on TikTok. It’s up to almost 7.5 million views, and on Instagram, it’s over 4.2 million. So it’s still going and getting lots of comments, likes and shares.”

While most of the feedback has been positive, Pearce admits there have been hateful or negative comments – but says she’s

learned to see those as a silver lining.

“The negative comments actually help amp up the art,” she said. “It makes people have more conversations within the comment section, and it boosts the algorithm, which then helps get the post out there even more.”

Although most of the poster prints are going to customers in the United States, Pearce said she was surprised to see how many orders came from Germany, the U.K. and even Australia.

“I am shipping the prints across the world, actually. It really shows that this is such a worldwide issue and everyone is watching.”

While she initially planned to sell physical posters, Pearce recently released a digital version, allowing people to print their own copies and display them however they choose.

“I was very apprehensive about doing the digital copy because I like selling physical copies. I like being able to sign it and knowing how people will use my art,” she said. “However, it's meant to be put out there and gain attention.”

In addition to being shipped across the world, Pearce also sent a copy to the president himself, which was expected to arrive last Monday. Although she hadn’t heard back and didn’t expect to, she was still happy to share this small victory.

“People online were telling me to ship a print to the White House, and at first I laughed, but then I figured, it only costs about $10 to ship, so why not!”

Despite the viral success of her political piece, Pearce said she doesn’t plan to lean fully into political art and instead wants to continue painting based on intuition.

“I do think all art is political in its own way. I’ve had a lot of people online tell me what I should paint next, but I really want to go with my gut instinct and paint more intuitively.”

Looking ahead to July 4, Pearce hopes the posters will reach buyers before the U.S. holiday, as many Americans are expected

to take part in demonstrations across the country.

“I’ve never really had a piece that was used for anything other than being on a wall,” she said. “Being able to make such a statement and have my art be used across the country in upcoming protests is really cool.”

Long-time Stratford teacher retiring after decades-long career

One of Stratford’s most beloved and respected teachers has ended her official teaching career, but education is sure to play a part in her retirement.

Christine Ritsma spent 40 years in the teaching field, first beginning in the museum field at Historic Fort York and the Waterloo Regional Museum, before transitioning into education in 1990 with the Avon Maitland District School Board.

“One of the things I tried to do when teaching history was to provide hands-on activities. I planned a lot of field trips, I brought in props to teach with,” said Ritsma when reflecting on her career. “I would do historic meals and bring war cake in to each about the First World War. I made some historic recipes during my time working in museums.”

War cake is a simple, hearty, eggless and dairy-free cake that became popular during the First World War and Second World War, when ingredients like eggs, butter and milk were rationed or scarce.

“The last few years I was able to flip the script a bit and get involved in a tech course focusing on green industries. That’s where

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

my passion ended, but a teacher from St. Marys is coming in with a green background to take over the program.”

Ritsma is also the co-advisor of the award-winning Stratford District Secondary School Eco-Club, recognized by Pivot Green and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, and she plans to continue in the role during retirement.

“I’m pretty proud of this group of kids and I have a lot of neat stuff planned for the fall,” said Ritsma. “We have other advisors who are going to be in the school, but if I can help out some way, that’s what I’m going to do.”

One of her concerns for the future of education and the teaching field is the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. Ritsma admits it can be a very useful tool for teachers and students, but she said even with all the prompts and encouraging students to utilize their skills, teachers are still having to check for the use of AI.

“Kids are using it a lot, even for basic reports. It’s become too convenient, and right now, we don’t have the tools to deal with it properly. Just like when the internet launched, everyone was on it, but we didn’t have the protocols and checks to help both the student and the teacher use it properly.”

She added the education system is in un-

charted waters right now when it comes to AI, but she is excited about giving up her spot for a new educator to fill.

“I knew I was going to be retiring and I wanted to leave on a good note. My leaving gives opportunities to newer teachers who are struggling to get a job right now because they aren’t as available. I’m feeling good. It’s been a beautiful trip, I’ve enjoyed it and it’s been an adventure.”

Ritsma added the many Facebook comments from former students and their parents were humbling, overwhelming and beautiful at the same time. She plans on travelling and getting involved with environmental groups in the city, and she has an idea of how to use her land to educate people.

“I’ve got a really nice property here, and part of me thinks that I maybe I could set up some sort of forest school or something in a few years and provide instruction about the environment. I don’t golf or play pickleball. I’d rather hang out here and figure out the habitat here, so I am going to spend a lot of time getting to know it.”

Ritsma said she also has an electric chainsaw she’s dying to use now that she has more time on her hands.

“Every girl needs one,” she quipped.

Painting by local artist Carlie Pearce goes viral on social media and is now being sent across the world.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

LEE GRIFFI Times Reporter

Christine Ritsma, longtime Stratford District Secondary School teacher, announced that she is retiring from her position after 40 years in the teaching field.

New esports hub in Stratford aims to empower youth through gaming

Enorth Media and the City of Stratford are teaming up to provide local youth with a space to develop social skills and foster community involvement through esports and gaming.

The official grand opening of the new space, located at the Burnside Agriplex, 353 McCarthy Rd., on the second floor, will take place July 15 from 3 to 8 p.m. All those interested are encouraged to attend and explore the new space.

Funded through the Building Safer Communities Initiative Grant, NextStrat is the first location in Ontario to offer youth aged eight to 18 access to a high-quality esports arena. The space features 15 high-end gaming computers and peripherals.

“NextStrat is more than just an esports lounge – it’s a hub for community, competition and creativity,” said Kendryx Linscott, CEO and founder of Enorth Media. “I’m so proud to have partnered with the City of Stratford to create a space where teens and kids can explore their passion for esports and gaming while developing lifelong skills that support their dreams to work and play in the industry. With inclusivity and positive reinforcement as core pillars of NextStrat, I truly believe this place will become a beacon

for young gamers and esports enthusiasts across Stratford.”

In addition to the arena, the facility features a console corner equipped with a Nintendo Switch and high-speed internet, which helps ensure smooth online play and streaming for popular games, such as Marvel Rivals, Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft and Super Mario Maker.

NextStrat encourages confidence and community engagement by offering “gaming hours” in exchange for “community hours.” Youth can earn time at the facility by showing proof of homework

completion, volunteering, or participating in sports or other community-based activities. Nearly any form of community involvement counts.

“It’s entirely free,” said Brock Beatty, coordinator and marketing associate of Enorth Media and NextStrat. “Nobody pays for anything here. It’s all based on making the community better by getting youth involved.”

The initiative aims to create a safe, inclusive space where young people can explore their potential through online gaming, while providing them with men-

torship.

“Gaming can often feel isolating,” said Beatty. “This space aims to bring youth here to interact, as well as make new friends. Most of these games are entirely based on esports, meaning they’re multiplayer games, so this can help encourage them to play together.”

“We aim to show the community that people can be themselves and interact in their own way in this space,” continued Chantelle Ouano, Enorth Media and NextStrat director of communications.

“When you meet someone else who shares in something you're passionate about, like gaming, it can build really great friendships.”

NextStrat also offers mentorship, accessible equipment and career resources for youth interested in gaming, leading to a career path later on.

“Gaming can lead to great career paths,” said Ouano. “Whether that be storytelling, creating games or even marketing, gaming allows youth to connect with an entire community and potentially build a career.”

All staff at the new facility are trained in youth development and digital safety. All games are age-appropriate, and every computer is monitored for bullying and toxic behaviour. A secure check-in and check-out process is also in place to ensure participant safety.

AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE Times Reporter

New one-of-a-kind hub at the Agriplex offers kids and teens space to participate in gaming in exchange for community service or homework hours.

(AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE PHOTO)

Multicultural Association of Perth-Huron founder Geza Wordofa (centre) stands next to newcomers on June 28, when the organization hosted a public party on the Falstaff Family Centre's lawn for its 14th anniversary.

(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)

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City of Stratford gets $3M for Huron Street reconstruction

STRATFORD TIMES STAFF

stratfordtimes@gmail.com

The second phase of Huron Street’s reconstruction just got a hefty boon from the Province of Ontario through its Connecting Link fund.

On July 8, Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced $3 million for the project, the vast majority of a $4.7 million investment to local infrastructure in the riding.

Phase two of the project focuses on the arterial road from Matilda Street to John Street and will be a full reconstruction with new watermains, sanitary and storm sewers.

The first phase was between the Huron Street Bridge and Matilda Street and likewise netted $3 million from the provincial government in Connecting Link funding.

“Maintaining and building new roads are essential to connect our rural communities,” Rae said in a media release. “They are vital pieces of infrastructure for commuters, health care services providers and getting our goods to domestic and international markets. I will continue to work with our municipal partners to advocate for our rural

municipal councils to ensure they receive their fair share of provincial infrastructure funding.”

A connecting link is a designated municipal road or bridge that connects two ends of a provincial highway through a community, or to an international border crossing. This year, the provincial government is investing $45 million in 29 projects to repair roads and bridges in 27 municipalities.

In addition to the funding for the City of Stratford, the Town of Minto received $141,267 for the detailed design for the reconstruction of Arthur Street West in Harriston and the Township of Wellington North received $1.6 million for the resurfacing of Mount Forest’s Main Street.

“Over the next decade, our government is investing nearly $28 billion into highway infrastructure that will support our growing population and fuel our economy as we fight back against U.S. tariffs,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, in a media release. “We will continue to protect Ontario by supporting our municipal partners and delivering on our promise to make our province more competitive, more resilient and more self-reliant.”

Across The Table aims to bring rural and urban together for “farm to fork” dinner

About eight years ago, Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma read an article surrounding a conflict between rural and urban citizens in a municipality not dissimilar from Stratford, due in part because of urban sprawl encroaching agricultural land. That got him thinking about his own hometown, which sits on the edge of rural and urban and often experiences similar tensions, and how the two halves might come together to learn more about each other.

By coincidence, Sara Wood of the Perth County Federation of Agriculture, independently also had the idea for an urban-rural event. When she approached Ritsma recently about possibly hosting a dinner, he jumped at the chance.

Thus, Across The Table was born.

On Sept. 4, 30 urban couples and 30 rural couples will be invited to Ritsma’s farm at Kelly’s Lane for a family-style dinner where they will sit across from each other, ask each other questions and hear their answers. The idea is that by the end of the evening, they will better understand each other and may share what they learned with their neighbours, friends and family.

“I always say, let's talk more and argue less, and I think that's important in whatever we do in life,” Ritsma said, sharing that Across The Table is a per-

sonal endeavour, rather than official city business.

Stratford, being the centre of Perth County and one of the most prime agricultural areas in the country, has historically straddled the moniker of urban and rural; however, Ritsma said that he still sees tension between the two sides of the city, especially as the urban population

grows and more and more families from the greater Toronto area move into the community.

“And it's only growing as more and more families become generations removed from the farm,” Wood added.

“There's a lot of pressure on urban centers for everyone to have housing … We're not opposed to development. We

want everyone to have a place to call home, but also ensuring that we can continue to be food sovereign, because there's less than five per cent of land in all of Ontario that can grow food, and there's 200 different products grown in Ontario. And so every day when we lose land, we're getting that much closer to not being able to be a food sovereign country.”

Ritsma and Wood said that they already have an idea of the rural couples, selected to best represent the local sector. Ritsma said that he has hand-selected a few urban residents to join already, who frequently message him in his capacity as mayor about agricultural practices. To fill out the urban side, he will be hosting a draw through the CJCS radio station in the coming weeks.

Regarding the dinner itself, for this year the organizers are working directly with local pork, chicken, and dairy producers for a “field to fork” meal, as well as urban alcohol producers for the evening’s beverage selection.

The organizers said that this dinner is planned to be the first of many, hopefully to be held each year. With that, there may be changes and adjustments made as the event evolves, but it will remain focused on the key goal.

“It’s about building bridges,” Wood said. “Coming together as a community. We all live in Canada and we all need safe, reliable food.”

Stratford nursing home celebrates culture and connection during Multicultural Day Festival

HUNT Times Correspondent

A Stratford nursing home was filled with music, food and celebration as residents, staff and visitors from the community came together for their second annual Multicultural Day Festival.

The Tri-County Mennonite Homes’ Greenwood Court residence celebrated its second annual Multicultural Day on June 27. The day-long event celebrated the diversity of community cultures by featuring traditional Indian dances, stories from First Nations and a potluck style feast with delicacies from European and Indian cuisine.

Nancy Eros, executive director at Greenwood Court, said that the Multicultural Day was cultivated from inspirational sources, chiefly being the province’s mandated long-term care quality improvement plan. The initiative encourages education, involvement and addressing quality issues within long-term care settings.

“The other part is recognizing that we have changed too much as a community, our staff and residence population has changed,” Eros said. “It’s very interest-

ing to experience these types of traditions, because it’s exciting to be a part of somebody’s else’s culture.”

Laura Kindler, recreation and volunteer coordinator at Greenwood Court, said that the residence is on track to host

the event on a yearly basis and believes that the celebration sets a high example for bringing people together and celebrating people's cultural background.

“The response to this event from the staff and residents has been very positive. They all enjoy being able to have this celebration today, it means a lot to them. There is a sense of belonging to our team,” said Kindler. “Our residents helped us a lot with the planning for this day. We had one of the residents who played the piano for us, which was lovely, and they helped prepare food. Everyone is very hands on and involved.

For her, Eros said that this celebration takes her away and she appreciates the opportunity of hearing unique stories from people with different cultural backgrounds

“It’s not only about their culture but also from their own experiences. It’s beautiful to learn these things from human beings,” said Eros. “Having the event here enriches life so that people can experience other cultures. It's easier than travelling, paying for a ticket or going on a cruise. Here we exchange that tradition, it’s brought to our residences and families.”

ALEX

Winona Sands of Chipewyan Nation speaks to residents of Greenwood Court and tells the story of Turtle Island on June 27, when staff and residents held their Multicultural Day Festival.

(ALEX HUNT PHOTO)

Laura Barker, Mayor Martin Ritsma and Sara Wood stand before a field of winter wheat on Ritsma’s farm. The farm will be home to Across The Table, an urban-rural “farm to fork” dinner aimed at building bridges.

CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)

RESTAURANT GUIDE Local Flavour

Bijou Restaurant emerges from the ashes into a successful opening

Bijou’s rebirth shines in a new location, with rave reviews from guests, a sleek new interior and a fully weatherized patio that’s determined to shake up the Stratford dinner scene.

After an electrical fire gutted Bijou’s former Wellington Street home last October, the restaurant opened the doors last month at its new spot, located at 34 Brunswick St. (just below Braai House). Mark Simone, owner of Bijou, said that the first few weeks saw a 15 per cent rise in revenue compared to last May.

“I think the vast majority of our patrons are just thrilled with our new space, the kitchen and front of house. Our team is just really enjoying it,” said Simone. “We have a more modern and efficient space, and it makes the staff’s job easier to optimize it with the guests.”

Simone added that the restaurant is still locally sourced and updates the menu on a regular basis. He praised the design of the building as what they hoped it to be with very little friction between them and Braai House upstairs, calling the partnership a great marriage.

Upon reopening, Bijou welcomed back most of the previous staff from the former location. Food runner Chiara Michelazzi said that she was worried about not finding a job and was thrilled when Simone reached out to her to offer back the position. She continued that the new space is more

efficient than the former location, explaining that it's easier to see the whole dining room which prompts a quicker response from staff to clear tables for the next round of guests.

Peter Williams, Bijou front of house manager, noted that there were some challenges

prior to opening but were quickly addressed once service kicked in.

“The only challenge that we felt was the speed of it. We got things rolling pretty quickly. It was two weeks of getting familiarized and getting used to the space,” said Williams. “It was a quick turnaround but other than that it’s been a breeze.

“Reopening has been great. The staff and the guests just love this place; you can see it when their faces light up when they walk in. Nothing against the old space, but this is a stunning location, and the patio is really coming into full swing now.”

Williams said that having Braai House upstairs has been beneficial for the two dining rooms, with both establishments providing each other help when needed during services.

Bijou plans to continue to introduce their dining experience to a broader audience from neighbouring cities, along with drawing attention to residents in the greater Toronto area. Bijou currently features live music on the patio every Saturday with an interest of expanding that feature to Fridays. After pushing through a time of uncertainty and worry, Bijou emerges into the light with the same name and a new look –and they are just getting started.

Annual fundraiser raises $16,000 for Wellspring Stratford

WEST

Every year, Wellspring Stratford Cancer Support Centre holds a barbeque to raise funds and awareness of its free cancer support programs.

This year, the region raised $16,000.

According to Lisa Stacey and her organizing committee, for the last number of years the event has been hosted at the rural country home and spacious proper-

This year’s annual barbeque fundraiser for Wellspring Stratford Cancer Support Centre raised $16,000, with proceeds going to the organization’s free cancer support programs.

ty of David and Lenora Mountain, located north of St. Marys. This year, the weather was near perfect.

The always caring couple generously opened their property, treating guests to a homemade meal prepared by dedicated volunteers, featuring Perth County smoked pork chops, broccoli, salad, coleslaw, baked beans and potatoes. Dessert was kindly donated by the Stratford Dairy Queen on Ontario Street.

Over the years, the event has grown both in attendance and fundraising success, thanks to the incredible support of donors and community partners.

The event also features a popular raffle with generously donated prizes, including wine tastings and tours from Flat Rock Cellars, gift baskets from Dylan‘s Distillery, Vineland Estates Megalomaniac Wines and Black Fly.

ALEX HUNT Times Correspondent

Front of house manager Peter Williams pours a draught at Bijou’s new sleek modern bar area, one of the standout features of the new space at 34 Brunswick St.

(ALEX HUNT PHOTO)

GARY

Times Correspondent

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Stratford Summer Music September fundraiser brings the heat with Margaritas and Mariachis

Get ready to sip, dance and support the arts, as Margaritas and Maríachis is shaking up Stratford’s fall fundraiser scene.

Once under the title Fiddles and Food Trucks, Stratford Summer Music (SSM) reinvents a community favourite show as Margaritas and Maríachis. The event is set to take place at Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma’s barn at 75 Kelly’s Ln. on Sept. 11, kicking off the fall season.

Crystal Spicer, SSM executive director, said this event will mark the fourth iteration being hosted at the mayor’s barn, which has become one of the music group’s signature event venues.

Margaritas and Maríachis will feature class musical melodies from Viva Mexico Mariachi. Community participants will be treated to an evening filled with music, dancing and Latin-inspired street food and beverages. Auction items will be accessible throughout the course of the evening, with proceeds supporting SSM’s year-round programming.

“The idea of Viva Mexico Mariachi – we were sitting down and brainstorming for the fundraiser, and we wanted it to be the type of fundraiser where people come out and have a good time,” said Spicer. “We want to make it an interactive experience. It needs to be something that encourages people to get

off their seats and dance. This music group is perfect for that.”

The event will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday evening. Tickets will cost $125 per person which will include music, two drink tickets, two food truck tickets and a $50 charitable tax receipt.

“I think the message always is that Stratford Summer Music has been a part of this community for 25 years and we would like it to continue for another 25,” said Spicer. “We do need our community support to keep that going. We would like people to come out and buy a ticket and go to the fundraiser and have a great time.”

Spicer explained that operating an arts organization is expensive and that planning always costs more than what the music group is funded. Having a community fundraiser is important for an organization to ensure that they continue to deliver quality content and expand on operations.

“The thing about Stratford in the last few years is that it’s really gone through a big growth in diversity. Within our community now, you see so many different people of so many different backgrounds,” said Spicer. “Hopefully by opening us up to presenting the art from various different cultures that will open us up to being an all-inclusive environment for everybody.”

ALEX HUNT Times Correspondent

Fiddles and Food Trucks turns into Margaritas and Mariachis this year – one of Stratford Summer Music’s cornerstone fundraising events.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

STRATFORD SPORTS

Stratford Tennis Club celebrates Canada Day with morning tournament

SPENCER SEYMOUR

Regional Reporter

The Stratford Tennis Club’s morning group celebrated Canada Day with a fun-filled and action-packed tournament that perfectly captured the spirit of the holiday. Over the course of three hours, players competed in matches scheduled with a 20-minute time limit, creating fast-paced strategic matches.

Throughout the morning, the atmosphere was full of sportsmanship and joy. Close matches, long rallies and encouraging cheers were the theme of the day, with players of all levels showcasing their skills and love for the game.

In a thrilling ‘A’ division final, Tom Warnock and Julie Redfern edged out Jared Smith and Donna Simpson in a 3-2 nail-biter. Both women played steadily and smartly, while the men brought contrasting styles. Smith’s power shots kept Warnock and Redfern on the back foot, but Warnock masterfully absorbed the pace and redirected shots to difficult spots. Smith’s youthful movement kept the pressure on, but ultimately, Warnock and Redfern's consistency and court awareness sealed the deal.

The ‘A’ consolation final was another close and entertaining match, with Diane Rychliski and Yoshi Yamauchi defeating Janet Niezen and Tom Hislop 3-2. Niezen and Hislop demonstrated impressive net play, which is very important in doubles. Despite their strength at the

net, Rychliski and Yamauchi’s steady baseline game proved to be too consistent in the end, earning them the 'A' consolation title.

In the ‘B’ division final, Lisa Tigani and Ken Reibling took home the title after a 3-1 victory over Linda Edwards and Hoai Nguyen. Tigani stood out with her athleticism and consistent baseline play, while Reibling contributed with smart shot selection, ultimately creating a deadly combination in doubles.

Deb Mitchell and John McCarroll claimed the ‘B’

consolation title with a 4-1 win over Bharti Patel and Clive Clark. While the scoreline might suggest a comfortable win, the match was filled with long and intense rallies. Mitchell and McCarroll’s composure under pressure helped them stay focused and pull through a competitive and entertaining final. After the matches wrapped up, players and spectators gathered in the park for a potluck barbecue. Burgers, salads and plenty of good conversation rounded out the perfect Canada Day celebration.

Stratford Tennis Club hosts Dale Bast Memorial Tennis Day

The Stratford Tennis Club hosted its annual Optimist Junior Tennis Day on June 28. Thirty-two years ago, Dale Bast, a member of the Optimist Club and Stratford Tennis Club, proposed having the Optimist Club sponsor a free morning at Stratford Tennis Club for any interested youth under 14 years of age. The program became an immediate success, with Bast being the driving force of the day for over three decades. Sadly, Bast passed away earlier this year. The program was immediately renamed the Dale Bast Memorial Optimist Junior Tennis Day. This year's edition saw over 60 youth participate. The staff of the Stratford Tennis Club ran a variety of games and skill tests on the five clay courts. The Optimist Club provided a free t-shirt for all participants as well as a large number of prizes for the draw table. The kids were treated to pizza and drinks in the park after the fun and games. With the sound of laughter coming from the courts all morning, it was the type of event that Bast envisioned more than 30 years ago and a fitting tribute to Bast’s idea and legacy.

Pictured are members of the Stratford Tennis Club’s morning group, who celebrated Canada Day with a one-day tennis tournament on the morning of July 1.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS)

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

U22 Nationals continue to move forward in 2025 season

The 2025 season of the 22U Stratford Nationals has experienced ups and downs, despite their overall record. The last three games are no different.

In the first game of the Canada Day double header at National Stadium, the Stratford U22 Nationals defeated the Waterloo Tigers 12-10, marking their first regular season victory since June 16, 2024. Then, on the nightcap, the Nationals dropped an 8-4 decision to the Tigers.

Less than 48 hours later, Stratford hosted the Ancaster Angels in a memorable game. Hunter Reid got the start for the Nationals and pitched one of the best pitching performances of the season for the team.

Reid allowed two runs through seven-plus innings of work. In addition to the strong start on the mound, Reid received solid run support from the Nationals' offence as they scored seven runs (six in the fourth inning). Through seven innings, Stratford had a 7-1 lead, but the Angels responded with four of their own in the top of the eighth to pull within two. Nole Musselman drove home an insurance run in the bottom half of the eighth to make it 8-5 for the home side.

But the Angels rallied with three runs off the Stratford bullpen in the ninth inning to tie and send the game to extra innings. Ancaster then scored two more in the tenth, but the Nationals rallied back to within a run. Unfortunately for the Nationals, their late-game comeback effort came up short as they lost a heartbreaking thriller of a contest by the score of 10-9.

Nationals manager Brian Hawley commented on Reid's outing on the mound and the team's offensive showing early on.

"We take positives from every game, and we had an unbelievable start from

Hunter Reid. He gave us seven and 2/3 innings. We really hit well early on," Hawley said. "Just what happens in baseball sometimes is, you know, that's how things happen."

Hawley referenced this game as similar to the game played at Rogers Centre in Toronto the previous night.

"Just yesterday, the Jays blew and ain't nothing lead. They managed to turn around and still get the win," Hawley said. "We couldn't get the big hit when we needed it, and they did. So that's baseball. It's a regular season game. We're going to learn from it. We're going to move on."

Hawley praised the team's recent performances and wants the team to continue building momentum, given the forthcoming schedule ahead.

"We're just getting better and better and better all the time," Hawley said. "We got a win on Tuesday night. We could have had two wins Tuesday night, and both ends of that double header, we could have won again tonight. So part of becoming a good ball club is learning how to win, and that's what we're doing now, we're going to take the positives from it and move forward."

On July 5, the Nationals lost 13-5 to the Guelph Silvercreeks in Guelph, and 8-2 to the Ancaster Angels in Dundas. As of press time, the record for the Nationals was 1-12 in regular season play, 4-16 overall (3-4 tournament win-loss record) in 2025.

Next up for the Nationals is Hamilton at National Stadium on July 8, in Brantford against the Red Sox on July 10, and then head to Innisfil for a tournament from July 11-13, after press time. Following the tournament, the Nationals host Kitchener at National Stadium against the Panthers on July 17 and play a single-day double header in Cambridge against the Cubs on July 20.

MICHAEL WILLOUGHBY Times Correspondent

Stratford Nationals Ken Neabel (3) prepares to run from third base in the tenth inning against the Ancaster Angels on July 3.

(MICHAEL WILLOUGHBY PHOTO)

Teen players compete in Stratford Tennis Club Juniors Tournament

STRATFORD

The Stratford Tennis Club proudly hosted their annual Royal LePage Hiller Realty ‘French Open’ Junior Grand Slam Tournament on June 21-22. Despite the wickedly hot temperatures, the juniors persevered through long rallies and tough matchups to deliver an exciting day of tennis and showcase impressive talent and sportsmanship.

With three players competing in the U18 boys’ category, a round-robin format was adopted to ensure fair play. The opening match saw Josh Heaton dominate his younger brother Will Heaton, cruising to an 8-0 victory. Despite recovering from a recent skateboard injury, Will showed resilience as he stepped onto the court and fought for every point.

In the next match, Jared Smith overcame Will Heaton 8-4. Smith’s aggressive play with powerful serves and heavy forehands proved to be overwhelming, while Will’s consistency kept the match competitive.

The title came down to the final showdown between Josh Heaton and Jared Smith. Smith came out swinging, attacking Josh’s second serves and grabbing an early lead. But Josh’s cool composure and consistency in the heat turned the tables, and he claimed the U18 boys’ title with an 8-5 win.

Francis Nguyen put on an impressive performance to take the U14 boys’ title. In the final, he defeated Lincoln Rae 8-3 by utilizing his deep forehands that pinned

Rae to the back of the court. In earlier rounds, Rae had showcased his athleticism in a hard-fought semi-final win over Ryan Yang, but Nguyen proved too strong.

In the U14 boys’ consolation bracket, Ryan Yang rebounded from his semi-final loss. He opened with an 8-0 win over Vihaan Tammanaa, showing off smart, steady play. Jeremy Lee also found redemption, narrowly edging Daisuke Faigaux 8-5 in a match where both participants relied on their consistency and endurance.

Yang faced Lee in the consolation final. Yang’s deeper shots and relentless court coverage earned him a dominant 8-0 win to take the U14 consolation title.

In the U18 girls' draw, Nell McIntosh and Clara Kee emerged as the standouts. Nell opened her tournament with a commanding 8-0 win over Trisha Panwala, while Kee outlasted Sophie Keene 8-2 in a match full of extended rallies.

The final between McIntosh and Kee impressed all the spectators. Kee’s excellent footwork and positioning kept her in many rallies, but McIntosh’s strategic play and composed demeanour guided her to an 8-4 victory and the U18 girls’ title.

In the consolation final, Sophie Keene defeated Trisha Panwala 8-6 in the closest match of the day. Both players battled fatigue and the heat in a match defined by long rallies.

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 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.

Pictured is Josh Heaton, who defeated his brother Will in the U18 Boys final of the Junior Grand Slam Tournament on June 21-22.

Pictured from left to right are Francis Nguyen and Lincoln Rae. Nguyen picked up the win in the U14 Boys division’s championship final of the Royal LePage Hiller Realty ‘French Open’ Junior Grand Slam Tournament on June 2122, hosted by the Stratford Tennis Club.

Pictured from left are Ryan Yang and Jeremy Lee. Yang defeated Lee in the U14 Boys consolation final of the Junior Grand Slam Tournament on June 21-22.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS)

Stratford’s Spencer Hyde races stock car to honour grandfather in Norwalk, Ohio

Funny Car rookie Spencer Hyde started his drag racing career here in his hometown of Stratford, racing junior dragsters at his local track. As a young boy he was influenced by his grandfather’s cousin Jack Hyde, who took on a grandfatherly role in his life.

The elder Hyde was also a drag racer, campaigning a green stocker named Jack and the Green Stock (a play on the English fairy tale “Jack and the Beanstalk”) in the 60s and 70s.

For the second time in his career, Hyde drove a Jack and the Green Stock themed race car at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. From June 26 to 29, he honoured his now 83-year-old family member who was a major influence on him as a young boy in Canada.

“I grew up a mile down the road from Jack and when I was a kid, I used to go down to his place and help him cut grass,” said Spencer, the front-runner for NHRA rookie of the year award, in a media release. “He was a farmer so as I got older, I'd help him take crops off, combine and run the buggy for him, and then I'd go racing with him.”

The original Jack and the Green Stock ran from 1966 to well into 1970 and had a 427 engine with a four speed in it. It was sold and Jack was unable to find it when he wanted to get back on the racetrack 33 years later.

The new race car has a big block 540 in it with an automatic transmission which was more convenient for Jack, who was in his 60s at the time. The new Jack and the Green Stock car raced in the local nostalgia class.

Spencer used to go watch that car run when he was 12 years old before he raced junior dragsters. He would go with the crew and help with the tire pressure, fuel or whatever else was needed.

“In 2017 or 2018, I was with Jack and he said, ‘You know I've never watched my car go down the racetrack. Would you drive it?’ I raced it in the Ontario Nostalgia Drag Racers Series in Canada, and we won the first race I drove it,” Spencer explained. “He was pretty pleased. After that, he didn't want to drive it anymore, he only wanted me to drive it.

“In 2022, my dad (Peter) and I decided for Jack’s 80th birthday, we're going to wrap my Pro Mod car just like his Jack in the Green Stock,” said Spencer. “We did it just for fun and I didn't tell him. I had it all wrapped and I had him show up to the shop. We had his Jack and the Green Stock car beside the Pro Mod. When we lifted the garage door to show

him, he was blown away. We took it to the Stratford Spectacular where we did a side-by-side pass together and everybody loved it.”

The success and support Spencer received at that event led him to decide to leave his Pro Mod wrapped as Jack and the Green Stock for the rest of the year. Then in early 2023 he had his breakthrough moment when we won the World Series of Pro Mod, piloting the Jack in the Green Stock Car.

“Now that I am in a nitro Funny Car, the closest we get to home is Norwalk, Ohio, so I thought it'd be cool to wrap the Funny Car with Jack and the Green Stock and surprise Jack again,” Spencer said.

His rookie Funny Car season has also shown Hyde that he is coming into his own with a Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenger win at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals and a runner-up finish at the NHRA New England Nationals. Hyde is on the cusp of breaking into the Funny Car Top Ten in points and this weekend’s race in Norwalk could be a big opportunity for the Canadian.

The Jack and the Green Stock Funny Car made two qualifying passes on June 27 and two more qualifying passes the following Saturday.

Out of a stacked Funny Car field of 21 entries, Spencer came up short, coming in ninth overall in the Funny Car field with a top speed of 314.97 miles per hour.

Writing on his Facebook page after the tournament, Spencer said that he was dis-

appointed, though saw a silver lining.

“Had all my friends and family here from back home, and of course Jack here to celebrate Jack and the Green Stock, which is really cool,” Spencer wrote.

“Norwalk is always special to us because it’s our home racetrack and Jim’s. It was great weather all weekend long, we just didn’t race the way we wanted to, but we’ll get it in Seattle.”

Spencer Hyde celebrates in the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod winner's circle with the Jack and the Green Stock honorary livery.

(FLORACING PHOTO)

Stratford Summer Music receives honour from city for uniting sound and spirit

Celebrated for making music accessible to all, Stratford Summer Music (SSM) is starting the new season with city recognition and community pride.

The City of Stratford has proclaimed the week of July 17-20 as Stratford Summer Music Week, in celebration of the festival’s 25th season of bringing music and community programming to the city.

Mark Fewer, artistic director for SSM, said that the team feels delighted about the honour and are very confident that they will be able to help build a more connected community through their new year-round music programs.

“I would love to see more multi-generational audiences at our programming and there are countless studies out there that having a multi-generational audience base is a healthy experience for all of those involved,” said Fewer. “We already see that with certain things we do. I would love to see more of that, and I would like to see music become a breeding ground for people to seek out those types of experiences.”

This summer, the residents of Stratford and beyond will have the opportunity to enjoy musical talents from a variety of

artists ranging from Al Simmons, The Bookends, Emily Jean Flack, Micheal Kaeshammer and more. From saxophone punk to jazz, Fewer ensures that will be

something for every audience member to enjoy.

Fewer said that from his personal perspective as a performing musician, he

wants shows to host performances that feature a wide spectrum of musical styles, along with interacting with various musicians. Fewer believes that the concept will be executed effectively in each of the seasons.

“The important thing about music is that it’s accessible to everybody. It’s about breaking down barriers and bringing people together,” said Crystal Spicer, SSM executive director. “I think what we brought to this community was a place to come and see fantastic musical programming right here without having to drive a couple hours away. You can stay here and see something fantastic at home.”

Fewer continues that when it comes to the exposure of music, everyone is allowed to have their own personal experiences with it and sometimes when audience members are exposed to certain types of music then their world become larger for it. Fewer thinks that audiences will be excited for the new women folk series and hopes that it will make its return for future seasons. With a milestone season ahead, SSM invites the community to celebrate the power of music to connect, inspire and uplift. As the city honours its legacy, the festival looks forward to striking a chord for years to come.

City of Stratford joins international puppetry association AVIAMA

The City of Stratford has joined exclusive company by the acceptance into AVIAMA, an association which gathers cities and local governments of the world around the puppet. This association of puppet-friendly cities form a network promoting the artistry of the puppet as a vital cultural form.

The honour of the membership is compounded by the fact that Stratford is the first and only English-speaking city in North America to be included and the third city in North America to be recognized on this international scale for its significant contribution to the world of puppetry.

This is entirely due to the diligent work and creative vision of Eileen Smith, artistic producer of Springworks Puppetworks!, who came from the music world to discover her love of puppetry. For 11 years she has attended various other international puppetry festivals as a delegate representing Stratford. She first became aware of AVIAMA when visiting Saguenay, Quebec and was amazed by the banners of international cities that hosted their own festival.

Stratford’s own World in a Weekend international puppet festival, now entering its fourth year, had attracted the attention of AVIAMA representatives. When in Montreal last March, a delegation from AVIAMA approached Smith with a pitch to become a member.

“There I was with the former mayor of Outrement, the head of AVIAMA, the head of the festival commissions of the world, and the artistic director of that festival pitched me on their lunch break. They explained to us what it is and who the countries are that belong to it, the value of the festival to Outrement and went on about the value of puppetry to the city,” said Smith.

She didn’t need to be sold. From there, there was convincing the city to join, because it is Stratford that will retain membership. As a city known for diversity in the arts, they didn’t need to be sold either. She presented the option to city council and made written submissions to AVIAMA.

"I am so proud of the work and commitment of Eileen Smith, artistic producer of SpringWorks, that has resulted in this amazing announcement. It was an honour to represent the City of Stratford virtually with the board of directors of AVIAMA in Paris, France and then to hear their decision. What a natural fit and extension of the activities and art associated with SpringWorks ~ PuppetWorks! Another opportunity for Stratford to share in the international stage and welcome people from around the world," said Mayor Martin Ritsma in a release.

This membership provides a huge benefit versus cost, which is relatively small at an amount not to exceed 1,500 euros or

about $2,400 (Canadian) annually. This contribution is pooled and can be used for bi-lateral projects to bring exciting international performers to Stratford for World in a Weekend.

World in a Weekend, which happens this year from July 31 to August 4, brought in

an attendance of 11,400 last year.

“There is a myth, prevalent in North America, that puppets are just for children. In reality, it is one of the most ancient, provocative and visually complex methods of storytelling for adults across the globe,” said Smith.

ALEX HUNT Times Correspondent

Marcel and Elizabeth Bergmann, Stratford Summer Music performers, show off their talents for the community as the music festival’s 25th anniversary gets underway.

Imagicario’s les Kakous appearing in Market Square during a past World in a Weekend festival. Due in large part to the annual puppet festival, the City of Stratford has joined AVIAMA, an international association of puppet friendly cities.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

LISA CHESTER Times Correspondent

Shelterlink and Kind HeARTed Studio helping youth explore grief through art therapy

My Journey, was held on June 27 and received lots of positive feedback.

We’ve really appreciated her partnership in this,” Makuch said.

Youth with experience of living without housing, substance use and mental health issues can process their grief and other emotions through free art therapy workshops.

Shelterlink Youth Services, in partnership with Kind HeARTed Studio, is hosting a three-part art therapy workshop for youth. The free workshops focus on grief and loss through art therapy and are offered to youth in Perth County between the ages of 16 to 24-years-old who have lived experience with either homelessness, mental health challenges and/or addictions. The first workshop, called Mandala of

"They all just really enjoyed using a different type of modality to work through some emotions,” said Ashley Makuch, assigned housing support worker. "It's also a more relaxed atmosphere, and it's also a safe space to everyone to share and relate to one another in ways that they might not have known that they had some commonality."

She added that Vanessa DeGroot, registered psychotherapist and owner of Kind HeARTed Studio, has been instrumental in the workshop.

"Vanessa is very talented and does great group work and she's great at getting people to open up and reflect.

The workshops explore all kinds of grief and loss, including but not limited to death.

"We’re just trying to get the youth to explore these emotions and understand how they can impact their life and acknowledge them and work through them,” she said.

Makuch added that living without housing can also bring its own grief and loss.

"There's a loss of safety. There's a loss of social supports. There's a loss of even just your personal belongings or your personal autonomy or having any control over your life,” she said. “Those are all things that are going

to impact your ability to be successful, so if you can work through those emotions and acknowledge that they're there, it can be empowering to move forward."

The next two workshops will take place later this summer. Landscape of Emotion will be held on July 23 and Letters to Myself will be held on August 20. Both events will run from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

To register for the workshops online, visit https://www.shelterlink.org/ youth-events/ or send an email to either ashleym@shelterlink.org or lisai@shelterlink.org.

Anyone interested in donating art supplies such as paints and canvases is also encouraged to reach out.

EMILY STEWART Times Correspondent

Stratford Festival review: Sense and Sensibility a refreshed take on a literary classic with plenty of juicy gossip

In Kate Hamill’s adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel, Sense and Sensibility, for the 2025 Stratford Festival stage, gossip is more than a plot driver and social regulator, it is a force of nature.

Though gossip plays several key roles in Austen’s book – advancing the story with half truths and assumptions, and acting as a form of social surveillance, particularly for women – in this production, gossip is personified by way of the five garishly dressed and outrageously intrusive gossips (Christopher Allen, Jenna-Lee Hyde, Celia Aloma, Jesse Gervais and Julie Lumsden).

Ever-present throughout the play, they wait on the sidelines for juicy tidbits of information – true or false – so they can spread them far and wide, often with unintended and dramatic consequences which, of course, lead to even more gossip.

The gossips step in as hilarious dogs and horses when the story calls for it, they interact with the other characters on stage when necessary but seem invisible to them when not, and, in some cases, they literally portray nature itself, including one scene in which they are the wind and the rain, buffeting Marianne Dashwood (Ol-

ivia Sinclair-Brisbane) from all sides when she is caught in a storm during one of her strolls.

And that force of gossip seems to influence everything the other characters on stage do, from their very movement as dining-room chairs and their occupants swirl to the flow of catty dinner conversation, to the hurt and betrayal felt by Elinor Dashwood (Jessica B. Hill) when she learns

of Edward Ferrars’ (Thomas Duplessie) engagement to Lucy Steele (Jade V. Robinson) or the disappointment felt by Colonel Brandon (Shane Carty) as he hears the false rumours of Marianne’s engagement to John Willoughby (Andrew Chown). There is a wonderful and chaotic rhythm to the gossip as it pushes this classic tale to its natural conclusion, a rhythm mirrored by the play’s score, which retains that

old-English, string-instrumental sound, but pairs it with a driving drum beat and an almost modern, electronic and somewhat dissonant texture.

The costumes, too, add to that chaotic feeling. While the characters from Austen’s story are dressed in well-appointed, period costumes, those of the gossips are flashy, less modest and downright ridiculous.

Speaking of costumes, the quick, onstage costume changes that transform actors like Robinson and Glynnis Ranney from Dashwoods to Steeles or signify a change in demeanor for characters like Elinor and Marianne, are done seamlessly and in such a way that lends itself beautifully to the advancement of the plot.

Robinson, Ranney, Chown, Sara Farb, Duplessie, Seana McKenna, Steve Ross and Carty should all be commended for their ability to perform as two characters in this production, slipping effortlessly between their often comically contrasting personas throughout.

Anyone who appreciates the awesome power of gossip and its ability to rip relationships to shreds should add this production of Sense and Sensibility to their list of plays to see this season.

Sense and Sensibility runs at the Festival Theatre until Oct. 25.

World in a Weekend international puppetry festival returns for fourth year

es of Scribbles at the Stratford City Hall auditorium. This performance for ages three and up teaches about sharing and setting boundaries.

The captivating and imaginative international puppetry festival World in a Weekend returns for its fourth year in Stratford, bringing together performers from Ontario, Quebec, Finland, Israel, Spain and Italy.

Beginning July 31 and running until August 4, the civic long weekend, the family friendly festival will bring out delight and wonderment with accessible performances for both children and adults alike.

World in a Weekend pushes boundaries by showcasing puppetry as an art form that is bold, experimental and for all ages. With both free and ticketed events, located across five venues, downtown Stratford will feature strolling stilt walker Waykaru and Ginka on the ground, with free and pay what you can programming along the waterfront in Veterans Park.

From Saturday until Monday, Veterans Park will be home to family friendly events with interactive play in the always popular Garden for Little Souls, sock puppet making, self-face painting, puppet theatre and three performances of Pay Attention to Those Two, as well as entertainment from the strolling marionette Flora.

“Do-it-yourself face painting is a curious thing to me, empowering people to play and be creative. The ability for the children to put art on you, or you put art on your child – we’ve had people who are initially unable to imagine that they could do it, so we offer up pictures as suggestions and people leave with a smile,” said artistic producer Eileen Smith.

Ticketed events for children include three performanc-

At the Falstaff Family Centre there will be three different performances.

“StoryBike will be at Falstaff outside at dusk. It’s a little bit of a ghost story, for five and up, on the slightly spooky side of the fence. And you can come in your jammies if you like and it is live music and object puppetry. Also is an event called Block Theatre which I saw in Montreal that also has no words but it has this beautiful music soundscape, and she uses literally wooden blocks to create creatures and worlds that come alive. Wren’s Recipes is the inaugural performance of a new work, a Ukranian story which also has live music,” said Smith.

For adults this year, an exciting opening night is planned at Grayson Mills for the Eclectic Cabaret

“I’m really excited about some artists that are coming that are connected by a clown, that are connected by puppetry, that is connected by new music,” said Smith. “There are artists that live in town that were inspired to create a new piece. We have a lovely artist named Landon Doak that is coming who is a Dora (Mavor Moore) award winner performer. He’s going to give us a taste of what he’s working on. I happen to be connected in the clown world so I reached out and was recommended Sarah Porter, who is a dancer, clown, poet, who is going to do an excerpt from her work called Bad Poetry. We have a puppeteer coming from Montreal who will be the emcee.”

Returning is the opening night dance party following the cabaret that will be Latin line dancing, where professional Mateo Torres of GG Movement will introduce

salsa dancing before opening it up to open dancing afterward.

Headlining the festival on Friday night is the world class performance of Edith and Me by artist Yael Rasooly at Factory 163, a powerful and moving performance currently touring the world that invites the audience to witness an acclaimed puppetry musical tour de force. In the performance, spectators will follow a singer’s journey to reclaim her voice, with the help of music legend Edith Piaf.

GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor

Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane as Marianne Dashwood with members of the company in Sense and Sensibility. Stratford Festival 2025.

Multi-award winning artist Yael Rasooly is headlining this year’s festival and pictured here in her performance of ‘Edith and Me’

(DAVID HOU PHOTO)

LISA CHESTER Times Correspondent

(KRISTIN AAFLOY PHOTO)

Perth East couple shares their journey with embryo adoption

GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor

For Jessie and Scott Campbell, the birth of their seventh child, Mark, was quite unlike that of any of their other children.

Nearly three years ago, the Perth East couple, who live on a large poultry farm northeast of Stratford with their children, knew they wanted to add one more member to their family. The challenge, however, was Jessie Campbell was 49 at the time, and she and her husband realized they would need to seek an alternative method for conception.

“We had six children, we were very blessed, and then the children stopped coming, which was fine,” Scott Campbell said. “We really felt called to have more children and we did some research into in vitro fertilization, and it really wasn’t for us. It was a little bit too much like playing God. We didn’t like it very much. So, then we thought we were done … and then one of the people at our church, they had a pair of twins and they were very open about how they adopted these embryos.”

Embryo adoption is a process through which frozen embryos from in vitro fertilization (IVF) are donated to another couple. Not only does this method give genetic parents, who may not wish to use all of their embryos, the option to give them a chance for birth, it also allows the adoptive mother to carry her genetically unrelated child and experience pregnancy and delivery.

“It was the same process as in vitro fertilization, except these are the leftovers

that get put in the freezer or destroyed,” Scott Campbell said. “We believe that when you create life, it’s life. So, we’re looking at these freezers full (of embryos); it was a completely different experience than we had when we were learning about in vitro fertilization. … It’s like running to an orphanage and saying, ‘We’ll help.’”

As part of IVF, doctors create as many viable embryos as possible, after which they select the most viable to give a couple the best chance at conception. According to Jessie Campbell, Mark’s biological parents created 13 embryos and took two for themselves.

Once IVF is successful, the couple has the option to either destroy the remaining embryos, pay an annual storage fee to keep them in a cryogenic freezer, donate them to science, or give them up for adoption.

Adoptive parents, meanwhile, have two options for the process. They can embark on an open adoption, through which they can meet and interview biological parents and can decide if they want them to be in their child’s life after they’re born. Alternatively, they can undertake a closed adoption, meaning they and their child will have no contact with the biological parents – the route the Campbells chose. Ultimately, Scott and Jessie Campbell selected two embryos – one was Mark, now almost two years old, and the other, Mark’s sibling, was not viable. They learned, however, that there are five other embryos up for adoption that are in Mark’s sibling group. While the Campbells, now in their 50s, are no longer interested in

having more children, they are urging anyone who may be interested in embryo adoption to consider trying to bring Mark’s siblings into the world.

“The (normal) adoption process can be very lengthy and expensive, so this is just another option for people who want to expand their family,” Jessie Campbell said. “The reason why we’ve become so vocal is because when they put the embryos up for adoption, we got Mark and his sibling. Mark was viable; his sibling wasn’t. And then I just happened to ask the clinic if there are any more from that group, and there’s five more siblings. … I want people to know this is an option because, quite often, the embryos are just destroyed because people don’t want to pay the storage fee anymore.”

While the Campbells have become staunch advocates for embryo adoption as a way to preserve life in its earliest stages – driven primarily by their religious and ethical beliefs – they say the process has many other benefits for prospective parents.

According to a spokesperson from the New Life Fertility Centre in Mississauga, the centre that guided and cared for the Campbells through their embryo-adoption journey, the process can give hope to couples who aren’t able to conceive through other methods.

Embryo adoption can be an alternative for couples with infertility challenges who can produce viable eggs or sperm; it can improve the chances for success after multiple IVF failures; and it can provide a path to parenthood for people who can’t

World in a Weekend International Puppetry Festival returns for 4th year

“It is an interesting, inspiring way of addressing violence against women and empowering people’s voices. It’s semi-autobiographical about how she, as an artist, was saved by Edith Piaf; she’s a former cabaret singer, and puppeteer, creator, and Edith helps her find her voice again. It is humorous, and difficult, and optimistic and an unbelievable skillset,” said Smith.

Saturday night will bring a change of venue and performance for Rasooly. She will be doing a concert cabaret style at Revival House where attendees can also plan for dinner before the show should they choose to. In her performance of Hymn to Love she will be singing the repertoire of 1920s through 50s

with Edith and multiple other puppets.

“I saw her in Denmark and she is a very, very fine musician and a very, very fine puppeteer. She navigates between that legit classical sound and that real French cabaret Edith Piaf style,” said Smith.

To wet the whistle and spark interest for the festival is a new partnership with Stratford Film Festival. On July 26 at 4 p.m. at the city hall auditorium is the screening of stop motion puppet films curated for the adult eye. For more information and tickets, visit stratfordfilmfestival.com.

For more information about World in a Weekend, and to purchase tickets online, visit their website at www.springworksfestival.ca. Buy any four or more tickets and receive 10 per cent off.

conceive naturally like single parents or same-sex couples.

“Embryo donation is often more affordable than separate egg or sperm donation combined with IVF, since egg retrieval and donor screening can be expensive,” the spokesperson added.

According to the Campbells, after they looked into both embryo adoption and IVF, embryo adoption can cost as little as one-tenth what IVF costs, depending on the circumstances.

At age 49, Jessie Campbell said Mark’s birth was one of the smoothest she’s experienced, something she credits to her and her family’s choice to eliminate all processed foods from their diets nearly a decade ago.

Now, Jessie and Scott Campbell are the proud parents of Mark. After he was born, Mark, whose biological parents are of Mexican heritage, was gleefully accepted into the family by his other siblings – who range in age from 10 to 18 – all of whom help their parents look after the little guy amid life on the farm.

Scott and Jessie Campbell say they will explain to Mark how he came into the world through embryo adoption once he is old enough to understand. While he is a Campbell and will be raised as such in rural Perth County, they will leave it up to Mark to explore his Mexican heritage, should he choose to do that when he grows up.

For their part, Scott and Jessie Campbell will continue to explain the process of embryo adoption to anyone who is curious about Mark or interested in learning more.

Jessie Campbell and her son, Mark, who was brought into the world through embryo adoption.

Scott and Jessie Campbell (left) with all seven of their children.

(JESSIE CAMPBELL PHOTOS)

Stratford Festival review: The Winter’s Tale mixes comedy and tragedy to perfection

GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor

Part tragedy, part comedy, part tragic comedy, part comic tragedy.

Whatever one might identify Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale as, the Stratford Festival and director Antoni Cimolino’s 2025 production of one of the Bard’s stranger plays certainly fits the description.

The play is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride with one half dedicated to King Leontes’ (Graham Abbey) misplaced suspicion that his pregnant wife, Hermione (Sara Topham), is cheating on him with his friend and geopolitical ally, Pollixenes (André Sills), leading to the death of both Leontes’ wife and young son, Mamillius (Philip Myers).

The other half of play turns light, funny and pastoral as, 16 years later, Lenotes and Hermione’s daughter, Perdita (Marissa Orjalo), who was abandoned as a newborn on a distant island, finds love and happiness with her adoptive father, Old Sheppherd (Tom McCamus), and broth-

er, Young Sheppherd (Christo Graham), as well as her new love, Florizel (Austin Eckert), who also happens to be King Pol-

Stratford Arts and Lectures: Martha Hall Kelly visits Stratford

lixenes’ son.

It all ties together at the end with the reuniting of father and daughter, as well as old political allies, and the somewhat mysterious return of Hermione by way of stone statue.

Having only just now written all of that down on paper, it’s clear this play has the potential to be confusing and somewhat meandering at times, yet the cast and crew in this production handled it marvellously.

Much of the heavy lifting in this play is on the shoulders of the actors. The performances of Abbey, Topham, Sills and even Myers help set the stage for an otherwise happy family with plenty of friends and everything to look forward to. As Abbey’s portrayal of Leontes’ creeping suspicions bubble to the surface and begin to tear his family apart, the innocent disbelief and bewilderment put out by the other actors in the play’s first half make the sudden and

somewhat unexplained deaths of Hermione and Mamillius that much more tragic.

Almost like a switch is flipped, the second half of the play is introduced with humour and levity, and plenty of pastoral celebration and dancing. The choreography and set decoration complete with floral arrangements and ribbons, as well as the colourful costumes, signal a marked change from the prior tragedy.

But it’s the comedy that really makes this part of The Winter’s Tale enjoyable for me – as with all of Shakespeare’s comedies – which is performed with excellent timing and just the right amount of playfulness by McCamus, Graham and, my favourite performance of them all, Geraint Wyn Davies as the rogue conman, Autolycus. Davies’ portrayal of a character willing to do anything or be anyone to swindle the other characters on stage out of their money, gold and jewels not only provides the humour I needed to keep my attention, but it also moves the play forward in fun and unexpected ways.

All the while, the heart and soul of this production are carried by Florizel and Perdita’s undying love for one another, for which Eckert and Orjalo seem to have the right onstage chemistry.

I should also give a nod to this production’s special effects. The opening and closing scenes featuring Myers with Lucy Peacock, dressed in angel’s wings, as Time, and the sequence with Topham standing motionless as a statue of Hermione that comes back to life amidst swirling mists are quite impactful emotionally, and fully captured my interest.

Overall, this production did an excellent job introducing me to one of Shakespeare’s weirder works and proving once again tragedy and comedy go hand in hand.

The Winter’s Tale runs at the Tom Patterson Theatre until Sept. 27.

With Us

André Sills as Polixenes (front-left) and Sara Topham as Hermione (front-right) with members of the company in The Winter's Tale. Stratford Festival 2025.

(DAVID HOU PHOTO)

Rina Barone, founder of Stratford Arts and Lectures, chats with special guest, Martha Hall Kelly, during a high tea event at The Bruce Hotel. Locals and visitors gathered to hear her discuss her latest novel, the Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club, inspired by her mother, who serves as the basis for the book’s main character.

(AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE PHOTO)

UNTIL SOON. LIVE WELL: ALL OUR WORK’S A STAGE

It was in the middle of a discussion with a friend concerning our work, when he said how my job in particular exemplifies the meaning of a “calling.” I know – funeral service is not for just anybody, but as a funeral director, and similar to the Woody Allen joke, when I die “I will belong to a club that has someone like me as a member!”

During our banter back and forth, I began to see a marked change in his face, a slight frown forming at the edges of his mouth, his eyes searching the ceiling as if he was looking for a bird that just flew into the café. He was not quite lamenting

As

I See It

It was an amusing moment. I sat and watched a television news program on how areas close to the Canadian border were putting up “We Love Canada” billboards. Of course, the whole intention is to soften the blow from underwhelming Canadian tourism that is plaguing many of the border communities. A quick check with my local chamber of commerce/ visitors bureau and they are looking at a 35 per cent reduction, some areas have even a larger percentage. I chuckled knowing that many of the people creating and putting up the billboards indeed did vote for the current occupant in the White House. The price we pay for ignorance, misogyny and racism.

My wife and I LOVE CANADA and especially your fair city

the worth of his working life but was certainly questioning its validity as a worthwhile enterprise beyond the paycheck he received for doing it – an observation which I attempted to ingrain in my daughter years ago concerning her search for meaningful employ – try to do what feeds the soul if you can and if you can’t, make the necessary changes in the work itself or in how you view the work in order to carry on. If all else fails, leave it – for the money alone will not make you happy.

My friend, sadly, was losing his estimation of what he actually does. When I realized this, and because I could so easily and clearly see the benefits I’ve personally received from his labours – I felt it necessary to point them out to him.

He is a technician for the Stratford Festival. Since moving to Stratford years ago and now sharing life with a partner who is herself a sound designer and technician, I am highly aware of the mass of people it requires to bring a single show to completion. The hours are long, the work sometimes grueling. Many a day has passed and extended

From

itself into the night when the words “good morning, I love you, good night” were almost the only words spoken from the dawn of one day into the dawn of the next, between myself and my partner.

Everyone, of course, would like to be recognized for what they contribute. In fact, recognition is often mentioned as much more important to most than the money they receive for their endeavors. The fact of the matter is, one’s worth cannot merely be gleaned from outside sources: the praise of one’s peers, the receiving of an award, a raise in pay – it must be felt from within to an equal degree, through who you know yourself to be and how you contribute. In other words, one’s personal viewpoint about one’s work and the substance of all one's labours – that brings it to its final fruition in the end.

While I recognize that Stratford, in and of itself, is a desirable place to live and work for someone in any profession, the previous viewpoint may be examined by anyone in any field of work. For my friend though, in his search for meaning through the theatre, I pointed out the ob -

America:

of Stratford and the immediate beautiful environs. We love looking at the large flat agricultural fields and driving through quaint villages that could be the sets for traditional BBC mysteries. Our day trips while visiting are chuck full of beautiful photos and meeting friendly towns people that we come across. Friendliness and kindness seem to be a staple of your area’s population. Our first love is the theatre, and all that amazing talent located in one wonderful location. We have good friends at the theatre that we have met over the years. We talk to them regularly and commiserate on the American issue of leadership and the tumultuous ruining of our country. We scratch our heads and wonder when all of this will be over. We can only hope. It is safe to say that most Americans do love Canadians. In our discussions in our own community, 70 miles from your border, we have several people wondering what the whole big kerfuffle is about. There are also those that do not understand why Canadians would not want to be part of the United States. In contrast we also see many “maps” that include the California to Washington strip and all New England, New York and New Jersey as provinces of Canada. I chuckle at all this as well. I wonder if we would be better off,

vious – the many people who are highly grateful for the Stratford Festival and what it offers culturally, emotionally, intellectually and financially to the region and the country. And now, in addition, adding to the cultural milieu, we have the Here For Now permanent theatre space at 24 St. Andrew St. Another great blessing in the entertainment fabric of the city.

I likewise pointed out to him what was not so obvious and what he found harder to see –that without him and the hundreds of others who toil backstage, in the wings, in the bowels of the building and in tiny booths around the perimeter of the theatre space, there would be no production at all.

Theatre of the calibre produced here would suffer without the extraordinary work of the people who contribute their time and efforts collectively to it – not merely for the money they receive but for a product that is exemplary – that they may be proud of. And make no mistake, that is what meaningful work should do. But to see it, sometimes we must look beyond the practical effort itself.

At its most basic consequence, theatre provides my friend a living, yes – but at the point of greatest expanse, the substance of what he does adds to its outcome. And what is that? Contributing to an experience that is nothing short of helping someone reflect upon and transform the human condition perhaps? Reminding us that we are not alone? Yes. And at the same time, causing us to smile, laugh, cry and perhaps transcend for a little while the cares and concerns of our daily living – maybe even, to elevate the soul – long after the applause has ceased, the seats are empty, the theatre dark, and we have walked back out into our lives.

His work, his efforts, are in contribution to that – and that, I would say, is a worthwhile endeavor.

Until soon. Live well my friend and know what it is that you contribute to.

Stuart is a celebrant and the manager of Rutherford Cremation & Funeral Services. It is his privilege to serve, dispel myths, and give information concerning his field of compassionate service.

Rome wasn’t built in a day

at least we would have guaranteed health care.

Today, as I am writing we are awaiting the vote on our “leader’s” Big Beautiful Bill. It seems that our Senate has been up all night using various tactics to stall and to amend and to basically brow beat and tire those on the fence so that they can have a summer Fourth of July vacation and get this flawed and dangerous legislation passed. Admittedly, many are looking for time off but are not looking forward to the protests and confusion that exist in their home states and small towns. Millions will be marching in protest on the Fourth of July and of course the “government” and fascist supporters will claim that it is all a farce. Such is the state of ordinary people rising up and letting those in power know how they feel. I am certain that in some areas the military will be called up to control U.S. citizens and curtail the protest. He has ordered and done that previously.

It is with a great understanding that we have on why Canadians are not all that comfortable travelling to the United States. It is a reality that crossing the border may not be in the best interest of anyone foreign. It is also a statement of how the current leadership treats those that are not of their whim. We certainly realize

that this is the best way for our neighbors up north to actually show how they feel. It is an effective way to shout out your dissatisfaction with statements from our leadership. We just hope that it isn’t permanent. We do hope that someday we will be able to greet you with open arms and no fear. Perhaps that should be both of our citizens’ goals.

As we work to remove the threats and return to the normalcy of good neighbors and good government, we are reminded that Rome wasn’t built in a day. We see the constant destruction of our country where the very wealthy are given a pass and those that require assistance and are in great need are shoved out of the spotlight only to suffer more harm and receive less support. This “Big, Beautiful Bill” may pass and become law due to the loss of backbones by legislators and fear that the current occupant of the White House will push them out of office using threats and pushing for opposition in the upcoming elections. Then those that joined in this effort will have to explain to the masses why they suddenly didn’t want to feed the hungry, support our farmers or protect our elderly. I can’t wait to see what comes out of their mouths as “reasons.” It is sort of sounding like pre-revolutionary France.

We are looking forward to the 2026 elections when our entire House of Representatives and one third of our Senate are up for reelection. This will be the time to cut off the support necessary for the president to succeed. We must take back the House of Representatives and squelch and reduce the GOP majority in the Senate. It is our only chance. It is the main reason why he is pushing this legislation so hard now. It may be the only chance he has to coddle the wealthy and improve his own position in society. It appears in our case that the person in charge is also the court jester of the rich and will do anything to make them happier and wealthier.

And so, we work towards the future. Strike while we can and hope that through our elective process, we can facilitate significant change. Every day we are one day closer to this much needed step and possibly a chance to get back to our friendly neighbour status. All we ask is that you, our most welcoming friends and neighbors, be patient and caring. We will get this done. It must be a priority. We understand your feelings, but the love that we feel for your wonderful and fair country and its amazing people does not fade. It is stronger than ever.

Please let me know how you feel at burk.patrick1956@gmail.com.

STUART LENDER Times Freelance Columnist

PATRICK D. BURK

Times Freelance Columnist

OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO: Canada: the best destination anywhere

O, Canada! What a wonderful country!

In this week in which we give particular attention to Canada, I again realize how grateful I am to have been born and raised in this, perhaps the best country in the world.

I know Canada is not perfect. We have a horrendous record in our treatment of Indigenous Peoples, and in spite of some important steps being made in this area, there is still much to be done.

But while we have significant flaws, this is still an amazing country. And I have been very fortunate, having been able to visit eight of our 10 provinces within the past year. Every stop, from Cape Breton Island to Elk Ridge, Sask., left me feeling grateful and a bit awestruck.

So here, during Canada Day week, I invite you to make a flying trip across much of our country.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Like almost anyone who visits our newest province, I fell in love with The Rock. I was gob-smacked by the stunning shorelines and quickly smitten with the warmth of the Newfoundland people. And, of course, there is the music, always the music. St. John’s is one of the most visitable cities I have ever

been in – the shops, restaurants and pubs exude hospitality, not to mention the nearby villages like Quidi Vidi. I am going back, and soon.

Nova Scotia

Don’t try to do the whole province – you’ll either miss a lot, or rush madly through everything. There are several regions, each worth your holiday time, and I love them all. Last summer, we spent several days on Cape Breton, enjoying every second. We also dropped into Halifax for a couple of days and freely admit that was not nearly enough time.

My previous trip to Nova Scotia was spent at the south-west tip, in Yarmouth and the Acadian district, and that is a perfect destination for a visit lasting a week or two – there is so much heritage to discover, lobster and scallops to eat, golf to play, boats to sail. Maybe, like my friend Richard, you will visit and

never come back!

New Brunswick

New Brunswick has become one of my favourite destinations. It’s a province of unique, quirky, fascinating attractions, ranging from the Railway Interpretation Centre in Edmunston – the labour of love of railway devotee Guy LaForge – to the Maxim Albert House-Museum, celebrating bootlegging in Saint-Hilaire where you’ll meet Reg Nadeau, the local expert, to Potato World, in Florenceville-Bristol. And that’s just a small sample; New Brunswick is knee-deep in off-the-beaten-path attractions all worth a visit.

Prince Edward Island

Yes, there are all things “Anne,” but there is so much more. Great beaches, great golf, great food and great theatre. Also, charming coastal villages and, like everywhere in the Maritimes, marvellous live

music – feasts for the ears. As for feasts for the appetite, P.E.I is home to the astonishing Fireworks Feast at Chef Michael Smith’s Inn at Bay Fortune. Expensive but exquisite!

Québec

You could travel Québec constantly and never take it all in. La Belle Province has so many richly rewarding districts. Three that we have enjoyed last year or two were the Eastern Townships, with quaint villages, dark-sky experiences and terrific food and local wines; the southern Laurentians, where exploring the foodie trail – le Chemin du Terroir – provided one of the most delicious days of my life; and the Saguenay, a strikingly beautiful region along the unique fjord.

Ontario

Sure, we all know Ontario – or do we? When was it you last spent time in Kingston and Gananoque, or Ottawa, or Sault Ste. Marie.

A recent highlight for me was a visit focused on the waterfronts of Kingston and Gan, where I learned about fresh-water diving, great lakes luxury liners and the challenge faced by Thousand Islands tourism promoters who have always collaborated with their American colleagues – not so easy in today’s political environment.

Manitoba

Winnipeg is an overlooked destination that deserves far better. This city is home to the absolutely essential Canadian Museum of Human Rights; the amazing Winnipeg Art Gallery collection of traditional and modern Inuit art; and most recently, The Leaf, a new attraction featuring gigantic tropical and Mediterranean biomes. The Leaf is located in the wonderful Assiniboine Park, and close to “The Forks” – the shopping, dining and entertainment area located at the forks of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers.

Saskatchewan

My June visit to Saskatchewan was the first time I had stayed in the province. It was quickly apparent that ignoring this province was a big mistake. Saskatoon is a vibrant, interesting city, and I got the change to explore the countryside north of Saskatoon, on a golf trip that took me all the way to Prince Albert National Park. The landscape ranged from prairie to wetlands to something darned close to mountainous, and all beautiful. So, yes, I am grateful for the opportunity to explore our wonderful country. In every good way I can imagine, there is no place like home.

Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and President of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@golden. net.

Lobster fishers off the coast of Newfoundland.

PAUL KNOWLES Times Freelance Columnist

The covered bridge in Florenceville, N.B., "the French Fry Capital of the World."

The historic town of Shelburne, N.S., often used as a setting for television and films.

(PAUL KNOWLES PHOTOS)

Web-crawling in goldenrod

There we were, planting some nature on the verge – specifically blue-stemmed goldenrod and aster – when I looked sideways. There was a green and feathery batch of Queen Anne’s Lace, AKA wild carrot, and there, nestled in the green, happily munching, was a quite stunning black swallowtail caterpillar.

We’ve chatted about host plants, how important they are for our insects and pollinators. Many, if not all, insects have plants they need for their young – they need specific plants for the special nutrition they offer to the young insects. You guessed it; those plants are known as native plants, because they’ve been here for hundreds and thousands of years. So have the insects, and they depend on each other.

It turns out that black swallowtail butterflies (lovely!) always

need the parsley/carrot family for their eggs and the young that hatch. Queen Anne’s Lace is in that family, and so are parsley, fennel, lovage, cicely (also called chervil), coriander (also called cilantro), parsnip, caraway, cumin and celeriac! Black swallowtails are also uncommonly fond of rue, straight from Shakespeare. We all know that monarchs need milkweed, and the American lady butterfly needs pearly everlasting or pussy-toes. Amazing! Hint: none of our insects need exotic plants from other countries. Oops, that means hydrangeas, begonias, hostas and dahlias, among others.

You may ask why we were planting asters and goldenrod together. We were reminded of our

speaker at the last Climate Conversation, Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass. As a young Indigenous woman, Robin wanted to be a botanist. When she applied to university to study botany, a professor interviewed her. Why did she want to be a botanist?

“Because,” she said, “I want to know why the asters and the goldenrods look so beautiful together.” With great amusement, the professor told Robin that that was not botany. That was ART. However, he accepted her application and Robin earned a doctorate in botany. And, by the way, it turns out that there is a very good reason for purple asters right next to goldenrod in gardens looking so beautiful. They

are complementary colours and really “pop” next to each other. They are also extremely attractive to pollinators in the fall – and that is BOTANY.

Another guest speaker, Katrina Ayvindson from Western University, also reminded us of the interconnections in the natural world. As intensive agriculture and development remove more and more habitat, we are forgetting how much we depend on the circular system that sustains the planet and all life, including us. We used to think that life was a triangle with humans at the top. Ecology has taught us that in reality we all exist in a circle, with all parts depending on all the other parts.

There is increasing concern about diminishing numbers of insects and birds. We can each help ensure that the circle of life will still be strong for seven generations, which is the Indigenous approach – as wise as goldenrod and asters together. By including native plants in our gardens, we can help the insects, the birds and ourselves. The Tri-County Master Gardeners encourage us all to plant “keystone species.” I beg your pardon? What is that?

According to the National Wildlife Federation, “Keystone plants are native plants critical to the food web and necessary for many wildlife species to complete their life cycle. Without

keystone plants in the landscape, butterflies, native bees and birds will not thrive. Ninety-five per cent of our terrestrial birds rely on insects supported by keystone plants.”

For a list of keystone plants, check https://tricountymastergardeners.ca. For a list of places to find native plants, check cfuwstratford.ca.

Three to remember: oak trees, goldenrod and asters.

Updates:

1. A high level in the carbon ppm (parts per million) in the atmosphere. As of July 3, 2025, the count is 429 ppm. Usually in the summer in the northern hemisphere, CO2 levels decrease because more crops are growing and using the CO2 for photosynthesis. Not this year, CO2 is escalating. Feel the heat? We can stop it. We can get off the fossil fuel wagon. Use bikes, feet, buses and trains.

2. News flash: Goldenrod doesn’t cause hay fever. The pollen is too heavy to be airborne into your lungs. What causes allergies in the fall? Ragweed, small and insignificant – but POWERFUL.

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.

STRATFORD SCRABBLE CLUB

Anne Hathawy Residence 480 Downie St., Stratford Meets every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for 3 games. Check our website for further details stratfordscrabble.ca

Grace United Church. Tavistock July 14, 2025 from 4:30-7:30 Berlin 95, Ish n Chips, Fo'Cheezy Donations to Camp Bimini

Rev. Kramer revwwwk@quadro.net or 519-393-6174

Tuesday prior at 3 p.m. Contact: stratfordtimes@gmail.com

SHEILA CLARKE

Times Freelance Columnist

A Newfoundland Christmas comes to Stratford

East coast charm meets Stratford cheer as The Ennis Sisters plan to light up the Avondale with their holiday harmonies.

The Ennis Sisters, a Newfoundland based music group, brings its melodies to Stratford at the Avondale United Church on Dec. 4. The event is set to fill the evening with a festive celebration and a Newfoundland twist.

“One of the greatest things about Canada is that we have all sorts of different music from so many different cultures. I do know no matter where I have gone in this country, everybody loves a good old kitchen party,” said Crystal Spicer, executive director at Stratford Summer Music (SSM). “People love that East coast music that gives them that happy warm feeling and I think that’s what they’re going to get from this night.”

Maureen, Karen and Teresa Ennis have performed to audiences across Canada for 25 years. With their 14 released studio albums and multiple East Coast Music awards, along with a SOCAN award, the JUNO award-winning musicians plan to share their unique style of music with

CLASSIFIEDS

are

the community of Stratford to kick off the holiday season.

Spicer said that Avondale was the perfect venue to host this sort of musical talent that supports enhanced acoustics, accessible parking and comfortable seating. She added that this will be the second time that SSM organized a Christmas special and plans to continue with many more in the future.

“We really try to align ourselves on what’s going on in the community. We know there is a desire for Stratford to become a year-round tourist destination,” said Spicer. “We also have offerings for tourists and the local community.

“As we think about our programming and offerings, we are really trying to make sure that we are keeping those things in mind. We want to help the city with their goals of becoming a year-round tourist destination for the community and beyond.”

Spicer said that when the audiences gather at Avondale, they come out knowing that they’re going to be experiencing a high-quality evening of music. She hopes that the music that echoes in the interior of the church opens everybody’s hearts and brings joy to every member of the audience.

WANTED

TENDER

$ Cash Paid $ for your RECORDS and LPs. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Pop, Folk, Soundtracks, and more. Selectively buying CDs, Cassettes, Turntables, and Stereo Equipment. For more information: DIAMOND DOGS MUSIC 114 Ontario St. Stratford / 226-972-5750

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. We are at the Pinery Market at Grand Bend every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call or text Stan anytime 519-868-3814.

FARMLAND FOR SALE BY TENDER

96 workable acres, more or less * systematically tiled * Part Lot 18, Concession 13 Downie, Township of Perth South, County of Perth, Located at 4697 Line 15

& Alateen

Wildwood Care Centre (Retirement Living). Private room accommodations for Senior living available, can accommodate couples. Price $2800 to $4600 monthly. Meals, basic care, medication management and staff available 24/7. For tours call Lisa at 519-284-3628.

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.

Hundreds of shade trees, fruit trees, apples, pears, peaches, plums, sweet and sour cherries, apricots, nectarines, blueberries, haskapp grapes, raspberries, elderberries etc. Lots of spruce, pine, cedars for windbreak and privacy hedges. Sizes 1-8 ft. in containers ready to go. Flowering shrubs and much more. Mon-Sat 7:00am to 6:00pm Martin's Nursery, 42661 Orangehill Rd Wroxeter, ON N0G 2X0 (1 Conc. North of Wroexter on Belmore Line)

The highest or any offer need not necessarily be accepted by the Vendor. Tenders will be accepted until 12:00 noon on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

For tender forms contact: Monteith Ritsma Phillips Professional Corporation Barristers and Solicitors

Attention: James Burns

6 Wellington Street, Stratford Phone: 519-271-6770

Email: burns@stratfordlawyers.com or lmacdonald@stratfordlawyers.com

ALEX HUNT

Times Correspondent

East coast music group The Ennis Sisters bring their Newfoundland charm to Stratford on Dec. 4 for a Christmas special offered by Stratford Summer Music.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Why did the student eat his homework? Because the teacher said it was a piece of cake!

What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus!

Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field!

How do you catch a squirrel? Climb a tree and act like a nut!

Why can't your nose be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot!

What do you call a boomerang that doesn’t come back? A stick!

Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts.

What did one plate say to the other? "Lunch is on me!"

Why did the cookie go to the doctor? Because it felt crummy!

What kind of shoes do ninjas wear? Sneakers!

What did the big flower say to the little flower? "Hey bud!"

BOURBON

Bourbon is a spirited, scent-loving explorer who thrives on outdoor adventures and mental challenges. This big-hearted boy is always up for a game of hide-and-seek, a winding scent trail, or a trek through the woods. With a loud voice, a love for people, and a nose that never quits, Bourbon is looking for an active home that can keep up with his energy and curiosity. He may be high-energy, but he also knows how to relax after a good day’s work. If you’re ready for a loyal trail companion with a zest for life, Bourbon might just be your perfect match.

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