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STRATFORD VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 13
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NOVEMBER 7, 2025
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Stratford to honour its veterans this Tuesday
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Across the nation on Nov. 11, Canadians will honour its veterans for Remembrance Day. Here is what’s planned in Stratford that day. The annual ceremonies once again take place at the Stratford Cenotaph along the banks of the Avon River. Each year, Stratford residents come out in droves for the ceremonies, filling Veterans Drive Parkland and downtown streets to watch area organizations march in a parade and honour the region’s veterans at the famed Stratford war memorial. Frank Mathieson, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 8, said that it is a “thank you” to the sacrifices made by veterans throughout the years. “Because it was their sacrifices that made Canada possible for what it is today,” Mathieson said. “And it's great to see the amount of community support that come out to honour them. And it's not just one day a year – they honour (veterans) throughout the year. Everybody just does it in their own quiet way.” A parade of veterans and cadets, led by the Stratford Police Pipes and Drums, will leave the Stratford Armoury on Waterloo Street that morning, heading down Albert Street and winding through the heart of downtown Stratford, before arriving at the cenotaph. Starting at 10:30 a.m., the formal ceremonies begin. Knox Church Pastor Kelli Berkner will do the scripture CONTINUED TO PAGE 12
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO) Corporal Sumner, Master Corporal McConkey and Cadet Weaver light up the pumpkins in Market Square for Stratford's 13th Pumpkin Parade. On Nov. 1, members of the 19 Squadron Stratford Air Cadets helped the Stratford civic beautification and environmental awareness committee with the annual parade, where residents lined up this year's jack-o-lanterns for one last hurray before they were loaded into a bin and donated to a local farm for animal feed.
Development of Stageview Studios on track for late 2026 groundbreaking
GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
As designs for a three-story, 33,000 square-foot film and television studio in the heart of downtown Stratford inch closer to being finalized, the people behind the ambitious project aimed at placing the Festival City at the centre of Canada’s content-production industry are hopeful shovels could hit the dirt as early as next year. Shortly after announcing Stageview Studios’ main soundstage will be named in honour of the late Canadian
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actor, Graham Greene, Craig Thompson – the executive producer for Ballinran Entertainment, a local production company, and one of the driving forces behind the development of the film studio – said the project is well into its design phase, and shared design drawings for each of the building’s three floors. “The next phase of architectural drawings has been completed, we are in talks with a developer and, a couple of weeks ago, we announced the main soundstage will be the Graham Greene Stage,” Thompson said. “Graham CONTINUED TO PAGE 6
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November 7, 2025
Stratford Times
Christmas fundraiser aims to provide hope for the community, one kettle at a time have a connection to it, and the event resonates strongly with the community,” said Morris. “Someway, somehow, the SalvaThe Salvation Army is looking for vol- tion Army has been a part of their lives. unteers to help with this year’s Christmas People just want to do good in their comKettle Campaign. munity and their support to stay local.” The Salvation Army Stratford-St. Marys Morris notes that funds raised within Regional Community Ministries is seek- the Salvation Army’s three covering coming volunteers to fill positions within its munities will be used to support their own community coverage, which spans Strat- local branch and its surrounding region. ford, Mitchell and St. Marys, to help raise Proceeds will go on to continue the operaits $385,000 goal. tional needs of the building, as well as proVolunteers will work shifts at local vide food and clothing for people in need. businesses, facilitating donations placed “We always need more volunteers to inside the kettles from Nov. 13 to Dec. 24. stand with our kettles, and we’re getting Stratford will have eight kettle locations, more interest from organizations who are St. Marys will have four and Mitchell at willing to host our kettle stands,” said two. Stratford volunteers can expect to be Morris. “I encourage our volunteers to posted among the following businesses: get creative and use their passion to make Sobeys, No Frills, Walmart, Zehrs, Strat- a difference. Past volunteers would do ford Mall, Canadian Tire, Food Basics and crafts and dress up as Christmas characthe downtown LCBO. ters during their shift.” The Salvation Army’s community and Morris, who grew up in a rural comfamily services manager, Jennifer Morris, munity, said that small communities are says that all locations will accept cash do- always willing to support each other and nations, while only a select few will allow ensure that everyone has food to eat, card tap transactions. Donors will also be something to wear, or a toy to play with able to donate online or through the Salva- at Christmas. tion Army’s mailout campaign. “I don’t think we realize how lucky we “The Salvation Army has been in Strat- are in a small community where we supford for over 100 years. A lot of people port each other above all else,” said Morris. “Our goal is to provide people with something that they need, that they don’t have in their lives. We aim to give hope, and our volunteers SHERRIE ROULSTON help us provide that to the Real Estate Broker community.” Upcoming events include email: sherrieroulston@royallepage.ca the Salvation Army’s annuDirect: 519-272-3578 al toy drive with the Stratford Police Service on Nov.
ALEX HUNT
Times Correspondent
A Passion for People
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Jennifer Morris, community and family services manager at the Stratford- St. Marys Regional Community Ministries, poses with a kettle at the Stratford Branch.
15 and the food drive on Dec. 13. There’s a callout for volunteers to help with both fundraisers as well as a request for the community donation support. A key need of food items are oatmeal mixes, rice, lunch snacks and canned fruit. “There are some people in the commu-
nity who go through the holidays alone, and if we’re the only Christmas they get, then we'd better do it right and make it a good one,” said Morris. Those interested in volunteering for the kettle campaign can call the Salvation Army’s Stratford branch at 519-271-2950.
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Stratford Times
November 7, 2025
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Editorial From the dugout to the dome: How I became a baseball fan (again)
AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE Times Reporter
I started playing baseball this summer. Well, technically, threepitch — not that I knew the difference at first. I didn’t join because I loved the game; in fact, I hardly knew any of the rules. I joined because my boyfriend, Charles, loves baseball and was pretty convinced I would too. It turned out to be a great way to fill my evenings and meet new
people, so I joined the Tuesday night team in Guelph with the modest goal of simply getting through the season. After a few games (during which I learned I was definitely not good), I figured I should probably get my own glove. Then came proper shoes. Then, after watching everyone hit better with batting gloves, I added those to my Amazon cart too. I even got the team jersey — and before I knew it, I was actually looking forward to Tuesday nights. When the summer season wrapped up, I found myself asking Charles when registration opened for the fall team. By then, the Blue Jays were deep into their own season, and not only was I playing ball, but I was watching it too. I started tuning in to Jays' games, then went to one in person, and even began checking
Ticketmaster to see if prices were low enough for another later in the season (spoiler: they weren’t). On nights I couldn’t watch live, I’d refresh Google constantly for updates. During that marathon 18-inning game, I asked Charles to text me when it was over so I’d know the final score before I even got out of bed. Somewhere along the way, I became a baseball fan. It’s funny — my dad would be thrilled. Growing up, he used to drag my sisters and me to games, where we’d spend three long hours asking when it would end. I’d watch him cheer, shout at the umpire, and throw his hands in the air in disbelief, completely absorbed in it all. The best part, at least for us kids, was always the hotdog. I still remember his joy in 1993 when the Jays won — I didn’t care much then, but
now? Now I find myself tearing up over their recent loss. My daughter Hailey also played softball for years. She could hit a ball farther than you’d expect from her tiny frame, and we’d travel all over — from Mitchell to Shakespeare to Goderich — for tournaments. When she eventually switched to volleyball, I did too, in spirit. Baseball just drifted out of my life for a while. And then, this summer, I picked up a bat for the first time — right as the Jays started heating up. I watched that last game on the edge of my seat, heartbroken right along with them and the rest of Canada when they lost. Seeing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. fight back tears, or Addison Barger struggle to get words out in his interview — it was emotional. Watching Max Scherzer’s pride in Trey Yesavage, and then seeing the rook-
ie absolutely shine — it reminded me why people love this sport so much. This year, it felt like the Blue Jays gave Canada exactly what we needed: grit, heart, and hope. They fought hard, made their mark, and reminded fans — new and old — why we care so much. I think it’s safe to say I’m officially a baseball fan now. Sure, I still barely know the rules. Once, during a summer game, I stepped off third base and lost the game for my team. Another time, everyone congratulated me on my RBI, and I had to secretly Google what that meant while sitting on the bench. But I love it anyway. This season, both on the field and watching the Jays, reminded me that baseball isn’t just about winning — it’s about connection, teamwork, and the joy of being part of something bigger.
CORRECTION: In the Oct. 31 cover story “Youth are not ‘the future’ – they are ‘the now,” Arlo Dunnem’s last name was incorrectly spelt “Dunham.” The Times regrets any confusion this error caused.
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(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO) Spotted at this year’s Pumpkin Parade on Nov. 1, just hours before the heartbreaker game that evening when the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in game seven of the World Series.
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November 7, 2025
Stratford Times
Development of Stageview Studios in Stratford on track for late 2026 groundbreaking
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
and I talked before he passed away; we were hoping to do an announcement with him in person, but sadly, he passed away unexpectedly, but he honoured his commitment through his wife. “ … There’s one big soundstage … that’s going be about 5,000 square feet and then a smaller studio that’s going to be about 2,000 square feet. (The Graham Green Stage) is going to be for filming projects, recording plays, recording music; it’s a fully functional production soundstage for film and television, and immersive technology – so, motion capture and things like that. And it’s also going to be a training location because we’ve got a line for some training funding that we’ve applied for to do some training at the facility.” The idea behind naming the studio’s main soundstage after Greene, Thompson explained, is multilayered. Beyond paying homage to an acclaimed and wellliked Indigenous-Canadian actor who performed with the Stratford Festival for one season in 2007 and has extensive ties to Hollywood, naming the soundstage after Greene is meant to inspire young creatives – especially those from communities and backgrounds that are often underrepresented in the film and television industry – to chase their storytelling ambitions. “We want to give a voice to underrepresented people,” Thompson said. “Although Graham was very lucky and successful in his career, we want to use him as a figurehead to inspire people who may want to emulate his path and gain the confidence to tell their own stories.” According to the design drawings completed by project architect Michael Wilson, Stageview Studios will be built up from the existing, 11,000 square-foot warehouse building on Downie Street, across from Stratford’s transit hub and beside the Bradshaw Lofts. The Graham Greene Stage will take up a large portion of that existing footprint, stretching up into a second floor to allow for lighting, sound and other filming equipment. The second, smaller recording studio will inhabit the ground floor, and will be used primarily for audio recording, as well as some filming. The ground floor plans also include three loading bays for equipment – one at the back, one off Downie Street and one off Milton Street – a staging shop for visiting productions’ props and equipment, an equipment depot for productions looking to rent equipment, a green room for VIPs working in the studio, an administrative office, a reception area, an elevator and stairs to the second floor. Designs for the second floor, which is smaller than the ground floor because of the two-story main soundstage, includes office space for rent to third-party businesses and organizations, dressing rooms, a board room and Ballinran Entertainment’s editing and post-production facilities. Once the project is complete,
A concept drawing for Stageview Studios in downtown Stratford.
Thompson said he will move all Ballinran operations from its office just down the street to Stageview Studios. For the top floor, designs include a large multi-purpose/conference room, rehearsal space and assembly hall that can be rented out to the wider community, as well as a gallery and outdoor covered terrace. Thompson said he is looking to partner with someone in the hospitality industry to turn the gallery and outdoor space into one where food and drink can be served and outdoor events can be hosted. “It’s a big project and it’s going to re-
quire some heavy lifting, but we have a lot of people who are behind us and are allies, and it really is a project for the community because it’s bigger than anything I can do on my own,” Thompson said. “Countries around the world are investing in content infrastructure – studios, etc. One of the great things about Stratford is we have this concentration of talent here, not just in front of the camera like actors, but people behind the scenes – writers, designers, directors, technicians. “We have this unique opportunity to diversify our creative economy by doing
(MICHAEL WILSON IMAGE)
something that is an adjunct to the cultural industries that exist here already. And … we’re surrounded by education; we’ve got the University of Waterloo, we’ve got Fanshawe, we’ve got Conestoga. This is a perfect opportunity to train the next generation of creative people.” With the completion of Stageview Studios anticipated in 2027, Thompson said he and his partners – including local business leader and musician Lee Helperin and civil engineer Nick Aroutzidis – are confident they will break ground on the project at some point in late 2026.
Hilary Blackmore and Craig Thompson pose in front of what will be Stageview Studios with a photo of Graham Greene, Blackmore's late-husband and the namesake for Stageview's main sound stage.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Stratford Times
November 7, 2025
Adopt-a-Family Stratford to provide holiday dinners for families in need in its sixth year
GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
Adopt-a-Family Stratford is officially back in its sixth year, offering locals a chance to give back to families in need during the holiday season. First started in 2020 as a gift-giving program for families struggling during the pandemic, Adopt-a-Family Stratford evolved two years ago to provide low-income families with gift cards to local businesses donated by area residents and businesses. With 30 families in need already registered as recipients for the Adopt-a-Family program this year, those who sign up as program sponsors will have the opportunity to contribute $50 gift cards for local businesses and grocery stores, allowing those families and more to purchase gifts and food for Christmas dinners without worrying about rising costs. “It’s a $50, personal gift card for each member of the family and every family overall gets a $50 gift card for a grocery story of their choice where they can get their Christmas meal from,” said program organizer Ashley Jantzi, adding program recipients are required to submit their 2024 notice of assessment or tax forms to ensure their income level qualifies them for the Adopt-a-Family program. City residents who would like to sponsor a local family are required to fill out an online form, which can be found on the Adopt-a-Family Stratford Facebook page. Once approved, organizers will provide each sponsor with a family’s wish list to help guide the purchasing of appropriate gift cards. Once purchased, those gift cards are to be dropped off with the
CELEBRATION OF THE GREEN FUSE (for Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation) A dollar in a wallet is like a seed inside a glass jar. Such is the elusive truth of utility. Minus the green fuse of purpose and transformation there is only stasis: the unlit match, a speechless violin, still life with flowers, the paint brush stiff with the colours of yesterday. A word fastened
(ASHLEY JANTZI PHOTO) Michelle Jackson, Dan Woods and Ashley Jantzi, the organizers of the annual Adopt-a-Family Stratford program, are hoping locals will give generously this holiday season in support of local families in need.
Adopt-a-Family Stratford organizers on a
specified drop-off day roughly one week
to the tongue is nothing but silence.
to act but becoming the power ourselves.
Dylan Thomas so poetically reminds that it is “the force that through the green fuse drives the flower.”
This is how communities are built, the catalytic wonder of human enterprise bent to the task of metamorphosis and positive change.
We are all instruments of change, my friends, all harbouring within ourselves that bright green fuse to translate generosity into motion, empathy into infrastructure, igniting the match that flames ideas into the society we deserve.
Wealth in a wallet is a seed in search of soil.
It is about seeing the gap and building the span, not waiting for the powerful
Let us tonight lift high our hearts and celebrate our collective force that through the green and fiery fuse of will and conviction we drive the wondrous flower of our community, urge into bloom
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before recipient families are set to pick up their gift cards on Dec. 14. “Last year, we had a public sponsor drop-off (of the purchased gift cards) about a week before the family pick-up, and that worked really well. This year, we’re trying to figure out where we’re going to host it. Last year was at city hall, which was great, it was central, but it was also really cold and we kind of froze our tushes off. So, this year, we’re trying to find somewhere that’s indoors or where we can have a space heater that can keep us warm.” This program is entirely anonymous as the names of recipient families are not shared with sponsors. Those interested in registering as a recipient family must email adoptafamilystratford@gmail.com by Nov. 22 at noon and have all necessary tax documents and wish lists submitted by Nov. 24. Only members of a recipient family can register; registration is not permitted on behalf of a family. Jantzi said last year’s Adopt-a-Family Stratford program managed to bring in $11,450 in gift cards for 60 families or 169 people in total. While that was a banner year for the program, which saw its biggest response since 2022, Jantzi said she and her fellow organizers are hopeful this year’s program can help just as many people enjoy the holiday season. “I am always astounded at how appreciative the families are and how much they recognize it’s a locally run program and all the sponsors are people from their own community,” she said. “It’s not just about helping other people; it’s about sharing that feeling of Christmas magic. “That’s what we’re here for.”
the ideas and innovation that make our world a better place. A dollar in a wallet is a seed in search of soil. Let us be that soil, let us be the nurturing roots of change, stark and powerful, the green fuse, steadfast and brightly burning in this measured world where the blossom of our community is the one and truest measure of our wealth. -- David Stones, Stratford poet laureate
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November 7, 2025
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Stratford Times
TheThe Rotary ofStratford Stratford RotaryClub Club of
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Stratford school board trustee resigns; Runnerup in 2022 election appointed new trustee CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Bruce Whitaker has resigned from the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB), leaving the seat after being elected to represent Stratford in the 2022 municipal elections. Whitaker told the Times he has resigned to focus on Grad Adventures, a new scholarship program he and his family started independent from the school board to give area youth travel opportunities post-graduation, among other youth opportunities. “Thank you to the AMDSB, parents, students, teachers, and staff for your ongoing support over the last three years,” Whitaker said in an emailed statement. “I'm excited to be turning my efforts to various youth initiatives, including Stratford's All Wheels Park and Grad Adventures. The Grad Adventures program is designed to provide graduating Grade 12 students with meaningful global aware-
ness through volunteering.” On Oct. 31, a day after Whitaker announced his departure, the AMDSB announced that Deepika Mishra will take over the seat. Michael Bannerman, chair of the board of trustees, called a special board meeting to accept Whitaker’s resignation and decide on a path forward. Trustees passed a motion to revisit the 2022 municipal election results so that the voice of the community could be reflected in their decision. “There were four candidates in the 2022 election in the Stratford area, two were elected into the Stratford positions,” Bannerman said. “Deepika was a very close third in the trustee race so we believe that this appointment reflects the voice of voters in Stratford. This appointment also follows the process as outlined in the Education Act.” Mishra will be sworn in at the next board meeting, scheduled for Nov. 25.
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Step into the Quantum Room, an intentional frequency of transformation JULIA PAUL
Times Correspondent
There’s something quietly extraordinary happening inside a calm, softly lit space at 19 Water St. S in St. Marys. Behind the doors of Quantum Massage, registered massage therapist Cody Boyd has been developing a space that goes far beyond relaxation. The Quantum Room is a first-ofits-kind environment that combines frequency healing modalities, ambient resonance and full-body comfort – all while allowing guests to control one of two homey massage chairs right at their fingertips. With a simple app, visitors can log in, book and secure their time in the Quantum Room. The space can also be reserved for private healing sessions, group events, or other gatherings that align with its serene atmosphere. On one side of the room, a gold-plated copper coil is wrapped around crystals with sacred geometry at its centre. Across, another coil sits facing two massage chairs. This system is known as the Qi Life Aura System. “They represent the yin and the yang,” Boyd explained. “I have them
(QUANTUM ROOM PHOTO) The heart of the Quantum Room – the Qi Life Aura System. Gold-plated crystal coils and copper counterparts emit finely tuned scalar and magnetic frequencies designed to harmonize the body’s natural energy field.
on opposite sides of the room. So, when they collide, they create scalar waves, which is like another healing, energizing effect on top of the selected frequency resonance.” Because of the electromagnetic nature of the system, individuals with pacemakers or internal medical devices are advised not to enter the room. Guests can book private or smallgroup sessions of any length, reclining in full-body massage chairs while gentle frequencies pulse
throughout the space. Each experience is fully personalized; whether the goal is relaxation, mental clarity, or emotional reset, the room is programmed to match that specific intention. Complementing the Qi Life Aura System are Translighters – small, credit-card-sized frequency devices developed through decades of research in quantum physics and bioresonance technology. Each card contains a thin membrane imprinted with complex energetic patterns.
When worn around the neck or placed nearby, these cards are believed to harmonize the body’s energy field, uplift mood and enhance overall vitality. Boyd offers several models in the room, including Translighter Comfort, which restructures the light and air of a space to create a peaceful, uplifting environment, and Translighter Super, known for its wide-spectrum harmonizing effects that encourage relaxation and emotional balance. “These cards work by restructuring light and information at the energetic level,” said Boyd. “You don’t have to ‘believe’ in it to feel it – just wear it and you’ll start to notice the difference.” For those curious about measurable results, Boyd offers BioWell Energy Scans – a non-invasive wellness tool that measures light emissions from the fingertips to map the flow of energy through the body. Clients often book scans before and after a Quantum Room session to visualize shifts in balance, stress and vitality. “The scans show what clients already feel,” Boyd said. “They confirm that subtle energy work can create tangible shifts in the body’s equilibrium.”
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November 7, 2025
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Documentary on Rotary Latest Scotch Mist Dragon Boat Festival fundraiser raises over premieres at Tom $45,000 for local projects Patterson Theatre STRATFORD TIMES STAFF
stratfordtimes@gmail.com
STRATFORD TIMES STAFF stratfordtimes@gmail.com
The Rotary Club of Stratford cordially invites the community to the premiere of The Ripple Effect, a new documentary by Craig Thompson and Ballinran Entertainment that celebrates how the Rotary Dragon Boat Festival has become a powerful force for good – raising more than $1 million over the last 30-years for community projects in Stratford and around the world. The 30-minute film explores the festival’s far-reaching “ripple effect,” from supporting hospice care and mental health services to empowering youth, protecting the environment, and funding global initiatives such as AquaBox water-purification kits. It premieres in Stratford with a
screening at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Following the screening, audience members are invited to stay for a panel discussion moderated by Jamie Cottle, exploring the future of service clubs and the evolving role of organizations like the Rotary Club in sustaining community well-being. “The Ripple Effect shows how the spirit of service and collaboration continues to make Stratford a stronger, more caring community,” said Rotary Club president Dan Kane in a media release. “It’s a story about people coming together to make a difference – one paddle and stroke at a time.” The Ripple effect premieres in Lazaridis Hall at the Tom Patterson Theatre on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and there is a cash bar and popcorn available.
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The Rotary Club of Stratford’s popular annual event for scotch whisky lovers has cumulatively raised over $325,000 for community projects – and this year alone raised $45,000. Scotch Mist is a community fundraising event steeped in tradition that celebrates unique single malt whiskies expertly paired with Scottish and New World foods, with proceeds going to rotary projects such as Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth, Aquabox and Stratford Respite House. “The Rotary Club of Stratford’s Scotch Mist Committee is thrilled with the record-setting monies raised this year,” said co-chair Rob Russell in a media release. “This event brings together tradition, community and generosity in the most remarkable way. Every toast, every shared story and every bid at the auction directly supports projects that change lives – from hospice care to safe water to respite for families in need. It’s a privilege to see the spirit of giving shine so brightly here in Stratford.” This year’s Scotch Mist was hosted at the Arden Park Hotel on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 25 and included unique whiskies from Scottish and Japanese distilleries carefully paired with a dinner course.
A special guest at this year’s event was Jamie Johnson, 2025 Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year, who presented the Balvenie DoubleWood 12 whisky tasting. And Alasdair Day, co-founder and master distiller of Isle of Raasay Distillery, delighted the audience with a video recorded specially for Scotch Mist including greetings from Scotland and tasting notes for the Draam, the distillery’s signature single malt whisky. Auctions of rare and special scotches and exclusive experiences occurred throughout the evening totaling $21,850 funds raised. A separate raffle held at the event also raised $4,487 to be donated by rotary to the United Way of Perth-Huron’s Connection Centre. “It’s wonderful to see the results when combining a unique culinary experience together with a generous and caring community,” said Zac Gribble, Scotch Mist committee co-chair. “This unique event continues to grow, and we can’t wait to host it again next year, so save the date for Oct. 17, 2026. Slàinte mhath!” The Rotary Club of Stratford raises funds through over 40 committees that run a variety of events, including the Christmas Arts and Crafts Festival, Rural Urban Night (since 1932), the Stratford Home and Leisure Show, an annual golf tournament, the Dave Blackburn Memorial Car Rally, Scotch Mist and the Dragon Boat Festival.
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November is Radon Action Month in Canada, and Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) is reminding residents to test their homes for radon — an invisible, odourless gas that can pose serious health risks. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It can enter homes through cracks in foundation floors and walls, or through sumps and drains. Because radon has no smell, taste, or colour, the only way to know if it’s present in your home is through testing. “Radon gas can be found at low levels in many homes across Ontario,” says Dana Merrifield, Public Health Inspector at HPPH. “Testing is the only way to know how much radon may be present indoors,
and it’s an important step in protecting your health.” Long-term exposure to high levels of radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, after smoking. Health Canada recommends taking action if radon levels are above 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³). HPPH recommends residents use a long-term radon test kit, which measures indoor air for at least three months. Winter is the ideal time to test, since windows and doors are typically closed, allowing for more accurate readings. For best results, place the test device in the lowest lived-in area of your home where you spend at least four hours per day. To find Health Canada-approved test kits or learn more about reducing radon levels, visit www.takeactiononradon.ca or call HPPH at 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3670.
Stratford Times
November 7, 2025
Stratford nursing class of ‘68 hold reunion, remembering 60 years since the start of their careers GARY WEST Times Correspondent
There are historical moments that happen in a lifetime and class reunions are always a highlight. Eleven graduates of the 1968 Stratford General Hospital Nursing program recently met at the end of October at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford. The graduates were celebrating 60 years since they stepped off “that old rickety elevator” and first met on the third floor of Avon Crest (across from the hospital), in September 1965. Two classmates took on the job of organizing a reunion every five years, and their last reunion was in 2018, when they celebrated 50 years since their graduation. Graduate Pat Campbell said there has been only one classmate that they never heard from after graduation, but all the rest they have been able to find and keep in touch. She said they were paid $15 a month, received free room and board during their three years, and they had no expenses except for buying nurses shoes and white nylons. “(Nowadays) our grandchildren can’t imagine being debt-free after graduating as a registered nurse in three years,” Campbell said. After graduation, Campbell and another classmate were fortunate enough to be
sponsored by Stratford General Hospital to take a six month post graduate operating room course at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. She says she returned and worked fulltime in the operating room at Stratford General, for three years and then parttime for another 20. Sally Waddell, now living in London, said she remembers their “stiffy starched collars and cuffs, voluminous bib aprons, and beautifully fluted caps” – all awkward and uncomfortable, but they made them feel like “real nurses.” Pat (Richards) McKinney, still living in Costa Rica, has spent 53 years, living and serving as a camp nurse for young people, teacher of hygiene and basic first aid to needy families, and gives injections to neighbours and friends who cannot afford to pay the pharmacist. She says in some places of Costa Rica, hope is sometimes the best medicine. Norma (Zehr) Gingerich, who now lives in Milverton, says she will never forget the values instilled in them: compassionate care, excellence in procedure and the dignity of the nursing profession. To this day, Gingerich says she often triple checks the labels on her medications. “I have it born from those formative years of nursing at Stratford General Hospital,” Gingerich said. Over her lifetime, she has also served the poor and under privileged in Guate-
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(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) The graduating registered nurses from the Stratford General Hospital’s School of Nursing class of 1968. Front row, from left: Dianne Moore, Sandra Whicher, Gayle Fowler, Bob (Scoop) Morris, Verna Ronnenberg, Norma Zehr and Pat Richards. Middle row from left: Alyn Ross, Susan Young, Judy Robertson, Barbara Jackson, Grace Riley, Frieda Schellenberger, Sally Waddell, Judy Moore, Myrna Smith and Pat Mawson. Back row from left: Pat Pemberton, Jody Stewart, Sharon Wright, Birgitte Sorenson, Sharon Parker, Judy Wallace, Marie Brodhagen, Helen Marran and Muriel Morton.
mala for more than 30 years. She says that today several of their children, and even a granddaughter, have followed in her footsteps into the medical profession, and it all began at Stratford General Hospital 60 years ago.
The only male graduate was Bob (Scoop) Morris, who now lives in Calgary, said that “Stratford General Hospital School of Nursing from 1965-1968, taught him the importance of kindness, patience, discipline and skill, qualities essential to a successful nursing career.”
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Weekend Quiz By Jake Grant
1. What is a group of bears called? 2. What silent film star was "The Tramp"? 3. What is the name given to people who make arrows? 4. What is Canada’s national bird? (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Eleven nurses attended the recent class of ’68 reunion: Sally Waddell, Pat (Mawson) Campbell, Dianne (Moore) Wilbee, Alyn (Ross) Nickel, Sandra Whicher, Judy (Robertson) Buchan, Myrna (Smith) Marren, Norma (Zehr) Gingerich, Bob (Scoop) Morris, Helen (Marren) Young and Sharon (Parker) Frank. The graduates were celebrating 60 years since they stepped off “that old rickety elevator” and first met on the third floor of Avon Crest (across from the hospital), in September 1965.
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5. What are the birthstones for November? 6. Who was the lead singer of The Tragically Hip? 7. What Toronto Blue Jay hit a 3-run, walk-off home run to win the world series in 1993? 8. What Star Wars show follows rebel Cassian from Rogue One? 9. Who is the president of China? 10. What is the tallest mountain in Canada? This week’s answers are found on pg. 27
November 7, 2025
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Local advocates launch Remember for Tomorrow campaign to help sustain Legion funding AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE Times Reporter
Local advocates are calling on residents, businesses and the City of Stratford to rally community support for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 8, which funds the annual Remembrance Day commemoration at Stratford’s cenotaph on Nov. 11. Due to declining numbers of veterans and volunteers – and the need for sustained funding – the Remember for Tomorrow campaign aims to ensure the legacy and sacrifice of veterans across Huron-Perth remain top of mind for locals. “Remembrance Day is more than a ceremony – it’s a civic obligation,” said Craig Thompson, campaign advocate and president and executive producer of Ballinran Entertainment. “As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we are reminded that free-
dom, peace and democracy must never be taken for granted. “This campaign is about ensuring Stratford continues to honour that legacy with pride and permanence,” Thompson added. The Royal Canadian Legion supports the annual service through fundraising events such as the sale of poppies, sponsorships and donations. However, according to Veterans Affairs, several factors – including aging and declining membership and rising operational and infrastructure costs – have led to tight budgets for legions across the province. “The Royal Canadian Legion is grateful for this community campaign,” said Rick Boon, chair of the Remembrance Day service. “We need to ensure our veterans’ sacrifices are remembered and honoured in a meaningful way each year.” The initiative also pays tribute to the
LEST WE FORGET.
Perth Regiment and its significant role in the liberation of the Netherlands – a connection deeply felt in Stratford and Perth County, where Dutch-Canadian heritage runs strong. “Stratford and Perth County have a huge Dutch heritage, and our relationship with the Netherlands is very strong,” said Thompson. “We have the Dutch Memorial Garden by the Lion’s Pool. The Dutch barracks were at Trinity and Douro streets, where they trained, and the Perth Regiment was instrumental in helping liberate Holland at the end of the Second World War.” Sponsorship and community support have already begun with the Stratford Perth Community Foundation stepping up to back the campaign. “Remembrance Day brings our community together to honour the courage, service and sacrifice of those who fought for
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our freedom,” said Heidi Culliton, executive director of the Stratford Perth Community Foundation. “Our foundation is proud to support this city’s Remembrance Day ceremony and the extraordinary volunteers who make it possible each year. By coming together to build sustainable support for Remembrance Day, we show what’s truly possible when a community unites to achieve a common goal – a legacy of remembrance that will continue for generations to come.” Ballinran Entertainment has been providing live broadcasts of Stratford’s service of remembrance since 2020 on Rogers Community Television and YouTube to ensure everyone – even those unable to attend in person – can participate. To watch the Nov. 11 ceremony, visit youtube.com/c/BallinranEntertainment. To donate, visit legion.ca and be sure to choose your local branch when donating.
reading, the Call to Remembrance will be given by Rector Robert Lemon from St. James Anglican Church, and the honour roll will be read by the local legion’s chaplain Hayden Fischer. Comrade Richard Boon will act as Master of Ceremonies and announce the formal placing of the wreaths, where dignitaries will one by one lay wreaths in remembrance all around the war memorial. At 11 a.m., a moment of silence will commemorate the end of the First World War, which was at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. O Canada and the royal anthem “God Save The King” will be sung by Loreena McKennitt, former honorary colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Central Perth Elementary School Choir will perform prior to the beginning of the ceremonies. Following the service, the public can place their poppies on the steps of the cenotaph as the parade leaves Veterans Drive Parkland, heading back to the armoury. For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be broadcast live at 10:30 a.m. on Rogers TV (Cable 20 and rogerstv.com) and webcast on Ballinran Entertainment’s YouTube channel.
For the seventh year, the Stratford Perth Museum will be recognizing Remembrance Day through its banner program featuring Stratford and area veterans. They are currently displayed along Ontario, Downie and Wellington streets, as well as in Market Square and along Veterans Drive. Each year, Lange Brothers donates their time by installing and taking down the banners. The poppy campaign also continues this year. Poppy boxes are in over 100 different establishments in the city, including the legion’s 804 Ontario St. location and the Army, Navy and Airforce Veterans building on 151 Lorne Ave. E. The campaign heavily relies on donations, rather than sales, and proceeds are used to support veterans, their families and related services. Some of the proceeds support organizations that train service dogs for use by people with Operational Stress Injury (commonly called PTSD), as well as local hospitals which supply medical items to help support veterans. In addition to Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, Nov. 8 is National Indigenous Veterans Day, which recognizes Indigenous people’s remarkable record of wartime accomplishment in service to Canada.
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Local veteran reflects on importance of Perth Regiment 60 years after inactivation
The Perth Regiment was mobilized Sept. 1, 1939, the very day Germany invaded Poland and nine days before Canada would officially enter the Second World War. According to Soper they first went to Niagara Falls then Hamilton and then finally Camp Borden just outside of Barrie, where they started serious training. As the 1st Battalion, members of the Perth Regiment embarked for Great Britain in 1941 to defend the coast and landed in Italy in 1943. It fought in Europe until the war’s end. “They went to Italy and fought there, all the way up the peninsula,” Soper said. “There's a series of mountains, and the Germans, being very clever engineers and so on, they defended all the mountains, so the Perths had to fight their way through, and they distinguished themselves at the Gothic Line. They were doing some aggressive patrolling out front, and they discovered that the Germans hadn't really fully stocked their areas yet with men. So they reported back and the brigadier jumped on it right away. “With that knowledge, he told all the other regiments to start advancing seriously. And the Perths managed to find their way through and got up to the top of the highest hill in the area, Hill 207. And because of that, more or less outflanked the Germans.”
CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
While the Perth Regiment continues to exist administratively, since 1965 it has been placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle and reduced to nil strength, dormant until Canada needs it again. Despite not being active for 60 years, the famed regiment still holds a special place in the hearts of Stratford and area residents and veterans. One such veteran is Tom Soper. Soper joined the Perth Regiment in 1946, the regiment his father was a part of. He was sixteen years old. “To enlist at that time you had to be 17,” Soper laughed as he told his story to the Times. “They really stuck to that because it wasn’t war time. … I just turned 16 in August, and I enlisted in in October. But when I went before the recruiting officer I just said that I was 17, and he said, ‘Do you have any proof of that?’ And my father was standing there. My father said, ‘Yes, I'm his father. I should know he's 17.’” “(I was) maybe a little scared,” Soper continued. “But at that time everybody was gung-ho and wanted to serve … I was brought up on understanding duty because of my father. So no, I wasn’t really worried about having to go and serve.” The regiment originated tangentially in 1838, when the Third Regiment of Huron was organized in southern Perth County informally. It did not have equipment and membership did not train. By 1856, the Stratford Volunteer Rifle Company was formed with more involved membership. It elected its own officers and operated for two years before it was recognized in 1858 by the federal government. Eight years later, when the Fenian Raids broke out across British North America, a battalion-sized composite unit was formed and given a regimental headquarters in Stratford, creating the Perth Regiment known today, with the Stratford Volunteer Rifle Company as the No. 1 company of the regiment. The Perth Regiment was placed on active service for
CONTINUED TO PAGE 14
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO) Tom Soper, a veteran of the now disbanded Perth Regiment, reflects on the importance of the regional force this Remembrance Day – as he does every day of every year.
local protection duties during the First World War and recruited for the 110th Battalion from Perth County, which saw combat in Europe beginning in 1916. Additionally, many other young men were recruited from Perth County and dispersed among different companies in the armed forces, earning colours and commendations for their bravery.
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Local veteran reflects on importance of Perth Regiment 60 years after inactivation
My Father’s Medals My father’s medals are now too heavy for him to wear. They weigh down his small chest stoop him over with their long tales of death and boredom corned beef for breakfast and body parts steaming on the Burmese Front. My father despises what happened to him over there. He’ll tell you that settled in his chair by the window delivering a reflective swirl to his beloved CC and ginger as if the glass itself holds the stories he feels so compelled to relate. My father lost a wife to that war.
A Perth Regiment company marches through Stratford in 1941.
(PERTHREGIMENT.CA PHOTO) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
Lest We Forget REMEMBRANCE DAY
John Nater, MP PERTH—WELLINGTON
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The Perths transferred to Northwest Europe, where they and the rest of the First Canadian Army liberated Holland from Nazi rule, a historic moment remembered by Canadians and Dutch alike. “They were just about on the Elbe River, just across from Hamburg, and that's where the war ended,” Soper said. “And they stayed there for until actually next January. You wonder why they would be there for another seven months, but they were concerned that the Russians might try to come through and established themselves on the Atlantic. So they held the positions there. A lot of them came home then, afterwards, of course, and they just went back into militia or ready reserve training here in Stratford.” Post war, the Perth Regiment resided in Stratford until it was inactivated. Soper served that whole time, from 1946 to 1965. During that time and since he took a leadership role for veterans, serving as the president of the now inactive Perth Regiment Veterans Association. As Soper said, as the years went on and more and more veterans passed away, the numbers of the association diminished. By 2000, there weren’t enough members to hold reunions, as it once did. “Myself and Art Boon and a few others, we would meet every once in a while, just for paperwork and so on,” Soper said. “And finally, we had to disband the veterans association, because there just wasn't enough people to really keep things going. … But I’ve still held onto the presidency and I represent the regiment at the Cenotaph every year, lay the wreath and so on.” Soper is unsure how many Perth Regiment veterans are still living in the region. Regardless, the legacies they left behind are carried each and every year, as evident by the huge crowds which come to the Cenotaph for Remembrance Day – a fact which makes Soper proud.
He lost his youth and his innocence close to sixty pounds and his very perception of being. He gained a few things as well I guess. He learned how to smoke cigarettes and all about fragility. He discovered what it means to treasure and how distance intensifies love. He found out what’s worth fighting for and what isn’t and not just in terms of the war. That’s what he’ll tell you. He’ll tell you exactly that… in his chair by the window rotating his rye until those medals on his narrow chest begin to tremble like leaves about to fall. David Stones, Stratford Poet Laureate, in loving memory of Sgt. William Deryck Stones, British Armed Forces (Army), Royal Lincolnshire Regiment, Burmese Front, 1943-1945
Stratford Times
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November 7, 2025
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Navy Veteran Clarence McCallum marks 100 years and a lifetime of dedication
AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE Times Reporter
At 100 years old, Clarence McCallum still remembers the sound of waves pounding the hull of his ship and the steady hum of the electrical systems he once maintained aboard the HMCS Inch Arran, a ship ordered in 1943, where McCallum worked for the entirety of his service in the Canadian Navy. The Stratford veteran was recently honoured at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 8, where he received three certificates of recognition of his 100 years from His Majesty the King, the Governor General, and the Prime Minister of Canada. Perth-Wellington MP John Nater and MPP Matthew Rae presented the awards during a special ceremony marking both his milestone birthday and his extraordinary service. “It is an absolute honour and privilege to present certificates of congratulations to Clarence, on behalf of His Majesty the King and Her Excellency the Governor
(AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE PHOTO) Clarence McCallum, a longtime legion member and veteran, stands beside one of his own scenic landscape paintings. Painting was one of McCallum's hobbies.
Lest We FORGET
General, on a remarkable life and a remarkable life of service to someone who has literally served king and country,” said Nater. McCallum served in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) during the Second World War, working as an electrical technician aboard the newly built frigate launched in 1943. “I was doing dockyard work on ships that came in to be repaired,” he said. “We were working out of Bedford Basin, near Halifax. The day I got moved out to go to the engineering department, there was an explosion there. If I’d stayed, I probably wouldn’t be here today.” Originally from Listowel, McCallum joined the Navy at just 18 years old. His training began at HMCS Nonsuch in Edmonton – “the farthest place from both shores,” he said with a laugh – where he studied electrical theory at the University of Alberta before being posted to the east coast. Most of his service involved patrolling CONTINUED TO PAGE 17
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Stratford Times
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Navy Veteran Clarence McCallum marks 100 years and a lifetime of dedication CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Strait of Belle Isle, and around Newfoundland. He remembers the day the war ended, when his ship escorted a surrendered German submarine – “a very black-looking sub,” he said – into Shelburne Harbour. “I wish I’d had a camera then,” he added. After returning home, McCallum joined the Royal Canadian Legion in 1946 and built a long career with Canada Post, eventually becoming a supervisory postmaster overseeing more than 40 offices across southwestern Ontario. He married his wife, Barbara Pierce, in 1956, and together they raised four sons. Barbara, a secondary school teacher, passed away in 2019 at the age of 90. McCallum moved to Stratford in the 1980s and has been a dedicated member of Legion Branch 8 ever since. Though he no longer plays the bagpipes with the band, he still takes part in Remembrance Day ceremonies each year, laying wreaths for the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. “I hope to be there again this year,” he joked. These days, McCallum enjoys quiet time at home with family, including his son Richard, who lives with him, and visits from grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “So far, they all come home for Christmas,” he said proudly. “They bring the food – I just have to show up.” As he reflected on a century of life, McCallum’s modesty shone through. “I don’t drive at night much anymore,” he said. “But I still have my license – that’s something.” Also on the topic of reflection, when asked what he likes to do these days, McCallum told the Times he “really likes to sleep in.”
(AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE PHOTO) Last month, the City of Stratford painted a custom veterans memorial crosswalk at the York Street and Veterans Drive intersection. Designed by local artist Nancy Groenestege and spearheaded by the Army, Navy and Air Force Veteran’s Association Unit 261 (and residents Linda Scammell and Jodi Nakluski), the crosswalk was unveiled in time for this year's Remembrance Day ceremonies, but it will also be a year-round feature of Stratford for the years to come.
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Royal Canadian Legion encouraged by membership growth as Remembrance Day approaches LEE GRIFFI Times Correspondent
The national office of the Royal Canadian Legion has introduced several changes to its operations, and so far, the new initiatives are showing positive results. “There are close to 20,000 traditional locations across the country where poppies are offered for donations. This year, we have also doubled the number of Pay Tribute Boxes – our tap-to-donate boxes,” explained Nujma Bond, the legion’s manager of communications. “We now have about 2,300 of them across Canada, giving people the option to donate electronically. Even if they don’t have cash or change, they can still collect a poppy and support the legion.” Bond noted there was strong interest in the new donation method during the 2024 campaign, when just over 1,000 of the new boxes brought in more than $700,000 in contributions. “Canadians are always incredibly generous, and we’re very thankful for that support,” she said. “All funds collected during this period go directly to the Poppy Trust Fund, which assists veterans and their families.” In addition to the tribute boxes, the le-
gion has modernized further by partnering with one of the world’s largest online retailers. “Last year we launched an Amazon online storefront as a new way to reach Canadians who may live in rural areas or regions without a local legion branch,” Bond explained. “They can now obtain a lapel poppy for a donation online.” The storefront also offers other Remembrance Day items such as hats, scarves, and mittens – and so far, it’s been a success. “Last year we reached over 7,000 different villages, towns and communities across Canada, many of them in rural areas without a legion branch,” said Bond. All poppy donations collected in a community stay local, ensuring direct support for nearby veterans. Nationally, the organization’s membership is healthy, though Bond acknowledged some branches occasionally struggle to find volunteers, as is the case in Woodstock. “We’ve seen year-over-year growth and now have 170,000 members nationwide,” she said. “With 1,350 branches, local challenges can arise from time to time. Finding enough volunteers is something we hear about regularly.” Bond added that new volunteers often
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bring fresh ideas, innovative programs, and new energy to local branches. “We hope people will consider joining the legion. Through their membership, they directly support our veterans and all the work we do. They can also help with the poppy campaign by being active in their communities.” This year, Canada will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the liberation of the Netherlands, a campaign in which Canadian forces played a crucial role. These anniversaries hold deep meaning for Canadians, especially veterans and their families, and the 2025 National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa will place special emphasis on these milestones. “That will include re-enactments of the period with participants in authentic uniforms,” Bond said. “We’ll also have a tribute flyover by CF-18 fighter jets and an appearance by an RCMP Black Hawk helicopter.” This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa. The remains in the tomb are those of an unidentified Canadian soldier who died in France during the First World War, near Vimy Ridge – one of Canada’s most significant battlefields. The tomb stands as a symbol of all Canadian service
members who have no known grave. “It has become a sacred and important site during the national service in Ottawa,” said Bond. “When the ceremony concludes, thousands of people come forward to place their lapel poppies on the tomb.” Across the country, many legion branches have launched Remembrance banner programs, including those in New Hamburg and Beachville. Some communities, such as Woodstock, have also installed Remembrance-themed crosswalks. “It’s another way to visually honour our veterans and thank them throughout the year,” Bond explained. “That’s been a goal of the legion for several years – encouraging Canadians to reflect on the sacrifices that made our freedoms possible. Seeing that remembrance expressed year-round through crosswalks, banners and local initiatives is very meaningful.” The Legion has also created a Remembrance Day ceremony resource for teachers, which can be adapted for schools or workplaces. “If people can’t attend a ceremony at a cenotaph on Nov. 11, they can hold one at another time – perhaps the following week,” said Bond. “That way, students and employees can still take part in honouring our veterans.” More information is available at www.legion.ca.
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(AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE PHOTO) More than 33,500 handsewn poppies adorn the hedges surrounding Stratford’s cenotaph, the William Hutt Bridge and in front of Features restaurant as part of a community Remembrance Day display. Local volunteers began meeting at the Stratford Legion in October, often spending up to four hours a day stitching poppies together for the installation, which serves as a tribute to Canada’s veterans and fallen soldiers.
Stratford Times
November 7, 2025
STRATFORD
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SPORTS
Stratford Warriors showed inconsistency against the LaSalle Vipers, and attended a team-building retreat MICHAEL WILLOUGHBY Times Correspondent
The Stratford Hunter Steel Warriors travelled to the Vollmer Recreation Complex to take on the Vipers in the second head-to-head matchup in under two weeks. Preparing for their only game of the week against the LaSalle Vipers, the Warriors ran a controlled special teams scrimmage with the Huron-Perth Lakers
Stratford Warriors 2025-26 Stats
(as of November 3, 2025) Player Pos GP G A PTS Jack McGurn F 13 3 8 11 Colin Slattery F 13 4 6 10 Quinn Kipfer F 13 3 7 10 Max Wildfong F 13 5 4 9 Rhyse Brown F 13 1 7 8 Lucas Minard F 13 6 1 7 Jonas Schmidt F 7 3 4 7 Dominic Marshall F 13 4 2 6 Dax Vader F 13 2 4 6 Evan Arnold F 5 4 1 5 Grady Murphy F 12 4 0 4 Aaron Green D 7 2 2 4 Matthew Blake D 11 0 4 4 Joseph Curtin D 12 0 4 4 Will Coward D 13 0 4 4 Haden Frayne D 11 1 2 3 Coen Galbraith F 12 0 3 3 McQuen HayLock F 13 0 3 3 Mateo Craievich D 10 0 2 2 Drew Hodge D 13 0 2 2 Beckham McLeod D 4 0 0 0 Goalies Record GAA SV-% Noah Bender 4-2-0-1 1.95 0.932 Gage Hurst 2-0-0-1 0.96 0.965 Connor Davis 1-1-1-0 3.34 0.841
U18 team at the Allman Arena on Oct. 27. Warriors head coach Dave Williams views the scrimmage as an opportunity to revamp the special teams and prepare for their opponent, who is looking to avenge the tough defeat suffered back on Oct. 17. "It's a good opportunity to immerse the two groups. We work on our power play and our penalty kill, and they can do likewise," Williams said. "We know that we're heading to the south, a long bus ride against the team that we beat 7-1 a week or two ago, that I'm sure is gonna be hungry to try and beat us." At press time, the Stratford power play has progressed through the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL) team ranks, ranking eighth with a 22.4 per cent success rate, up from 17.95 per cent, which was among the bottom five in the league heading into the previous week. The penalty kill, despite a below-average showing last week against London and Waterloo, remains in the top six with an 84.3 per cent success rate, a slight drop from 86.3 per cent the week prior. On Oct. 28, the GOHL released their third team power rankings of the season, with the Stratford Warriors remaining in sixth place. The Warriors travelled to the Vollmer Recreation Complex to take on the Vipers in the second head-to-head matchup in under two weeks. The Vipers got on the board first at the 7:52 mark of the first period. Stratford poured on the shots-on-goal total with over thirty shots in the first forty minutes of play but managed to score a goal in the closing seconds of the second period, courtesy of the fourth goal of the season by Evan Arnold, to take the game
into the third period. LaSalle retook the lead under ninety seconds into the third period on a tough bounce with the puck going between the pads of Warriors netminder Noah Bender. Dax Vader's second of the season put the Warriors back on level terms with the Vipers, only for the home side to retake the lead for good less than a minute later. The Warriors pressed for an equalizer with the extra attacker, but the Vipers sealed the win on the empty net goal with nineteen seconds in regulation to win the game 4-2. Bender stopped 37 of 40 shots in the loss. Stratford went 0-4 on the power play in the game, three in the first period. Vader, Arnold and Jack McGurn led the Warriors with two points each. With the defeat, this marked the first time the Warriors had lost in regulation since their loss to Fort Erie on Oct. 4, ending their six-game streak with a point. Williams commented on the team's performance, citing issues with consistency in executing the game plan. "There were some moments where I liked how we were playing, and for whatever reason, we just couldn't find some consistency to keep playing the same way. It takes a little bit of wind out of your sails there if you're trying to battle your way back. But again, we need to be consistently more competitive with our basic play," Williams said. McGurn commended the efforts of his linemates, Vader and Arnold, and knows the team can't let this kind of performance falter. "I think we kind of battled back a bit, but we kind of took our foot off the gas a
bit," McGurn said. "My line did well, but it kind of goes to show you can't take your foot off the gas, even for half a shift and come back and kind of, but we're building and doing great things, and it's just unfortunate." Later in the week, the Warriors travelled to Bowling Green University for a weekend-long, team-bonding retreat. The team attended several events on campus, including a hockey game and a practice. Williams and team captain Haden Frayne discussed the festivities and the importance of having the team come together to recharge. "It's always nice when a group of guys gets to spend extended time together. They're all there together in both directions, and yeah, just 48 hours away from the rink, watching some hockey and doing something a little bit different. It was excellent," Williams said. "The guys brought Halloween costumes down and more, some dressed up for the game Friday, and we also got to go sit in on a meeting with the BG hockey team their Saturday morning meeting, and my brother (Bowling Green Head Coach and Stratford native Dennis Williams) was able to challenge them a little bit about things that are key to their program, that they look for in players. And just all in all, it was a very productive weekend." "I think it's great, because getting out and going away with the team is very important, especially early on,” Frayne said. “Indeed, we do come back as a stronger team. You build connections that might not have been there with some guys, you know, and everyone comes back really tight.” "We had so much fun this weekend. I think the trips we do are very important." The Warriors host the Chatham Maroons on Nov. 7 and travel to Komoka for a road matchup with the Kings on Nov. 8.
GOHL Western Conference Standings Team Elmira Sugar Kings Chatham Maroons London Nationals St. Marys Lincolns Waterloo Siskins St. Thomas Stars Stratford Warriors LaSalle Vipers Komoka Kings Listowel Cyclones Strathroy Rockets Sarnia Legionnaires
(as of November 3, 2025) W L OTL 14 2 0 12 2 0 12 5 0 11 4 1 8 3 3 9 5 0 7 3 1 7 9 2 6 9 1 5 10 1 4 11 1 0 16 0
SOL 0 2 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
PTS 28 26 24 23 20 19 17 16 13 11 9 0
GF GA 80 32 79 46 74 55 60 36 44 39 62 48 43 31 53 68 49 66 39 49 55 71 26 109
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Stratford Times
CS8 Memorial Rink unveiled in Mitchell, honouring the late-Carter Schoonerwoerd
(MUNICIPALITY OF WEST PERTH/FACEBOOK.PHOTO) The CS8 Memorial Rink would not have been possible without the support of family and friends, as well as the support of the Municipality of West Perth, Mitchell Minor Hockey, Uniac Insurance and Van Allen Insurance.
SPENCER SEYMOUR Times Regional Reporter
Former St. Marys Lincoln and Stratford Warrior Carter Schoonerwoerd was
honoured on Nov. 1 with the unveiling of the CS8 Memorial Rink in Mitchell. The rink has been a labour of love and some tears for the Schoonerwoerd and Terpstra families to see the memorial rink come to fruition to honour the late Schoonerwoerd, who tragically passed away due to suicide at the age of 19 in June 2021. This project would not have been possible without the support of family and friends, as well as
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(JOHN NATER/FACEBOOK PHOTO) Family members and dignitaries were on hand on Nov. 1 when the ribbon was cut for the new CS8 Memorial Rink, dedicated to former Stratford Warrior Carter Schoonerwoerd.
the support of the Municipality of West Perth, Mitchell Minor Hockey, Uniac Insurance and Van Allen Insurance, with Uniac and Van Allen applying for various community grants on the organizers’ behalf. The group also expressed gratitude to many other community organizations for helping develop the project through fundraisers and donations. Joe and Heather Schoonerwoerd, Carter’s parents, told the Times of the project, “It was very impressive to see all the support from the community around
us. After four-and-a-half years, we still feel the people around us. It never started with that intention, but with all the donations that have come along the way, we wanted to find something tangible to give back to the community. This rink does that in a very positive way. It’s a great spot for kids, young and old, and adults to hang out, play, talk, and just decompress. Life is fast and includes a lot of screen time and media, which can be quite impressionable on young adults. Our hope is for an open spot to go and have fun with friends.”
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Stratford Times
November 7, 2025
MINOR SPORTS
21
SCRAPBOOK
Jillian Devereaux skates with the puck through centre ice during the U11 A Stratford Aces game last Wednesday.
(PAIGE CAMPBELL PHOTO)
Marta Rintoul flashes the leather to make a glove save (DIGITAL SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO) during one of this past weekend’s U18 BB Stratford Aces tournament games.
Tatan Mikel skates quickly up through the neutral zone during the U18 Stratford Warriors game last Wednesday.
(PAIGE CAMPBELL PHOTO)
Kane Courtney loads up a heavy shot on target during this past Monday’s U12 Stratford Warriors game.
(PAIGE CAMPBELL PHOTO)
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November 7, 2025
Stratford Times
SpringWorks PuppetWorks! Presents Macbeth: A Tale Told By An Idiot LISA CHESTER
Times Correspondent
Had enough of the serious side of Shakespeare? Come experience Macbeth with puppets and magic in a tragedy interwoven with comedy as only creator Eric Woolfe can. In Macbeth: A Tale Told by an Idiot, Woolfe uses many forms of puppetry to unravel the story as told by Shakespeare. Woolfe is a highly regarded actor, playwright, puppeteer and magician as well as artistic director of Eldritch Theatre, a Toronto based theatre company specializing in horror plays featuring puppetry, live actors and magic. “It’s the double-edged piece of puppetry, clown, magic, conjuring, the trickster, all those things are why Shakespeare has lasted over the centuries. It is substantial enough to be interpreted in so many ways and tells so many complicated, layered truths,” explains Eileen Smith, artistic director of SpringWorks PuppetWorks!. As part of the telling of the story, there is sleight of hand and magic tricks which Smith thinks is also a delightful way to navigate the witches. Puppetry facilitates so much magic and allows the actor to play all the characters in the production. It is a one man show using masks, puppets, hands and various interpretations of characters in the story.
“He’s a skilled puppeteer but he’s also a very fine actor. He’s able to navigate various accents that give you place and class and power. But then he figured out a whole bunch of magic tricks that make sense in that particular context, isn’t that a creative thought?” said Smith. There are three performances to be held at Factory 163 beginning Friday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. and two on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m,. allowing for numerous ways to make a meal and a show. Catch one of the final performances of Stratford Festival’s Macbeth as a double header with Woolfe’s Macbeth: A Tale Told By An Idiot. It is also the closing weekend for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. “We are learning and building seasonal programming along with our flagship (World in a Weekend) in the summertime, but being able to offer this wonderful puppetry in the fall – which we have chosen to be a match with the Shakespeare festival that is in town – you can see two versions of the Scottish play. If you’ve had enough of Shakespeare you can pair it with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels or Here For Now Theatre is on,” said Smith. Also of note, is support from the Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation which is supporting some schools to come and see the show, allowing an audience that may otherwise not be able to
Eric Woolfe is the one man show performing all the characters of the Dora nominated performance Macbeth: A Tale Told By An Idiot.
afford to join in. This is appropriate for an audience of 12 and up. Tickets are accessibly priced at $30
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
for adults, $20 for seniors and arts workers and $15 for youth. Tickets are available on the website springworksfestival.ca.
Call for submissions: Seeking Stratford’s 2026 Youth Poet Laureate
STRATFORD TIMES STAFF stratfordtimes@gmail.com
Destination Stratford and the Stratford Public Library are once again partnering to select the next Youth Poet Laureate for the 2026 term. The Stratford Poet Laureate Program celebrates the voices of literary and spoken word artists who enrich our community through poetry. Earlier this year, Quinn Mayer was appointed as Stratford’s inaugural Youth Poet Laureate and is currently completing their one-year term. Reflecting on the experience, Quinn shared: “I am so honoured to have been Stratford’s first-ever Youth Poet Laureate. I am so thankful to have been involved in such a wonderful program, and to help shape it for my successors going forward.” David Stones, Stratford’s inaugural Poet Laureate, continues to serve in his
three-year term. “Our destination brand states that ‘the arts are what we are’ and I can’t think of a better way to demonstrate this than through the Stratford Poet Laureate program,” says Zac Gribble, executive director of Destination Stratford in a media release. “Youth have an incredibly important role to play in representing our community’s unique culture, and kudos to Quinn Mayer on a fantastic job this year as the inaugural Youth Poet Laureate. It’s exciting to see the Stratford Poet Laureate program prepare for its 2nd year with new opportunities for the next Youth Poet Laureate.” About the Youth Poet Laureate position The Youth Poet Laureate recognizes a young poet (ages 14-24) whose work reflects themes meaningful to Stratford-area youth. Serving as an ambassador for poetry, language and the arts, this one-year position amplifies youth
voices and encourages creative engagement with words and ideas. Throughout the term, the Youth Poet Laureate will be invited to present their work at local events and help foster a deeper appreciation for poetry and the arts in Stratford and the surrounding region. Important dates • Nov. 3, 2025: Submissions open • Nov. 30, 2025: Submissions close Eligibility requirements Applicants for the Youth Poet Laureate position must: • Be nominated or submit a self-nomination. • Meet the age requirements outlined for the position. • Have a meaningful connection to Stratford and area. • Be a poet, spoken word artist, or storyteller with an established or emerging body of work. • Demonstrate a strong interest in poetry, storytelling, and the literary or
performing arts. • Be able to serve as an ambassador for literacy, poetry and the arts. • Be willing to fulfill the responsibilities of the role. Nomination and application process All candidates must complete the Poet Laureate Program submission form, available at splibrary.ca/poetlaureate. Paper forms are available upon request. Speaking Out: Workshop for Young Poets and Storytellers Before concluding their term, current Youth Poet Laureate Quinn Mayer will host a final youth writing event with David Stones on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Speaking Out: Workshop for Young Poets and Storytellers is open to youth in Grades 4-12. This workshop will explore the art of writing and performing poetry, offering young voices a chance to express themselves creatively through language.
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November 7, 2025
23
Stratford Symphony Orchestra presents Sitarski Plays Barber LISA CHESTER Times Correspondent
The Stratford Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is set to perform its ambitious program with a dynamic evening of Mozart, Barber, Borodin and Hindemith, featuring violinist Stephen Sitarski. The concert is to be held Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m. at Avondale United Church. The inspiration for the musical selection made came initially from Sitarski, who when invited to perform with the SSO came back with the Barber suggestion, which is a piece of music from the 1930s. “It is part of a repertoire of orchestral music from the 20th century that is accessible and has powerful messages for the audience. For the orchestra’s part in the second half, we programmed Hindemith-Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber because it complements each other well,” said William Rowson, SSO conductor. The four major components comprising the concert can be categorized as “player’s choice” because when presented with the programming, the orchestra members each responded increasingly with enthusiasm. Special arrangements orchestrally that audiences will particularly enjoy are the huge clarinet solo in Borodin, the flute solo in Hindemith, as well as Sitarski’s violin solos. Classical era transformed into contemporary is the umbrella term that Rowson would use to describe this con-
(BOHUANG.CA PHOTO) Expect excellence when Stephen Sitarski and the Stratford Symphony Orchestra perform Barber at Avondale United Church on Nov. 15.
cert. “I think in the Barber violin concerto, the second movement, it has three in total, is a searingly beautiful piece of music. It’s slow and so expressive, but wait until it comes out of that concerto. There’s a story about that concerto when Barber had written the first two movements, the person commissioning it thought that it wasn’t hard enough to be a big flashy touring concerto. Barber was a little annoyed with this, so he came back with one of the hardest things ever written for violin. It’s
like a rocket ship. It’s one of those pieces that when it ends people have to catch their breath a bit before they applaud. We’re really lucky to have this in Stratford,” said Rowson. Sitarski is described as a very honest musician, a musician worth listening to and has the virtuosity that it takes to play this concerto. “He’s a very likeable human being, very warm, and will come and bring a lot to the orchestra as well as the audience,” he said. “One thing that’s been happening with the orchestra is we’ve
been upping our own virtuosity. It is a hard program for the orchestra to play.” Rowson believes that if you program well, you can balance showcasing a soloist while still maintaining the orchestra’s voice. It may be a supportive role for the orchestra, but there are many opportunities for them to shine. “Sarah Cardwell, our principal oboe player, has a magnificent solo in the second movement of the Barber, then Stephen takes over and they play a duet. Stephen is a generous musician. He want’s the orchestra to shine as well,” said Rowson. Stratford has a fantastic audience that comes out to support the SSO for the last decade, for which Rowson is grateful. The SSO is a unique collection of people with great talent that punches above its weight class. “It’s my favourite place to work, I feel very comfortable when I get up on the podium there. People are always polite and I look forward to it on my calendar,” said Rowson. He hopes that the audience will take away a new admiration for the performing arts, the orchestra, and that there is great music in the twentieth century. He always wants the audience to feel confident purchasing a ticket and that they are glad they came. Tickets to the Nov. 15 concert can be purchased online by visiting www.stratfordsymphonyorchestra.ca, by calling 519-271-0990, or at the door of Avondale United Church on concert night.
Canada Summer Jobs 2026 opens for employers STRATFORD TIMES STAFF
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The employer application process for funding under the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2026 program is now open. “Through Canada Summer Jobs, young Canadians have an opportunity to gain the skills and experience they need to get jobs now and in the future,” said Perth-Wellington MP John Nater in a media release. “I encourage employers to apply for funding to create jobs that will help students, employers, and our local economies. Last summer 190 jobs were created across Perth-Wellington
through the CSJ Program.” Nater noted that while the application period will close a week earlier this year, seemingly to provide a timelier date by which employers will be notified of program funding, the date has not moved significantly from pervious years. It is anticipated notifications will begin around the beginning of April. “Not only is the April notification date much too late for most students to find out if they have a summer job, but employers also must budget and therefore need confirmation of whether or not they will receive funding well in advance of this date,” said Nater. “University and
college students in particular must have an idea of where they will be working in the summer by mid-February.” Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for young people. It is designed to focus on local priorities while helping both students and their communities. Funding will be available to notfor-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses (under 50 employees) to hire qualified young people aged 15 to 30. Thousands of young Canadians will be able to develop and improve their skills through summer employment while employers will
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be assisted in addressing skills shortages. Employers interested in applying for CSJ 2026 funding are encouraged to submit their applications electronically on the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) portal. Creating a GCOS account is a one-time process that allows organizations to apply for various Employment and Social Development Canada funding opportunities in a secure web environment. The application period for Canada Summer Jobs 2026 is Nov. 4 to Dec. 11 this year. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/4xffyxdd
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Opinions Democracy is not a spectator sport LOREENA MCKENNITT Guest Columnist
It’s been just over a year since I departed the realms of the Royal Canadian Air Force as their honorary colonel. Like any member of a family, I think of them often and especially in these unpredictable and turbulent times. I accepted the role, largely inspired by the sentiment, that democracy does not thrive as a spectator sport – that if we care about the democracy we live in, we must all do our part to preserve it. Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) do many things far beyond a battlefield. Their mandate includes search and rescue, international and domestic humanitarian aid,
disaster relief, sovereignty patrol, re-supply missions, international peacekeeping, peace-making, in addition to combat. It was important for me to get to know our men and women in uniform, where they came from, why they joined and how they undertake their responsibilities. It was equally important to understand how their career path has affected their ability to have and maintain a family, children, husbands, wives and parents who, behind the scenes, stoically support them. In Canada, we are fortunate to count our military as a relatively neutral instrument, instructed by the government of the day, on behalf of Canadians. As well we
know, this is not, nor has always been the case elsewhere in the world. Our present Canadian Forces are the extension of the history and traditions of the very brave men and women, who from across our land, fought and died in vast numbers in two great wars and more. It is they who have afforded us this life of liberty, freedom and privilege. We, as citizens, owe it to them to be informed about the work they do, and the challenges and risks they face. For in their neutrality, lies a vulnerability, for which each citizen holds a duty of care. I know I am not alone in my uneasiness in observing current world affairs and the stress put
on the institutional framework which has held us together in relative peace for many decades. In the Second World War, the challenge was easily understood. It was an attack on our way of life by an identifiable opponent with a name, uniform, location, even a face. This made it easy to visualize who we were up against. But is our way of life under attack today and if so, by whom? Are we, the ‘public citizens,’ ready and willing to take up the challenges that the future could bring us, like our forbearers. If so, what is needed of us? We cannot be complacent or live in denial. This was simply not an option for those living in 1939. We must return to and em-
brace the study of history and civics. Youth can be encouraged to enroll in the CAF and the reserves. Above all, we mustn’t regard our fragile democracies as a spectator’s sport, but instead step up, speak up and be proud to be of service to others, defending the values which Canadians hold dear. On this coming Remembrance Day, these will be at least some of my thoughts alongside an abundance of gratitude. Loreena McKennitt is an international, multi-platinum recording artist, a member of the Order of Canada, the former honorary colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force and founder of Wise Communities.
John Davis Barnett: An unsung hero? JULIA SCHNEIDER Times Columnist
Who shaped the Stratford we know and admire? Tom Orr, Tom Patterson and Ted (Mr. Stratford) Blowes come readily to mind. After all, these individuals’ foresight ensured, respectively, the preservation of the city’s parkland, its future economy and culture, and its civic spirit. But how many still think of John Davis Barnett? How many even know who he was, or what he did? Listening to Stratford-Perth Archivist Betty Jo Belton’s presentation “A House Held Up By Books” at the Stratford Public Library Oct. 22, I wondered what Stratford would be like, today, if Barnett not been around in 1902 when this very library and its building were in question. Would there even be a public library here in 2025? John Davis Barnett was born
in Liverpool in 1848, the son of a railway engineer. He followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a mechanic (later a master mechanic) and immigrated to Canada when only 17, in 1866. His first job was with the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) in Montreal, where his salary was 10 cents an hour. He stayed with GTR and arrived to work in Stratford in 1880. In 1885 he was seconded to the GTR branch in Port Hope to get the workers there “up to snuff,” returning to Stratford after a couple of years. In 1888 he began to pay taxes on his new home at 29 Douro St. He now had a place to indulge his life’s passion, book collecting, in which he became increasingly involved for the rest of his life. He’d arrived in Canada with 11 books; by the time of his death he had over 40,000 (1,500 related to Shakespeare). “How did a house
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hold that many volumes, that much weight?” Belton asked. Her answer: If you’re an engineer, and you’ve got them, you can figure it out! In his job Barnett had been involved in the Grand Trunk Railway Literary Society but around this time things were changing in the library world. Lending libraries were giving way to public libraries, and the American industrialist Andrew Carnegie was offering cities in the U.S. and Canada money to establish “Carnegie” – free public – libraries, many of which still exist in some form or other today. At the same time, Barnett in Stratford was becoming involved with city politics; in 1899-1900 he was chairman of the library board, and in 1902 he was elected as an alderman. True to form, he became especially involved with issues around books and reading in these capacities. When Carn-
egie offered Stratford $15,000 to establish a library, there was “a lot of ambivalence” in town due to Carnegie’s reputation as an industrialist, but Barnett seconded the motion to accept it, thus ensuring funding for the original (now somewhat expanded) Stratford Library. By this time in his career Barnett was a popular and well-established Stratford citizen. In 1907 he took a leave-of-absence from his job to pursue his bookish pleasures. He used the railway pass that came with his job to travel around North America collecting imprints and rare books and also became a regular visitor to England, whose libraries and book stores he frequented. The Stratford Archives has examples of his writing about his experiences and impressions published in Stratford’s then-newspaper, the Herald (he particularly liked the Guildhall Library, which dated
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back some 600 years). Barnett remained, in his words “in fine trim” but made extensive plans for the disposition of his books – his legacy – on his death. Family members were given first choice (Barnett never married but had relatives, including a nephew) but McGill University in Montreal was his first designated institutional beneficiary. He later changed that to the University of Western Ontario (now Western), however, and worked closely with the university, always insisting on free access to his collection. In 1918 Western awarded Barnett an honorary doctor of laws degree. He died in 1926, a singularly devoted bookman and library advocate, whose special interest in Shakespeare marks him a true honorary citizen of Stratford. By virtue of all he did for the town, Barnett has earned a place in Stratford’s historical elite in my book!
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Stratford Times
Opinions Repeal Bill 5, part three: Agriculture LUCAS TINGLE Guest Columnist
Globally, agriculture uses 40 per cent of the Earth’s land mass. Approximately 4.8 billion hectares of the Earth’s surface is being farmed currently. Estimates fluctuate, but generally it is agreed that it takes one acre of land to nourish each person on the planet. Currently there are 8 billion people who need to eat today; 41 million of those in Canada alone. Agriculture is not a closed loop. The answer isn’t as simple as creating more farmland so that we can support a growing population. Other elements need to be considered: fertility, machinery, clean water, reliable energy and a stable climate are a few factors that extend beyond just requiring land to support agriculture and our plates. We are at a crossroads here in Ontario. Bill 5 has recently been enacted into law and threatens to
accelerate a growing issue that will affect us all. The march of development on farmland to deal with economic strain is a mistake. The OFA (Ontario Federation of Agriculture) has expressed concern that Bill 5 will erode efforts in the future for sustainable farming. They warn that short term “gain” of land for development could lead to significant long-term damage. The OFA has reported that Ontario is currently losing 319 acres of farmland per day. Allowing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) where development can proceed without “guardrails” of any kind could significantly amplify the loss of farmland and valuable topsoil we rely on as a country and as a province for the maintenance of our food sovereignty. To enable the cabinet to determine which laws should apply in SEZs attempts to bypass careful and expert development of the legal structure and protections of our province.
While southwestern Ontario is an agriculturally rich part of the world, farmland only represents 0.5 per cent of the province of Ontario’s land mass. The topsoil that was deposited here 10,000 years ago and built up over millennia of forest growth and decay has been stewarded expertly by our dairy, beef, cash crop and vegetable farmers throughout the last century. Our farmers are the people that have helped keep Ontario’s food sovereignty intact through their dedication to the land they steward. Putting our farmland on the line by allowing for unregulated development of land is a risk unbecoming of a community that has guarded these precious resources for so long. Bill 5 is a misstep with devastating implications for Ontario. Agriculture for the next generation could be about building a healthier environment through conservation tillage, careful fertility management, agroforestry and building
November 7, 2025
pollinator habitat. As a farming community, the people of Perth County stand in a position to uphold and protect the legacy that our grandparents and great grandparents have been writing in the soils of this land for generations. Bill 5 and Special Economic Zones take neither stock of our legacy or the health of our food system and food sovereignty when paving over our most precious resource: topsoil. Bill 5 isn’t about creating more efficient economic progress to help Ontarians combat the inflation rates that are affecting everyone. Bill 5 is about eroding the need to consult experts and governing bodies that are in place to protect the long-term interests of Ontarians. Allowing for SEZs will have negative long-lasting impacts on the future health of Ontario and our province’s natural resources. As farmers we have a longterm vested interest in our acreage. In fact, we are experts when
it comes to the land we steward. We are guardians of land and water. We always have been. Let’s continue the rich tradition that our community was built on. Our first step at this point in time is to protect the natural resources we have from irresponsible development. Short-term, narrow-sighted economic ends are threatening to cause irreparable damage to our most valuable resource: our farmland and our soils. For more information visit repealbill5.ca. Submitted by Repeal Bill 5, a local coalition of advocates dedicated to repealing the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, on behalf of Lucas Tingle. Tingle is a regenerative farmer who manages the Oak Street Community Farm for the Local Community Food Centre and is also the professor of environmental stewardship of soil and water at Fanshawe College. His courses emphasize ecological approaches to agriculture.
As I See It From America: The Magic of Stratford
PATRICK D. BURK Times Columnist
What an exciting week! It is election week for us here in the states and I run one of the election polls at our local college. It should be a good day and I am looking forward to some positive results from some of the outlying elections. Several friends are on the ballot, and it is always interesting to see new and wonderful people getting elected that truly want to serve. We have had early voting here for the past ten days and that was very busy for local only elections. I worked early voting on Thursday and it was a horrible day weather-wise and still many braved the rain and wind to exercise their right to
cast a ballot. I was impressed. On Saturday we are bringing a small group of our friends up to see Macbeth. It will be the third time that we have seen it and I really want them to experience the technical aspect of the theatre. Many have been there before with our day trips to shows but this will be the first time that we have been at the Avon Theatre, which to tell you the truth, I love that experience. The Avon is a flash back to when theatre was a grand thing to attend, with beautiful ambiance, wonderful chandeliers, a balcony and theatre boxes and rows of striking red seats. It is a real blast from the past and I love it. Not that I don’t love the other three theatres in Stratford. I do very much. You just can’t beat the bling of the Avon. As a young person and to this day, I worked in a theatre that was very similar but smaller than the Tom Patterson. Recently we opened our new theatre here in Batavia that is kind of like a mix of the old and new. We have wonderfully new spacious chairs, a great stage that thrusts out into the audience and a barrage of theatre lights that make
us look absolutely wonderful. We also have great sound, and the intimacy of our theatre is incredible. We only seat 154 people for any given performance but we have devised a way that in the future we could do theatre in the round. We are very proud of the Main St. 56 Theater. It was a long time coming and our first and most important goal was to maintain a level of intimacy, make it comfortable and technically a marvel. We think we have achieved that in spades. We produce an amazing 13 plus productions a year. I have spoken previously about how our trips to your fair city are like a reset for my wife and myself. We so enjoy meeting our friends and talking to people from the Stratford Festival and making contacts. How fortunate that we have this wonderful city as a major part of our lives. It truly is a blessing. I love reading about all that is happening and how things are accomplished. I am excited about visiting the local shops, cocktails at Bentley’s, coffee at Balzac’s or Revel and meeting a great friend at the Arden Park. A current favorite thing of mine is looking at real
estate. I always wanted a place in Stratford and have looked on and off. With all that is happening here in the states, it may actually happen. It certainly is more on the radar than it has been in the past. I can see us in a small, simple apartment. I always admire the downtown ones with balconies. That would be a real treat for the both of us. It is always such a pleasure to take a leisurely walk around Stratford and visit the unique stores and shop. Did you know that all our coffee comes from Stratford? I sometimes wonder if our trips there are to ensure that we maintain a large amount of coffee in the Burk household. I am waiting to see the new crosswalks that have been painted and to see all that is different from when we were there this past summer. It is always a gift to show our U.S. friends that will be joining us what the Stratford experience is all about. It is a real pleasure to share your wonderful city. Many of them have visited more than once and always jump at the chance to not only see fantastic theatre but to be a part of the Stratford magic. Back here in the United States,
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many of us are suffering from government fatigue. That is what they are actually calling it. We can’t keep up with the news, we don’t want to know what is happening and the current government shutdown keeps knocking on our doors as a reminder that we are only as good of a nation when we are doing our best to take care of those that have the least. That is what I see as the biggest problem. If a government is set up to make the most for the wealthy and to ignore the least, it is a very flawed government. Many of us are facing huge increases in health-care costs, mixed messages on food assistance and a lot of uncertainty. The stock market climbs and dips, interest rates fall and unemployment is rising. As you are well aware, tariffs are killing us and not helping our friends and neighbours. Prices are rising through the roof and we have a White House occupant that really does not care. Personally, we hope Canada stays very strong and keeps pushing back the “Sandbox U.S. Bully.” Please let me know how you feel about this article at burk.patrick1956@gmail.com.
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November 7, 2025
Stratford Times
Opinions UNTIL SOON. LIVE WELL: ANNA
STUART LENDER Times Columnist
There are five songs that trigger tears for me, as soon as the first few notes enter my ears. Like Pavlov’s experiment with dogs that salivate as soon as they hear the bell that they’ve been trained signifies food, these songs trigger the water behind my eyes to bubble up and begin to flow and take me right into the heart of gratitude – for all of the songs are associated with profound parental experiences in my life. I admit it freely – I have entered the space of fatherhood where, despite
her upcoming 25th birthday in December, I am more and more aware that my daughter will now and forever be “my little girl.” Life goes on and at the most opportune times Anna jokes with her mom (my dear first wife, thoughts of whom will always hold a deeper meaning for me than she might ever realize) – just how easy it is to make daddy cry. And just as she requests I not speak to everyone in the café when we go in for a coffee or lose myself in the bookstore for an hour or two, it’s clear that she knows me well – particularly when she casually clicks on any one of those songs on her phone as we are driving somewhere together, testing me to see if the tears will come, proving to herself that it will work every time! Except then, it all ends in tearful laughter. But there is something my daughter will never know that I know, about me and about herself. Something she will never comprehend in its entirety, just as I could never understand it about
MUSINGS: Ohhh….
MARK HERTZBERGER Times Columnist
On a recent visit to a local store (which shall remain unnamed), I asked whether the item I ordered had arrived. The face of the young, previously perky clerk fell as she paused for a long moment. “Ohhh….” she said and her eyes glazed over. It was then I realized she had fallen victim to the DITH (Deer in the Headlights) Syndrome. I knew we were both in trouble. “Would you like to have my name so you can find it for me?” I said. “Ohhh…yes, please,” she replied. “How about the order number?” I added. Her face brightened: “Yes, that would help!” Armed with this information, she shuffled through
some items under the counter. Papers and packages flew about. “I can’t find it,” she said, crestfallen. “Is your manager in?” I asked. Her face fell even further and took on an aspect of stark terror. So I hastened to add, “Could you just ask them where my order might be?” Her face relaxed. “Yes, of course,” she replied, perky again. She disappeared into the back of the store for a while and returned with another employee who looked even younger. “Can I help you?” he asked. I provided my information again. “Ohhh,” he said, “that could be in any number of places.” There followed another flurry of searching under the counter. Finally, he disappeared into the back of the store and returned bearing my package and a look of triumph. “Here it is!” he cried. I thanked them both for their time and trouble and headed out the door, now running late for my medical appointment. For all I knew, my package could have been filed somewhere in the employee washroom. Last winter, I was on an outing with my grandson. On his request, we went to the local Timmy’s. We were both in need of a
myself when I was the object of a grateful parent’s tear. It is the most unsettling element connected to the gratitude of a parent, and it might become tugged at and trigger tears like those songs. And that element is the parents' understanding of the mortality of their child. As a funeral director I have served many who have found their arms unfulfilled, empty of the hugs they so desperately wish they could feel “just once more.” I have turned their grief upon myself, lamented for them and prayed silently that this thing, this tragedy, never happen to “my little girl.” Of course, I know that she will one day die, and even that to a parent, is tragic to contemplate no matter what age. But please, I pray you… do not die before me. I cannot assimilate it, despite my job. And here I am, serving those who know – my throat choking back any words that won’t help anyway. It is a humbling endeavor. A feeling of uselessness, no matter what one is doing for those with
hot beverage. Rarely do I enter this establishment voluntarily but recalled that, at one time, they used to offer hot apple cider. A young gentleman came to the counter and stood wordlessly. “Do you folks still have hot apple cider?” I asked. The DITH Syndrome kicked in almost instantaneously. “Ohhh….” he said, “What’s that?” “Well,” I replied, struggling for the right words, “it’s kind of like apple juice heated up with spices in it.” “I don’t know”, he said. Alrighty then. “Do you think you could find out for me?” I asked. He paused for a long moment, then ambled away, disappearing among the coffee machines, donut trays, and frenzied employees. After several minutes he returned. “No,” he said. “No what?” I asked. “No, we don’t have any.” My grandson and I resigned ourselves to some hot chocolate that looked like muddy river water and tasted only marginally better. Even independently owned restaurants are not immune to farcical service scenarios. While my wife was away with her choir a few years ago, I was on my own for home cooked
a hole where the heart should be. And from the child’s perspective, it is virtually impossible for them to comprehend how much love a parent can hold, until perhaps they are one themselves. It is not a greater love than any other, or a superior love to another – just different, with, I would say… a lot more hope, a lot more concern attached to it. Putting myself into other people’s scenarios is a hazard of the job and an equally valuable gift in recognizing our shared humanity, the fragility of life, and the gifts that are given. At the loss of a child, it is a cruel reminder too, of so many things beyond our control. Of course, when I’m open and observant, I recognize just how much my daughter is giving in return for that love I feel, and I don’t mean just love in return. It’s not devotion necessarily, or hugs and kisses. No – it’s lessons in the manner in which she grows into womanhood. Lessons in new ways to view my own childhood. Lessons in new ways of seeing. Lessons through having nurtured
her to become someone other than me. And lessons from her to move beyond what I find myself to be. This love is like nothing I have ever known. It has changed my life as it must, and yes – I want to leave my life before she leaves it. I want what we all feel is the natural order of things. But for those who find themselves in the opposite position, of which there are many, too many to shed tears with – I stand before them, my mouth hanging open, silent and amazed at the fact that they even managed to call me at all. And all I want is to recognize their hurt in some way that makes a difference for them, to alleviate the weight. And I want to whisper what they want to hear just once more, in their child’s voice. But at those times, I stand mute… and think of Anna. 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.
meals. So I summoned up all my culinary skills and went to a local diner. I had a coupon for a free piece of pie with my meal and they had my favourite – cherry cream! The main course was a large one and I was quite full, so I decided to take my pie home and enjoy it a bit later. I asked the server if she could wrap it up for me. “Ohhh…” she said, “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” I took several deep, meditative breaths. “Why would that be?” I asked. “Well,” she said, “the free dessert only comes with dine-in meals, not takeout. You have to eat it here.” Alrighty then. A conversation with the manager yielded no concessions so
I ate what I could of my dessert and left. I’m certain that a person with stronger convictions would have walked out in protest – but it was CHERRY CREAM PIE! I was helpless. So, do I blame retail clerks and servers for the state of the consumer world? Definitely not. These are mostly young people trying their best on minimum wage with limited guidance, in an often unfriendly work environment. Proper customer service training, more management oversight and consistent procedures (such as the time-tested filing method of alphabetical order) would go a long way toward improving things. So why don’t I approach managers with these suggestions? Well, I would but I’m afraid they might just say: “Ohhh…” Mark Hertzberger is a former social services supervisor, human resources manager, conflict mediator, and literacy practitioner. He has since freed his mind and now writes poetry and occasional opinionated columns. Mark has lived in Perth County for 27 years, the last 12 of which have been in Stratford where he resides with his wife, novelist Yvonne Hertzberger.
Stratford Times
November 7, 2025
Opinions In Praise of Leisure: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Being Still
IRENE ROTH Times Columnist
When was the last time you truly did nothing—no phone in hand, no to-do list running in the back of your mind, no sense of urgency humming beneath your skin? For many of us, leisure—the simple, restorative art of slowing down— has quietly slipped away. We’ve traded quiet afternoons for packed schedules and replaced stillness with constant scrolling. Yet, in the process, something essential has gone missing: ourselves.
We live in an age that glorifies busyness. We equate being busy with being successful, valuable, and even worthy. Ask someone how they’re doing, and the most common reply is “busy”—as though that word alone sums up a life well lived. But this obsession with perpetual motion has consequences. We rush from one obligation to another, multitasking our way through days that blur into one another, rarely pausing to breathe, reflect, or simply be. The result is not just fatigue— it’s disconnection. In the rush to do more, we lose touch with who we are when we’re not “doing.” Our days become performances for invisible audiences: bosses, peers, social media followers. We fill every gap in time with productivity, until leisure—the very space in which the mind breathes, dreams, and renews—feels indulgent, even irresponsible. But without it, we begin to lose our sense of equilibrium. Historically, leisure wasn’t
viewed as laziness. The ancient Greeks called it scholé—a time for contemplation, learning, and the pursuits that give life meaning. It was considered a vital ingredient of wisdom. The philosopher Aristotle even argued that leisure was the highest form of human activity, for it allowed people to reflect and understand their own nature. Compare that to our modern version of “free time,” often squeezed between errands and emails, where even rest must be optimized. Technology has amplified this problem. We carry our work in our pockets and our anxieties in our notifications. Instead of disconnecting at the end of the day, we scroll through curated lives, comparing our exhaustion to someone else’s highlight reel. Our leisure is no longer restful—it’s restless. Even vacations are documented, shared, and measured in likes, rather than savored quietly as personal renewal. The tragedy of all this is sub-
tle but profound. When we forget how to rest, we forget how to live with purpose. Constant busyness numbs our senses and dulls self-awareness. It robs us of the small, quiet joys that make life rich: lingering conversations, walks without destination, reading for pleasure, sitting in the garden and watching the light change. These moments are not trivial—they are the threads that hold our inner world together. If we are to restore our balance, we must make leisure a deliberate act of resistance on a regular basis. This means setting boundaries around our time and attention. It means putting down the phone, closing the laptop, and rediscovering the beauty of boredom. It means saying no to the cult of constant productivity, and yes to activities that have no measurable outcome—simply because they feed the soul. Leisure doesn’t require wealth or luxury. It can be as simple as taking an unhurried morning
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walk, enjoying a slow meal with loved ones, or spending an afternoon lost in a good book. It’s less about what we do and more about how we do it—mindfully, with presence and ease. When we give ourselves permission to pause, we begin to see the world, and ourselves, more clearly. Creativity flourishes in those quiet spaces. Emotional resilience grows. Relationships deepen. And perhaps most importantly, we begin to remember who we truly are—human beings, not human doings. In reclaiming leisure, we reclaim balance. We learn that life’s value isn’t measured in tasks completed but in moments fully lived. So, take the time this week to unplug, even for a little while. Sit in stillness, without guilt. Let the silence remind you of your own heartbeat. In that space of leisure, you may find something modern life often steals: peace, presence, and the gentle joy of simply being alive.
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FRIDAY NIGHT EUCHRE Friday Nov. 21. Legion 804 Ontario St B1, Stratford Doors open at 6 pm, play starts at 6:30 pm. Register your team of 2 people for $20. Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Call Dave at 519-703-6544, Anne at 519-301-0914 or the Legion at 519-271-4540 to register your team. MINI MISTLETOE MARKET Saturday November 29; 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. St James Anglican Church 41 Mornington Street, Stratford All things Christmas! Baking, savouries and home-made crafts just in time for Christmas giving. Be sure to visit our Snowflake Cafe and enjoy tasty treats as our guest.
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November 7, 2025
Stratford Times
OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO: History, horror and heroism on display
PAUL KNOWLES Times Columnist
History, horror and heroism; you will find all three on display at the exceptional Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. And if you manage to visit before Jan. 6, 2026, you can also experience a very poignant and powerful temporary exhibit called “Last Voices of the Second World War,” which captures the memories and stories of the last living Canadian Second World War veterans. In truth, there is no practical way to take in everything this national museum has to offer in just one visit, but a few hours’ visit will give you a lot of insight into the reality of Canada’s participation in national and international conflicts – and the impact of this history on our fellow Canadians. We started by touring the Last Voices galleries. Here, the focus is on individuals and their stories, and those stories vary wildly. There are some for whom their time in the Canadian Armed Forces is something they look back on with fondness, but for many who saw service in battle, it’s a very different story. Veteran George Morasch is quoted: “I don’t talk about it. They are secrets in my heart.” And veteran George MacDonell, held as a prisoner of war in horrendous conditions in Hong
(PAUL KNOWLES PHOTOS) Adolph Hitler's "parade car." According to the war museum information, it was "captured by American troops in 1945 and brought to Canada a few years later. This car recalls one of history's most brutal and murderous dictatorships."
Kong, admits, “I had heavy guilt because so many of my comrades had died and I had lived.” The story is told honestly with no holds barred. You learn that while there were benefits for armed forces personnel when they returned home, those benefits were limited to white people – black vets could not access the same assistance. And there is a lot of emphasis on the mental health and economic struggles faced by the vets. Veteran Alex Polowin is quoted: “The thought of ‘Where now? What are you going to do for the rest of your life?’ That’s very, very frightening.” Not surprisingly, the exhibition underscores the significance of Remembrance Day. Veteran Arthur Dingle says, “I think Remembrance Day is very important and it’s absolutely essential for people to understand the reason for it.”
Veteran Alex Polowin, quoted in 2022, said figuring out the future after returning home from World War II was "very, very frightening."
You cannot visit this “Last Voices” exhibition without being deeply touched. There were heroes, yes, caught in a global catastrophe, and yet, as veteran Frank Moritsugu is quoted in a caption, when he tells young people his story, “I tell them how old I was when this happened, so that they would understand that I was really an ordinary Canadian kid like they are.” That’s a theme that recurs throughout your visit to the Canadian War Museum; the story of war is really the story of ordinary people who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances and responded with a level of courage and resilience I cannot even imagine. The museum carries you chronologically through Canadian history, started with the First Peoples and their conflict with Vikings, and with each other, and
World War I Canadian flying ace Billy Bishop.
continuing through the coming of the French and then the British. There is plenty to think about as you continue through the War of 1812, Canada’s involvement in the war in South Africa, and then the world wars and the cold war. And these clashes and their consequences continue to reverberate right into this present day. To my surprise, one of the most effective displays at the museum is an amusing video of three young Canadian men. The video starts with two of them in the frame, one wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater, the other, a Montréal Canadiens jersey. We see the conflict between British and French, and the ongoing issues of French Canada and English Canada through their eyes. But eventually, the camera pans back and there is a third guy on the couch – a Native Canadian. The
other two are surprised: “When did you get here?” they ask. The new guy frowns. “I’ve been here all the time.” And therein lies a fundamental truth about Canada, one we mostly ignore. There is more big picture in the permanent exhibits at the war museum, but there are thought-provoking individual moments here, as well. I was intrigued by the reconstruction of First World War ace Billy Bishop’s aircraft, accompanied by photos of and information panels about Canada’s flying war hero. Or by what happens when you walk into the Second World War gallery and are confronted with Adolph Hitler’s limousine, a merely mechanical artifact that nonetheless reeks of evil. The designers at the museum have done a very fine job of creating interactive scenes which place visitors in the very heart of war. You pause in a battlefield at Passchendaele, which includes discarded weapons and half-buried bodies. You edge your way through a trench where a very realistic manakin of a frightened soldier is the only other “person” sharing your space. You stand in a landing vessel behind soldiers about to storm the beaches of Normandy. And you leave the museum well informed, heavy laden with thoughts about the horrible reality of war, but filled with admiration for the courage of those people who fought for our country – 66,000 of whom died in World War I, another 45,000 in World War II. Lest we forget. Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and past-president of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@golden.net.
Stratford Times
November 7, 2025
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Crossword
CLUES ACROSS 1. Expression of surprise 4. Keyboard key 7. One who works on lights 12. Notable children’s story 15. Fall back into a bad pattern 16. Eye parts 18. Atomic #18 19. Of she 20. Farm state 21. One point south of southeast 24. British media entity 27. Asian garment 30. Drench 31. Expressions of pleasure 33. Turf 34. UK trade union (abbr.) 35. Bleated 37. Fifth note of a major scale 39. Paddle 41. Monetary unit of Italy 42. American classical pianist 44. Shuts down for the day 47. Seize 48. Soluble ribonucleic acid 49. Greeting 50. Some cars still need it 52. Atomic #22 53. Let go 56. Marched in public 61. U.S. residents, Mexicans and Canadians 63. Hostilities 64. Speak aloud 65. River in NE Scotland
2. Longtime Baltimore tight end 3. Performs on stage 4. Supports a sentiment 5. Rugged mountain ranges 6. Broadway songwriter Sammy 7. Snakelike fish 8. Men’s fashion accessory 9. Hospital worker 10. Something to scratch 11. No (Scottish) 12. Volcanic ash 13. Of this 14. American jazz drummer Watts 17. Drop down 22. English dialect 23. Predatory seabirds 24. Imams’ deputies 25. Fertility god 26. Fence material 28. Parks and DeLauro are two 29. Distinctive smell (Brit.) 32. Protein-rich liquids 36. Touch lightly 38. Season for Catholics 40. Boat race 43. Police actions 44. Chinese river 45. Waterfall (Scottish) 46. Walk ostentatiously 51. Type of carpet 54. Mauna __, Hawaiian volcano 55. Sea eagles 56. An enclosure for confining livestock 57. Dry 58. An increase in price or value 59. The highest point of something 60. Government lawyers 62. Larry and Curly’s pal
CLUES DOWN 1. Razorbill genus
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Sudoku Sudoku
Id: 46415 Level: Easy
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Set Numbers: 27
Sponsored by: 123 Waterloo St. S., Stratford ON, 519-305-7387 www.purepets.biz | purepetsstratford@yahoo.ca
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7 4 1
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Solutions on page 27
EDITOR’S NOTE: In the Oct. 24 edition of the Stratford Times, an insensitive riddle was published in its Riddles section that had transphobic implications. This riddle was published in error and the Times deeply regrets its publication. As a community newspaper we are devoted to uplifting the community, not bringing it down, and we remain devoted to inclusivity so that every Stratford resident and visitor can pick up our pages and learn about its news. We apologize for the hurt this riddle caused and have taken steps to ensure it does not happen again.
November 7, 2025
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Stratford Times
Player Carpentry & Masonry serving Stratford and area for over 35 years GARY WEST
Times Correspondent
When construction of any kind takes place in Stratford and Perth County, and even beyond, one name comes to mind of a company that has built its reputation on perfection, hard work and dedication to the job. Player Carpentry & Masonry has been a local business for over 35 years, though the Player family has been involved in construction since 1899, and it continues to be one of the dedicated and most celebrated when it comes to construction of any kind in the area. Co-owner Jim Player, says the company has done many jobs in Stratford, St.Marys and area, and says jobs in New Hamburg, Shakespeare, Tavistock, Sebringville and Milverton have only been a few of the towns his jobs have taken his company to. In a recent interview, he can’t remember a job that the Player’s haven’t thoroughly enjoyed but admits some construction in some areas can test your patience. His long-time front office partner, Daryl O’Connell, has let Jim, 60, be responsible for less work on his shoulders as he tries to slow down. Many in the past know of a James Play-
(GARY WEST PHOTO) Player Carpentry & Masonry owners Jim Player and Daryl O’Connell in the front office of their building on Wright Boulevard, where the planning of many projects start to take shape.
er, since every generation since the late 1800s has had a James or Jim Player involved in the company. In 1899, when
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James Player worked as a tradesman (brick layer) in the construction of Stratford City Hall. James’ son Wilfred Player
followed in his father‘s footsteps as a mason for over 40 years. Today, Jim continues the family tradition started by his grandfather and serving the residents and businesses of Stratford and Perth County with many of their other construction needs as well. The Player crew not only build and renovate, but paint and do complete masonry work as well. Jim calls it a one-stop-shop. Etta Player, Jim’s 85-year-old mother, who still lives on her own in her house west of Stratford, shared some early Player Construction history. In 1990, the house basement was where Jim began Player Carpentry & Masonry. In 1997, Jim had to move his business to the garage for more room as business flourished. Then a few years later, as business doubled, was able to build a new and expanded shop and office behind the house (which they still use as a storage shed). From there, Jim and O’Connell, in December of 2021, decided they needed more room again and moved to 659 Wright Blvd., near Line 29 on the southwest edge of Stratford. Now, the shop is home to 18 full-time carpenters, four fulltime painters and one full-time brick layer, Dave Fulton.
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FARM TENDER FARM FOR SALE BY TENDER 4101 Line 26, Perth South - 135 Acres
Tenders are conditional on the severance of the residential portion to the sole satisfaction of the Sellers. To be Retained: (+ or - 135 Acres) Workable Acres: (+ or - 128.5 Acres) Tiled @ 30ft. All TENDERS must be received by Nov. 19 by 4:00pm Contact Tom Daum Realtor® For All Showing, Mapping & Tender Packages at 519-301-9150 *Maximizing Your Farm Real Estate Potential* For Complete Farm Service BUYING, SELLING, TENDER & SUCCESSION PLANNING
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Stratford Times
November 7, 2025
31
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
SADDLE AND DISTRICT SADDLE CLUB
The Stratford and District Saddle Club held its annual awards banquet this past weekend, presenting trophies to many young horse and pony riders, pictured here. Top row, from left: Natalie Woods, Charlotte Fisher, Pearl Fawcett, Annan Murphy, Kayla Topan, Megan Hachborn and Martin Switzer. Bottom row, from left: Carley Berger, Hailey Bell, Colton Darling, Ben Bell (in front), Luke Bell (lying on stage), Averie Jacobs, Lennon Jacobs and Savannah Jacob.
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