LOCAL HEADLINES

Destination Stratford is pleased to once again support the Winter Music Pop-ups that will keep residents entertained throughout the winter season from December to March. With 14 venues planning events there will be something for everyone’s tastes and styles.

The U18 Stratford Warriors have endured a tough stretch to start the season. During the past week, the Warriors hosted the London Jr. Knights at the Rotary Complex on Nov. 26 and were outmatched in a 5-1 blowout loss. On Nov. 29, the Warriors squandered the lead in the third period to lose 5-3 to the Woodstock Jr. Navy Vets.

After the shortest budget deliberations in recent memory, the 2026 City of Stratford budget was approved with a projected tax increase of 3.19 per cent – the lowest in recent years. That figure translates to an approximate rise of $172 annually ($14 monthly) on an average home valued by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) at $317,000.

When Logan Johnson walked into the November Willi-Brawl Cocktail Competition, he wasn’t expecting to win – mostly because he’d never competed before. But by the end of the night, the Stratford bartender walked away with first place and a big moment for the Relic Lobby Bar.

Although at this time of year there is no shortage of performances featuring portrayals of Ebenezer Scrooge and his epiphanous, midnight meetings with three ghosts who help him discover the true meaning of Christmas, there is one such performance in Stratford unlike all others.

The aroma of pancakes, sausages and warm conversation filled the Community of Christ Church hall last weekend, as neighbours and friends gathered for the church’s monthly community breakfast.

Being an ally is one of the most important things to be for a queer loved one, but being an ally is more than just accepting their orientation or saying that it’s fine. To be a true ally means to understand that how they think and feel is different, to stand up for them no matter what, to accept that there are things that you may not know and to take the step to learn what you can. Stratford-Perth Pride is offering a class for those who want to learn, Acronym for Allies. 

Two affordable housing projects are going back to the drawing board. At the most recent Stratford city council meeting on Nov. 24, council voted to cancel the request for expressions of interest (RFEOI) for two City of Stratford-led affordable housing projects at 38 Coriano St. and 161 East Gore St.

On a blustery Nov. 29, the Stratford Irish were looking to keep pace with the Alvinston Killer Bees as they hosted the Tilbury Bluebirds at the William Allman Memorial Arena.

The Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation (SPCCF), an organization dedicated to philanthropic giving and serving as the steward of funds earmarked for local charitable causes, is looking for new board members to support its mission across Stratford, St. Marys and Perth County.

The Stratford Country Club (SCC) will once again provide meals for those in need as part of the Giving Tuesday campaign, but with a new donation timeframe.

Country music fans rejoice. A Nashville Takeover is happening in town April 10-12 as one of thirteen towns nationwide selected for the concert series. The three-day experience will bring fifteen top emerging singer/songwriters from Nashville and across Canada to perform in intimate settings all around town.

The Huron-Perth Lakers U16 AAA participated in the 2025 Gloria Rants Memorial International Silver Stick in Whitby during the weekend of Nov. 27 through Nov. 30.

The weather outside this past weekend was frightful, but the results for the Stratford Hunter Steel Warriors remained delightful as they defeated the Pelham Panthers 2-1 at the Meridian Community Complex in Pelham on Nov. 30.

Leah Morgan, director of Bosom Buddies of Stratford, had never fundraised before. “I figured, ‘Hey, why not you give it the old college try and see what happens?’” Morgan recounted to the Times.

The streets of Downtown Stratford were bustling once again with lots of holiday merriment last weekend.

One of the most-anticipated Stratford holiday traditions is returning for its 37th year on Dec. 13 at the Stratford Rotary Complex.

Before facing the Six Nations Ironmen on Nov. 22, the Stratford Irish made a series of transactions in a span of 48 hours.

The now beloved tradition of Rod Beattie’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol is returning to the Stratford Perth Museum for three performances in December. This one-man show is riveting to children and adults alike as Beattie masterfully transforms into each of the characters driving the story before the audience’s eyes.

Students at the Stratford Campus of Conestoga College are looking for community support to ensure seniors living with dementia have a comforting gift for the holidays.