LOCAL HEADLINES

After two years of volunteering for the ad hoc Grand Trunk renewal committee, 14 of the 19 total members (including working group members) have expressed mixed feelings about their effectiveness, as displayed in a survey presented to Stratford city council on Oct. 14.

Every year the Mayor’s Breakfast honours an organization that makes a difference in the Festival City, collecting donations on its behalf. This year, on Oct. 9, the recipient was the Stratford House of Blessing – and it decided to honour one of their own, Norman Kehl, as well.

Reduced speed limits may be coming for Stratford’s neighbourhoods. On Oct. 14, after Stratford city council unanimously voted to reignite a discussion on a 40 kilometre an hour speed limit in all residential areas, Coun. Larry McCabe made a referral motion to re-cost a city-wide implementation.

After being a founding member of Communities in Bloom (CiB) 31 years ago, the national symposium is returning to the Festival City this week.

Though it is less common these days amid growing isolation, residents of a Stratford apartment building all know each other’s name, greet one another when they pass in the halls and enjoy those day-to-day neighbourly interactions that, in many places, seem to be a thing of the past.

Stratford House of Blessing Food Bank is delighted to announce the return of its Empty Bowls fundraiser, taking place Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, from 5-8 p.m. at the Stratford Rotary Complex. The beloved community event raises funds to combat food insecurity for families in Stratford and area. Aaron Balzer, resource co-ordinator at Stratford House of Blessing Food Bank, says he’s excited to see the fundraiser back up and running to its full capacity for the first time since 2019

Registration for Stratford Third Age Learning (S3AL) fall courses are now open for seniors looking to expand their knowledge on worldly topics, including philosophy, literature, gender identity and more.

The Provocation Ideas Festival (PIF), in partnership with the Stratford Public Library and the BMI Group, staged a panel discussion on constructing Stratford’s future on Oct. 16, though residents that missed it can still participate in this year’s Maker Multiverse project.

In Stratford’s West Village, a once-empty strip of grass now overflows with produce. The Stratford District Secondary School (SDSS) Eco Club, with support from residents and City of Stratford staff, has turned the land into a shared community garden.

The Bruce Hotel is hosting its last farm tour of the season this month. The tour offers guests and community members a curated, luxury experience celebrating the rich agricultural heritage, passionate producers and sustainable food systems throughout Perth County.

There are always a bunch of customers popping in and out of Sirkel Foods to grab lunch or dessert. Known for its delicious sandwiches and salads, and for giving back to local charities through sandwich sales, Sirkel Foods is celebrating its 20th anniversary in business this year.

As Canada Post downgrades its full strike into rotating work stoppages, the MP for Perth-Wellington is hopeful for a negotiated settlement to the labour dispute between the employer and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).

Although the fate of the iconic wooden footbridge connecting the Shakespearean Gardens to a small island in the Avon River has been decided, one concerned resident would like a new future for the bridge.

The Stratford Shakespearean Gardens are a common site for tourists, though its history goes back nearly 90 years, back when Stratford wasn’t a tourism mecca but a rail town in the middle of southwestern Ontario.

For the Stratford Bentley's Irish head coach and owner, Marco Alexander, the team have one goal in mind for the season ahead. 

In team practice preparing for game week, Stratford Warriors veterans Jonas Schmidt and Quinn Kipfer said the team is having excellent practices and believes they are turning the corner as they prepare for Listowel and Chatham.  

For 25 years, Stratford Summer Music (SSM) has been a cornerstone of the local arts scene – and this fall the organization is keeping that tradition alive with a season of concerts that connect the community through music.

For former Stratford District Secondary School (SDSS) students Peer Wahlquist and Emelia Auster, writing, directing and producing their film, When The Party’s Over, with help from their friends and family was the perfect send-off to high school as they embarked on their post-secondary lives.

Tap dancing sensation Pierce MacNeil, who is currently training with Stratford Dance Co, has joined Team Canada Dance/International Dance Organization (IDO) to compete at the World Tap Championships in Prague, Czechia. The competition takes place Oct. 22-26.

After Aunt Harriet’s first run at the Stratford Perth Museum, the audience applauded and were eager to share their positive feedback and questions about the film installation.