LOCAL HEADLINES

There are more than a few hard truths in playwright Sara Farb and director Sabryn Rock’s world-premiere production of Love Us Most at Here For Now Theatre this season.

The Stratford 18U Nationals continued to show promise following a split in the doubleheader against the Hamilton Jr. Cardinals at Stratford National Stadium on June 27.

On June 26, Stratford Fire Chief Neil Anderson hung up his helmet for the last time and celebrated with local firefighters, whom he said are friends, not co-workers.

On June 28 at Stratford National Stadium, during a doubleheader against the Simcoe Giants, the Stratford 15U Nationals braved the heat and delivered a scorching offensive performance, scoring 17 runs over the two games but ultimately splitting the series. Including their 16-7 defeat on June 23 to Guelph Royals Team 2 on the road, the Nationals secured just one win out of three games for the week.

Last week, 11 student start-ups launched in Stratford and Perth County through the annual Summer Company program, in partnership with investStratford and the Stratford Perth Centre for Business.

Faera Lane was a true bookworm as a child and fell in love with words from a very young age. She was home schooled and her mother kept many books in the house but her first introduction to poetry was the local library, where she read works by poets like Emily Dickinson and Edgar Alan Poe. Lane says: “The way poetry utilized words with such complex economy to weave nuanced and sweeping narratives fascinated me.”

The Stratford U16 Strikers secured two victories this week: one against Puslinch Predators in Southwest District Soccer League action, and another against Oriental SC in the first round of the Nothers Youth Cup.

It’s strawberry time at the Walch family farm just minutes south of Stratford on Highway 119. Watch for the signs and the flag welcoming everyone to their corner of Perth County.

After five years, Wild Hog Country Market owners are confident their store is unmatched when it comes to quality.

At one time, Stratford had a place in the early days of the thriving automobile manufacturing business. Reginald Cleveland (Rex) Bartlett, an imaginative Stratford engineer, successfully designed, built and marketed several of his inventions. One of those was, for a time, a revolutionary automobile, a car with air suspension and four-wheel brakes.

The Kiwanis Club of Stratford hosted its annual Kiwanis Service Awards ceremony recognizing secondary school students for their service and talent in fields such as the arts, engineering and science.

Stratford Public Library (SPL) will continue to offer adult programming throughout the summer. Its wide range of activities is sure to attract anyone looking to get out and socialize during the warmer months.

Advertising with the City of Stratford is set to expand after an updated policy was approved by city council on June 22.

The Kiwanis Festival of Performing Arts (KFPA) has been hard at work planning for next year’s 100th anniversary of the festival. Since 1927, the festival has provided a safe place for non-professionals to come together and perform before adjudicators and an audience. For many, the opportunity with KFPA was often the only time participants get to perform before an audience.

The Stratford U16 Strikers remain unbeaten in the 2026 SWDSL campaign after a 4-0 win over FEDS United on June 16 at Victoria Park in Fergus.

Besides the return of Something Rotten!, which everyone knew was once again going to be a smash hit, director Krista Jackson’s production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest might be the funniest show at the Stratford Festival this season.

Earlier this week, the Provocation Ideas Festival (PIF) hosted its Illuminating Passion Benefit, an intimate evening of performances and a live auction at Bijou at the Church, formerly Revival House.

On June 22, the Stratford U15 Strikers hosted Rockwood FC at Cowan Field in Festival Hydro Park.

The Bruce Hotel team would like to introduce Betty to Stratford.

The 18U Stratford Nationals finally ended their seven-game losing streak on June 17 in a 7-2 win on the road against the Ancaster Angels in Ancaster.