LOCAL HEADLINES

After a successful event at the Stratford Perth Museum last summer where an arts open house provided mini workshops to interested participants to try out art, dance, acting and fencing (to name a few), the Ready, Set, PLAY! initiative is returning with a new opportunity. Producer Pat McKinna is putting a call out to any non-professional for a learn and perform production of the comedy musical, Damn Yankees.

Warriors' defenceman Matthew Blake recently played his 100th career game in the Greater Ontario Hockey League. Veteran of three years with St. Thomas and Stratford, Blake says he is glad to be part of the league.

For the first time ever, United Way Perth-Huron will be participating in a tasty fundraiser that’s sure to please burger enthusiasts.

After learning more about a growing need within the community, the Optimist Club of Stratford is donating $5,000 to each of Stratford’s 11 schools to help ensure children arrive at school ready to learn – without the barriers of hunger or lack of proper clothing.

Filmmaker Larry Weinstein has made over 40 award winning films and is considered by many to be the preeminent music documentarian. His film, Beethoven’s Nine: Ode to Humanity, will be opening the Stratford Film Festival with a screening, Q-and-A with Weinstein, and opening night reception on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in Stratford City Hall.

Remember a time when Saturday morning programming captivated our youth, before cartoons were available at a moment's notice? Re-engage your inner child with this documentary about the cult Canadian classic, The Hilarious House of Frightenstein, which aired beginning 1972.

Though there was some concern about opening up the application period for the spring 2026 intake of Perth County’s Stewardship grant program before the program is discussed and approved as part of the county’s 2026 budget, several staff and councillors spoke in favour of the program aimed at increasing the county’s tree canopy and improving the overall environment.

Leading up to games against the Strathroy Jets and the Alvinston Killer Bees, two of the Stratford Irish’s rivals, owner and head coach Marco Alexander shared his thoughts with the Times for the two games ahead.

The Stratford Film Festival will screen the film Stealing the Sky Saturday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. The Q-and-A following features actor/director Megan Follows and actor/screenplay writer Marie Dame. This highly anticipated event is an excellent opportunity to further explore the intertwined story in the film and the process of filmmaking.

The Stratford-Perth Archives is inviting the public to attend an upcoming speaker session with author and historian Eric Edwards, who will discuss how to use service records to learn more about First World War veterans.

The 2026 draft budget for the City of Stratford projects a 3.09 per cent tax increase – though that figure will likely change as deliberations get underway.

Stratford residents may have noticed a lot of activity at the bottom of John Street recently. Garden Stratford, officially known as the Stratford and District Horticultural Society (SDHS), is rejuvenating the Catharine East Memorial Garden. They are planting native trees, shrubs and perennials to attract birds and other pollinators to an urban forest where they will find food and protection.

When the country went through the COVID-19 pandemic, many shows and organized events in the area had to shutdown and adapt – like the Ontario Pork Congress (OPC), which just had its annual meeting in Stratford on Oct. 20.

The new Stratford Film Festival (SFF) is prepared to welcome filmgoers to their inaugural annual festival Nov. 6-9 after presenting over 30 screenings during the last year. The four-day festival will feature full-length feature films, documentaries and shorts.

As October comes to a close, so does the inaugural Every Voice poetry contest – but it’s not too late to enter.

The Downtown Stratford Business Improvement Area (BIA) is encouraging residents to purchase Downtown Dollars this season to help promote and support local shopping in the city’s core.

The German company Cleanfix is expanding its North American location in Stratford, with construction expected to begin this November. The new 10,000-square-foot addition will increase production of reversible cooling fans – self-cleaning fan systems used in industrial and heavy-duty machinery across North America.

After a unanimous decision at a special Stratford city council meeting on Oct. 20, the Stratford Connection Centre will be home to a “warming centre” for the city’s unsheltered this winter.

The Stratford Public Library is celebrating Ontario Public Libraries Week, which started Oct. 19, with interactive activities for patrons until Oct. 25.

If readers have ever been able to enjoy the Stratford Perth Museum Innkeepers Dinner in the past, then they know what a night it has become over the years.