Bad news for Stratford police’s George Street HQ

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As Insp. Jason Clarke told the Stratford Police Services board at its Nov. 20 meeting, every day more things go wrong with the service’s current HQ.

“It’s nothing great,” Clarke said. “It’s one thing after another.”

The installation of a long-awaited accessibility ramp and a barrier-free entrance was finally approved in September; however, Clarke said that, as of the meeting, the workers installing it have not been back to finish the work in a while.

On top of that, the accessible elevator off of St. Patrick Street is down. Technicians had been working on the elevator a few days prior to the meeting and informed them a new motor is needed.

Maintenance work is ongoing, but the projects are compounding.

In November of last year, the board started the process of sourcing a new station or top-to-bottom renovation work which might see expansion in the small, vacant lot between the station and Chocolate Barr’s Candies.

A new police station with more and better-utilized space has long been discussed due to the evolving needs of the local service and the area’s growth. Chief Greg Skinner had earlier stated he could find minutes dated 1991 indicating the service needed more space.

Since this most recent push for more space, Skinner had met with a consultant the city is working with to explore whether a new building or a renovation to the current station would be most effective.

At the time, Skinner said that the available space downtown – which is preferable for police – that would be suitable as a station was negligible and the current station could support renovation, though likely wouldn’t be able to add space on top of the building.

The recent opening of 798 Erie St., a satellite police-services hub on the edge of town, is a “band-aid” fix, Skinner said.

Additionally, during 2024 budget deliberations last year, Stratford city council approved funds for the aforementioned accessibility ramp to finally bring the historic building in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, which mandates that all public buildings be made barrier-free and accessible by 2025.

Council, with the understanding that a major renovation may be in the near future, lowered the funds for a full concrete ramp and instead provided enough funds for a metal, removable ramp, along with an accessible door.

As Clarke said earlier, that project has stalled.

“I understand the problem; it’s been a problem for 12 years since I joined the board,” police services board chair Tim Doherty said about the ongoing issues with the space. “No personal correction or offence intended … but until the politicians give us the money.”

“The issue is that (if) the existing location is failing us, then that becomes a different story,” Skinner said. “And if that 28,000 square feet that is currently under roof at 17 George and 100 St. Patrick, if that's no longer available to us and we're doing a demolition and full rebuild, that’s an expensive endeavour. And I would suggest that if that is even close to where we're at, then we may be better off to be looking at empty, vacant land and a new building.”

Skinner estimated that a $25-30 million price tag is a conservative estimate for what the 30,000 square-foot building project would cost – though he noted there are options available to finance a big-ticket police item.

Mayor Martin Ritsma, who sits on the board, inquired about a recent update that had Skinner meet with the city’s top administrator, CAO Joan Thomson, to prepare a report for council’s consideration on the police station. Skinner confirmed that he and Thomson have met, but they have not gotten to the stage where a report or mock-up of a new or renovated station can be presented.

Skinner also revealed there have been over 20 complaints made to the Ontario Ministry of Labour related to the space. Although a recent investigation from the ministry and an effort from police leadership resulted in the complaints being rectified, Skinner said the complaints are indicative of service members’ frustration with the space as well.