Heart of Stratford lights up the night at Grand Trunk site

The iconic HEART was installed at the Grand Trunk site, one of the contenders for what the heart of Stratford really is – but not the only contender. Through the Heart of Stratford initiative, residents will have an opportunity to give their say on where Stratford’s heart really is.

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Is Stratford’s heart one of its iconic features, the Avon River, city hall, the Festival Theatre, the Grand Trunk site or the library? Is it its heritage or its future; a way of thinking?

Now, thanks to a new art installation touring the city, you can have your say on the subject.

The Heart of Stratford launched on Oct. 1 through a partnership between Destination Stratford and the Stratford Public Library. It features a dedicated heart display on the main floor of the library where visitors can post personal messages using heart-shaped sticky notes.

“We're inviting community members to share their reflections, their memories, their thoughts about Stratford,” Brandi Gillet, community engagement supervisor with the library, told the Times. “And to ultimately shape a collective vision of what our community's heart is.”

In addition to the library display, pop-up heart stations will appear at various locations throughout the city, and an online submission form will be available via the library’s website, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to participate and share what’s in their heart.

“Every community has a heart, a place where its spirit lives and its stories come alive,” said Krista Robinson, CEO of the library, in a media release. “The Heart of Stratford campaign is a chance to celebrate what makes this city unique, through the voices of the people who call it home. I invite you to stop by the heart installation, join the conversation and share what you believe is the heart of Stratford.”

The library display is only part of the Heart of Stratford initiative. Stratford residents and visitors will have noticed Lights On Stratford’s larger-than-life HEART light art piece that was installed at the Grand Trunk site, serving as a vibrant and symbolic tribute to the heart of Stratford.

“Animating the Grand Trunk site through creative placemaking has been a clear direction from council and the ad hoc committee, and the HEART is a beautiful example of this work in action,” said Emily Robson, corporate initiatives lead with the City of Stratford. “It invites residents to see the site differently – not just as a piece of our history, but as a space filled with possibility and potential.”

The HEART has appeared in several prominent locations across the city, including the Stratford Festival Marquee, Destination Stratford’s Welcome Centre and the bandshell on Veterans Drive. Originally created in 2020 through a collaboration between Lights On Stratford and the Stratford Festival’s Carpentry Department, the HEART was brought to life with the support and expertise of Andrew Mestern, helping transform a shared vision into a powerful symbol of community and connection.

“The HEART light art installation has become a recognizable symbol of Stratford’s community spirit and a reminder of how art and public space can come together to foster connection,” said Zac Gribble, executive director of Destination Stratford. “We’re proud to collaborate with local partners to bring this initiative to life and we invite everyone in our community to share what’s in their heart.”

The HEART installation features a rotating display of colours and will remain at the Grand Trunk site through to Oct. 17. Following its time at the Grand Trunk, the HEART will be relocated to its next installation site at the bandshell on Veterans Drive in preparation for the upcoming sixth annual Lights On Stratford winter festival of lights.