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STRATFORD VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 19
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Market Square Music returns with homegrown lineup CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Stelle & Carter Trio kicked off this year’s Market Square Music, but in case anyone missed it, there are plenty of nights to come down and enjoy. The annual music series shines a spotlight on local artists who perform free concerts just behind city hall on Friday evenings this summer. Stratford’s own Dayna Manning, a Juno-nominated singer/songwriter, produces the show this year, taking on the project after organizing last year’s Canada Day event. Manning said this year she was attracted to it because of its grassroots style, calling it an elevated form of busking. There is no stage for this concert series, meaning patrons will be on the same level as performers. There is a microphone system, but it's not a huge system, so crowds will have to gather around performers to really hear them. “It’s just meant to bring people together and highlight Stratford’s musicians,” Manning said. “Anything that unites the community through music is a priority for me as an artist.” Following Stelle & Carter Trio, Laura Neilson and Kaitlyn Famme will perform May 31, Cait and Pete from The Bookends will perform June 7, and Ethan Maac and Maggie Foster will close out the series on June 28. Manning will also host a community singalong June 14 and Chippewan flautist and storyteller Christin Dennis will perform June 21 for National Indigenous Peoples Day.
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The 72nd Stratford Festival season got started with a bang – and a pop of champagne – on May 27 with actors, patrons and creatives strutting the red carpet for the first show. See more photos on page 3.
“Political spectacle” ensues as banned resident shows up for public meeting CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
At approximately 7:23 p.m. May 28, nearly half an hour after the scheduled regular Stratford council meeting was supposed to start, the packed gallery roared at Stratford city hall. Mayor Martin Ritsma and CAO Joan Thomson arrived in council chambers with Ritsma announcing he will not call the meeting to order. “We are going to postpone the meeting until further notice,” he said as boos from those gathered for the meeting erupted from the gallery.
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“Cowards!” One angry resident exclaimed as he left. The May 28 council meeting’s agenda was packed with a public meeting and a number of items of note, from special-occasion permit requests to tender awards for a street reconstruction. That was evidently derailed by the arrival of Mike Sullivan, a Stratford resident who was recently suspended from City of Stratford property. Sullivan arrived with a baseball cap and a small package of papers, telling the Stratford Times he intended to speak at the public meeting scheduled to discuss a proposed development at 93 Trinity St. and 266 King St. CONTINUED TO PAGE 6
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