Stratford Times February 27, 2026

STRATFORD

A Passion for People

SHERRIE ROULSTON

Real Estate Broker

email: sherrieroulston@royallepage.ca

Direct: 519-272-3578

Chief Skinner announces retirement

At the Feb. 18 police service board meeting, Chief Greg Skinner announced his retirement from the Stratford Police Service.

During his announcement, he thanked the board, pointed out areas for improvement and highlighted the emotional toll of policing and the importance of reducing stigma around mental health.

“While the profession has done a lot to understand the impact of trauma, it is the cumulative exposure to stressful situations that impacts police officers most,” he said. “We have made huge strides toward assisting not only police service members, but also members of the community who are suffering from mental illness, but we need to be more particularly focused on eliminating stigma.”

Skinner also addressed his belief in the need for technological advancements in law enforcement.

“I remember 20 years ago or so being in a briefing meeting on a homicide investigation when the senior investigator said, ‘I’ve never seen a computer that can solve a homicide,’” he said. “While technology may not actually conduct a physical arrest, it certainly is integral to providing evidence leading to that arrest and, more importantly, ensuring that innocent people are not convicted of crimes they didn’t commit.”

He praised Stratford’s diversity and community spirit, emphasizing the need for progressive leadership to address systemic challenges and maintain

Local shares harrowing experience in Puerto Vallarta as cartel chaos erupts

on the mountain – Puerto Vallarta is kind of built on a couple of mountains – and then there was one closer to us, which turned out to be the gas station.”

St. Marys resident Greg George was downtown in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on Feb. 22, finishing an eightday stay at a friend’s condo. Speaking with the Times, he recalled that it was unusually quiet at the crack of dawn that day. Usually the streets below the condo would already be busy at that time.

“Then I smelled some acrid smell and I leaned out over the balcony and looked up,” George shared. “There were two huge plumes of smoke. One was up

Heading to the rooftop for a better view, George saw three fires burning which quickly turned to nine as explosions and gunfire began to ring out across the city. At that moment he was not aware, but a local cartel leader had just been killed while en route to Mexico City.

According to the Associated Press, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio

Local shares harrowing experience in Puerto Vallarta as cartel chaos erupts

Rubén Osguera Cervantes (otherwise known as “El Mencho”), was killed in a military operation undertaken by the Mexican army in the early morning of Feb. 22. Osguera Cervantes was supposed to be captured in Tapalpa but died from his injuries when a clash occurred with federal forces.

Puerto Vallarta, while quite far from the capital, is a coastal city in the state of Jalisco, the home of CJNG. After Osguera Cervantes was killed, the whole state was “code red” while many other states in Mexico were “code yellow.”

Over the course of the day, George and his companions went into lockdown and watched videos taken from across the area – videos of people commandeering vehicles, setting up roadblocks, and other harrowing actions. On their own streets,

George said they saw smoke consume the city and roving motorcycle groups, assumingly apart of the cartel, causing havoc. During one particularly close incident, members smashed in a nearby mattress store and set it ablaze with Molotov cocktails. Without police or other emergency services, and without sufficient fire extinguishers around, neighbours were forced to evacuate and let the fire burn itself out.

“(This) happened yesterday, a motorcycle chased a taxi down our street and turned the corner at the block, and we heard a gunshot, a loud gunshot. No idea what happened to the cab driver, but it was that aggressive and that close,” George said. “… Mid-afternoon, there were Mexican army helicopters with machine guns circling the valley here, right

The Shakespeare Optimist Club is again selling Cured Hams for Easter. They are $20.00 for boneless or bone-in hams (3 & 4 lbs).

Pick up dates are Thursday, March 19 & 26 with some also available on March 10.

At the same time, in conjunction with the Tavistock Men’s Club, Sauerkraut will also be offered in 2-1/2 lb bags for $5.00

Contact any Tavistock Men’s Club members to order

Optimist contacts: Gary West 519-272-9140 or Murray Schlotzhauer 519-271-3330

over us – literally just above our rooftops. It was like a scene from World War Two.”

George said he became aware of what occurred through word-of-mouth. Puerto Vallarta is a tourist destination with a large population of expats. Where he was, there were four condo buildings facing each other, filled mostly with tourists. As he and his neighbours heard information they took to their balconies to shout to others across the street.

While he understands it has been an emergency, George said he has been concerned with the lack of available information for his fellow travellers. He did not have luck with consular services to register their passports with the Government of Canada, meaning all they could do was hunker down.

“The cartel had basically taken over the

city,” George said. “Lots of things were going on within blocks of us. I think we were pretty much ground zero. So the information that we were receiving was to shelter in place. There was not a lot of information coming from anybody.”

While his Feb. 23 flight was cancelled shortly after the violence broke out, George confirmed that Air Canada rescheduled a flight for Feb. 27, arriving back home on Feb. 28, after press time.

“I've done a lot of traveling, but I've never essentially been in a war zone like this,” George said. “(I was) concerned about the lack of available information, and while I do understand, yes, it's an emergency situation, it was just difficult to know what to do except close your doors and (peek) outside to make sure that nothing is incoming.”

Chief Greg Skinner announces retirement from Stratford Police Service

public trust.

“You only get one hometown, and I boast about this being my hometown every chance I get,” he said. “Other communities envy Stratford because of its diversity, the welcoming nature of its residents and business owners, its love of sports and arts, its international reputation, its world-class restaurants, and its focus on community safety and well-being. It truly is a great place to grow up, work, raise a family and grow old.”

Skinner began his career with the Ontario Provincial Police on Sept. 8, 1987. Over more than 30 years with the OPP, he served in a variety of operational and leadership roles across Ontario, ultimately attaining the rank of superintendent.

In 2018, he returned to his hometown to serve as chief of police for the Stratford Police Service. His appointment marked both a professional milestone and a personal homecoming, bringing his extensive provincial experience back to the community where he was raised. During his tenure as chief, the Strat-

ford Police Service advanced key priorities, including enhanced community engagement, continued modernization of operations, officer wellness initiatives and strengthened partnerships with community agencies and stakeholders.

Under his leadership, the service remained responsive, community-focused and committed to the principles of professional policing.

The board recognizes Skinner’s four decades of distinguished policing service and his lasting contributions both provincially and within Stratford.

“On behalf of the Stratford police service board and the residents we serve, I want to express our sincere appreciation to Chief Skinner for his decades of leadership and service,” said Martin Ritsma, chair of the board. “From his early days with the OPP to his leadership here in Stratford, he has demonstrated unwavering integrity, professionalism and commitment to public safety.”

The board will initiate the process to appoint an interim chief of police and begin recruitment for a permanent appointment in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act.

OP review gets closer to completion after $50k

The City of Stratford’s new Official Plan (OP), perhaps the most important guiding document for the city, is expected to be completed late this year, despite some significant hurdles.

“There's been a number of things from the province,” Adam Betteridge, director of building and planning, stated at the most recent council meeting on Feb. 23. “Legislative changes, there's been staffing and resource shortages internally within the city, but also the consultants themselves have had planning changes with them. So we do have a consultant working there, but we had a change in planners assigned to the (file) there as well.

“We are still working with WSP (the city’s consultant),” Betteridge continued. “And we still want to work with WSP to finish the work. I think it's important that they do finish the work.”

The review began in 2023. WSP was selected as the consulting firm, which subsequently subcontracted Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. It has been working on behalf of the city to lead the review, draft policy review papers and conduct a land needs assessment. The work was paused in 2025 due to staff vacancies, ongoing provincial updates and constraining resources, according to the staff report.

After some recent developments and work, WSP is planning to have the papers done in the second quarter of 2026. Af-

terwards there will be a mandatory 110day review period before the province reviews and ultimately approves the OP. One complication is the upcoming municipal election in October, as discussed by council. If council is unable to approve the OP prior to the election, it will have to be paused for the new council to get its bearings, likely meaning an approval in 2027.

“My concern is continuing this into the next council,” Coun. Larry McCabe shared. “… Knowing how long it took — is taking — me to understand how the city is run, that it will also run into another council who has a considerable learning curve to get into. … Is there any way to get this in before the end of this council?”

“We’re striving for that,” Betteridge answered.

The total consulting cost has been $165,726. At the start of the review, council approved a budget of $227,025 (90 per cent covered through development charges and 10 per cent through reserves). According to WSP, $54,255 is needed to complete its work, an amount ultimately approved by council in a unanimous vote. The additional funds are set to come through the mayor’s budget.

The city’s current OP was approved in 2015. By provincial law it requires an in-depth review after 10 years. Like all OPs, it guides the city’s planning and development, including its layout, growth, conservation, heritage and amenities, to name only a few of its aspects.

40km/h limit coming to northwestern neighbourhood in Stratford

Stratford city council greenlit a pilot project for a neighbourhood in the northwest of the Festival City. Starting this summer, the roads in the area bound by Huron Street and McCarthy Road West to the south and north, and O’Loane Avenue and Mornington Street to the west and east, will have speed limits of 40 kilometres an hour.

In October, Coun. Larry McCabe moved a motion to reassess a pilot project to examine reduced speed limits in the city, one of the recommendations in the City of Stratford’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP). After being re-costed by city staff (the signage is expected to cost $11,600), the project was debated and approved – though not all councillors thought it was a sound strategy.

“The reason why we want to do this is for safety of our community. Hard stop,” said Coun. Brad Beatty. “We want our community safe. The reason why, and I've noticed this before, whether it was on this term or previous term, why I didn't feel like this has a great success is due in part to enforcement. … Signs make us feel good, but they don't do anything in reality to change behaviours. If you're going to change behaviours, you have to have a bite to your bark. So unless we can get the province to agree to let us do … a sin-tax on people's behaviour, this is all just an exercise … ”

“People's behaviour does change over time,” Coun. Jo-Dee Burbach said. “So maybe two years is too short for us to see their behaviour change, but they do

Starting this summer, roads in the orange-highlighted area will have speed limits of 40 kilometres an hour.

change over time, and we have heard from the police that they will help with enforcement. The good part about having certain neighbourhoods done one at a time is that the police can then focus on that neighbourhood, we can focus education in that neighbourhood to hopefully get the results that we're looking for … I think it's worth moving forward.”

Resident Kate Mulrooney delegated at council and argued that a pilot proj-

ect wasn’t needed. She claimed studies from across other jurisdictions point to a correlation between lower speeds and lower injuries and that compliance does happen over time, urging council to move forward with implementing 40 kilometre limits across the city.

“Using a pilot project model implies that there is uncertainty about proceeding with the whole project, and that data (is) needed to obtain certainty,” Mulrooney said. “However, there is already enough

certainty to proceed with a city-wide plan, if you agree the results from other jurisdictions are (acceptable).”

Additionally, as Mulrooney said – and Taylor Crinklaw, director of infrastructure services, confirmed – the expected cost of $235,000 to change all city signs could be cut down drastically if done by public works staff (estimated to be about $60-80,000). Crinklaw stipulated that it would likely take five to six years if done with public works staff rather than outside contractors.

“If we're going to implement this, I'd rather we just implement it, especially if the cost can be reduced to … $60,000,” Coun. Mark Hunter said. “… My concern is we get to the end of this study period, and my belief is the results are going to show no difference. What do we do at that point? If we're just going to go ahead and implement it, I'd rather, I'd almost rather it be implemented city-wide.”

Despite some councillors objections, the motion as presented to council passed.

The pilot project will begin in summer 2026 with the installation of signs. Before-and-after speed studies will be conducted at selected locations within the project’s boundaries to quantify changes and public education campaigns will inform residents and visitors about the project. Resident surveys will also be distributed to households within the pilot area to gather feedback throughout the program. The project is expected to wrap in the fall of 2027. The results will be shared with council, along with recommendations on whether to continue, modify or expand the 40 kilometre an hour program.

Four new constables welcomed at Stratford Police Service board meeting

AMANDA NELSON Times Reporter

Four new constables were introduced at last week’s Stratford Police Services board meeting. All four graduated from the Ontario Police College in December 2025 and have since begun working with the Stratford Police Service.

Const. Colby Bond, of Elmira, earned an honours bachelor’s degree from Laurentian University, majoring in human resource management, before obtaining a graduate certificate in advanced police studies from Conestoga College. Bond previously worked as a facility attendant with Woolwich Township.

Const. Katie Brine, of St. Marys, graduated from Georgia College with a bachelor’s degree in police studies. She previously worked in security at Wildwood Conservation Area.

Const. Garrett James, of Stratford, graduated from the University of Waterloo with a bachelor’s degree in recreation and leisure studies. He previously worked as a detachment administrative clerk for the Perth County OPP.

Const. Olivia Chartrand, of Stratford, graduated from the Police Foundations program at Georgian College. She previously worked at Player Carpentry & Masonry.

“It’s been a really welcoming group,” said Chartrand. “(The Stratford Police

Service) is a great service to work for and in such a short time I think we’ve learned a lot, and everyone’s very supportive. On behalf of all of us, we can all say that we feel very welcome.”

Mayor Martin Ritsma addressed the group, thanking them for their upcoming service to the community.

“On behalf of the police services board, we certainly are thrilled to have young members join the association and do what we talked about earlier on – serving our community and ensuring its safety. So thank you very much for doing that.”

Chief Greg Skinner addressed recent stigma surrounding policing, noting his gratitude for those who do come forward to work for and with their communities.

“The police services have taken a bit of a beating in the media over the last few years, and it’s been very difficult to recruit good candidates to be professional police officers,” he said.

“The OACP has gone on a real recruitment drive to try to enhance the numbers of applicants to police services across the province. I am thrilled that we have such a calibre of candidates who have wanted to stay local, who have wanted to give back to their community and be part of their community. These four are exemplary candidates.

“I couldn’t be more happy with the level of knowledge, skills and abilities that they’re bringing to the service.”

Multicultural association to host International Women’s Day celebration March 8

The Multicultural Association of Perth Huron (MAPH) will host its 15th annual International Women’s Day celebration at the Stratford Rotary Complex on March 8.

With admission by donation, the event will begin at 4 p.m. with a multicultural dinner featuring food from around the world starting at 5 p.m. MAPH executive director and founder Geza Wordofa says this year’s theme is focused on the empowerment of women and girls.

“It is a good opportunity to celebrate the successes and achievements of women and girls with our multicultural community,” Wordofa said, noting the event is open to everyone.

The event will also feature three guest speakers.

Mekdele Mugene, a Ugandan newcomer who spent years in Kenya’s largest refugee camp before immigrating to Canada, will speak first about her experience and share how all eight of her children have found success in their new lives here in Canada.

Amber Timmons, a woman of European descent who was raised by a Métis

family, will speak of her own personal successes working with the multicultural association while fighting to regain care of her children after they were taken from her through Canada’s controversial birth-alert system. Finally, Monica Singh Soares, a councillor for the Township of

Southgate in Grey County, will speak about her life and her work empowering women and girls.

The event will also feature live Mexican mariachi music.

To pre-register for the International Women’s Day celebration, email info@

MAPH.ca or message the Multicultural Association of Perth Huron on Facebook. Donations can be made at the door, via e-transfer to the above email address or by visiting MAPH.ca. Anyone who donates $50 or more will receive a charitable tax receipt.

City of Stratford invites public to apply for Green Recognition Program

The City of Stratford would like to hear from individuals, businesses, industries and organizations that are helping it become a more sustainable city, for now and for the future.

Any green leaders in Stratford are welcome to apply to its annual Green Recognition Program, which recently opened for applications. Local leaders’ efforts to make a cleaner and greener city will help others to see how it’s done. By being recognized for their efforts, they can show others the path forward.

If you have been working towards any of the following initiatives, the city welcomes your submissions.

Waste reduction and diversion: Show how you have minimized waste and diverted it from the landfill, through innovative waste management practices.

Energy management and electrification: Tell the city how you have significantly

reduced your energy consumption. If you have switched from natural gas to electricity or low carbon fuel, please tell us about your energy and/or cost savings.

Green Building Award: Highlight steps you’ve taken to promote sustainability in the building stock through building envelope improvements, passive design strategies and energy efficient retrofits, adhering to green building standards beyond the Ontario Building Code. This category will include new and existing buildings in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial building types.

Tourism: Have you made conscious efforts to make the visitor economy low-carbon? Your efforts can be anything from local food production or eliminating single-use plastic use in your premises.

Applications can be submitted through an online form available on the City of Stratford’s website at www.stratford.ca/green.

The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2026.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the SOUTH EASTHOPE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

Notice is hereby given that the 154th Annual General Meeting of South Easthope Mutual Insurance Company will be held at Grace United Church, 116 Woodstock Street South, Tavistock, Ontario, on Friday March 13, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.

John Taylor, President of the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, will begin the meeting with a short discussion on the history of Ontario’s farm mutuals, past and present, and explain what makes mutual insurance so unique.

The business portion will follow the presentation for the purposes of:

1. Receiving and approving the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Corporation held March 21, 2025.

2. Receiving the Auditor’s Report and Financial Statement for the year ended December 31, 2025.

3. Appointing Auditors for the 2026 fiscal year.

4. Electing three directors, each for a term of three years. Elections will be conducted in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of the election procedures may be obtained from the Secretary of the Corporation upon request. The retiring directors – Marianne T. Cook, Linda Drost and Michael J. Munro – are all eligible to stand for re-election. Linda Drost will not seek re-election.

A complete version of the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025 are available for viewing on the company website at www.southeasthope.com. A member may also request a copy by written request at least 14 days before the Annual Meeting.

Rachel N. Stewart Corporate Secretary

Every Voice poetry contest shortlist announced

The Every Voice poetry contest team is proudly publishing 85 poems crafted by 75 community poets in a soon to be released anthology titled Roots Through Stone – Poems of Strength and Resilience. Seventeen poets, divided among youth and adult categories, are shortlisted for top prizes and cash awards. Prize winners will be announced and the book released at a celebratory awards ceremony set for National Poetry Month, the evening of April 23 at the Stratford City Hall auditorium.

Every Voice is a joint project undertaken by Stratford Poet Laureate David Stones, along with Destination Stratford and the Stratford Public Library. The theme for the 2025/26 contest is resilience, with the contest open to residents of Stratford, St. Marys and Perth County. An editorial panel comprising Stones, Stratford Youth Poet Laureate Quinn Mayer, multi-awardwinning poet and Pathways to Poetry founder Heidi Sander and award-winning poet and Poetry Stratford co-ordinator Mark Hertzberg has overseen the submission guidelines and adjudication process.

“The contest and this anthology are central to the literary ambassador aspects of my Poet Laureate role,” said Stones in a media release. “We asked our local poets and storytellers to interpret resilience in all its forms, and the results are so gratifying. Our poets, many of whom are being published for the first time, represent the full geography of our community, from Stratford to Listowel, St. Marys to Mitchell. In Roots Through Stone, through the variety and array of these poems, we see how strength is lived, learned and shared. Resilience, it seems, is not solitary, but essential lifeblood to the resolute spirit that so defines our diverse and determined Stratford-Perth community.”

“We’re a community of stories,” said Zac Gribble, executive director of Destination Stratford. “And part of our role here is to ensure that they’re revealed and shared. This contest and the Roots Through Stone anthology meet this objective beautifully. We want the concept of a community poetry contest to be a recurring feature of the poet laureate role.

This inaugural contest shows us what can be achieved and underscores the immense value in providing a creative avenue for the diverse voices of our community to be heard.”

The Every Voice poetry contest team invites the public to share in celebrating the 75 published poets and the prize winner announcements on April 23. Roots Through Stone will be released and available for sale that night, while the pre-order system through Fanfare Books will be announced shortly.

The poets shortlisted for first, second, third place prizes and Judges’ Choice Awards are as follows:

Youth (age 8-18)

• “A Wall to Remember”- Anaya Campbell, Stratford, Ont.

• “At the Talkers’ Mercy”- Aspen Gloin, Stratford, Ont.

• “The Artist, War”- Aspen Gloin, Stratford, Ont.

• “The Lost Sea”- Lily Paterson, Stratford, Ont.

• “My Humanity”- Nguyen Thai Huyen Vo, Stratford, Ont.

• “How to Kill a Butterfly: A Tutorial”Melantha Rusticus, St. Marys, Ont.

• “When the Light Found Me”- Haylee Turcott, Listowel, Ont.

Adult (19 and older)

• “All Evidence Points to Your Missing”- Nicole Bulger, Stratford, Ont.

• “A Good Storm”- Shayda Campbell, Stratford, Ont.

• “Cerebral Palsy”- Aleah Graff, Stratford, Ont.

• “Tending the Past”- Judith Harway, Stratford, Ont.

• “A Line on the Library Floor”- Judith Harway, Stratford, Ont.

• “Emancipation”- HAUI

• “Healing”- Faera Lane, Stratford, Ont.

• “Arboretum”- Faera Lane, Stratford, Ont.

• “Palm Reading”- M Daniela Mange, Stratford, Ont.

• “Birth, Death and the Bit In Between”Barbara McMahon, Stratford, Ont.

• “Schrodinger’s Caterpillar”- Alex Oeming, Stratford, Ont.

• “See Me”- Victoria Powell, Stratford, Ont.

• “About My Brother Ben”- Michael Smith, Stratford, Ont.

County council gets heated over forestry bylaw update; farmers draft alternative bylaw for consideration

GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor

Perth County council will revisit proposed updates to its forest conservation bylaw in April after receiving a final report on months of public consultation that drew significant input from farmers, residents and municipal councils across the county.

At a special meeting Feb. 12, council directed staff to bring back options for a revised bylaw on or before April 2 that incorporate the ideas and concerns raised during the public-input process, which began last year following council’s direction to review the existing bylaw.

“During this period, we received significant engagement across multiple formats. … The consultation revealed the division in community perspectives,” county clerk Tyler Sager told council. “One group strongly supports maintaining or even strengthening forest-conservation measures, citing Perth County’s low forest coverage at nine per cent. Another group advocates for reduced regulation, particularly around agriculture exemption and alignment with provincial standards.

“Both perspectives are rooted in legitimate concerns – environmental protection versus operational flexibility for agricultural landowners.”

The review initially stemmed from work undertaken by the county’s agricultural working group, which compared Perth’s bylaw with those in neighbouring counties and recommended clarifying definitions, adding new definitions such as “windbreak” and “woodlot,” and formalizing an appeal process similar to that used in Oxford County.

Since then, the proposed changes have prompted strong reaction from members of the agricultural community, including a petition submitted by a group of Perth County farmers calling for significant amendments to the draft bylaw.

The petition, signed by residents, landowners and agricultural producers from across the county, calls on council to expressly recognize and exempt normal farm practices protected under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act, set a minimum one-hectare threshold for regulated woodlands in accordance with provincial standards and categorically exempt windbreaks and tree plantations from being classified as regulated woodlands to allow landowners to remove, harvest and maintain those trees as they see fit.

“We know the benefits of windbreaks and strategic plantations; the rural community wants the freedom to plant trees,” said Perth South farmer Henry Koskamp, who, along with West Perth farmer Gerald Kolkman, have been leading the charge against many of the proposed changes in the county’s draft bylaw update, going so far as to draft an alternative bylaw, which they’ve presented to county and lower-tier councils over the last several months.

“ … We need the support of the landowners of Perth County (to get more trees planted). As of this morning, we have 274

signatures on the petition with still more coming. They are in support of the agriculturally supported forest conservation bylaw for Perth County. We also need support form the rural farm organizations in Perth County. We have letters of support from the Perth Grain Farmers, Perth Pork Producers, Perth Dairy Producers, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario and the Perth County Federation of Agriculture, as well as the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. They’re all supporting the same alternative bylaw, or at least the intent.”

The petition also requests formal biosecurity protocols for forestry officers entering farm properties, protection from enforcement for the routine removal of dead or hazardous trees, reinstatement of stewardship funding to lower-tier municipalities, and the establishment of an independent appeal committee made up of elected officials rather than municipal staff.

Both Perth East and Perth South councils have endorsed the farmers’ alternative bylaw, while West Perth and North Perth councils have not.

On the other side of the debate, Sager told council many who provided input into the bylaw update were in favour of the county’s proposed change in definition for “woodlot,” suggesting reducing the size threshold for a woodlot in the bylaw from one hectare to 0.5 hectares would help protect the county’s already low, nine per-cent forest coverage.

“Forests under professional management generally do better across most forest-health parameters, however, (our) forests also have multiple co-occurring disturbances. This could include windthrow, harvest, pests and disease,” said Maitland Valley Conservation Authority watershed ecologist Erin Guthro as part of a joint delegation made up of representatives from area conservation authorities at the Feb. 12 meeting. “This suggests forest-management practices that puts economic returns over overall forest health will lead to more forest decline over time. … A bylaw provides a minimum standard to level the playing field and ensure practitioners that follow good forestry practices are supported, and this is needed.”

“Woodlots really provide (flood and erosion-control services),” added Nathan Schoelier, stewardship and conservation lands manager at Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. “ … This is going to be most apparent in the coming months … when we have the flow. … You’re going to see a slower, more drawn-out snowmelt in these areas, then you’re going to see ponded water on the landscape. This is water that these woodlots are holding across our entire landscape, not just at point locations like a dam. That’s water that’s no longer rushing toward your infrastructure, whether that’s communities, your municipal drains, or even your private drains, and allows that agricultural drainage to do its job, and allows us to grow the food in those areas.”

Tensions surfaced at the Feb. 12 meeting when Coun. Rhonda Ehgoetz of Perth East introduced a motion to have council review Koskamp and Kolkman’s proposed bylaw at the same meeting, before staff had an opportunity to consolidate all feedback and present a full slate of options.

“The purpose of this meeting was for council to have an opportunity to discuss the forestry conversation bylaw. I don’t even see that on the agenda,” Ehgoetz said. “Now you want us to send it back to staff again and for them to come up with recommendations. I was hoping that council would come up with recommendations and questions this morning and go through the bylaw and see what we actually want.”

Ehgoetz suggested the process could be drawn out to the point where an updated bylaw won’t be approved by council before October’s municipal election removes council’s ability to vote on it. Instead, Ehgoetz moved to have county council review the farmers’ proposed bylaw line by line to incorporate pieces of it into the county’s draft bylaw.

“Before I ask for a seconder, I will indicate the following observations to my council colleagues,” Warden Dean Trentowsky began before being interrupted by Ehgoetz, who claimed the warden couldn’t comment on the motion before it was seconded.

“I have the chair; you do not,” Trentowsky responded, ultimately issuing two formal warnings to Ehgoetz. “ … I am the head of council. As such, I have a duty under the Municipal Act to inform this council the following. … What your motion entails; you communicated this to us, all of council, in an email prior to this meeting. You communicated it not within the confines of a council meeting. So, my point is this has been done and you’ve brought the motion forward as such. It was communicated outside a meeting last night through an email to all of council.

“I have to raise to all of council’s attention the possibility of the following concerns: perception of a lack of transparency on the conduct of council business, perception of public bias, perception of insufficient fairness of process. These concerns could be under scrutiny by others, perhaps the integrity commissioner, perhaps an ombudsman, perhaps it could provoke a legal challenge for this council and this corporation. I would indicate that the unintended consequences of this motion may result in not being in the best interests of this council.”

After debate around process and timing, council

ultimately opted to wait for staff’s comprehensive report, which will outline potential paths forward incorporating the range of submissions received. The updated bylaw, once drafted, will return to council for further discussion and potential approval after all the options are discussed at either the April 2 regular council meeting or a special meeting of council called before then.

Ehgoetz later posted about the dispute between herself and the warden on the Mitchell Life Facebook page, claiming she was unfairly treated in front of her council colleagues and members of the public.

“To me, he is a bully, he embarrassed me, he intimidated council,” Ehgoetz told Grant Haven Media. “ … I think he owes me a public apology. He thinks he was in the right to do what he did to me. I’ve never seen in my 25-plus years someone do that to another member of council in a public forum.”

When reached for comment about his comments on Ehgoetz’s motion, Trentowsky said he couldn’t comment further.

“Following the conclusion of this meeting; out of due respect and consideration for all of my Perth County council colleagues (including Coun. Ehgoetz) and for all of Perth County staff, I feel it is necessary that I withhold providing comments to the media until such time that this matter is fully dealt with at Perth County council.

“I must also withhold providing any comment or response towards any comments (including social media posts) that may be attributed to Coun. Ehgoetz (or others) following the conclusion of the Feb. 12 special council meeting.”

Weekend Quiz

By Jake Grant

1. What countries were banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics?

2. True or false. Hamsters are nocturnal.

3. What is the mascot for Wilfred Laurier University?

4. What mathematician had an apple fall on his head?

5. Who came up with the “Modern Olympics”?

6. What is the longest muscle in the human body?

7. Are sea cucumbers plants or animals?

8. What three things did Jack steal from the giant?

9. When was the last time the USA won Gold in Men’s Olympic Hockey?

10. What country invented the saltine cracker?

Fundraising underway to assist in redevelopment of Stratford General Hospital Courtyard Garden

LISA CHESTER

Times Correspondent

The Stratford General Hospital (SGH) Courtyard Garden is a source of peace and rejuvenation for staff, caregivers and family as well as goal setting for patients. Accessibility has, however, proven to be a challenge now that tree roots have grown and brickwork has been affected.

Leigh-Anne Davidson, someone who finds its accessibility a challenge, has stepped up to assist in the redevelopment project with a fundraiser.

“Every time I go, I am disheartened by the state of the courtyard. It sucks for everyone that’s there. It’s risky for everyone. A couple of years ago I met with someone to discuss it. We met in the courtyard, and I told her it’s really dangerous out here. They are lucky someone didn’t fall. I went out the door in a wheelchair and I couldn’t stop and I almost hit the metal by the tree. A couple years later I brought it to their attention again and I was told that they are planning renovations. It just takes time,” explained Davidson.

She hopes to get people on board and help through donations with the reconstruction of the gardens. Her modest goal of $1,000 has been exceeded but hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. The fundraiser is in partnership with the SGH Foundation and provides tax receipts.

“While the hospital has applied for government funding to support the courtyard revitalization, community support allows the hospital to make an even greater investment in patient spaces and care. Together, these funding sources help strengthen our hospital for everyone who relies on it,” wrote Davidson on her JustGiving fundraising page.

The work on the garden will be of benefit to all, especially those in wheelchairs or walkers. The brickwork will be replaced with smooth concrete, aging trees will be removed and replaced, and additional seating, lighting and appropriate drainage will be incorporated.

Existing artwork will be saved and incorporated in the new garden.

The work is expected to begin mid-March and could cost between $200,000 and $250,000, with a timeline of about six to eight weeks to complete. Most of the funds

required will come out of the hospital’s operating budget, annual allotments, along with the fundraiser. The contractor selected for the project is A Touch of Dutch Landscaping and Gardening, which is local to Stratford.

“The courtyard was built in the late ‘80s and has been a wonderful part of the property for patients, visitors, caregivers and staff, but now we’re seeing wear and tear. Brickwork needs to be replaced so really it was a factor of time and had reached that point where we felt it was important for us to upgrade it,” said Andrew Williams, Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) president and CEO.

“It’s great that Leigh-Anne has taken this on and we are grateful for any assistance from the community that will help go towards the costs we are incurring. We will work with her and the foundation to see if there is anything specifically she wants to use it for,” added Williams.

The hospital and staff are excited about this revitalization and the effect it will have for anyone that uses the space. To donate to the fundraiser, search the justgiving.com page for Leigh-Anne Davidson Hospital Fundraiser.

Stratford Perth Museum’s We’ve Been Here opening reception highlights local Black history

The second part of the Black history exhibit at the Stratford Perth Museum launched and honoured the lives and contributions of three Black residents of Stratford.

The Stratford Perth Museum held an opening reception and panel discussion for We’ve Been Here: An Exploration of Black History in Perth County on Feb. 21. The exhibit, which can be viewed online, tells the stories of Ben Sleet, Sylvia (Young) Porter and Joseph Carter Harrison and their contributions to Stratford.

Harrison and his family ran the barber shop Joseph’s Royal Shaving Salon, which was the oldest family-run business in Stratford. Sleet was an entrepreneur who ran Sleet’s Market Refreshment Hall and brought an outdoor public skating rink and ice house to Stratford.

Porter fled from enslavement before settling in Stratford and was part of the Primitive Methodist Church. Her enslaver, Ellen T. Dustin, had a $100 reward for Porter’s return and wrote to Stratford’s Constable Townsend proposing a kidnapping plan, but she was denied on all accounts.

Garvia Bailey, community curator, led a panel discussion featuring Perth County Archives assistant Megan Lockhart, author and Buxton National Historic Site and Museum historian Bryan Prince and Stratford Perth Museum’s manager of education and exhibits lead Megan Patterson.

“It was so great, a great turnout, some people who are so interested,” Bailey said.

“I could see people really imagining what this exhibit could be, how it could grow.”

The panel discussion highlighted the process of putting the exhibition together including making connections and gathering materials, forming trusting relationships, cross-referencing the stories to fact check and facing challenges such as not finding any photos of Porter nor Sleet. Bailey said it’s important to be transparent

Breaking Bread program returns to Salvation Army Stratford

EMILY STEWART

Times Correspondent

Salvation Army Stratford is reviving an old program to ensure those in need have access to a variety of bread products.

The local chapter of the Salvation Army brought back its Breaking Bread program in early February. Breaking Bread is a drop-in service where clients can pick up bread on Fridays while supplies last between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the local Salvation Army office on 230 Lightbourne Ave.

Sobey’s and Cobs Bread locations partnered with the Salvation Army to supply food, including bread products.

“Our main goal right now is to make food more accessible for individuals. We do have a lot of bread product,” said Jennifer Morris, community and family services

manager of Salvation Army Stratford. “We have wonderful community partners that make that a possibility and we're trying to help people make sure they can stretch the funds that they do have as far as they can go."

So far, turnout has been lower than anticipated, but Morris is hoping that picks up with warmer weather.

"It hasn't quite taken off as we expected but we know the weather hasn't been working in our favour as of late, but we're hoping that as the weather gets nicer and people hear more about it that they'll be able to participate,” she said.

For now, the Breaking Bread program will just be in Stratford. However, Morris said that the organization would like to eventually expand the program to nearby areas like St. Marys and Mitchell.

The Breaking Bread program will not operate on Good Friday, which falls on April 3.

about the process.

"That is a crucial part of it because not only does this become part of the Stratford Perth Museum, the archives, and this institution, but this becomes a part of the Canadian story, right?” she said. “It is a part of Canadian history now, so making sure that each bit and each part is accurate and searchable for people is a big part of this project as well."

Towards the end of the panel discussion, Bailey highlighted that the opening reception is also a call out invitation to encourage more people reach out to the community and find more stories of Stratford and area’s Black history.

Any stories about Black history in Stratford can be emailed to yourstory@stratfordperthmuseum.ca or shared in-person by dropping into the Stratford Perth Museum and Perth County Archives.

“If you have stories, if you want to share them, happy to collect them all. Black history is at the core of what I'm doing right now, but all kinds of history is what we're hearing and people want to share so we would love that,” Bailey said.

To view the We’ve Been Here exhibit online, visit www.stratfordperthmuseum. ca/weve-been-here/

Feb. 8 Dianne Downing, St. Marys $50.00

Feb. 9 Roger Anderson, Brantford $50.00

Feb. 10 Fred Illman, Stratford $50.00

Feb. 11 Brad Braekevelt, Stratford $50.00

Feb. 12 Eliizabeth Seamans, Angus $50.00

Feb. 13 MaryLou McCarthy, St. Marys $50.00

Feb. 14 Jordon Van de Kemp, Embro $200.00

Feb. 15 Paul Forrest, Stratford $50.00

Feb. 16 Eleanor Kittmer, Lakeside ......... $50.00

Feb. 17 Jayne & Greg Tinney, St. Marys $50.00

Feb. 18 Bev Hepburn, Stratford $50.00

Feb. 19 Tom Kittmer, Embro $50.00

Feb. 20 Ron & Glen, Dunseth, Sebringville $50.00

Feb. 21 Marilyn Dixon, Lucan $200.00

& Area Real Estate

Tips to take care of wood flooring

Natural wood flooring is a stunning feature of millions of homes. Wood floors are appreciated for their durability and aesthetic appeal, each of which is bolstered when floors are properly maintained.

A host of variables can affect how long wood flooring lasts and how its appearance holds up over time. Wood flooring in homes with pets that roam around the house, such as cats and dogs, may require more frequent maintenance than those without pets. The same goes for homes with children, who may routinely track dirt in from outside or spill food and drinks with greater frequency than adults. But even wood flooring in homes without pets and children requires consistent maintenance. Homeowners who want to protect their wood floors and ensure they maintain their aesthetic appeal for the long haul can consider the following maintenance tips, courtesy of the National Wood Flooring Association.

• Sweep, dust or mop each day. The NWFA recommends daily maintenance to remove dust and dirt that accumulates each day. Such cleaning can prevent damage that can compromise the aesthetic appeal of the floors and potentially affect their longevity.

• Clean spills immediately. Spills are inevitable, especially in homes where young children live. Though spills might not be preventable, the damage they can cause can be avoided with a prompt response. Cleaning spills immediately with a dry or slightly damp cloth can ensure the floors do not soak up the spilled liquids. The NWFA notes that mopping wood floors with a wet mop or steam mop

will damage the finish and the wood over long periods of time. If allowed to soak into the floor, spilled liquid can contribute to warping, swelling and staining. Each of those issues can be costly to address, but a quick and immediate cleanup can prevent all three from happening.

• Vacuum once per week on the bare floor setting. Utilizing a vacuum is less taxing on wood floors than sweeping so long as the vacuum is on the bare floor setting. Sweeping is best avoided to prevent small particles from being dragged across the floor, which gradually wears down the finish and ultimately contributes to a dull look. Vacuuming vertically lifts the debris off the floor, ensuring nothing is dragged along the surface of the floor. If you're using a manual vacuum instead of a robotic vacuum, vacuum with the grain to reduce the risk of damage.

• Apply wood flooring cleaner once per month. If your wood floors are newly installed, ask your installer to recommend a cleaner specifically designed for the finish on your floor. If your floors are not new, contact a flooring professional for a recommendation. Wood flooring cleaners specific to a given floor's finish are important because these products are specialized and formulated with both cleaning and protection of the floor itself in mind. The right wood floor cleaner won't lead to dull-looking floors nor damage the finish.

• Recoat floors if they start to look dull. The NWFA notes that recoating with wood floor finish every three to five years can renew the appearance of natural wood flooring that might be starting to look a little dull.

Well-maintained wood floors add much to a home's interiors. Some simple maintenance can ensure wood floors remain durable and aesthetically appealing for decades.

On Stage Dance Studio company competes at Bedazzled Dance Competition

Correspondent

The dancers of On Stage Dance Studio descended upon Richmond Hill this past weekend to compete in the Bedazzled Dance Competition held at the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts.

“It’s a beautiful venue for the kids to get the chance to dance at. The professional stage, professional rehearsal hall and the wonderful audience seating, it was just great and everyone danced really, really well,” said On Stage Studio owner and artistic director Meghan Seaman.

Now in its 25th season, the Bedazzled Dance Competition is one of Canada’s leading dance competitions. Its main focus is to provide a fun, safe, positive and inclusive atmosphere for all dancers, studios and families. It gathers dancers from the Greater Toronto Area and southwestern Ontario to compete on stage before an audience.

Everyone from On Stage Dance Studio, all 112 dreamers, danced routines with some doing as many as fifteen routines over the three-day event.

“Some of them are really obsessed with dance, much as I was at their age,” Seaman said. “We had our showcase the weekend prior so they got their practice in beforehand. Everyone danced really well.”

There are different divisions based on age to perform in: mini, junior, interme-

France

STRATFORD TIMES STAFF

stratfordtimes@gmail.com

diate and senior. The studio was well represented in all the divisions and placed in each. They were also recognized with overall awards for many different styles of dance as well.

“It’s a really nice thing to see we can be recognized for skill in many different styles of dance across many different age groups. It’s a very well-rounded training that is being shown off,” a proud Seaman commented.

Competitions such as the Bedazzled Dance Competition are an important part of the learning to dance journey.

“It’s always great to have the experience of performing in front of an audience … A competition is first and foremost another performance opportunity for these kids –to get on stage before an audience doing what they love. It’s great team building with everyone cheering for each other,” said Seaman.

It has the added bonus that they receive feedback from the adjudicators. While they are dancing the adjudicators speak over a microphone as the routine is being recorded by video. When they get back to the studio, they can watch the video and hear the feedback giving a great outside perspective of the dance performance.

As this competition was only the second time the dancers have performed on stage this season, the results were very successful for the studio, showing a confident future. Madison, (last name withheld) age seven, was awarded Overall Outstanding Mini Dancer (Mini Division, ages five to seven) and Aria Friesen, age 10, was awarded Overall Outstanding Junior Dancer (Junior Division, ages eight to 11). Other soloist dancers who placed in their overall division top five were: Macy Gibson, Nathan Hodgson, Margot Lefebvre, Allison Richter and Brooklyn Vandenberk.

Recognizing the part that choreography plays in the artistry and creativity of each routine, the teachers were awarded multiple awards including the overall age 12 and under choreography award going to Shaina Wood for her routine "Cool Cats."

The next competition is fast approaching as they leave February 26 (after press time) for Hamilton for the weekend. For more information about OnStage Dance Studio or to register for Spring or Summer sessions, visit onstagestratford.dance.

honours McKennitt’s artistic achievements

Award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Loreena McKennitt has been promoted to the rank of officer of the National Order of Arts and Letters by the Ministry of Culture in the Republic of France for her cultural achievements. She received a medal during a ceremony on Feb. 19th at the Toronto official residence of Bertrand Pous, the French consul general.

Other members of the order include Margaret Atwood, Celine Dion, John Raulston Saul, Elton John and Eric Clapton, to name but a few.

Created by France’s Ministry of Culture in 1957, the order “is intended to reward those who have distinguished themselves with their creations in the cultural or communications field or with their contributions to the influence of the arts and letters in France and worldwide”. McKennitt was appointed to rank of knight of the National Order of Arts and Letters in 2013, while this new appointment represents a higher rank (there are three ranks: knight, officer and commander).

“It gives me great pleasure to hereby

highlight your dedication in the service of culture, which holds such a special place in French people’s hearts,” writes Rachida Dati, Frances’s Minister of Culture in her letter to McKennitt.

“I’m humbled to think of myself as an officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France. And I am grateful to the country of France for continuing to promote the extremely important fields of arts, letters and humanities. They enhance and bridge our relationships which no artificial intelligence will ever give us. They are central to our moral progress as a species” said McKennitt.

The Toronto ceremony was attended by a small cohort of McKennitt’s family, friends, colleagues and dignitaries.

McKennitt has won critical acclaim worldwide and gold, platinum and multi-platinum sales awards in 15 countries across four continents, with 14 million albums sold worldwide. She last performed in France in March 2024, with two sold-out shows at Salle Pleyel as part of The Visit Revisited 30th Anniversary Tour, in celebration of her Juno Award-winning 1991 album The Visit. In France, The Book of Secrets sold over 200,000 copies and The Mask and Mirror received a Gold Award.

This fall, McKennitt will be commemorating the 30th anniversary of her album The Mask and The Mirror with a tour in eastern Canada, including two shows in Montreal. It’s the second leg of the anniversary tour, first performed for

European festival audiences in the summer of 2024.

The tour begins in Moncton, on Oct. 13, 2026 and concludes in Toronto on Oct. 31, stopping in a dozen cities across New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Québec and Ontario.

Memorable Moments: Day programs for seniors with dementia

For families navigating a dementia diagnosis, finding the right support can feel overwhelming. For nearly six years, Memorable Moment Senior Care Services has been working to change that – offering small, dementia-specific community programs designed to feel safe, welcoming and personal.

Founded and operated by Erin Koot, a recreation therapist and personal support worker, the locally owned business provides both private in-home care and structured small-group programming. What sets it apart, Koot says, is the size of the group.

“One of the unique things about our program is that they're all small groups, so our max participant is 10, but for a lot of programs, we actually cap at eight participants. That way it’s not overstimulating for people.”

The programs run weekly and include baking sessions, brunch gatherings, entertainment and community outings. The goal is simple: create meaningful moments while maintaining dignity and independence.

Participants must be able to use the washroom independently with minimal cues and be able to participate in a group setting. Those who use a wheelchair must

be able to self-transfer in the washroom. The program is designed to ensure everyone can engage safely and comfortably without disruption to others.

Unlike many government-funded programs, Memorable Moment Senior Care Services does not require a doctor’s referral.

“People generally require a referral from a doctor for government-funded programs, but with ours, no referral is necessary. I also offer a free trial day for anyone interested in our programs.”

Koot is also working to make the service more financially accessible. She is pursuing government grants that could help offset program fees and potentially fund transportation for participants who need it.

In the meantime, community fundraising efforts are helping to bridge the gap.

Each year, the organization hosts an annual hockey tournament fundraiser, along with events such as a spaghetti dinner, to support low-income seniors.

“Every year, we run an annual hockey tournament fundraiser. Last year, we raised enough to cover a low-income senior spot in the program for a year.”

For families looking for dementia-specific programming in a calm, small-group setting, Memorable Moment Senior Care Services offers an option that focuses less on numbers and more on connection. More information is available at www.memorableseniorcare.ca, by email at memorableseniorcare@outlook.com or by calling 519-275-4902.

Hiring AZ Driver - St. Marys, ON

Full Time Schedule: Monday–Friday, Daytime hours

Rate: $27/hour + valuable perks and benefits

Join Turf Care Products Canada, recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, who has been supporting the golf course and professional turf industry for 50 years.

We are looking for a dependable, customer focused Commercial AZ Driver at our St. Marys location (14 Given Road).

This is a great opportunity for a driver who wants steady, year-round work, a strong company culture, and a schedule that supports work-life balance.

• Daytime hours, you’re home every evening

• 100% employer paid health & dental benefits

• Performance bonus program

• Employer matching Group RRSP to help you invest in your future

• Health & Wellness Spending Benefit

• Assigned equipment, no constant truck swapping

• Engaging regional routes across Ontario

• Valid AZ licence with a clean driving abstract and minimum 5 years of AZ driving experience

• Professional, reliable, and safety minded approach

If you’re looking for a role with predictable hours, supportive leadership, and great benefits, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today: hr@turfcare.ca

Our plan to protect Ontario is building new nuclear facilities

As Canada stares down economic uncertainty, we’re ready with a plan to protect Ontario. We’re building the first small modular reactors in the G7, and the first large-scale nuclear facilities in decades. Creating 150,000 new jobs.

That’s how we protect Ontario.

STRATFORD SPORTS

Warriors continue to roll, Bender gets honoured

MICHAEL WILLOUGHBY

Times Correspondent

The Stratford Hunter Steel Warriors had another strong showing this week, extending their winning streak and having a member of its organization recognized by the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL).

Having secured their playoff spot last weekend, the Warriors continued to aim for an improved playoff seeding as they faced the St. Thomas Stars, Waterloo Siskins and Strathroy Rockets.

The reliable goaltending tandem of Noah Bender and Gage Hurst has helped the Warriors extend their four-game winning streak.

Head coach Dave Williams underlined the importance of the duo developing positive form and expressed hope that this trend continues in the coming week.

“It’s good that both of them were able to get in there and have solid games and contribute to all three wins. So, I thought our weekend was good, from our goaltending to our defence and to our forwards. I thought we did a lot of good things,” Williams said.

“Now, the thing is just to be able to consistently do them again this upcoming weekend against three very competitive opponents, again, three teams that are, you know, battling for those in their

Stratford Warriors 2025-26 Stats

(as of February 23, 2026)

Player Pos GP G A PTS

Jonas Schmidt F 37 20 19 39

Colin Slattery F 41 12 24 36

Max Wildfong F 44 20 14 34

Quinn Kipfer F 40 13 20 33

Coen Galbraith F 44 11 19 30

Lucas Minard F 43 12 12 24

Will Coward D 41 3 21 24

Evan Arnold F 37 14 9 23

Aaron Green D 38 9 11 20

Joseph Curtin D 45 4 16 20

McQuen Haylock F 44 4 15 19

Dax Vader F 42 5 13 18

Drew Hodge D 45 3 15 18

Haden Frayne D 41 3 14 17

Dominic Marshall F 45 11 5 16

Grady Murphy F 40 9 7 16

Rhyse Brown F 40 4 9 13

Cruz Ferguson F 14 7 2 9

Jaxon Broda D 15 2 7 9

Mateo Craievich D 33 0 8 8

Colten Brenzil F 2 1 0 1

Cody Billings D 1 0 0 0

Goalies Record GAA SV-%

Gage Hurst

playoff spots. We anticipate having to be equally as good this weekend if you want to win.”

Colin Slattery and Cruz Ferguson praised both Bender and Hurst.

“We got two of the best goalies in the league. We got confidence in both of them,” Slattery said.

“Both those guys (Bender and Hurst) can steal us some games, especially going to the playoffs. I thought Bender played unreal,” Ferguson said.

Rhyse Brown and Joseph Curtin support the tandem and outlined the game plan for the upcoming week.

“Yeah, I think both of those guys battled hard. They're both great goaltenders, and we can trust them night in, night out. So yeah, I think it was really good for both of them to play real ly well, and again, keep that role,” Brown said.

With 68 seconds left in the second period, Ferguson ended his four-game scoring drought by scoring his sixth goal as a Warrior and his 23rd of the season, from Slattery and Quinn Kipfer. Thanks to the two assists, Slattery has earned seven points over his last five games.

Murphy iced the game for Stratford at the midway mark of the final frame with his ninth of the season from Dominic Marshall and Rhyse Brown.

“I think we need to follow what we did last weekend, play hard, work hard, get bucks down, down in deep and go to work and get on teams as we can; the results will come well.”

“Yeah, absolutely. They're both great goaltenders. They make the big stops that we need them to make. It's a calming presence having them back there,” Curtin said.

“Just continue to play hard and get pucks behind teams' defence and just grind away right away. Keep getting these wins.”

On Feb. 20, the Warriors played against the St. Thomas Stars. Before the game, the team recognized and thanked the billet families and Zehrs for their ongoing support and contributions throughout the season.

Evan Arnold gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead as he scored his 14th goal of the season from Colin Slattery and Will Coward at the midway point of the first period. With the goal, Arnold has five points in the last four games.

Bender earned his second career GOHL shutout and 16th win of the season as he stopped all 12 shots

Despite a solid defensive effort and Bender’s strong performance, the Warriors had difficulty producing offensive efficiency. After the game, Williams stated that the victory boosted the netminder's and the team's confidence, but he also criticized the offensive strategy.

“It’s a good thing to win 3-0. We haven't had a lot of shutouts this year, so I think that's the nice thing for Noah to experience, for the group to experience, with Noah a little confidence here heading into the stretch try before the playoffs,” Williams said.

“But, yeah, I mean, I thought we were a little sloppy. We're trying to force plays that weren't there, make lateral plays on entries and things like that, and turn pucks over at different times. I thought it was a little stale at times, and we're looking for a perfect shot, rather than just trying to generate a quality shot play off that rebound.”

Murphy has high praise for the netminder.

“I thought it was good for Bender to get some confidence back and be ready for the playoffs,” Murphy said.

Bender felt positive about his performance and noted that, despite his confidence remaining steady, his recent wins have boosted his morale.

“Yeah, it was great. The boys did a great

GOHL Western Conference Standings

job tonight. Really helped me out. Made a little bit easier. I'm definitely very confident in the defensemen that I have in front of me, and I think they're pretty confident in me,” Bender said. “My confidence was never gone. It's always been there, but the wins, for sure, helped.”

On Feb. 22, the Warriors travelled to Waterloo for an early matinée tilt against the Siskins. Before the game, both teams honoured referee Phil Rawn, who was officiating his final game.

Ferguson scored his seventh goal with the Warriors midway through the first period. The game remained 1-0 in favour of the visitors until Kipfer, assisted by Murphy, scored his 13th goal of the season, securing a 2-0 victory, their sixth consecutive win.

Bender kept his strong week of performances going with 18 saves, earning his second consecutive shutout, his third of the season, and his 17th win of the year.

Hours before the Feb. 23 game, the GOHL honoured Bender with the league’s Western Conference Performer of the Week award. In his three starts, the Wellesley-native posted a 3-0 record with a .970 save percentage and a 0.97 goalsagainst average, along with two shutouts.

Stratford aimed to conclude a successful week by hosting the Strathroy Rockets at the Allman Arena on Feb. 23.

The Warriors controlled the game with offensive pressure, outshooting the Rockets 38-10 over 60 minutes, but were unable to score. In overtime, Strathroy scored the only goal at 4:07 of the extra frame. Stratford netminder Gage Hurst made 10 saves in the loss.

Despite their overtime defeat, the Warriors extended their point streak to eight consecutive games (6-0-2-0), earning 14 of a possible 16 points.

Williams appreciated the team’s overall effort but noted the limited opportunities to create more significant scoring chances near the Strathroy crease.

“I didn't mind how we played tonight. Would like to see us get a little bit more traffic around. Traffic around the net. Definitely generated a decent amount of shots, but I think some of them are still a little easy for him (Strathroy netminder Seth Ronan). We need to make it a little more challenging for him to find some of those pucks,” Williams said.

“We just went nine periods without giving up a goal. So, as much as it kind of sucks, losing. We grab the point, and we've been defending really, really well here the last number of games.”

As of press time, Stratford is in fourth place in the Western Conference with 66 points, three points ahead of London. They are just two points behind second-place St. Marys and one point behind third-place Elmira.

The Warriors head south on Highway 7 to play against the St. Marys Lincolns on Feb. 27, followed by an away game at Strathroy against the Rockets on Feb. 28.

Irish season ends on home ice

WILLOUGHBY Times Correspondent

On Feb. 21, Stratford was looking to reverse their misfortune in the first two games against the rival Strathroy Jets in game three at Strathroy.

The Jets scored first just 70 seconds into the game and added another goal at 4:41 of the opening period. Stratford responded before the end of the first frame, with Travis Winkworth scoring from Christian Polillo to close the gap to 2-1. But the Jets retook the momentum in the second period with a goal midway through the period and added another late in the middle frame to go ahead 4-1 after 40 minutes. The Jets added one more with over two minutes left in the game to go up 3-0 in the series.

Irish netminder Zachery Weir made 21 saves in the game three loss.

With their season on the line, the Irish returned home to the Allman Arena on Feb. 22 for game four against the Jets.

Irish captain Zach Magwood scored

first from Polillo and Matthew Fuller just 22 seconds into the game. However, the Jets responded with three unanswered goals in a little over three minutes.

Stratford responded with goals from Nick Giunta and Connor Hall, including one from Polillo, with 4:06 left in the opening frame, but the Jets restored their two-goal lead just over two minutes later.

The score stayed at 4-2 for the Jets until 4:04 in the final period, when they scored again, sealing the Irish’s season and making it 5-2.

The promising first season of the Strat ford Irish in the Northern Premier Hock ey League concluded with a loss in the playoff series against the Strathroy Jets in four games.

Round 1 Playoff Schedule – Strath roy (2) vs. Stratford (3)

Game one – Stratford 3 Strathroy 4

Game two – Strathroy 5 Stratford 4 (OT)

Game three – Stratford 1 Strathroy 5

Game four – Strathroy 5 Stratford 2

Strathroy wins series 4-0

Nuclear energy is powering new jobs

We’re creating over 150,000 new jobs during the construction and operation of our new nuclear facilities, delivering new opportunities for workers.

That’s how we protect Ontario.

MINOR SPORTS SCRAPBOOK

Scarlett Bell winds up for a backhand puck play during the U11 C Stratford Aces game last Tuesday.

Lakers shut out the Canucks in postseason opener

The Huron-Perth U16 AAA Lakers began their quest for the ALLIANCE U16 AAA Championship on Feb. 22 as they hosted the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks in the opening game of their best three-of-five first-round series at the Stratford Rotary Complex.

After a stalemate opening period, which featured both Rylan Da Costa and Tyler Wilkinson sharing goaltending duties for a short time, Callum Brooks opened the scoring for the Lakers with a powerplay goal from Wyatt Finch and Declan McCotter at 5:49 of the second period.

In the third period, the Lakers added insurance with the goal by Evan Mill-

er from Brooks just less than 90 seconds into the final frame. From there, netminder Da Costa and the defence preserved the lead and overcame a double-minor penalty midway through the period to take game one with the score of 2-0.

Lakers head coach Jason Brooks shared his thoughts on the game and Da Costa's performance, also explaining the early-game situation that led him to temporarily switch the two goalies.

“I thought Elgin (Elgin-Middlesex) played a really hard, tough game, and I think we had a little bit of nerves, and I think it showed, but we battled through it and found a way to get it done, and that's what's most important,” Brooks said.

“(Da Costa) came up with the timely

saves when we needed them. He slowed the game down, absorbing rebounds and limiting second-chance opportunities, which was huge. I thought Tyler came in when Rylan had the equipment issue. I thought he did a great job, too. That win is totally because of our goaltending. They both played exceptionally.”

Leading scorer Callum Brooks praised the team’s overall performance, highlighting especially the work of the starting netminder, Da Costa.

“Yeah, we played well as a team. We got lots of shots, and eventually they played really well, too, and their goalie was stopping them. But eventually we got our chances, and we buried a couple. With the performance by Rylan today in a defensive game plan, winter, pretty good against Elgin,” Brooks said.

To clarify, the series is a best-of-five format, with the team needing three wins in a maximum of six games to advance.

U16 AAA ALLIANCE quarterfinal schedule (Huron-Perth Lakers vs. Elgin-Middlesex Canucks)

Game one: Elgin-Middlesex 0 Huron-Perth 2

Game two: Feb. 24 at Komoka, 7 p.m.

Game three: Feb. 27 at Stratford Rotary Complex Rink A, 9 p.m.

Game four: Feb. 28 at Komoka, 4:45 p.m., if necessary

Game five: March 1 at Stratford Rotary Complex Rink B, 3:15 p.m., if necessary

Game six: March 2 at Komoka, 7:15 p.m., if necessary Lakers lead series 1-0

Aces begin their postseason journey

of the regular season.

The Stratford Humphrey Fleet Service U18 AA Aces faced the Saugeen Maitland Lightning in the opening round of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA)-Southern Tier II Championship playoffs, and the start of the best-of-three OWHA Playdowns.

On Feb. 19, Stratford secured game one of the best-of-three series with a 2-0 victory over the Lightning at the Howick Community Centre in Gorrie. Two days later, on Feb. 20, the Aces aimed to move on to the second round in front of their home crowd at the Stratford Rotary Complex.

Brooklynn Ahrens put the Aces on the scoreboard first with a powerplay goal at 5:06 in the first period. The score stayed 1-0 until late in the third period, when Skylar Macey sealed the game with an empty-net goal with 1:48 remaining.

The Aces maintained their lead thanks to strong defence and excellent goaltending from Callie Aldridge, securing the series with a 2-0 victory. With the series sweep, the Aces have won seven of their last eight games dating back to the end

After the game, Aces head coach Sean Cameron highlighted the significance of teamwork in securing the series-clinching victory.

“Today, there were three things that happened: team, team and team. That was an effort from all 17 girls today. I'm so proud of them. That's two playoff games against a very tough team, and to shut them out. Both times, our goaltending has been fantastic,” Cameron said.

“We were just talking in a dressing room, how since Christmas, we've just come together as a group, and you know, why not us? That's what we believe, and the girls are believing in everything we do, and it's been shown on the ice.”

Aldridge says she’s glad the team secured the series victory against a tough opponent.

“It feels good to get the win tonight. It means we always want to beat them as much as we can, and it feels good to get those two wins in a row, and we're advancing,” Aldridge said.

Stratford will face the Kitchener Jr. Lady Rangers in the next round of the OWHA-Southern playoffs. Stratford will travel to Kitchener for game one on

Feb. 26, and host game two at the Rotary Complex Rink A on March 2.

This won't be the final encounter of the year between the two teams. Both Stratford and Saugeen Maitland will also compete in the OWHA Playdowns, which serve as the qualifiers for the provincials. Both teams began their provincial tournament aspirations on Feb. 22.

To clarify the confusion between the playoff and playdown formats, Cameron explained their differences.

“The playoffs are for league play, like your traditional league play, and provincials for playdowns, that's to go to the big provincial tournament, where the province is broken down into areas, and each area sends either one, two or three representatives, and there's a big tournament at the end of the year,” Cameron said.

“It's what we focus on when we started practicing in Wellesley in August. We've talked about it since day one, and that's our focus: getting to the provincial tournament.”

The Aces travelled to the Teeswater Community Centre for the opener of the OWHA U18 AA Playdown series on Feb. 22, but dropped a 2-1 decision

to the Lightning. The two teams meet again at the William Allman Memorial Arena for game two on Feb. 28.

Stratford Aces vs. Saugeen Maitland Lightning (OWHA-Southern Round 1 Series)

Game one: Aces 2 Lightning 0

Game two: Lightning 0 Aces 2

Stratford wins the series 2-0

Stratford Aces vs. Saugeen Maitland Lightning (OWHA Provincial Playdowns)

Game one: Aces 1 Lightning 2 (SML Leads 1-0)

Game two: Stratford Allman Arena (Feb. 28, 1:30 p.m.)

Game three: Mildmay Arena (Mar. 7 – 11:30 a.m., if necessary)

Stratford Aces vs. Kitchener Lady Rangers (OWHA-Southern Round 2 Series)

Game one: Stratford vs. Kitchener (Grand River Arena – Feb. 26, 8:30 p.m.)

Game two: Kitchener vs. Stratford (Rotary Complex Rink A – March 2, 7 p.m.)

Game three: Stratford vs. Kitchener (Grand River Arena – March 5, 8:30 p.m., if necessary)

U18 Warriors outlast Woodstock on Seniors Day, playoffs announced

son on a high note after their 10-0 blowout defeat to the Kitchener Jr. Rangers back on Feb. 18 at the Rotary Complex.

On Feb. 21, the Stratford U18 AA Warriors recognized nine graduating members prior to their game against the Woodstock Jr. Navy Vets on Seniors Day at the Stratford Rotary Complex. Accompanied by the U8 Warriors, Owen Blain, Charlie Halloway, Owen Chambers, Josh Goodhue, Taten Mikel, Hudson Gordon, Cameron Parsons, Riley Vyse and Rylan DeBoeck were recognized during the ceremony.

Stratford aimed to end the regular sea-

Following a scoreless and reserved first period, Woodstock took a 1-0 lead 4:07 into the second period. Stratford’s special teams were very busy in the middle frame, and the Warriors failed to capitalize on three powerplay opportunities.

But Stratford managed to break through in the final frame. Caden Ollson tied the game 2:06 into the period from Mikel and Lucas Pickard. Following their unsuccessful abbreviated power-

play, Stratford took the lead when Blain scored midway through the final frame from Parsons and Nate Van Bakel. Halloway’s goal at 4:06, assisted by Goodhue and Chambers, put the Warriors ahead 3-1. Ollson secured the victory for the home team with his second goal of the game on an empty net. The game saw three Woodstock players receive game misconducts and a total of 11 penalties from both teams, all happening in the final two periods.

Netminder Vyse gets the win for the Warriors.

During the postgame interview with the Times, Stratford head coach Riley Mathieson talked about the result and what the day meant for the program as the team heads towards the playoffs.

“It was an exciting night for our older players, a little ceremony beforehand to send them off for their last regular season game and home game, and it couldn't have been finished in any better fashion than it was. We seem to rise to the big occasions when called upon, whether in a tournament or in other important games along the way this year,” Mathieson said.

“The effort today was evidence of that consistency, and hopefully it continues through the playoffs. It would have been nice to get some momentum started a

little bit earlier this month, and leading up to the playoffs. But better late than never, and I'll take it now. Hopefully it continues next week as we start our playoff series against the Knights.”

The Warriors will compete against the London White Jr. Knights in the ALLIANCE AA-A Bristol Playdowns semi-finals on Feb. 28 at 7:45 p.m. in Rink B at the Stratford Rotary Complex. The series is a best-of-three to five, with the Warriors hosting games one, three, and, if needed, game five.

ALLIANCE AA-A Bristol Playdowns semifinals – (2) Stratford Warriors vs. (3) London Jr. Knights White

Game one: London vs. Stratford (Rotary Complex – Rink B) Feb. 28, 7:45 p.m.

Game two: Stratford vs. London (Western Fair Sports Centre – Chik-fil-a Rink) March 2, 8:15 p.m.

Game three: London vs. Stratford (Rotary Complex – Rink A) March 5, 9 p.m.

Game four: Stratford vs. London (Earl Nichols Arena) March 6, 8 p.m., if needed

Game five: London vs. Stratford (William Allman Memorial Arena) March 8, 5 p.m., if needed

Game six: Stratford vs. London (Western Fair Sports Centre – Chik-fil-a Rink) March 9, 8:15 p.m., if needed

Bowling League High Scores

Men's

Kyle Turner 347-828 triple

Kyle McNall 350

Larry Palmby 830 triple

Ladies’

April Hallam 309-709 triple Brooke Louwagie 775 triple

V-ETTES

Shirley Campbell 245-600 triple

Tracy Heathers 234

Wednesday Ladies’

Dawn Keller 200

Louise Spanter 248

United League

Karin Carter 238(106 POA)

Mike Ormond 202

Autumn Stadtlander 215

Nichele Butcher 206

Steven Walker 206, 214-617 triple

Local bowlers compete at Provincial Twosome Regional Qualifier, Championship events

Winners: Owen Martin and Jason Murray – 1,082

Stratford Pin Pals

Thomas Holland 108

Gregory Jones 110

Emily Jones 100

Special Olympics

Jacob Candow 100

Marcy Whitesel 133

Nashon Moylan 151

Tiffany Keller 150,260(105 POA)- 410 series

Nicolas Graham 182

Luke Patterson 176,243

Meghan O Donovan 153,162

Mike Kelemen 155

Dan Noon 207

Jacob Kaufman 154,155

Derek Wray 153

Marie Martin 165

YBC Scores

Bowlasaurus

Dominic Rowe 135

Evangeline Butcher-Bontrup 110

Pee-Wee

Lincoln Butcher-Cassidy 101

Stella Hurley St Pierre 115, 117-313 series

Rowan Eckert 100

Adrian Klomp 113

In-House Round Results:

Bantam Division

Class One:

Winners: Serenity and Mel Robb - 935

Runners-up: Kylie Smith and Jacob Hamilton – 816

Class Two:

Winners: Leo Parker and Mike Taylor966

Runners-up: Kayleigh Heegsma and Steve Mitchell - 887

Junior Division

Class One:

Winners: Mckenna and Scott Morris967

Class Two:

Winners: Hugo and Tony Black - 980

Runners-up: Ruby Parker and Brooke Louwagie – 950

Senior Division

Class One:

Winners: Mayla and Carl Laukka - 928

Runners-up: Yulia and Mike Mooers

Class Two:

Runners-up: Wiatt Robinson and Irene Louwagie – 1,030

Regional Results – Feb. 22, 2026

Bantam Division

Class One: Serenity and Mel Robb - 817 (sixth place)

Class Two: Leo Parker and Mike Taylor923 (sixth place)

Junior Division

Class One: Mckenna and Scott Morris965 (first place, advancing to Provincials)

Class Two: Hugo and Tony Black - 997 (fifth place)

Senior Division

Class One: Mayla and Carl Laukka - 856 (second place, advancing to Provincials)

Class Two: Owen Martin and Jason Murray - 920 (eighth place)

One highlight of the day came from the Junior division class-one pair, of Mckenna and Scott Morris, who captured first place and secured their spot at Provincials. Senior Class one Mayla and Carl Laukka also advance to Provincials with a strong second place finish.

Grey Davidson 102, 105-312

Scarlett Ill man 142, 144-373

Addi Kollman 107,114, 116-337

Junior

Ruby Parker 156,245(123 POA)-500 triple

Mckenna Morris 151,183, 194-528 triple

Ryan Scheerer 172,244-536 triple

Anna Ward 183, 186,276(104 POA)-645 triple

Brianne Bauer 165

Lauren Furtney 166,187, 194-547 triple

Abby Smith 177

Brent Louwagie 154,181-461 triple

Sydney Shillolo 222

Austin Janmaat 159, 164-450 triple

Myla Douglas 154,180,220

Hugo Black 160, 188-497 triple

Tyler Koch 172

Senior

Austin Bauer 202,204-563 triple

Peyton Boyles Keating 225,239,253-717 triple

Dominic Boyles Keating 185,232,251-668 triple

Zachary Clarke 218,221,259-698 triple

Alex Ward 171,220,233-624 triple

Sydney Smith 174,182,194

Bantam

Roland Rains 299(164POA)-581

Patrick Adair 185

Spencer Kayle 143-363

Connor Tiegs 154

Annika Klomp 123

Coen Everitt 107-274

Austin Martin 218

Owen Martin 188,223-594 triple

Julian Colalillo 209

Claire Turner 259

Mayla Laukka 214

Jocelyn Gethke 188

Payton Petrie 209,281-644 series

Stratford Public Library honours Freedom to Read Week

The Stratford Public Library is honouring Freedom to Read Week with a variety of activities, during a time when censorship is rampant in North America.

Freedom to Read Week runs from Feb. 22 to 28 and honours the right to intellectual freedom. The Stratford Public Library’s received a positive reception for its Freedom to Read programming such as displays for banned and challenged books, buttons, a “caught reading” selfie station, trivia with prizes, and a special edition library card design that says, “Read dangerously.”

“I think in Stratford and Perth County we are fortunate to have supportive members of the public who are excited to be part of a library that values their rights to access whatever literature, art, and information they may need,” said Emma Brommer, public services librarian.

Book bans have occurred across North America in the past few years, including within Alberta and Ontario school boards.

"Attempts to censor literature, art, other media persists today. It’s not something of the past and it threatens to erode democracy not just south of the border, where a lot of people point to, but here in Canada and Ontario as well,” Brommer said.

Brommer added that if censorship and book bans are happening at school libraries, attend school board meetings and stand up for librarians and their decisions around what content is available. She encourages the community to support public libraries of all kinds.

"Join your library if you haven't already a member. If you are and it's been a while, maybe just call in and renew your library card,” she said.

Anyone in need of a new library card can get one of the “Read dangerously” cards at no extra cost to them. Those who already have a Stratford Public Library card in good condition but want a “Read Dangerously” card anyway can purchase one for $2.

More information about the library’s Freedom to Read programming can be found online by visiting https://splibrary.ca/freedomtoread.

Kindness builds community – a message from our new director of community engagement

I was always the kid who was told I was “too sensitive” or “too nice.” Even now, people still tell me I should be more direct, tougher, or “show them who’s boss.” But that has never really been how I move through the

world.

Many readers know I began my career as a nurse. Later, during the pandemic, I finally followed my dream and began taking journalism courses through the University of Toronto, hoping to become a writer in some capacity one day. That leap changed my life in ways I never expected.

I’ve always preferred a good book or a small group of friends over loud parties or big crowds. I love meeting people one-onone in little cafés across the region, learning who they are and where they’ve come from.

Ten years ago, I might have thought that kind of sensitivity was a weakness. But writing for a local newspaper taught me

the opposite. It’s actually what allows me to connect, to listen and to build relationships – and those relationships don’t just help me grow, they help our whole community grow too.

That’s why, when I was offered the opportunity to take on a new role at Grant Haven Media, I felt genuinely excited. Not only is it a position the company needs, it’s one that feels as though it was made for someone like me.

As the new director of community engagement, I see my role as a bridge between our company, our communities, our supporters and, most importantly, you – the readers. It’s a chance to help shape how Grant Haven Media is seen across

southwestern Ontario, and to make sure local voices are heard, valued and reflected in the stories we tell.

Through this journey, I’ve learned a few things: I love writing. I love my community. And yes, I really do love my job (I’ve also been told I use the words “I love” far too often – guilty as charged).

What makes this even more meaningful is finding a workplace filled with people who feel a little like me. The kind ones. The observant ones. The people who might once have been labelled too soft, too eager, or too sensitive. Somehow, in this company of writers and storytellers, I found a kind of family – people who notice things, care

deeply and believe in lifting others up rather than pushing them down.

We don’t have to bully our way to the top. We don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to matter. Sometimes simply showing up as you are – kind, thoughtful, curious and sincere – is enough to move you exactly where you’re meant to be.

I’m finally realizing that being the sensitive, friendly woman who loves people and stories might not just be okay – it might be exactly what is helping shape the world we need.

If you have a community event coming up, a story to share, or just want to say hello, I’d love to hear from you. Please email me at amandajanewriter@gmail.com.

Stratford Times to be recognized at 2025 OCNA Better Newspapers Competition gala

STRATFORD TIMES STAFF

stratfordtimes@gmail.com

Representatives from the Stratford Times and other Grant Haven Media newspapers will join media from across the province at the 2025 Ontario Community Newspapers Association’s (OCNA) Better Newspapers Competition and Hall of Fame Awards Dinner in Collingwood April 24.

On Feb. 13, the competition’s judges announced the finalists across numerous BNC categories aimed at recognizing the best in reporting, writing, advertising and graphic design among community newspapers across Ontario. The Times was nominated as a finalist in two categories.

Times editor Connor Luczka was named a finalist in the Best Editorial, circulation under 8,000 category for his piece, “Winner and Waster, forever,” published in the Sept. 12, 2025 edition of the Times; and Times reporter Amanda Nelson was nominated as a finalist in the Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo category for her front-page photo of the May 30, 2025 edition.

The full list of Grant Haven Media finalists are:

• Arts and Entertainment: Paris Independent – Edward Lander

• Best Business and Finance Story: Simcoe Advocate –Jeff Tribe; and Tillsonburg Post – Jeff Helsdon

• Best Editorial, circulation under 8,000: Stratford Times

– Connor Luczka

• Best Editorial Cartoon: Paris Independent – Chris Whelan

• Best Guest/Freelance Column: Simcoe Advocate – Jeff Tribe

• Best Health and Wellness Story: Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette – Galen Simmons

• Reporter of the Year - Stephen Shaw Award: Tillsonburg Post – Jeff Helsdon

• Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo: Stratford Times –Amanda Nelson

• Photographer of the Year: Paris Independent – Michelle Malvaso

• Best Sports Section: Simcoe Advocate

• Special Section: Woodstock Ingersoll Echo – Farm Edition 2025

STRATFORD

Grant Haven Media newspapers also received honourable mentions in the following categories:

• Best Guest/Freelance Column: Stratford Times – Loreena McKennitt

• Best Creative Ad: Simcoe Advocate – Michelle Foster; St. Marys Independent – Erin Parsons; and Stratford Times – Sarah Cairns

• Best Use of Colour: Tillsonburg Post – Stacie Eden

Restoring small-town journalism, one community at a time!

Publisher

Stewart Grant • stew@granthaven.com

Editor

Connor Luczka • connor@granthaven.com

Times Reporter

Amanda Nelson • amandajanewriter@gmail.com

Graphic Design / Sales Inquiries

Sarah Cairns • stratfordtimes@gmail.com

Business Development

Heather Dunbar • heather@granthaven.com

Billing Administrator

Cindy Boakes • boakescindy1576@gmail.com

Contributors

Galen Simmons, Spencer Seymour, Julia Schneider, Gary West, Paul Knowles, Emily Stewart, Lisa Chester, Fred Gonder, Sheila Clarke, Irene Roth, Lee Griffi, Stuart Lender, Sydney Goodwin, Julia Paul, Patrick D. Burk

Opinions

UNTIL SOON. LIVE WELL: SILENCE IS GOLDEN

STUART LENDER Times Columnist

Silence Prayer: “As it is in death, so let it be in life. In all things profound – let us be speechless. Let us take the time to feel the pregnant silence, to be aware, to be still in the face of ineffable beauty, inexpressible grief, unutterable gratefulness – so that we may remove the shroud of ego from the heart.”

It took me a long time to understand that when we triumph in an endeavour, witness tremendous beauty or experience a traumatic or grandiose event – silence brings the most profound response. Yet despite my life-long requirement in having a space for

seclusion that nurtures contemplation, sometimes as simple as an empty room – I had not, for a very long time, completely come to terms with the need I had for withdrawal that would rise up within me, particularly after a trauma: when a death occurred, when a relationship splintered, when a job was lost. The need for solitude. I was left with an everso-slight guilt of not dealing, not fighting, not rising to meet the challenge of my reclamation.

That is, I think, the standard of the human condition for many who are taught from an early age: when you get knocked down, get up, brush it off, fight the adversity in daily living – as if it is the glory of our species to rise unscathed and overcome.

Time. All in due time. There is a more potent fuel for the ignition of the flame than the sheer action of moving forward and getting back to the business at hand. For the certain resurrection of the phoenix from the ashes, stronger, more enlightened, there is stillness that precedes it. That is certainly clear after a death occurs, after the flowers wither and the flood of condolences cease,

after the phone stops ringing and the voices dwindle and become hushed. There is silence. One should dwell in it for a time.

Within that solace, in those moments after some weighty event, between the doing and the being of oneself, lies the soul that speaks without words. And when it speaks it whispers into the silence we have allowed to bloom and we may feel what is being spoken, but only upon the spirit having simmered and having been allowed to gently bubble up to a surface of clear conscience without affectation. At times those feelings are warm with compassion and at others they are blades that cut out the lies we have told ourselves. Most often, whatever feeling grows – is truth. “Humans are a little afraid of being alone, being still. Because we’re afraid to know ourselves, we find difficulty in knowing one another. Because we don't know how to withdraw into ourselves, we find it hard to fully go out to other people.” –John O'Donohue (poet/author/ philosopher)

Silence may be a refuge to some as it often is for me, yet to

others, a fearful interlude – and in the gap between lies some truth about the human condition, about our ability or inability to be able to tolerate ourselves and our thoughts. This space is not usually addressed or even noticed through the course of our daily living. We’re busy in our jobs, in conversation, through the tiny interactions we barely notice in exchange with others. But there are some who seek it out, this time that we create for reflection, this communing with oneself – and still others who oppose it through constant motion or distraction. But once within it, I can say, there is grounding. The solid earth. Not the bog of uncertainty or doubt. A refuge where fear dissipates, conviction swells. Where the silence has made one unafraid, as it has me. Unafraid of what? Of whom I am, of course. Of the honest answers I find within myself when I am slapped in the face with injustices inflicted upon me by others or my own injustice upon myself. The foolish and reckless injuries that, through silence and stillness, reveal themselves for what they truly are – just hap -

Spring comes gently: A season of new beginnings

It’s hard to believe that spring is right around the corner. We usually celebrate all things spring as we turn the page of our calendar to March.

Spring is my favourite season of the year. There is something quietly comforting about spring. It does not arrive all at once, with bold announcements or dramatic change. Instead, it comes gently. One morning, you notice the sunlight lingering a little longer in the evening. The air feels softer. The snow begins to melt and patches of earth slowly reappear. Before long, birds return, filling the mornings with their familiar

songs. These small changes remind us that something new is unfolding, even if it happens gradually.

Spring reminds us that life is always willing to begin again.

After the long stretch of winter, many of us feel tired in ways that go beyond the physical. Winter can feel heavy. The shorter days and colder weather often lead us to retreat inward. We move more carefully, conserve our energy and sometimes lose touch with the activities that bring us joy. It is easy to feel stuck or weighed down during those months. But spring brings a quiet shift. It offers warmth, light and the gentle reassurance that change is possible.

There is something deeply hopeful about watching the world wake up. You begin to notice things you may have overlooked before. The sunlight streaming through your window feels warmer. The air carries a freshness that was absent during the colder months. Even your own mood may begin to lift, almost without effort. Spring does not demand anything from us. It simply of-

fers an invitation – to notice, to breathe and to begin again. One of the most important lessons that spring teaches us is patience. Nothing in nature rushes. The trees do not force their buds open overnight. The ground softens slowly. Growth happens in its own time. This stands in contrast to the pace of our daily lives, where we often feel pressure to move quickly, accomplish more and constantly push forward. Spring reminds us that meaningful growth cannot be forced. It unfolds naturally, when the conditions are right.

This can be a powerful reminder for our own lives. We do not need to have everything figured out. We do not need to move faster than we are able. Sometimes, simply taking one small step forward is enough. Renewal does not require dramatic change. It often begins with small, gentle actions. Spring encourages us to reconnect with simple pleasures. Opening the windows and letting fresh air fill your home can bring a surprising sense of renewal. Taking a short walk and feeling the warmth of the

penings and misguided thoughts that I either had no control over, or over which my judgement was wrong.

What is a key element to personal freedom if not to be able to clearly see one’s contribution to an outcome, whether good or bad – to keep the eyes open and reflecting upon some significant event, an altercation, a victory, not only through one’s own eyes but the other person’s as well. And to be utterly honest with the one who lives inside oneself –not that random voice in the head that is constantly chattering – but the silent soul that reaches outward for the acknowledgement of one's true nature through all our faltering and ascending glories.

Silence is the arena in which the elusive spirit may be found, and one might come to realize upon dwelling within it, that it is us.

Stuart is a celebrant and the manager of Rutherford Cremation & Funeral Services. It is his privilege to serve, dispel myths, and give information concerning his field of compassionate service.

sun on your face can lift your spirits. Sitting quietly, even for a few moments, allows you to appreciate the present instead of rushing ahead to what comes next. These small experiences help us feel grounded and connected.

Spring also reminds us of resilience. All a long winter, the trees appear bare and lifeless. Gardens remain dormant. The landscape seems quiet and still. But beneath the surface, life continues its invisible work. Roots remain strong. Seeds wait patiently for the right moment to emerge. Nothing is wasted. What appears to be stillness is often preparation.

This truth applies to our own lives as well. There are times when we feel like we are standing still, when progress seems slow or uncertain. We may question whether anything is changing at all. But spring reassures us that growth often happens beneath the surface. Rest is not failure. Periods of quiet and restoration are essential. They allow us to gather strength for what comes next.

Spring also brings a renewed sense of hope. The longer days

and warmer temperatures remind us that difficult seasons do not last forever. Change is part of the natural rhythm of life. Just as winter gives way to spring, challenges can give way to new beginnings. We are reminded that renewal is not something we need to force. It is something we allow.

You do not need to make dramatic plans to embrace the season. Simply noticing the changes around you is enough. Pay attention to the light. Listen to the sounds of birds in the morning. Notice how the air feels different. These small moments help us reconnect with ourselves and with the world around us. Spring does not ask us to become someone new. It simply invites us to return to ourselves with gentleness and patience. It reminds us that renewal is always possible, no matter how long the winter has felt. Spring comes quietly, but its message is powerful. Life continues. Growth is always possible. And with time, warmth and light return – not only to the world around us, but within us as well.

Happy spring everyone!

COMING EVENTS Email to

STRATFORD SCRABBLE CLUB

Anne Hathawy Residence 480 Downie St., Stratford Meets every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for 3 games. Check our website for further details stratfordscrabble.ca

CROKINOLE

Every Tuesday at the Agriplex in the Ritsma Room from 1-4 p.m. Ladies and gentlemen, fingers or sticks. For more information call Oliver Davidson 519-508-5664

STRATFORD ASTRONOMY GROUP MEETINGS

St. Michael Catholic Secondary School, 240 Oakdale

OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP MEETING

Tuesday, March 3; 7:00 p.m.

93 Morgan St., Stratford

Speakers – Jamie Church and Colleen McConnell from Best Buy Medical. They will inform us of their services for ostomates. Social time and snacks. Everyone welcome. 519-273-4327

LENTON LUNCH

Wed., Mar. 4; 12:00 Noon

Immaculate Conception RC Church

$15.00 Speaker: Bruno Hacquebard (Jubilee Stratford

LEARN2SHINE PERFORMANCE CLUB

Monthly on Sundays from, 2-4pm

Infinity Dance 451 Erie St.

Next meeting March 22. Suitable for everyone in the family aged 7 and up. A chance to sing, dance, say lines. Registration $20+HST/person, with 15% discount if registering 3 or more. www.mckinnamanagement.com

SHANE COOK & THE WOODCHIPPERS

Friday March 27; 7 p.m.

Avondale Church, 194 Avondale Ave

A joyous musical journey through fresh, original fiddle

Deadline: Tuesday prior at 3 p.m.

Contact: stratfordtimes@gmail.com

The Community Calendar is for non-profit organizations to promote their free admission events at no charge. Event listings can include your event name, date, time and location as well as a phone number, email address or website.

If your event is not free admission or you would like to include more details than stated above, you have the following options:

Coming Events Word Ad in Classified section (50 word max.) - $10 + hst

Coming Events Boxed Word Ad in Classified section (50 word max.) - $15 + hst

Display Ad - Sizes begin at a classified business card size for $35 + hst

Worship With Us

A.N.A.F.

Stratford

Stratford

United

Blowes

Stratford

Stratford

The

Dick's

The

Town

North

Annie’s

Avon

OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO: Art and imagination on display at the Clay and Glass Gallery

Let’s be honest: you may have never heard of the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery. Or, if you have, you probably have never visited the place.

Well, I am here to suggest that you rectify that situation, immediately, because there are a large number of special things about the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery that truly make it worth a visit.

First, it’s unique. Located near Uptown Waterloo, it is the only art gallery in the country that is exclusively dedicated to exhibiting and collecting contemporary Canadian glass, ceramic, enamel and stained glass works of art.

Second, the folks at the gallery are brilliant at staging exhibitions. If you are a museum goer who is just a bit tired of crammed display cases and claustrophobic exhibition rooms, you are going to love the Clay and Glass. The building, which opened in 1993, is the very definition of spacious. More about this later.

Third, the exhibitions are always fresh. Clay and Glass PR director William Hlowatzki told us that the exhibitions are changed up every season. Right now, there are four exhibitions that will be on display for the next few months only.

Fourth, the gift shop offers a

spectacular array of handcrafted glass and clay jewelry and other giftware made by Canadian artisans, many of them local to the southern Ontario region.

Fifth – and this may seem too good to be true – admission is free. Yes, anyone can enjoy the unique works in the Clay and Glass any time it is open – and it’s open six days a week, closed only on Mondays.

I asked William how free admission could be possible, since clearly this is a professionally managed institution with staff, acquisition budgets and operating costs. He pointed to the list of donors – private people, corporations, foundations and government bodies –that keep this amazing institution afloat and moving ahead.

According to the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery’s website, the museum owes its existence to Canadian ceramic artist Ruth Gowdy McKinley, a

founding member of “Ceramics Canada.” When she died in 1981, her colleagues in that organization began to envision an art gallery honouring her memory that would focus on works created in clay, glass and enamel. The plan quickly moved forward; ground was broken in 1989 and the new gallery opened in 1993. The building was designed by Patricia Patkau of Patkau Architects of Vancouver and was honoured with a Governor General’s Award for design. What makes that an even more significant accomplishment is, as William told us, the Clay and Glass was Patkau’s first public building.

In parallel with the construction of the physical building was an endowment campaign led by the late Winifred Shantz and former board chair Ann Roberts, herself a ceramic artist of note and a professor in the University of Waterloo fine arts department.

Right now, there are four exhibitions on display at the Clay and

Glass. The most extensive is the utterly captivating “Fabled Clay,” featuring the work of four artists: Janet MacPherson of Hamilton, Lindsay Montgomery of Toronto, Amélie Proulx of Lévis, Que., and Annette ten Cate of Grey County. The shared focus of these wildly diverse works is “story telling.” Visitors will be enthralled by the stories inherent in the works – and will also be drawn into creating their own stories as they contemplate ornate teapots embraced by demons; a bear in bunny slippers; or a beer-swilling, naked “Shepherdess.”

Nicely displayed in a smaller gallery room is the exhibition, “Frogs’ Return,” by Melanie Barnett of Treaty 7 Territory in Medicine Hat, Alta – a series of complex, whimsical ceramic creations involving said amphibians.

“Weathered Rock,” a multi-faceted, multi-media work by D’Andrea Bowie of Whitchurch-Highlands, Ont., occupies another exhibition area. All

three of these exhibitions will continue through mid-May. The fourth current exhibit is “Material Syntax: 3D Printed Masonry Façade Systems,” a display by University of Waterloo architecture students. It closed March 27.

The latter is just one example of how the gallery interacts with the community. In 2025, the gallery hosted 478 workshop sessions attended by 14,514 people. That is twice the number that attended workshops in 2024. Through community outreach programs, the gallery also staged 65 workshop sessions through the Region of Waterloo, reaching 3,000 participants.

I’m writing this feature because we quickly realized that the Clay and Glass Gallery offers a variety of day-trip options. Would-be visitors can investigate workshops, offered at a reasonable fee (see the website for details); or they can simply visit the gallery at no charge and spend as much time as they would like exploring the imaginations of these creative artists.

And some added good news: the gallery, located at 25 Caroline St. N in Waterloo, is on the edge of Waterloo Park, a perfect place for strolling and picnicking (in warmer weather, of course), and is also a block away from Uptown Waterloo. If good food is part of your daytrip agenda, high-end restaurants like Solé and Proof; good pubs like Beertown and McCabe’s Irish Pub; and many other dining options are minutes away.

So, after a highly entertaining visit, I happily recommend the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery as a centrepiece for an intriguing day out.

Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and past-president of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@golden.net.

Crossword

CLUES DOWN

1. Off-Broadway figure

2. Gelatinous substance 3. Concern

4. “Lick It Up” rockers

5. Serbian river

6. Part of a hat

16. Astronomy unit

18. Savings vehicle

19. Get your ducks in this 20. Right away

21. Popular sports league

22. Containers

23. Entireties

26. One who wassails

30. Turned-up position

31. Extreme modesty

32. Writing utensil

33. Rewards (archaic)

34. Ancient capital

39. S. American wood sorrel

42. General discomfort

44. Philippine island

46. A witty saying

47. One who summarizes

49. Covered in

50. Mimic

51. Henry was a notable one

56. Daughter of Hera and Zeus

57. Retired NFLer Newton

58. Playground equipment

59. Concept

60. Satisfaction

61. Fishing net

62. Hammer end

63. A father’s male child

64. Japanese drink

7. Bowl-shaped drinking vessel

8. Semitic language

9. Utter a shrill cry 10. Long times 11. Animal parts 13. Causing annoyance 17. Amorous talker 24. Attempt 25. Harmonic effects

26. Cost per mile

27. They __

28. Bitterly regret

29. Not even

35. A way to drop

36. Title of respect

37. World leader

38. Georgia rockers

40. National capital

41. Great Plains people

42. Duck-sized dinosaur genus

43. Architectural recesses

44. Member of U.S. Navy

45. Mountainous

47. Kite bird

48. Sweetheart (archaic)

49. Popular snack made of potato

52. 70s songsters The Bee __

53. SE China port __-men

54. Something to fill up

55. League of Legends character

Pet of the week

GLADYS

Gladys is a sweet, outgoing, and independent kitty with a heart as big as her personality! She loves meeting new people and will happily follow you around just to be part of the action. Her slightly misshapen ears add an extra dose of character and make her one-of-a-kind — and they don’t bother her a bit!

Gladys prefers affection on her own terms and will gently tap you with her paw when she’s ready for pets. She’s looking for a loving home that appreciates her confident spirit and will enjoy her playfulness, purrs, and companionship. If you’re searching for a friendly feline with endless love to give, Gladys is your girl! She’s available from our Stratford Centre and you can learn more here: https://kwsphumane.ca/adopt/cats

SPONSORED BY:

Adult Learning Programs of Perth, Upstairs at the St. Marys Public Library (700 Church Street North, St. Marys, ON)

Phone: 519-284-4408 | Cell: 226-374-8231

alearning@town.stmarys.on.ca | www.adultlearningperth.ca

Facebook: @AdultLearningProgramsofPerth

DAVID WAYNE ARMS

February 20, 1940 - February 13, 2026

In a time already marked with profound loss, we now face another. Just seventeen days after losing our mom, we are heartbroken to share the unexpected passing of our dad, David Wayne Arms, on February 13 at Stratford General Hospital, following complications from surgery - only one week shy of his 86th birthday.

Dad was born in East York, ON on February 20, 1940. He was predeceased by the love of his life and partner for more than 65 years, Sandra (nee Scanes), and by his two older brothers, Bob (2019) and Clinton (2022).

At just 18 years old, dad left home to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. Stationed in Ottawa, he worked as an Electronic Technician servicing CT-114 Tutor aircraft - the jets made famous by the Snowbirds. It was there, on a blind date, that he met the girl that would change his life forever - Sandra Scanes. They were married in Pembroke, ON in May of 1960, beginning at love story that would span more than six decades.

The early years of their marriage took them from Ottawa to Gimli, Manitoba, along the way welcoming two children, Janice (1962) and Jonathan (1965). In 1970 dad left the service and the family settled in Stratford. The community that would become home for the rest of their lives.

Dad spent 35 years working as a Stations & Service Manager at Stratford PUC (Festival Hydro). He took quiet pride in his work and even greater pride in the friendships he built along the way, especially with colleagues Hugh Ridley and Bob Burford.

Retirement didn’t slow him down. Summers were spent lawn bowling, winters curling and in between he gave his time generously to organizations such as Meals on Wheels. Whether on the green, at the rink or volunteering in the community, he formed lasting friendships everywhere he went.

For over 40 years on Greenwood Dr, Dad became part of the neighbourhood. He loved a driveway conversation and rarely passed without stopping for a chat. Always with his beloved dog Bella at his side.

In retirement, he and Mom embraced adventure. Alongside his brother Clinton and his wife Shirley. They travelled widely, enjoying new places and many cruises, and the simple joy of experiencing the world together.

Mom was the centre of dad’s world. Their partnership was steady and loving, He cared for mom in the later years with deep devotion until it was no longer possible. When mom moved to Long Term Care, Dad spent every afternoon at her side until the last days at the hospital a few weeks ago, when he was too ill himself for a visit.

Losing her is a heartbreak he carried quietly and part of us believes he simply could not be apart from her for long. Their time apart was short, - their love was lifelong.

He was a loving father to Janice and Jonathan (Mary Alice), and a devoted Papa to Alex, Adam (Samantha), Connor (Leah), Madeline (Evan), Hayden and Gran Papa to Wesley Kastner. He often commented how nice it was to have family around, especially over the past month.

He was very close to grandson Adam and shared a special bond of humour, teasing and weekend routines. It was a relationship that brought him steady joy.

Dad had a knack of turning strangers into friends. He was warm, approachable and always ready for a conversation. If there was someone nearby, there was always a story to tell or a question to ask. We can only imagine he has already struck up a conversation wherever he is now.

Mom & Dad will be dearly missed.

A joint Celebration will be held from 2pm-4pm on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at the WG Young Funeral Home, Reception Centre, 430 Huron Street Stratford Ontario.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

CLASSIFIEDS

MARSHALL TENT & PARTY RENTALS

The search is over! The perfect summer job is found! If you are friendly, respectful and hard working, then this could be just what you are looking for. Duties include ability to carry and install tent and party supplies.

Must be physically fit and have a positive attitude. Competitive wages. Please email resume to

WANTING TO BUY – All collectibles including sports cards, beanie babies, Funko pops and stamps. Highest prices paid. Free appraisals. Are you downsizing or need an estate clean out? We can help. Call or text Stan anytime 519-868-3814.

Fair value offered for your vinyl records, cassette tapes & hifi components. Please contact Sound Fixation, 519801-5421, 4 George St. W, Stratford.

I WILL PAY CASH FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES – Coca Cola Pepsi any pop company, Brewery items Kuntz, Huether Labatts etc. Old radios and gramophones,

Wristwatches and pocket watches, Old fruit jars Beaver Star Bee Hive etc. Any old oil cans and signs Red Indian Supertest etc. Any small furniture. If you are moving or cleaning out stuff please contact me - 519-570-6920.

SALE

Hundreds of shade trees, fruit trees, apples, pears, peaches, plums, sweet and sour cherries, apricots, nectarines, blueberries, haskapp grapes, raspberries, elderberries etc. Lots of spruce, pine, cedars for windbreak and privacy hedges. Sizes 1-8 ft. in containers ready to go. Flowering shrubs and much more. Mon-Sat 7:00am to 6:00pm Martin's Nursery, 42661 Orangehill Rd Wroxeter, ON N0G 2X0 (1 Conc. North of Wroexter on Belmore Line)

BUSINESS DIREC TORY