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IRISH WRAP SEASON PAGE
STRATFORD VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 28
15 FREE
FEBRUARY 27, 2026
A Passion for People
Maria Walsh 519-272-3229
walshremax@gmail.com
Judah Bootsma 519-272-4378
Judah.remax@gmail.com
SHERRIE ROULSTON
Real Estate Broker email: sherrieroulston@royallepage.ca Direct: 519-272-3578
Chief Skinner announces retirement AMANDA NELSON
Times Reporter
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 CONTINUED TO PAGE 3
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Clara Boersen, Alex Boersen, their daughter Camille, and Mayor Martin Ritsma at the opening of the Boersen’s new clinic Redline Recovery on Feb. 25. For more on their story, visit https://tinyurl.com/4z3k7k3k
Local shares harrowing experience in Puerto Vallarta as cartel chaos erupts CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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
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.” 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 CONTINUED TO PAGE 2