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ST. PAUL'S SWAN SONG PAGE
STRATFORD VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 23
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JANUARY 23, 2026
Jennifer Anderson
Jamie Gerber
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Maria Walsh 519-272-3229
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Province makes early changes to police board CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Steve Cousins, the most recent chair of Stratford’s police service board, has been removed as a member of the board by the Ministry of the Solicitor General. The removal was approved and ordered on Dec. 11, made effective Dec. 31, though was only posted on Jan. 8 to the Government of Ontario’s website. The board consists of two municipal officials, currently held by Mayor Martin Ritsma and Coun. Harjinder Nijjar, one community representative, currently held by Lisa Wilde, and two provincial appointments. The latter two were formerly held by Tim Doherty and Cousins, though is now filled by Dan Mathieson and Travis Blum, according to police Chief Greg Skinner (currently, only Mathieson, Ritsma, Nijjar and Wilde are listed on the City of Stratford’s website as members of the board). “The provincial appointments are the sole purview of the province, and they have their processes for identifying and filling provincial vacancies on police service boards,” Skinner said in an emailed statement when asked to comment on the change. “The board, under the stewardship of Steve Cousins, Martin Ritsma and Harj Nijjar, has been making significant gains for the service and the community,” Skinner wrote. “In addition to enhancing efficiencies … they have taken a critical look at the strategic direction of the service in compliance with new legislation and are in the process of creating a strategic CONTINUED TO PAGE 3
(AMANDA NELSON PHOTO)
Amy Halls and her dog Darbee head out for their daily walk near Findlay Avenue despite the –16°C temperatures. Halls says Darbee loves the snow — even if she’s not quite as enthusiastic.
Another bright year for Lights On Stratford as 2025/26 season wraps EMILY STEWART
Times Correspondent
Despite inclement weather like blizzards and freezing rain, Destination Stratford’s sixth annual Lights On Stratford was still a success. Under the theme RADIANCE, the annual winter festival of lights ran from Dec. 12, 2025 to Jan. 18, 2026. “Bringing people together in the deep dark winter to experience joy and wonder through light art is what it’s all about. It’s a massive undertaking to host a multi-week in-
ternational lights festival, but it’s all worthwhile when there are smiles and delight coming from our patrons,” Zac Gribble, Destination Stratford executive director, said to the Times. Some of the Lights On Stratford nights were threatened, even cancelled, due to inclement weather. However, the event still drew in plenty of attendees. “Our intrepid crews and staff persevered and we’re really proud of this year’s ambitious programming and light art installations that drew so many people to brave the elCONTINUED TO PAGE 2