NEW CHIEF SWORN IN
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STRATFORD VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 29
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MARCH 6, 2026
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Local’s sports centre dream dashed for now
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Local resident Alan Kasperski called his vision for the former Scotiabank datacentre on Wright Boulevard a monumental, city-changing one. He wanted to see the site morph into a national sports hub used for training and analytics for two of Canada’s national sports organizations, Rugby Canada and Soccer Canada. “It’s a very big rock, it's a very steep hill,” Kasperski said about the idea. “But so far nobody ... has said stupid idea. It’s, ‘Can you make it happen?’” Now, the rock has gotten heavier and the hill steeper. Kasperski was just informed by the property’s broker his letter of intent, with a whopping $15.66 million offer, was not signed by the bank. Instead, it has signed the letter of intent from the City of Stratford, which is eyeing the property as the next Stratford Police Service headquarters. Speaking with the Times, Kasperski said the bank evidently believes the city has a better chance of closing that deal than his National Field Sports Training Centre (NFSTC), as he called it. The NFSTC would be a worldclass hub for sports teams to attend and train in their off-seasons – as well as a place for locals to enjoy – Kasperski explained. His idea grew incrementally. It was first envisioned as a regional centre for rugby teams (being a lifelong rugby player himself), then for soccer teams as well. Then, after touring the Scotiabank site with engineers, space for sports medicine labs, CONTINUED TO PAGE 5
(ALISON ROBINSON PHOTO)
Coldest Night of the Year 2026 smashed its fundraising goal of $200,000 this past Saturday — cementing Stratford as the second highest fundraising location in the nation. For more on this year's walk, see our story on page 9.
$47M, $50M or $65M? Council may make decision on GTR community hub CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Stratford city council may be getting closer to a decision on the long-awaited community hub portion of the Grand Trunk Renewal (GTR) project. During the GTR’s second council workshop on Feb. 26, chief administrative officer (CAO) André Morin and guest speakers detailed options for council to consider regarding its keystone project. They examined constraints, costs, municipal capacity and decision sequencing, as well as the value of shared facilities.
Much of the discussion on the community hub surrounded a shared facility between the YMCA of Three Rivers and the Stratford Public Library – a well-established partnership model that has been a large part of the GTR conversation of recent years. “Together the YMCA and the library can create space to provide a positive environment for young people,” said Krista Robinson, CEO of the local library, in her presentation. “After school, youth can transition easily between study space, sports programs, leadership activities or just a safe space to be themselves … We can reCONTINUED TO PAGE 2