The Beacon Herald

WINTERFEST WEEKEND

Stratford Winterfest committee member MJ Thomson places a sign for the event at Upper Queen's Park on Friday. This year's event is set for Saturday, with games, performances, food trucks and other activities at Upper Queen's Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WINTER WALK

Ryan Stark and Rosie, his two-year-old German shepherd, braved a Thursday afternoon snow squall to go for a walk during another wintry day in Stratford.

Conestoga's Stratford future in doubt after campus listed for lease

Less than six months after opening a brand new campus on Erie Street, and with a presence in the Festival City that dates back to 1969, the future of Conestoga College in Stratford is in doubt. The new campus -- touted by college officials last year...

IDEAL CONDITIONS

Conditions were perfect on the weekend for families to hit the hills in Stratford. Marcas Mcdonnell took a few trips down the Stratford Festival hill on his dad Quintin's original GT Snow Racer, while little sister Eva kept a close eye on things. Remco...

GREAT LAKES CUP

Huron-perth Lakers U14 forward Mark Richardson tries to squeeze past a Soo Greyhounds player after a dump-in during the second period of Friday's game at the Rotary Complex. The U14 and U12 Lakers are hosting the Great Lakes Cup tournament at arenas...

A `LIGHT' SNOW

Kevin Petrie of Destination Stratford clears snow on Thursday morning from Market Square and the Chronoharp exhibit that's part of Lights On Stratford's Winter Festival of Lights. The interactive installation was closed on Thursday as crews cleaned up...

SAMPLE SIZE

Jay Ford, from Work Pub and Eatery, serves up taco soup on Saturday at the Rotary Complex during the annual Soup's On fundraiser for the Alzheimer Society Huron Perth.

A BUMPY RIDE

Mild temperatures and rain this week have left potholes on several Stratford streets. Public works crews have been trying to keep up with the broken asphalt, and residents can report potholes at stratford.ca.

SWEET WEEKEND SWEEP

Stratford Warriors' players celebrate after Coen Galbraith's first-period goal against Lasalle on Friday at Allman Arena. Stratford won 6-2 and opened 2026 with a weekend sweep. Please see a full recap on page

AN `ICE' WAY TO START 2026

Haidleigh Huff, 4, and her mom, Shaneika, had a little help to get around the Rotary Complex ice during Friday's free public skate.

PILING IT ON

Greg Gansevles of Casey Gansevles Excavating piles up snow in the Sobeys plaza on Thursday morning as the city continues to get buried by snow squalls that are expected to continue into Saturday.

`Significant weather event' closes Perth County roads as collisions pile up

Snow squalls and blizzard-like conditions closed at least two Perth County roads on Monday as wicked winter weather continued to batter the region. Highway 23 from Mitchell to Lucan was shut down before 11 a.m. and remained closed into the afternoon...

Mayor Ritsma `very pleased' with Stratford's 2025

As part of our end-of-year musings, Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma sat down for a lengthy interview with the Beacon Herald to look back on the year that was while also looking ahead to a busy 2026 that includes the next municipal election. Q: How was...

Festival City Big Band aims to drive winter blues away

The Festival City Big Band's last concert at Avondale United Church went so well the church's music committee asked them that day -- almost a year in advance -to return for another concert. “We had them here early last year and it went over so well...

Stratford menorah lighting shows solidarity with Jewish community

Following the deadly, antisemitic mass shooting in Australia earlier this week, a large crowd gathered outside of Stratford City Hall Thursday evening to show solidarity with the area's Jewish community in a menorah-lighting ceremony that coincided...

RIVALRY GAME

Stratford District secondary school students cheer on the boys' hockey team during its game against St. Mike's on Wednesday afternoon. Hundreds of students from both schools filled the Rotary Complex seats for the rivalry game. For more, please turn to

HOWARD AND HUGO

Howard, the larger-than- life skeleton that has become a fixture on Cambria Street, has gotten into the festive spirit with his dog friend, Hugo.

Local actress savouring her experience as young Anna

Oakan Oyafuso already seems to have her life figured out. The 10-year-old Stratfordite is currently starring as one of the two actresses to play young Anna in the London Grand Theatre's production of Frozen, her second major production of this...

A SNOWY STROLL

After heavy, wet snow blanketed the city overnight on Tuesday, light snow Wednesday morning made for a picturesque walk down Lakeside Drive.

LIGHTS ON STRATFORD READY TO ILLUMINATE THE CITY

One of the city's most popular events is returning later this week. Destination Stratford is getting set for its sixth annual Lights On Stratford winter festival that will illuminate the city every Thursday through Sunday from Dec. 12 to Jan. 18. The...

PARADE OF LIGHTS

Santa Claus — who else? — once again rode the final float Sunday at Santa's Parade of Lights. For more photos from the parade, please turn to

Stratford auto parts plant gets funding boost from province

One of Stratford's biggest manufacturers is getting a significant funding boost through one of the province's new tariff-countering investment funds. Perth-wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced Friday morning that Aisin Canada, an auto parts...

Stratford confectioner competes on Bake Master Battle

There were no casualties in this sweet battle. Stratford's Jessica Pett went head-to-head with a fellow confectioner Thursday morning on Breakfast Television, coming up with a Christmas-themed cake creation for the show's first Bake Master Battle. “I...

A FROSTY WELCOME

A family of snow people greets passerby at the corner of John and Avon streets in Stratford.

Stratford officially named a `Bird-friendly City'

Stratford is officially a Bird-friendly City. The Festival City is now one of just 36 cities across Canada to be given that designation by Nature Canada, the country's oldest nature conservation charity. This year, Stratford was joined by Kingston,...

Ontario unveils legislation to restrict invasive medical research on dogs and cats

The Ontario government has introduced draft legislation that aims to restrict invasive medical research on dogs and cats. It is the first proposed law of its kind in Canada, triggered by an Investigative Journalism Bureau investigation in August that...

PASSPORT TO SAVINGS

Ruth and Richard Kneider, from Simple Dreams, show off the 2026 Passport to Savings coupon booklet that benefits Simple Dreams, the Stratford House of Blessing and Kiwanis Club of Stratford. For more, please turn to

FESTIVE FOLIAGE

Jenn Vanden Hoven picks from one of dozens of poinsettias at Cozyn's Garden Gallery in Stratford. The flower comes in various colours and sizes and has become a Christmas staple.

CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Sergio Perera, 4, and his grandma Bernice came from Mitchell during a PA day on Friday to decorate gingerbread cookies at Klomp's Home and Garden.

STRATFORD HONOURS SACRIFICE AT REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY

Robert Lemon had a simple, but powerful, message: The reason why we remember is because the horrors and impacts of conflict do not stop when the fighting does. Lemon, the rector of St. James Anglican Church, provided this call to remembrance to the...

THE IMPORTANCE OF REMEMBRANCE

Richard Boon thanks Canadian Second World War veterans during a special repatriation ceremony at the CN Tower in Toronto in May of this year. Boon frequently accompanied his late father, Stratford veteran Art Boon, to overseas commemorative services...

SOME GOOD SPORTS

Stratford Youth Soccer recognized its most sportsmanlike players for 2025 with the Paul Nickel Award. Pictured from left: Mathew Gervais. Savannah Truong, Lincoln Wagler, Wilder Dahms, Leo Roblin, Nolan Lane, Ezekiel Ibarra, Brett Rose. Absent: William...

Ballinran Entertainment celebrates three decades of filmmaking

While the journalism has always been the easy part for Craig Thompson, it's the other things that come with running his own production company that he's had to learn on the fly. “I didn't go to school to learn how to be a producer or an accountant or...

Sitting down with Jonathan Church

A few hectic days after Jonathan Church, one of the United Kingdom's most celebrated stage directors and producers, was announced as the Stratford Festival's next artistic director, he sat down with the Beacon Herald at the Festival Theatre for an...

PUMPKIN PARADE

Hundreds of jack-o-lanterns were on display in Market Square on Saturday evening as part of the annual Downtown BIA Pumpkin Parade. After Stratfordites enjoyed the illuminated gourds, they were taken to a local farm for animal feed.

GRACE UNDER FEATHER

Stratford's swans enjoy some late fall sun — and a drink — in their winter home on Morenz Drive, where they'll stay until being paraded back into the Avon River in April.

SKATING HIS BEAT

Simon Bowie dressed as a police officer for the Stratford Skating Club's Halloween celebration. For more adorable photos from the event, please turn to

ARRR YOU READY TO BOWL?

Janice Wick, dressed as a pirate, gets ready to bowl during the V-ettes' annual Halloween event at Mike's Lanes on Tuesday.

WHAT A TREAT!

Motlee, a three-year-old golden retriever, was dressed as a lion — and blended in with the leaves at Upper Queen's Park — during the Stratford Dog Walkers' second annual Halloween parade on Sunday morning. The group meets at the park on the last Sunday...

BONING UP ON BASEBALL

The Skeletons of Vivian Line are back for a 12th season, with this year's theme a fall fair — and an ode to the Blue Jays. A new skeleton “story” is unveiled each day, and events are scheduled for this weekend. Money raised goes to Operation Smile. For...

EMERGENCY PERSONNEL GET A CRASH COURSE IN DISASTER RESPONSE

A school bus on its side. Students trapped. Downed trees. A flipped car. Those were some of the challenges city officials and first responders faced during Thursday's live emergency exercise in Stratford. “This is a great opportunity,” Stratford's...

STANDING TALL

A sunflower in a field between Tavistock and Shakespeare basks in the fall sun on Tuesday.

GIVING A TOSS

Roy Harris tosses a horseshoe during a game with Bob Faulhafer and Bob Mogk on Monday afternoon at Shakespeare Park.

WORK IN PROGRESS

Work continued Friday on L'arche Stratford's new headquarters. The $6.5-million development will provide homes and support services for people with intellectual disabilities and is expected to open in October 2026. The organization's 10th annual Walk...

TAGGED OUT

Ray Wolfe (left) of the Mitchell varsity baseball team is tagged out at home on a squeeze bunt attempt by catcher Nolan Miller of St. Mike's during the late stages of their Huron-perth championship final Oct. 15 in Mitchell's Cooper diamond. The Blue...

A RELAXING AFTERNOON

Kayaks and pedal boats were a popular sight in Lake Victoria over Thanksgiving weekend.

`IT'S A LITTLE BIG!'

Lilly Ellis, 6, of Mitchell, tried on a firefighter's bunker gear during the annual West Perth Fire Department (WPFD) open house held Oct. 7 during Fire Prevention Week. The gear itself was heavier than she is, but with help from big brother Tyson,...

HUDSON'S ANNOUNCES PLANS TO CLOSE

It's the end of an era. Hudson's of Stratford, a third-generation family-owned business, announced it will close for good in early 2026 after nearly 114 years in the city. “It was a good run,” owner Lee Helperin said. “We're very appreciative....

QUITE THE BUZZ

Stratford Police Service Const. Darren Fischer had his head shaved as part of the SPS and Perth County Ontario Provincial Police's third annual Cops for Cancer initiative. More than $25,000 was raised to support childhood cancer research as uniform and...

TOUCHING BASE

St. Mike's Ethan Priestap slides safely into third base during the Huron-perth boys' baseball quarter-final against Central Huron on Wednesday. The Warriors won and will compete in the semifinal next week in Mitchell.

RIDE FOR REFUGE

More than 80 cyclists from nine different teams took to the streets of Stratford Saturday for Ride for Refuge. The family-friendly ride and walk — a national fundraiser for “charities that help people seeking hope, safety, and freedom” — raised more...

Multicultural association giving sleeping bags to Stratford homeless

The Multicultural Association of Perth-huron has launched a new program to distribute sleeping bags and blankets to the homeless in Stratford and St. Marys. Working with local churches and the Stratford Police Service, association volunteers are...

MAKING A RETURN

Stratford District's Heet Patel returns a shot during the boys' singles match at the Huron-perth tennis championships on Thursday at the Stratford Tennis Club.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Cree poet Scott Tillson provided a land acknowledgement in the form of a poem at Tuesday's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation observances at Stratford's Falstaff Family Centre before leading dozens of supporters on a solidarity walk around Lake...

HOLDING COURT

Stratford District secondary school Grade 9 student Michael Olsen came prepared for a game of beach volleyball on Thursday at the SERC courts. Students from both SDSS and St. Mike's took advantage of the late summer weather by hitting the sand with...

HAVING A GOURD TIME

Ten-month-old Carter Wilcox decided to try pumpkin checkers during the Klompenfest Autumn Festival on Sunday, which was hosted by Klomp's Home and Garden.

PADDLE POWER

Junior teams were among those competing at the 28th Rotary Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday in Stratford. For more festival photos, please turn to page

RETURN TO SENDER

Kyle Ferrigan returns a shot this week during a match against Joey Hishon at the Stratford Tennis Club.

TOUCHING UP

Craig Williams of London uses a lift as he paints the fascia on the Hutton-macpherson block in St. Marys on Wednesday. The roughly 170-year-old building is located at the corner of Queen and Water streets in the core of the small town.

Parts of downtown Stratford and Market Square are closed until early Saturday morning for the filming of the Hallmark Christmas movie, Pining For Douglas.

CRUSHING IT

Nancy Laslavic of the Garlic Chop is shown grinding some cloves Saturday at the popular Stratford Kiwanis Garlic Festival, which welcomed roughly 1,800 guests. Laslavic, whose business offers different garlic chop and peel gadgets, will be CBC'S...

Floating Silent Disco to showcase Lake Victoria in new way

As Lake Victoria gets back to normal, Destination Stratford is teaming up with The Boathouse and the Razzamajazz musical barge to help folks experience the water in a way that's not been offered before. On Saturday, Sept. 20, local DJ Ethan Maac will...

Stratford Film Festival to feature serious comedy on belonging and bias

As the Stratford Film Festival (SFF) gets closer to its November debut, organizers are continuing their monthly screenings with a film that's surely to hit home. On Sept. 20, they will offer two screenings of Meet the Barbarians (Les Barbares), a...

Hometown Hero: Richard and Ruth Kneider make Simple Dreams a reality

Twenty-three years before Simple Dreams Ministries became a registered not-for-profit charity, Richard and Ruth Kneider were just a couple of restaurateurs who owned a diner on the outskirts of Stratford. Having grown up in families who emphasized the...

UPON REFLECTION

George Mcclory and his wife, Kate (not pictured), travelled in their 2017 Dodge Challenger Shaker from Fort Mcmurray, Alta., to Southwestern Ontario to visit various car shows, including Sunday's in Stratford.

OVERDOSE AWARNESS

While Joe Gladding chose to do drugs and alcohol, he did not choose to become an addict. “What I have chosen is to be an addict in recovery. I will always say that I'm an addict because, if I forget that, I'm bound to repeat the same mistakes. I stand...

`Magic mushroom' court case takes unusual turn as accused stays abroad

The magic mushroom constitutional challenge has been on a strange trip through the courts – and it just got weirder. Ontario Court Justice George Orsini is slated to give his highly anticipated decision on Oct. 7 in the case of Samer Akila, 33, who...

TRAINING DAY

With students set to go back to school next week, Stratford crossing guards, including Elaine Adair, participated in some training exercises downtown, guiding pedestrians across the intersection of Downie Street and Market Place.

A `WICKET' TIME

The new cricket pitch at Lower Queen's Park was officially opened on Monday afternoon with the annual game between the Stratford Festival and Shaw Festival teams.

Why Lake Victoria matters — and what the RT Orr dam does for Stratford

The draining and slow refilling of Lake Victoria this summer has underscored the vital role the lake — and the RT Orr dam that feeds it — play in Stratford's economy, environment and community identity. Emily Chandler, communications and marketing...

BANDSHELL PERFORMANCE

The Stratford Concert Band, directed by Laurence Gauci, performed at the Upper Queen's Park Bandshell on Wednesday evening.

Hometown Specialty: Stratford's restaurant scene `second to none'

If the arts are Stratford tourism's main course, then the city's restaurants are its appetizer and dessert. “It's a well-known fact that the fastest way to a visitor's heart is through their stomach, and Stratford's culinary offering doesn't...

ON THE LAKE

Canoers enjoy a Monday afternoon paddling on Lake Victoria, which is continuing to recover from low water levels after a blocked sluice gate caused signifcant draining nearly three weeks ago.

GOAT YOGA

Modo Yoga held a family goat yoga session, led by instructor Natalie Garner, at the Falstaff Family Centre on Thursday afternoon.

TICKLING THE IVORIES

With the Razzamajazz's pontoon boat docked, its musical acts have taken their talents downstream to The Boathouse. Conn Smythe entertained guests and passerby on Wednesday evening. Hwy 19 performed on Thursday, and Trish Harris and Townline Slim are...