| Stratford | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| City Hall | |
| Motto: Industria et Ars ("Industry and Art") | |
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Stratford
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Perth |
| Incorporated | 1859 (town) |
| Incorporated | 1886 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dan Mathieson |
| • Council | Stratford City Council |
| • MPs | Gary Schellenberger |
| • MPPs | Randy Pettapiece |
| Area[1] | |
| • Land | 25.28 km2 (9.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 364 m (1,194 ft) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Total | 30,461 |
| • Density | 1,205.1/km2 (3,121.2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC−5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC−4) |
| Postal code span | N4Z, N5A |
| Area code(s) | 519 and 226 |
| Website | www.city.stratford.on.ca |
Stratford is a city on the Avon River in Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of 32,000.
When the area was first settled by Europeans in 1832, the townsite and the river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is the seat of Perth County. Stratford was incorporated as a town in 1859 and as a city in 1886. The first mayor was John Corry Wilson Daly and the current mayor is Dan Mathieson. The swan has become a symbol of the city. Each year twenty-four white swans and two black swans are released into the Avon River. The town is most well known for being the home of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
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The town was originally a railway junction. Furniture manufacturing became an important part of the local economy by the twentieth century. A 1933 strike by furniture workers in Stratford, led by the Communist Workers' Unity League, marks the last time the army was deployed to break a strike in Canada.
The city's economy took a major turn when the Stratford Shakespeare Festival started in 1953. The annual festival now brings hundreds of thousands of theatre goers and tourists to the area. Celebrities such as Alec Guinness, Christopher Plummer, Peter Ustinov, Dame Maggie Smith, and William Shatner have performed at the festival. The world-renowned festival takes place in four theatres throughout the city: the Festival Theatre, the Avon Theatre, Tom Patterson Theatre and the Studio Theatre.
Historically, the city was a railway junction. Today, Canadian National Railways, and the Goderich-Exeter Railway provide freight links and Via Rail Canada is the passenger carrier. While not on the Ontario freeway system, it is at the junctions of Highways 7, 8, and former 19 (Now Perth Road 119) and is connected to Highway 401 by expressways from Kitchener. Greyhound Canada provides daily service between London and Kitchener. Cherrey Bus Lines provides bus service from Stratford to Wingham.[5] Within the city, Stratford Transit provides the local bus service. The Stratford Municipal Airport(CNM4) is located just north of the city.
Stratford is home of the OHA Midwestern Junior B hockey team, the Stratford Cullitons. The Cullitons have produced notable NHL players such as Ed Olczyk, Craig Hartsburg, Garth Snow, Rob Blake, Chris Pronger, Nelson Emerson, Tim Taylor , Greg de Vries, Jeff Halpern, Rem Murray and Boyd Devereaux and won several Sutherland Cup championships. Bob Zimmer also known as "The Hockey God" is the president of Stratford Minor Hockey. The legend known as Zim has been known to scout as low as Novice MD for Major Midget Players Another hockey organization within the city is the Stratford Minor Hockey Association, which includes houseleague and travel teams for younger players. These teams include the Stratford Warriors for boys, and the Stratford Aces for girls. Stratford used to also have an Intercounty Baseball League Team called the Stratford Nationals, and a soccer team in the Kitchener and District Soccer League. House League sports are also available in the Stratford area. There is the Stratford Rotary Hockey League, Hoops For Fun Basketball, Stratford Minor Baseball, and the Stratford Soccer House League.
Stratford also hosted Tim Hortons Hockey Day in Canada on January 30, 2010.[6]
The Stratford Summer Music Festival has been held for seven seasons and features indoor and outdoor performances by international classical and world music artists as well as young Canadian performers in venues around downtown Stratford.
The Stratford Concert Band, a local wind ensemble, traces its history back to the CN Rail Employees Band formed in 1907 by James Malone. 2007 marked their 100th anniversary performing in Stratford and they celebrated with a gala concert and reception in May. The band performs a free outdoor concert in Upper Queen's Park every Wednesday evening in the summer months.
Notable musicians with a local connection include Justin Bieber, Loreena McKennitt (who now makes Stratford her home), Dayna Manning, Graham Van Pelt of Miracle Fortress, Darren Dumas of The Salads, Richard Manuel of The Band, John Till, who backed Janis Joplin, and Ken Kalmusky, who played with Ian & Sylvia's Great Speckled Bird. During their early careers, Manuel, Till and Kalmusky were members of the Stratford group, The Revols, and later became members of Ronnie Hawkins' backing group, The Hawks. Ken Kalmusky's son David Kalmusky, is a Juno awarded, multiple gold selling, Grammy nominated producer, mixer and musician. Several international operatic singers reside in Stratford such as Baritone, James Westman, and Tenor, Roger Honeywell.
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1841 | 200 |
| 1871 | 4,313 |
| 1881 | 8,239 |
| 1891 | 9,500 |
| 1901 | 9,959 |
| 1911 | 12,946 |
| 1921 | 16,094 |
| 1931 | 17,742 |
| 1941 | 16,923 |
| 1951 | 18,785 |
| 1961 | 20,467 |
| 1971 | 24,508 |
| 1981 | 26,262 |
| 1991 | 27,666 |
| 2001 | 29,676 |
| 2006 | 30,461 |
Stratford had a population of 30,461 people in 2006 (though the population sign reads 32,000), which was a increase of 2.3% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Stratford was $54,128, which is below the Ontario provincial average of $60,455.[7]
The annual Shakespeare festival is a large contributor to the Stratford economy. Stratford is home to the headquarters of Crane Plumbing Corporation which is a Canadian manufacturer of bathroom fixtures and subsidiary of American Standard Brands.
The city's three secondary schools are:
both part of the Avon Maitland District School Board, and
Stratford is also home to the Stratford Chef School.
The University of Waterloo’s proposed Waterloo Stratford Campus is a forward-looking research, education and convergence centre that will drive the next generation of digital media applications and content models. The campus will draw leading researchers, businesses and entrepreneurs to create, examine and commercialize opportunities in the digital media field in a global economy. It is envisioned to quickly become a centre piece for collaboration, learning and sharing through conferences and workshops.
The Stratford Institute is a think-tank, integrator and training institute devoted to collaboration between digital media, international commerce and culture. The resulting changes to digital media thinking, art, tools, processes or services will have significant, positive impact on the economy, society and individuals at home and around the globe.
The Waterloo Stratford Campus showcases a collaboration of academic, government and private sector support. The universities of Waterloo and Western Ontario will collaborate on teaching, research and professional efforts on the Waterloo's soon-to-be-established Stratford campus. The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding in Stratford to investigate shared academic initiatives. The University of Western Ontario has expertise across the institution in various aspects of digital media, information technologies and critical media studies.
In June 2009, the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus and the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) hosted the Canada 3.0 forum in Stratford to map Canada’s digital future and create opportunities for new business and jobs. In May 2010, the second Canada 3.0 was held in Stratford again.
Famous residents that have lived in Stratford include the singers Justin Bieber, Loreena McKennitt, Richard Manuel, classical singer James Westman, actor Shawn Roberts, singer/actor Nathan McLeod, and entertainer Hayden Bulbrook. Canadian news anchors Lloyd Robertson and Tony Parsons both got their start in broadcasting at local radio station CJCS, Robertson in 1952 and Parsons in 1957. CBC news anchor Peter Mansbridge and his wife Cynthia Dale currently live in Stratford, as does actor Colm Feore.
Stratford is often credited as the home of hockey star Howie Morenz, who was actually from nearby Mitchell. The northern block of Nile Street, between Lakeside Drive and Water Street (on which the Allman Arena is situated) was renamed to Morenz Drive in his honour. William D. Connor, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1907–1909, grandfather of former Congressman and Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird, and great-grandfather of Jessica Laird Doyle, wife of Governor James Doyle of Wisconsin, was born near Stratford on a farm.
Thomas Edison briefly worked as a telegraph operator for the Grand Trunk Railway at Stratford's railway station. John Davis Barnett was an Assistant Mechanical Superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railroad and Mechanical Superintendent of the Midland Railroad and librarian; later in life becoming a collector donating to the University of Western Ontario. The assistant architect of the United States Capitol, Michael G. Turnbull, was born in Stratford and lived there until the age of eleven, when his family emigrated to the United States.
Dr. Norman Bethune made Stratford his temporary home in the early part of 1917. He worked as a physician at the home/office on Albert Street that was occupied by Dr. Lorne Robertson in the 1930s (now demolished). The two cast iron dogs from this residence now stand guard outside the entrance to Queen's Park at the north end of Parkview Drive. His sister Janet and her husband Thomas Stiles were host to Norman and his new wife Frances in 1924, when they stayed at Janet's home (at 335 Cobourg Street) for several months.
Stratford is a member of the Stratford Sister Cities program which was created to promote friendship and cultural exchange between participating countries. Participation is restricted to places called "Stratford" that have a Shakespeare Theatre or Festival. A reunion is held every second year by a different member.[8]
The four principal sister cities of Stratford, Ontario are:
| Perth East | ||||
| Perth South | Perth East | |||
| Stratford | ||||
| Perth South |