:Stratford, Ontario

In 1832, the development of an area called "Little Thames" as the market centre for the eastern Huron Tract began. By 1834 a tavern, sawmill and grist mill had opened, and by 1835 a post office, called Stratford, was operating. The Smith's Canadian Gazetteer of 1846 describes Stratford as follows: "Stratford contains about 200 inhabitants. Post Office, post three times a-week. Professions and Trades.—Two physicians and surgeons, one grist and saw mill, one tannery, three stores, one brewery, one distillery, one ashery, two taverns, two blacksmiths, one saddler, two wheelwrights, three shoemakers, two

tailors.{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Wm. H. |date=1846 |title=SMITH'S CANADIAN GAZETTEER - STATISTICAL AND GENERAL INFORMATION RESPECTING ALL PARTS OF THE UPPER PROVINCE, OR CANADA WEST|url=https://archive.org/details/smithscanadianga00smit |location=Toronto |publisher=H. & W. ROWSELL |page=[https://archive.org/details/smithscanadianga00smit/page/183 183]}} Settlement was slow until the early 1850s when the railway arrived.{{cite web |url=http://www.waynecook.com/aperth.html |title=Founding of Stratford |last=Cook |first=Wayne |date=2015 |website=Historical Plaques |publisher=Wayne Cook |access-date=5 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325235427/http://waynecook.com/aperth.html |archive-date=25 March 2017 }}

Furniture manufacturing and railway locomotive repairs were the most important parts of the local economy by the twentieth century. In 1933 a general strike, started by the furniture workers and led by the Communist Workers' Unity League, marked the last time the army was deployed to break a strike in Canada. The Grand Trunk Railway (later CNR) locomotive repair shops were the major employer for many years, employing 40% of the population.{{cite web |url=https://www.visitstratford.ca/uploads/locomotiverepair.pdf |title=A Community and a Workplace |date=2012 |website=Visit Stratford |publisher=Stratford Tourism |access-date=6 March 2017 |quote=The Grand Trunk Railway shops in Stratford, later part of the Canadian National Railways, were for most of their existence the largest employer in Stratford}}{{cite web |url=http://www.waynecook.com/aperth.html |title=Historical Plaques of Perth County |last=Cook |first=Wayne |date=2015 |website=Wayne Cook |access-date=5 March 2017 |quote=Expansion of the community was accelerated after 1871 when railway repair yards were located here and in 1885 with a population of 9,000 Stratford was incorporated as a city. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325235427/http://waynecook.com/aperth.html |archive-date=25 March 2017 }}

• 1828 - Settlement began.
• 1832 - Thomas Mercer Jones, an agent of the Canada Company, named the village "Stratford" and renamed the portion of the Thames River running through it the "Avon River." The first sawmill, hotel (Shakespeare Hotel) and gristmill opened.
• 1834 - The community had a tavern, sawmill and grist mill; in 1835 the first post office opened.
• 1849 - The Perth County News was Stratford's first weekly newspaper.
• 1853 - Perth County was created, with Stratford as its county seat.
• 1854 - Stratford was incorporated as a village.
• 1856 - Stratford became a railway town with the arrival of the Grand Trunk and Buffalo-Lake Huron railways.
• 1859 - Stratford was incorporated as a town.
• 1864 - The 17-year-old American telegraph operator Thomas Edison briefly lived at 46 Ontario Street.
• 1871 - A major railway repair yard opened (the town's major employer by 1901) and helped accelerate the town's population growth.
• 1885 - Stratford was incorporated as a city with a population of 9,000.
• 1887 - The second and current Perth County Court House opened; it has received praise for its High Victorian architecture, with several Queen Anne features, and Richardsonian Romanesque elements.{{cite web |url=http://www.perthcounty.ca/fileBin/library/general/pdfs/County%20Information.pdf |title=Perth County Court House |website=County of Perth |access-date=6 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430222445/http://www.perthcounty.ca/fileBin/library/general/pdfs/County%20Information.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-30 |url-status=dead }}
• 1898 - The massive red brick town hall, in the Victorian "Picturesque" style, with a prominent clock tower, began contruction.{{cite web |url=http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=12644 |title=Stratford City Hall |date=2016 |website=Historic Place |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=6 March 2017 |quote=Stratford City Hall reflects the development of town halls during the late-19th century, as the administrative functions of municipal government increased and cities sought to express their civic pride and ambition in impressive, large-scale buildings. Its Picturesque design, incorporating details from a variety of styles, reflects the architectural eclecticism of the late 1890s. Designed by Toronto architect George W. King, with the assistance of local architect J.W. Siddall, the building was intended to exploit its irregular site, presenting interesting façades from all angles. Its monumental scale, prominent tower and use of red brick distinguish it as a civic building.}}
• 1900 - January 29 Stratford City Hall opens; along with its 800 seat auditorium with a balcony and stage.{{cite book |last1=Plant |first1=Richard |editor1-last=Saddlemyer |editor1-first=Ann |title=Early Stages: Theatre in Ontario 1800-1914 |date=1990 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |isbn=978-0-8020-6779-1 |page=339 |edition=2017 |language=English |chapter=Chronology: Theatre in Ontario to 1914}}
• 1903 - The first public library opened, built with C$15,000 of financial assistance from American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.
• 1908 - The Stratford Normal School opened to train teachers; in 1953 it was renamed the Stratford Teachers' College. The school trains nearly 14,000 teachers before closing in 1973.{{cite web |url=http://www.waynecook.com/aperth.html |title=Historical Plaques of Perth County |last=Cook |first=Wayne |date=2013 |website=Wayne Cook |access-date=7 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325235427/http://waynecook.com/aperth.html |archive-date=25 March 2017 }}
• 1909 - The GTR (later CNR) locomotive repair shops building was completed; it is 16,800 square metres (182,000 square feet) in size.{{cite web |url=https://www.nationaltrustcanada.ca/sites/www.heritagecanada.org/files/HCNT-Top-Ten-2014.pdf |title=The National Trust's 2014 Top Ten Most Endangered Places List |date=2014 |website=National Trust Canada |access-date=6 March 2017 |quote=The Grand Trunk Railway Site Heritage Committee (a subcommittee of the Stratford Perth Heritage Foundation) is moving ahead with a recommendation to designate parts of the building under the Ontario Heritage Act. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307050039/https://www.nationaltrustcanada.ca/sites/www.heritagecanada.org/files/HCNT-Top-Ten-2014.pdf |archive-date=2017-03-07 |url-status=dead }}
• 1918 - A gift from J.C. Garden, a pair of mute swans come to live in Stratford. The swan population would expand over subsequent years.{{cite web |url=https://www.visitstratford.ca/uploads/brochure2007c.pdf |title=The Swans of Stratford |date=2007 |website=Visit Stratford |publisher=Stratford Tourism |access-date=6 March 2017 |quote=Several of the swans on the river today are descendants of Queen Elizabeth II's royal herd. In 1967, Her Majesty gave six pairs of Mute swans to Ottawa in honour of Canada's Centennial anniversary. Subsequently, one of the pairs was then given to Stratford. |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307123446/https://www.visitstratford.ca/uploads/brochure2007c.pdf}}
• 1920s - Stratford is already a major furniture manufacturing centre; nearly one-sixth of furniture made in Canada was shipped from Stratford. (All major manufacturing ceased by 2006.){{cite web |url=http://www.thecavershamhouse.com/stratford_furniture_industry.pdf |title=Stratford's Furniture Industry |date=2011 |website=The Caversham House |publisher=Caversham House Bed and Breakfast |access-date=6 March 2017 |quote=In the first half of the twentieth century, Stratford was home to Canada's largest furniture industry. It employed about a quarter of the city's workforce, the second largest industry after the railway which employed about a half}}
• 1933 - The army was called in to attempt to end a general strike (mostly of furniture workers) and remove communist leaders, but fails, marking the last time military force was used on a labour strike in Canada.
• 1936 - The Shakespearean Gardens were created, primarily through the efforts of R, Thomas Orr.
• 1953 - The Stratford Shakespearean Festival Theatre opened through the efforts of a Stratford journalist, Tom Patterson.
• 1957 - The Festival moved into its first permanent structure, the Festival Theatre.
• 1964 - The CNR shops closed and laid off numerous employees.
• 1976 - The Stratford City Hall was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
• 1979 - an F4 tornado tore through the community. The tornado travelled for 39 kilometres and levelled several houses.
• 1992 - The Stratford Armoury was recognised as a Federal Heritage building on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.{{cite web |title=Armoury: Stratford, Ontario, Canada |url=https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=11104&pid=0 |website=Canada's Historic Places |publisher=Parks Canada |access-date=April 23, 2019}}
• 1993 - Stratford's former Canadian National Railways (VIA Rail) Station was designated a Federal Heritage building.{{cite web |url=http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=15767

|title=Former Canadian National Railways (VIA Rail) Station |date=1993 |website=Historic Places |publisher=Parks Canada |access-date=6 March 2017 |quote=a good example of pre-World War I design trends in its use of large windows between thin piers, its textural treatment of materials and its vestiges of historical revivalism. The station retains key elements of its site including the station garden, the adjacent Station Park, the rail yards; the round house, nearby repair shops and urban structures.}}

• 1997 - Nations in Bloom crowned Stratford the "Prettiest City in the World."
• 2003 - The Stratford Festival of Canada celebrated its 50th season. A record 672,924 patrons visited and 18 plays were held. Following the 50-year record volume of playgoers, the Avon Theatre underwent a complete renewal and the Studio Theatre, a fourth theatre space seating 250 people, was added.

Stratford has a humid continental climate type (Köppen: Dfb). The highest temperature ever recorded in Stratford was {{convert|38.9|C|0}} in July 1936. The coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-35|C|0}} in January 1882. Stratford has warm summers that are lengthy by Canadian standards with cool nights and long, cold, and snowy winters. Precipitation is very high year round.

{{Weather box

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|location = Stratford, 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1865−present{{efn|Climate data was recorded in the City of Stratford from January 1865 to August 1959 and at the Stratford Wastewater Treatment Plant from October 1959 to present.}}

|Jan record high C = 15.6

|Feb record high C = 15.5

|Mar record high C = 26.5

|Apr record high C = 29.4

|May record high C = 33.0

|Jun record high C = 36.0

|Jul record high C = 38.9

|Aug record high C = 38.3

|Sep record high C = 37.2

|Oct record high C = 29.5

|Nov record high C = 23.9

|Dec record high C = 18.0

|year record high C = 38.9

|Jan high C = -2.6

|Feb high C = -1.2

|Mar high C = 3.5

|Apr high C = 11.3

|May high C = 18.3

|Jun high C = 23.6

|Jul high C = 25.8

|Aug high C = 24.7

|Sep high C = 20.6

|Oct high C = 13.3

|Nov high C = 6.2

|Dec high C = 0.1

|year high C = 12.0

|Jan mean C = -6.0

|Feb mean C = -5.0

|Mar mean C = -0.7

|Apr mean C = 6.4

|May mean C = 12.7

|Jun mean C = 17.9

|Jul mean C = 20.2

|Aug mean C = 19.2

|Sep mean C = 15.3

|Oct mean C = 9.0

|Nov mean C = 3.1

|Dec mean C = -2.8

|year mean C = 7.4

|Jan low C = -9.5

|Feb low C = -8.7

|Mar low C = -4.9

|Apr low C = 1.5

|May low C = 7.0

|Jun low C = 12.1

|Jul low C = 14.5

|Aug low C = 13.6

|Sep low C = 10.0

|Oct low C = 4.6

|Nov low C = -0.1

|Dec low C = -5.8

|year low C = 2.9

|Jan record low C = -35.0

|Feb record low C = -34.4

|Mar record low C = -30.6

|Apr record low C = -16.7

|May record low C = -7.2

|Jun record low C = -2.2

|Jul record low C = 2.8

|Aug record low C = -0.6

|Sep record low C = -6.7

|Oct record low C = -11.1

|Nov record low C = -23.9

|Dec record low C = -31.1

|year record low C = -35.0

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 96.5

|Feb precipitation mm = 70.5

|Mar precipitation mm = 66.0

|Apr precipitation mm = 80.2

|May precipitation mm = 91.7

|Jun precipitation mm = 76.5

|Jul precipitation mm = 102.1

|Aug precipitation mm = 83.9

|Sep precipitation mm = 102.3

|Oct precipitation mm = 89.7

|Nov precipitation mm = 104.9

|Dec precipitation mm = 105.2

|year precipitation mm = 1069.6

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 28.8

|Feb rain mm = 28.9

|Mar rain mm = 39.9

|Apr rain mm = 74.7

|May rain mm = 91.4

|Jun rain mm = 76.5

|Jul rain mm = 102.1

|Aug rain mm = 83.9

|Sep rain mm = 102.3

|Oct rain mm = 88.4

|Nov rain mm = 87.0

|Dec rain mm = 47.2

|year rain mm = 851.2

|Jan snow cm = 67.7

|Feb snow cm = 41.6

|Mar snow cm = 26.1

|Apr snow cm = 5.5

|May snow cm = 0.3

|Jun snow cm = 0.0

|Jul snow cm = 0.0

|Aug snow cm = 0.0

|Sep snow cm = 0.0

|Oct snow cm = 1.3

|Nov snow cm = 17.9

|Dec snow cm = 58.1

|year snow cm = 218.5

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 18.9

|Feb precipitation days = 13.6

|Mar precipitation days = 13.0

|Apr precipitation days = 13.0

|May precipitation days = 13.0

|Jun precipitation days = 10.5

|Jul precipitation days = 11.1

|Aug precipitation days = 11.2

|Sep precipitation days = 12.8

|Oct precipitation days = 14.2

|Nov precipitation days = 15.9

|Dec precipitation days = 17.7

|year precipitation days = 165.0

|unit rain days = 0.2 mm

|Jan rain days = 4.2

|Feb rain days = 4.1

|Mar rain days = 6.6

|Apr rain days = 11.4

|May rain days = 12.9

|Jun rain days = 10.5

|Jul rain days = 11.1

|Aug rain days = 11.2

|Sep rain days = 12.8

|Oct rain days = 14.2

|Nov rain days = 11.8

|Dec rain days = 6.9

|year rain days = 117.7

|unit snow days = 0.2 cm

|Jan snow days = 15.6

|Feb snow days = 10.6

|Mar snow days = 7.1

|Apr snow days = 2.2

|May snow days = 0.12

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.50

|Nov snow days = 4.7

|Dec snow days = 12.1

|year snow days = 53.0

|source 1 = Environment Canada{{Cite web

| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=4823&lang=e&dCode=1&province=ONT&provBut=Go&month1=0&month2=12

| title = Stratford WWTP

| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010

| date = 31 October 2011

| publisher = Environment Canada

| access-date = May 14, 2014}}{{Cite web

| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_stations_e.html?searchType=stnName&timeframe=1&txtStationName=stratford&searchMethod=contains&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&optLimit=specDate&Year=1865&Month=1&Day=1&selRowPerPage=25

| title = Stratford

| work = Canadian Climate Data

| date = 31 October 2011

| publisher = Environment Canada

| access-date = 24 July 2016}}{{Cite web

| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1865-01-01%7C1959-08-31&mlyRange=1865-01-01%7C1959-12-01&StationID=4822&Prov=ON&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=stratford&timeframe=2&Year=1882&Month=1#

| title = Daily Data Report for January 1882

| work = Canadian Climate Data

| date = 31 October 2011

| publisher = Environment Canada

| access-date = 24 July 2016}}{{Cite web

| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1865-01-01%7C1959-08-31&mlyRange=1865-01-01%7C1959-12-01&StationID=4822&Prov=ON&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=stratford&timeframe=2&Year=1936&Month=7#

| title = Daily Data Report for July 1936

| work = Canadian Climate Data

| date = 31 October 2011

| publisher = Environment Canada

| access-date = 24 July 2016}}{{Cite web

| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_stations_e.html?searchType=stnName&timeframe=1&txtStationName=stratford+wwtp&searchMethod=contains&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&Year=2016&Month=7&Day=24&selRowPerPage=25

| title = Stratford WWTP

| work = Canadian Climate Data

| date = 31 October 2011

| publisher = Environment Canada

| access-date = 24 July 2016}}

|date=April 2012}}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Stratford had a population of {{val|33232|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|14743|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|15388|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:33232-31470}}|31470|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|31470|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|30.02|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|33232|30.02|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000235 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=March 27, 2022}}

{{Canada census

|location=

|2021_population= 33,232|2021_pop_delta= 5.6|2021_land_area= 30.02|2021_pop_density= 1,107.0

|2021_median_age= 46.0|2021_median_age_m= 43.6|2021_median_age_f= 48.4

|2021_total_pvt_dwell= 15,388|2021_mean_hh_income= |2021_access_date= 2025-04-27

|2016_population= 31,465|2016_pop_delta= 1.8|2016_land_area= 28.28|2016_pop_density= 1,112.5

|2016_median_age= 45.4|2016_median_age_m= 43.4|2016_median_age_f= 47.3

|2016_total_pvt_dwell= 14,302|2016_mean_hh_income= |2016_access_date= 2020-12-16

|2011_population= 30,903|2011_pop_delta= 1.2|2011_land_area= 26.95|2011_pop_density=1146.0

|2011_median_age=43.8 |2011_median_age_m=41.7 |2011_median_age_f=45.7

|2011_total_pvt_dwell= 13,892|2011_mean_hh_income= |2011_access_date=2012-02-15

|2006_population= 30,461| 2006_pop_delta= 2.3| 2006_land_area= 25.28 | 2006_pop_density= 1205.1

|2006_median_age= 41.1 | 2006_median_age_m= 39.4| 2006_median_age_f= 42.4

|2006_total_pvt_dwell= 13,316| 2006_mean_hh_income= 54,128| 2006_access_date= 2012-02-15

|2001_population= 29,676 | 2001_pop_delta= 2.3| 2001_land_area= 21.92| 2001_pop_density=1363.7

|2001_median_age= 38.5| 2001_median_age_m= 36.9| 2001_median_age_f=40.1

|2001_total_pvt_dwell= 12,642|2001_mean_hh_income= 47,938| 2001_access_date=2012-02-15

|notes=

}}

{{Historical populations

|title = Historical populations

|type = Canada

|align = right

|width =

|state =

|shading =

|percentages =

|footnote =

|1841|200

|1871|4313

|1881|8239

|1891|9500

|1901|9959

|1911|12946

|1921|16094

|1931|17742

|1941|16923

|1951|18785

|1961|20467

|1971|24508

|1981|26262

|1991|27666

|1996|28987

|2001|29676

|2006|30461

|2011|30886

}}

The city is in a successful agricultural area and has some auto parts manufacturing, but tourism is still the most significant aspect. According to an estimate by the Conference Board of Canada, it generates $140 million in economic activity, $65 million in taxes and 3,000 direct and indirect jobs. For the past few years however, the town has been working to attract more technical industries with former Mayor Dan Mathieson spearheading the effort. The Royal Bank of Canada opened a $300 million data centre here, Starwood Hotels is experimenting with a new type of call centre, and the University of Waterloo has opened a satellite campus with about 500 students specializing in digital media and information technology, and as the home of the technology forum Canada 3.0 and various technology companies.

{{Main|Stratford Festival}}

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival began in 1953 when, on July 13, actor Alec Guinness spoke the first lines of the first play produced by the festival.J. Alan B. Somerset. 1991. The Stratford Festival Story, 1st edition. Greenwood Press. {{ISBN|978-0-313-27804-4}}Tom Patterson. 1987. First Stage. McClelland and Stewart. {{ISBN|978-0-7710-6949-9}}

The performances during the first four seasons took place in a concrete amphitheatre covered by giant canvas tent on the banks of the River Avon. The first of many years of Stratford Shakespeare Festival production history started with a six-week season, opening on 13 July 1953, with Richard III and then All's Well That Ends Well both starring Alec Guinness. The 1954 season ran for nine weeks and included Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and two Shakespeare plays, Measure for Measure and The Taming of the Shrew. Young actors during the first four seasons included several who went on to great success in subsequent years, Douglas Campbell, Timothy Findley, Don Harron, William Hutt and Douglas Rain.{{cite web |url=https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/AboutUs/OurHistory/Timeline |title=Our Timeline |date=2012 |website=Stratford Festival |access-date=March 6, 2017}}

The new Festival Theatre was dedicated on 30 June 1957, with seating for over 1,800 people; none are more than 65 feet from the thrust stage. Over the years, additional theatrical venues were added: the Avon Theatre, the Tom Patterson Theatre (originally Shakespeare 3 Company) and the Studio Theatre. The annual festival now draws hundreds of thousands of theatre goers and tourists to the area each year. Acclaimed actors including Alec Guinness, Christopher Plummer, Dame Maggie Smith, William Hutt, Martha Henry and William Shatner have performed at the festival. The Canadian novelist and playwright Timothy Findley performed in the first season, and had an ongoing relationship with the festival, eventually moving to Stratford in 1997.

From 1956 to 1961 and 1971 to 1976, the Stratford Festival also staged the separate Stratford Film Festival, which was credited as one of the first North American film festivals ever to schedule international films.J. A. B. Somerset and James Lindroth, The Stratford Festival Story: A Catalogue-index to the Stratford, Ontario, Festival, 1953-1990. Greenwood Press, 1991. {{ISBN|9780313278044}}. That festival collapsed after the 1976 launch of the Festival of Festivals, now known as the Toronto International Film Festival, impacted both the Stratford Film Festival's funding and its audience."Stratford closes film festival". The Globe and Mail, June 7, 1976.

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 around downtown Stratford.{{cite web|last=Miller|first=John|title=Stratford Summer Music|url=http://stratfordsummermusic.ca/}}

The Stratford Concert Band, a local wind ensemble, was founded as the Grand Trunk Railway Employees Band, and renamed the Canadian National Railway Employees' Band in 1907.{{cite web|title=History of the Band|url=http://www.stratfordconcertband.com/history.htm|publisher=Stratford Concert Band|access-date=17 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225248/http://www.stratfordconcertband.com/history.htm|archive-date=2016-03-03|url-status=dead}} The band performs free outdoor concerts at the Kiwanis Pavilion Bandshell in Upper Queen's Park throughout the summer.{{cite web |title=SUMMER CONCERTS | StratfordConcertBand |url=https://www.stratfordconcertband.com/summer-concerts |access-date=21 May 2024}}

Stratford is home to year-round 2SLGBTQIA+ programming and events.

Since 2018, Stratford has been home to pride festivities during the month of June (for Pride Month). Planned and implemented by Stratford-Perth Pride, pride month in Stratford typically includes a pride parade, drag show, family-friendly pride in the park event, and flag raisings. In November 2021, Stratford-Perth Pride launched its first annual Trans Pride Week - a week of celebrations honouring the trans and nonbinary community.{{cite web |url=https://stratfordperthpride.com/ |title=Home |website=stratfordperthpride.com}}

Stratford is also home to the Stratford Pride Community Centre (SPCC). The SPCC is a physical space located in downtown Stratford for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to visit during drop-in hours and attend social events.{{Cite web |title=Stratford Pride Community Centre |url=https://www.stratfordpride.com/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=SPCC |language=en}} The SPCC also hosts Stratford's Winter Pride event which takes place in February of each year.

Since 2021, Stratford District Secondary School (SDSS) and Stratford Intermediate School (SIS) has been putting their yearly budget toward including 2SLGBTQIA+ community to help those students feel included.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

Numerous visitors arrive in Stratford each week during the May to October Festival season.{{cite web |url=http://hermagazine.ca/24-hours-stratford/ |title=24 Hours In Stratford |last=Smith |first=Carrie |date=22 June 2016 |website=Her Magazine |access-date=6 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307050518/http://hermagazine.ca/24-hours-stratford/ |archive-date=2017-03-07 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.eatdrinktravel.com/10-ways-feast-around-ontarios-perth-county-fall/ |title=10 Ways to Feast Around Ontario's Perth County This Fall |last=Harris |first=Waheeda |date=18 October 2016 |website=Eat Drink Travel |publisher=Jester Media Corp |access-date=6 March 2017 |quote=Perth County has become ground zero for up and coming food and drink companies of southwestern Ontario. In Stratford and St. Mary's, living in a small town doesn't mean you have to give up on fab tastes or finding locally-grown or produced treats from morning until evening. For newbies or regulars, check out these places in Stratford and St. Mary's to expand your taste knowledge of southwestern Ontario's Perth County}} National Geographic Traveler considers the theatres to be "nirvana" and also praises other aspects of the town. "During the festival—which stages everything from Shakespeare to Sondheim to new Canadian plays—you can stay in theater-themed B&Bs, hang out with actors post-show at local bars, go on backstage tours, and attend dozens of other events with other theater-mad folk. Stratford itself is the type of walkable wholesome town Rodgers and Hammerstein might write a musical about."

{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/canada/staff-favorite-canada-places/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925164510/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/canada/staff-favorite-canada-places/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 25, 2016 |title=Nat Geo Travel Staff's Favorite Canada Places |last=Alipio |first=Amy |website=National Geographic Traveler |date=7 November 2013 |publisher=National Geographic |access-date=6 March 2017 |quote=Finding favorite places to visit in Canada wasn't hard for our National Geographic Travel editors. Here are some of their picks for don't-miss spots.}}

In addition to the festival, several annual events attract visitors. Stratford Summer Music, in its 17th year, runs for about a month. In 2016, the event, run by the town, offered 85 concerts, a third of them free or "pay what you can". The 2016 budget was $800,000 with funding provided by agencies such as the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund.{{cite news |last=Littler |first=William |date=23 July 2016 |title=Stratford's other festival brought music back to theatre town |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2016/07/23/stratfords-other-festival-brought-music-back-to-theatre-town.html | work=Toronto Star |location=Toronto |access-date=6 March 2017}} Smaller event are held in other months, including winter and the Swan Weekend in April, to attract off-season visitors.{{cite news |last=Buchanan |first=Vinnie |date=3 February 2017|title=Stratford is worth a winter visit |url=http://www.therecord.com/living-story/7098085-stratford-is-worth-a-winter-visit/ | work=Waterloo Region Record |location=Kitchener, Ontario |access-date=6 March 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ontariotravel.net/en/explore/huron-perth-waterloo-and-wellington/stratford |title=STRATFORD |date=2017 |website=Ontario Travel |publisher=Government of Ontario |access-date=6 March 2017 |quote=Canada's premier arts town delights all year round. Enjoy romantic getaways strolling Victorian streets and bucolic parkland. Embark on culinary trails, browse unique shops and enjoy musical concerts, heritage and art exhibits.}}

Fans of Stratford-born musician Justin Bieber frequently visit the town, and Stratford Tourism has produced a "Bieber-iffic Map" showing sites associated with his life in Stratford.{{cite web |url=https://visitstratford.ca/uploads/STA_BiebMap_2019_D2.pdf |title=Justin's Stratford |publisher=Stratford Tourism |access-date=18 September 2020}} In 2018, the Stratford Perth Museum opened "Steps to Stardom," an exhibit documenting Bieber's early career in Stratford.{{cite web |url=https://theoutline.com/post/8661/justin-bieber-museum-steps-to-stardom-stratford-perth-changes?zd=1&zi=33ehkfne |title=How A Small-Town Canadian Museum Became A Shrine To Justin Bieber |last=Fishburn |first=Alison |date=11 February 2020 |website=TheOutline.com |access-date=18 September 2020}} Some town locals are known to refer to Stratford as "the big S", drawing in fans year after year.

Stratford is home of the OHA Midwestern Junior B hockey team, the Stratford Warriors. The Warriors 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.{{cite web|title=Former Cullitons and Their Achievements|url=http://ohajrbstratford.pointstreaksites.com/view/ohajrbstratford/history/former-cullitons-and-their-achievements|publisher=OHA Stratford Cullitons|access-date=17 November 2012}} Stratford hosted Tim Hortons Hockey Day in Canada on January 30, 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stratford-ont-to-host-hockey-day-in-canada-1.857688|title=Stratford, Ont., to host Hockey Day In Canada|publisher=CBC|access-date=2009-11-19 | date=2009-06-02}} 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, the Stratford Soccer House League and the Stratford Dragon Boat Club. It's the home of the Stratford Sabrecats, and Stratford is also home to the Black Swans rugby club.

The Chess Federation of Canada has its administrative office in Stratford.

The city is governed by an elected city council, with a mayor and ten councilors, elected every four years. Sub-committees of council make recommendations to the standing committees of council that are then forwarded to city council for a final decision. The current mayor is Martin Ritsma.{{cite news |last=Flavelle |first=Dana |date=30 July 2016 |title=Is Stratford the next Waterloo? |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/07/30/wifi-made-a-public-service-a-test-bed-for-driverless-cars-stratford-aims-to-be-a-high-tech-hub.html | work=Toronto Star |location=Toronto |access-date=6 March 2017}}

The city is served by the Stratford Police Service. The police board consists of two members of city council, a citizen appointed by council, and two citizens appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.{{cite web |url=http://www.stratfordpolice.com/about.html |title=About |date=2017 |website=Stratford Police Service |access-date=March 7, 2017}} Stratford's first constable was hired in 1854. As of 2018, the Police Service has 56 sworn members and 22 civilians.{{cite web |url=http://www.stratfordpolice.com/assets/2016-18-business-plan.pdf |title=2016-2018 Business Plan of the Stratford Police Services Board |page=29|access-date=April 23, 2019}}

Other areas of Perth County receive services from the Ontario Provincial Police, Perth County Detachment in Sebringville with satellite offices in Listowel and Mitchell.

Historically, the city was a railway junction. Today, the Canadian National Railway, and the Goderich-Exeter Railway provide freight links, and Via Rail Canada is the passenger carrier.{{cite web|last=City of Stratford|title=Getting Around - Methods of Getting To|url=http://www.city.stratford.on.ca/site_ourcitylife/getting_around_methods_of_getting_to.asp|work=City Life|publisher=The Corporation of the City of Stratford|access-date=17 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025201234/http://www.city.stratford.on.ca/site_ourcitylife/getting_around_methods_of_getting_to.asp|archive-date=25 October 2012}} VIA's rail service in Stratford is based from the Stratford railway station, and is situated on the Toronto–Sarnia segment of the Québec City-Windsor Corridor; Via serves Stratford with two trains daily (one eastbound to Toronto Union Station, and one westbound to Sarnia via London).

It is not on a 400-series highway, but is at the junctions of Highways 7 (Ontario St.), 8 (Huron St.), and the former 19 (Now Perth Road 119, Mornington St.) and is connected to Highway 401 by expressways from Kitchener. Greyhound Canada provided daily service between London and Kitchener but the route was cancelled as of July 2011.{{cite news|last=Sutton|first=Tori|title=Greyhound axes routes through Stratford, St. Marys|url=http://www.southwesternontario.ca/news/greyhound-axes-routes-through-stratford-st-marys/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114090834/http://www.southwesternontario.ca/news/greyhound-axes-routes-through-stratford-st-marys/|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 November 2013|access-date=17 November 2012|newspaper=southwesternontario.ca|date=27 April 2011}} The owners of Cherrey Bus Lines, Robin Hood Tours provides chartered bus service from Stratford to locations as far as Kincardine and Wingham.{{cite web|title=Pickup Locations in Southern Ontario|url=http://www.cherreybuslines.com/main4.cfm?ID=C936B52B-E33D-1774-CAAC9C7B971A4250|publisher=Robin Hood Tours & Maxey Travel|access-date=17 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014194202/http://www.cherreybuslines.com/main4.cfm?ID=C936B52B-E33D-1774-CAAC9C7B971A4250|archive-date=14 October 2013}}

Within the city, Stratford Transit provides the local bus service, which runs every half-hour six days a week.{{cite web|title=Transit Overview|url=http://www.stratfordcommunity.ca/transit/overview/#schedule|publisher=City of Stratford|access-date=17 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025043035/http://www.stratfordcommunity.ca/transit/overview/#schedule|archive-date=25 October 2012}}

The Stratford Municipal Airport (CYSA) is located just north of the city and provides only general aviation, with the closest full service airports in Waterloo (Region of Waterloo International Airport) and London (London International Airport).

All bus routes in Stratford begin and end at the transit terminal located on Downie Street, close to the downtown core. The terminal is home to eight bus bays and public washrooms.{{Cite web|last=Kenny|first=Casey|title=New transit terminal in Stratford set to open|url=https://www.mystratfordnow.com/58298/new-transit-terminal-in-stratford-set-to-open/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=My Stratford Now|date=28 December 2018 |language=en-US}} There are six regular routes that run Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 22:00. There is an additional industrial route that serves the Wright Business Park in the south end and industrial zones in the east end.

There is bus service on Sundays, but there are no set routes. Instead, the city uses a transit-on-demand model in which riders book pickup and dropoff locations by either calling, using an app, or accessing the city's website.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-05|title=On demand transit service hits the streets of |url=https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/on-demand-transit-service-hits-the-streets-of-stratford-1.5011850|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Kitchener|language=en}}

There are special school routes in the morning and afternoon that are intended for students at the two local high schools and the intermediate school. The four routes in the morning and the afternoon serve over 400,000 students a year.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-10|title=Transit|url=https://www.stratford.ca/en/live-here/transit.aspx|access-date=2020-12-16|website=www.stratford.ca|language=en}}

There is no service on public holidays.

Public education in Stratford is provided by the Avon Maitland District School Board and Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board with both boards offering education in English, as well as French immersion up to grade eight (with the public Avon Maitland board also offering both languages through high school). The city has two secondary schools: Stratford District Secondary School, and St. Michael's Catholic Secondary School.

Stratford is also home to the Stratford Chef School, a prestigious culinary school and the focus of the Food Network Canada series Chef School.

File:University of Waterloo Stratford School Building.jpg

Founded in June 2009,{{cite web|url=http://lists.uwaterloo.ca/pipermail/uw-news-release/2009-May/000929.html|title=Canada 3.0 Forum to Shape the Country's Digital Future, by Michael Strickland|access-date=4 May 2009|publisher=uwaterloo.ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424231104/http://lists.uwaterloo.ca/pipermail/uw-news-release/2009-May/000929.html|archive-date=24 April 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} the University of Waterloo Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business is part of the faculty of arts, established to provide programs that focus on digital media, digital technologies, content creation and user experience.{{cite web|url=http://www.uwimprint.ca/article/2000-making-the-future-in-stratford|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424192401/http://www.uwimprint.ca/article/2000-making-the-future-in-stratford|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 April 2014|author=Day-Hamilton, Tobi|title=Making the future in Stratford|access-date=1 September 2012|publisher=uwimprint.ca}} September 2010 marked the official opening of the Stratford campus.{{cite web|title=About Us - Our Timeline|date=November 2012|url=http://stratfordcampus.uwaterloo.ca/about/|publisher=University of Waterloo|access-date=17 November 2012}}

This location offers undergraduate, graduate and advanced education programs and research opportunities as well as opportunities for research and commercialization.{{cite web|title=Waterloo Stratford Campus|date=November 2012 |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/stratford-campus/about/ |publisher=University of Waterloo|access-date=6 March 2013}}

The building was founded in 1963 under the name Stratford Northwestern. The name was changed in 2020 along with Stratford Intermediate School (formerly known as Stratford Central).

Founded in 1990, St. Michael CSS is the only Catholic high school in Stratford but is one of five Catholic schools in Stratford.

• The Beacon Herald
• Stratford Times
• The Stratford Gazette - This newspaper closed in November, 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/ontario-newspapers-torstar-postmedia-metroland-buying-1.4420920 |title=Postmedia to close community newspapers across southern Ontario |date=November 27, 2017|publisher=CBC News London|access-date=April 23, 2019}}

• "Stratford Living Quarterly Magazine" www.stratfordliving.ca
• "Stratford Living Seasons"

• CJCS-FM 107.1 FM
• CHGK-FM 107.7 FM

{{colbegin}}

• Cynthia Dale
• Colm Feore
• Graham Greene
• Joe Dinicol
• Shawn Roberts
• Sheila McCarthy
• Patricia Hamilton

{{colend}}

{{colbegin}}

• Britta Johnson, composer, lyricist, and playwright
• Dayna Manning
• John Till
• Loreena McKennitt
• Richard Manuel
• Ron Sexsmith
• Esthero
• Justin Bieber, pop music singer/songwriter
• James Westman, classical singer

{{colend}}

• Craig Hartsburg, retired NHL player and former NHL head coach
• Tim Taylor, retired NHL player was born in Stratford
• Jared McCann, currently plays for the Seattle Kraken of the NHL
• Greg de Vries, retired NHL player, resides part-time in Stratford
• Jacob Middleton, NHL player currently with the San Jose Sharks
• Joey Hishon, retired NHL player
• Nick Libett, retired NHL player
• Steve Miller, retired NHL linesman
• Rem Murray, retired NHL player
• Julia Wilkinson, Canadian Olympic swimmer

• Stewart Reynolds, aka “Brittlestar”, comedian, author
• R. J. Anderson, author
• Tom Patterson, founder of the Stratford Festival. Patterson also helped found the Canadian Theatre Centre and the National Theatre School.
• Richard Monette, artistic director of the Stratford Festival of Canada from 1994 to 2007.
• David Ridgen, filmmaker, podcast host of Someone Knows Something born in Stratford
• Peter Mansbridge, journalist, former CBC chief news anchor
• Lloyd Robertson, news anchor
• Tony Parsons, news anchor
• William D. Connor, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1907–1909
• Thomas Edison briefly worked as a telegraph operator in 1863 for the Grand Trunk Railway at Stratford's railway station at age 16
• John Davis Barnett, Assistant Mechanical Superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railroad and Mechanical Superintendent of the Midland Railway and librarian.
• Michael G. Turnbull, the assistant architect of the United States Capitol, was born in Stratford and lived there until the age of eleven, when his family emigrated to the United States.
• Norman Bethune made Stratford his temporary home in the early part of 1917.{{cite web|title=Famous Canadian Physicians|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/physicians/030002-2100-e.html|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=17 November 2012}}
• Robert B. Salter
• Agnes Macphail, the first woman to be elected member of the House of Commons of Canada, attended teachers college in Stratford in 1909–10.
• Jennie Kidd Trout, first woman in Canada to become a licensed medical doctor
• Basmah Hamzah, Aerobatic pilot; married to Prince Hamzah bin Al Hussein of Jordan. {{Cite news |date=2012-05-15 |title=Daredevil Canadian acrobatic pilot now a princess in Jordan's royal family |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/daredevil-canadian-acrobatic-pilot-now-a-princess-in-jordans-royal-family/article4178630/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}

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.{{cite web |title=About Stratford Sister Cities |url=https://stratford.org.au/about-stratford-sister-cities/ |access-date=April 23, 2019}}

The five principal sister cities of Stratford, Ontario, are:

• {{flagicon|England}} Stratford upon Avon, England, United Kingdom, is namesake of the city
• {{flagicon|Australia}} Stratford, Victoria, Australia
• {{flagicon|new Zealand}} Stratford, New Zealand
• {{flagicon|United States}} Stratford, Connecticut, United States
• {{flagicon|Canada}} Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada

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• {{official|http://www.stratfordcanada.ca}}

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Stratford

| North = Perth East

| Northeast =

| East = Perth East

| Southeast =

| South = Perth South

| Southwest =

| West = Perth South

| Northwest =

}}

{{Subdivisions of Ontario}}

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Category:Cities in Ontario

Category:Single-tier municipalities in Ontario