The Beacon Herald
SITTING DUCKS
A couple of mallard ducks spend part of their Friday afternoon basking in the sunshine on the bank of the Avon River.
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Multicultural association looks to bring Cuban refugees to Perth-huron
While conditions continue to deteriorate in Cuba during the country's acute energy crisis, the Multicultural Association of Perth Huron is working to bring some refugees from the Caribbean island nation to the region. “I mean, the situation is not...
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NET RESULT
St. Marys Lincolns forward Blake Elzinga is sent into Cambridge goalie Aidan Hill during the first period of Monday's Sutherland Cup game at the Pyramid Recreation Centre. Cambridge won 4-2 and hosted Game 3 on Wednesday.
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WALL OF FAMER Former Beacon sports editor John Kastner ends his speech after being inducted into the Stratford Sports Wall of Fame as a builder during Saturday's banquet at the Army Navy & Air Force Veterans Hall.
Stratford's Sports Wall of Fame added six new inductees on Saturday. “This is the ultimate honour for me,” John Kastner said while being honoured as a builder. The former journalist spent 33 years at the Beacon Herald, where he championed local...
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New doc salutes Stratford Festival artistic director's legacy
As he heads into his final season as the Stratford Festival's artistic director, the rare chance to look back on his life and career was both awkward and flattering for Antoni Cimolino. Cimolino, who has spent four decades at the Festival in various...
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Grease is the word for St. Mike's drama students
Despite Grease's status as one of Broadway's most iconic musicals, the students mounting the upcoming production at St. Michael Catholic secondary school aren't intimidated. In fact, it's these same students who pushed for the opportunity to bring...
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Stratfordites voice support for alternative Grand Trunk plan
What was supposed to be a chance for residents to offer suggestions on what the city should do with the Grand Trunk site turned into a substantial show of support by speakers for an alternative plan developed by a local architect. While a few...
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SPRING CLEANING
Ryan Yang, left, and Rebekah Nelson from the 19th Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Stratford hold bags of garbage Saturday morning during The Boathouse's Avon River clean-up. Around 115 people, including 20 from the local squadron, pitched in to...
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GO Transit service is returning to Stratford
About two-and-a-half years after a previous pilot service was discontinued, GO Transit trains will be making a return trip to Stratford. Ontario's minister of transportation, Prabmeet Sarkaria, announced Friday morning that one daily round trip will...
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BUILDING EXPERIENCE
Madi Blazek, a Grade 7 student from Listowel's St. Mary Catholic school, gets experience at the brick and stone masonry station during Thursday's Huron-perth Catholic District School Board Skilled Trades Pathways Experience. The two-day event at...
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Margaret Smart reflects on her time leading The Local
Although she's moving on from her role as executive director of The Local Community Food Centre, Margaret Smart still has nothing but love for the agency she's helped guide for the past three years. “Even though I am leaving, my love for this place is...
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SERIES CLINCHER
The Chatham Maroons' demise was as sudden as it was shocking. Little more than a week ago, they were on a 16-game winning streak and looked like the class of the Greater Ontario Hockey League's Western Conference. Four straight losses later and their...
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SOME BUNNY TO LOVE
Some Stratford residents, including those living at this John Street home, have gone all out to celebrate Easter, which is Sunday.
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STRATFORD ARTIST TEAMS WITH BLUE JAYS TO DECORATE ROGERS CENTRE SPACE
The Blue Jays made their pitch, and Carlie Pearce hit a home run. In this case, a different insidethe-park variety. The Stratford artist received an email in January from someone on behalf of the major league club asking if she would provide...
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Stratford residents join Fight Ford protests held across province
Several dozen residents gathered outside city hall Saturday morning for what was billed as the “Fight Ford” protest. The Stratford group joined dozens of other rallies organized across the province, including protests in Kitchener, Ottawa, St....
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History to be display at Stratford's revived Doors Open weekend
Greg Orr might be the fifth generation of his family to work in their insurance business, but he realizes there's much more to it than just following in his forebears' footsteps. It's also about preserving a history that started long before him, he...
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SCOURING THE AREA
Stratford police urged residents to avoid the area of Devon Street and C.H. Meier Boulevard during an active investigation early Thursday afternoon. Several officers, one using a drone with thermal imaging, were searching the area after receiving an...
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GOING UP
Workers installed the first wall panel Wednesday on one of the three new apartment buildings being built at 600 Orr St . Once complete, the site will include 275 apartment units.
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A LITTLE HELP
Lucy Nahrgang gives Millie Dawdry some help during a game of cherry bomb on Sunday at the Rotary Complex. Dozens of young girls hit the ice for the sixth annual Try Aces Day, an event for U7, U9 and U11 players getting into girls hockey.
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Stratford manufacturer gets federal funding boost
A Stratford manufacturer that employs nearly 200 people got some good news this week -- a federal funding boost that will help the company become more competitive. On Thursday afternoon, Peter Fragiskatos, the London Centre MP who serves as...
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Syrup producers adjust to ever-changing temperatures
As the up-and-down temperatures continue well into March, a local maple syrup producer says the conditions have so far led to a very good season. “The forecast looks like we are set to have a fantastic year because there's lots of frost at night. . ....
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EARLY BIRD
A robin, perhaps confused by Tuesday's snow and cold, perches itself on a branch in Stratford. Spring is set to arrive on Friday, though winter isn't expected to fully relinquish its grip until April – at some point.
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MARCH BREAK SKATE
Stratford's Ava Tiegs relied on a little help to get around the Rotary Complex ice during Monday's free March break skate. Free skates are scheduled through Friday at the Complex from 1 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
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LATE-WINTER BLAST
Joanne Mclaren used part of the lunch hour on Friday to shovel the sidewalk and steps in front of Dunphy Burdett Lawyers LLP on Albert Street in Stratford. After temperatures hit the high teens earlier this week, winter returned with a fresh blanket of...
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Sports training complex in doubt as city signs letter of intent
The hope of one resident to turn the city's former Scotiabank property into a new training facility for both Rugby Canada and Soccer Canada is on hold for now. Alan Kasperski, a spokesperson for the National Field Sports Training Centre group, was...
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HOW TO HELP VICTIMS OF ABUSE: OPTIMISM PLACE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
With every Stratford-area municipality having officially declared intimate partner violence as an epidemic, the executive director of the Optimism Place Women's shelter is reminding residents that domestic violence can occur in a range of...
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Defence official intrigued by trio's anti-drone system
A senior official at the Department of National Defence says he wants to learn more about the anti-drone system three men charged in a London gun and explosives investigation are working on after their legal problems are resolved. But developing...
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ON GUARD
Crossing guard Dave Veer helps pedestrians cross West Gore Street near Shakespeare public school on Friday afternoon. Veer will mark one year on the job next month.
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SAY WATT?
Ryan Green from Festival Hydro changes the bulb in a street light on Lakeside Drive in Stratford on Thursday morning.
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IN THE DITCH
Perth Line 26 between Highway 119 and Embro Road 113, south of Stratford, was closed on Thursday morning and part of the afternoon after a transport truck carrying dog food rolled into a ditch. Stratford police said the driver – the vehicle's lone...
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HURON-PERTH CHAMPS
Stratford District secondary school junior girls' volleyball players, from left, Aubrey Evans, Tessa Knetsch and Emersyn Vail – along with coach Tressa Trachsel – celebrate winning the Huron-perth title in a five-set thriller over St. Mike's on Tuesday.
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TAKING THE SHOT
Stratford District secondary school junior boys' basketball player Dilip Singh goes for a jumper during the second half of Monday's Huron-perth final against South Huron. The Golden Bears won 65-39 and will compete at WOSSAA on Thursday.
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PILED HIGH
Tahirih Mcdonnell chips away at the large snow pile on her front lawn on Dufferin Street Friday afternoon.
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CHILLED OUT
Heather Mckay waits for a bus on Cawston Street on Thursday morning in Stratford. A band of freezing rain – accompanied by lightning – moved through the area on Wednesday evening, leaving many surfaces coated in ice on Thursday before temperatures...
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LATE-WINTER THAW
As the temperature rises and the ice at Lake Victoria melts, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is warning people to be cautious around area waterways.
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Adult Learning Programs of Perth supports Stratford learners
Adults in Stratford looking to upgrade their skills, return to school or gain confidence navigating today's digital world have access to a wide range of free educational supports through Adult Learning Programs of Perth. Funded by the Ontario Ministry...
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Stratford manufacturer gets funding boost from province
A Stratford manufacturer is getting a significant financial boost from the province that will help bring more than three-dozen new jobs to Southwestern Ontario. Perth-wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced Friday that Accumetal Manufacturing Inc. will...
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TAKING FLIGHT
A duck takes flight off a patch of open water along TJ Dolan Drive in Stratford on Thursday afternoon.
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TAKING ON WINTER
Rick Kennedy clears the snow build-up at the front of his Simcoe Street driveway on Wednesday afternoon.
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Regional unemployment rose to nearly five per cent last month
Unemployment in the Stratford-bruce Peninsula reached nearly five per cent last month, the Four County Labour Market Planning Board reported on Friday. According to the release, unemployment increased by 0.9 percentage points to 4.9 per cent in...
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CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES
Work on the O'loane Avenue sanitary trunk extension continued Friday at the corner of O'loane and Huron Street in Stratford. Construction has lasted several months from Riddell Drive to Galt Road but is expected to wrap up within a couple of weeks, one...
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CHIPPING AWAY
Steve Johnston took some time Thursday morning to chip away at the ice at the end of his John Street driveway in Stratford. More snow is expected on Friday with temperatures plummeting into the weekend.
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PROTESTING HEALTH-CARE CUTS
Kevin Cook the first vice-president of CUPE-OCHU, spoke to around 14 union members during a Tuesday rally outside of Perth-wellington MPP Matthew Rae's office. The union claims the provincial government is making cuts to health care while 73,000...
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Can Stratford learn from Kitchener when it comes to Grand Trunk rehabilitation
Stratford needs a proper vision for the Grand Trunk site. That stark appraisal comes from Cory Bluhm, executive director of economic development for the City of Kitchener. “I think the key for us is every parcel we look at is a strategic opportunity...
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FROSTY FUN
A steady stream of people bundled up and headed to Upper Queen's Park for Stratford Winterfest on Saturday. This year's event featured games, performances, food trucks and other activities.
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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`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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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...
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