With a unique blend of vibrant local businesses, innovative artistry, and striking historic and modern architecture creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors and residents, Stratford’s downtown core showcases the community as the place-to-be for all 12 months.
“It can be May to October when our acclaimed festival and other seasonal events grab headlines or those chilly, post-Christmas months of January to March,” said Downtown Stratford Business Improvement Area (BIA) general manager Jamie Pritchard. “It’s always wonderful here.”
“Step inside a retail operation or restaurant, enjoy the personal service and discover how being taken care of properly will satisfy – no actually delight you. It leaves everyone wanting to return very soon for that warm family experience our front-line entrepreneurs love providing.”
“It’s a very vibrant downtown and since July, where there has been some turnover but 15 new stores have opened,” he said. “There always seems to be someone ready to step in.”
Stratford and District Chamber of Commerce general manager Eddie Matthews marvels at how the innovative side of the business sector has been such a boon to local tourism, transforming the core’s landscape into more than simply a place to shop.
“It is just incredible how folks in retail operations, restaurants, cafes, inns, offices, and other outlets have reimagined the entire look and feel of business models, adapting them to these different times in so many innovative ways.
“Since the pandemic, we have been able to assist those in several professional outlets, at the same time being their biggest cheerleader. I say you can never underestimate the power of these businesspeople who have taken it upon themselves to pursue new directions that ultimately results in a fresh and exciting beginning for both residents and tourists.”
For those interested in the overall provincial tourism picture, Matthews suggests a read through the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Industry Association of Ontario’s State of the Ontario Tourism Industry Report available online at State-of-the-Ontario-Tourism-Industry-Report-December-13-2022-FINAL.pdf (occ.ca).
Destination Stratford executive director Zac Gribble agrees the community features a wide range of events, activities for all ages and numerous diverse entertainment and recreational offerings in all four seasons.
“The Stratford Festival draws tourists during the summer and fall months, enables and supports a vibrant destination with myriad boutique shops, restaurants and accommodators that are unique for a city of our size,” he said.
“With Stratford's stellar reputation as an international cultural destination of choice, and with so much creative talent residing here, we’re able to launch new festivals that leverage the incredibly strong foundation we have thanks to the Stratford Festival.”
The crowd-pleasing Lights on Stratford Winter Festival of Lights from mid-December to late January transforms Stratford during Yuletide into a colourful wonderland filled with incredible beautifully lit features in the heritage downtown core and park system.
This year one particularly inviting attraction brimming with originality and instant crowd appeal is The Pool, a marvellous work by internationally recognized artist Jen Lewin displayed in the Market Square.
It is a giant field of concentric circles swirling with light when activated by touch. Inspired by Australian tidal pools the artist developed mesh-network technology and code to bring the experience to people around the globe. The 100 pads respond to walking, jumping, playing, while encouraging guests to participate.
Pritchard said the downtown core is a very different destination for many tourists because of its charm, identity, and uniqueness whatever time of year they’re planning a visit to the community for a day or longer.
“Stratford is an island on to itself,” Matthews said. “We are proud of what our identity is and how it works for us and our visitors. Each business outlet has a sense of its well-being. One can get lost in any of these shops, wandering about and gazing at merchandise rarely seen in other centres.
“Every one of them for whatever reason is unique. With all of this and how visitors are greeted to these establishments, we have succeeded in becoming a destination that people want to visit even in the off-season. Excitement is everywhere in and around the core, beyond and found in spots like Tom Patterson Island.”
A small sampling of comments from a handful of local businesspeople in the downtown core demonstrates just how eager they are to discuss the continuing appeal of their unique enterprises throughout the year.
“We get visitors from throughout the immediate region, the United Kingdom, the US and beyond looking for that genuine taste and/or touch of heritage,” said an enthusiastic Rob Russell of MacLeods Scottish Shop (co-owner with Carolyn Russell). “We have anything and everything they may not have seen before.
“Billed as Your Gateway to the British Isles, it’s all about fun – shopping clan or tartan, whether you need some tasty foodstuffs, that eye-catching kilt for a big event, comfy blankets, the perfect wedding gift you won’t get anywhere else and more. Stop by for a chat.”
Right next door is Watson’s Chelsea Bazaar, run in the old Bradshaw building since 1895 and sporting a wide range of merchandise from the unusual to the useful. The word eclectic hardly does justice when describing goods from glass, kitchenware, tableware, decorative ornaments, and everything in between and beyond.
Sales staff on this day offered their collective thoughts: “It really is a fun place for people to shop in and for us to work in. We just have a very wide variety of items here. It’s a real experience to just drop by and browse around, more personal than mall shopping.”
Featuring the artistic creations of more than 200 local, Canadian, and fair-trade artisans, and the place to find exquisitely handmade Mennonite quilts, Treasures is clearly the most apt name for another Ontario Street business.
“We have such a loyal customer base all year-round,” said Jackie Catania. “It’s such a pleasure to say this business is all about being local – families, friends, neighbours, artists all supporting the local economy.
“It’s just like we say on our website (treasuresofstratford.ca)– Handmade with Heart and It’s Just Like Coming Home.”
Serving up sandwiches, salads, cookies, muffins, desserts and topped off by a satisfying latte keeps Balzac’s pleasant, proficient staffers very busy but it’s a relaxing spot and there is always a chance of spotting the occasional theatrical star stopping by for tasty treat during Festival season.
Established in Stratford back in 1996, there are now 16 other locations with many grocery stores offering Balzac’s products.
From the beginning of January to the end of December there is more than enough time to embrace the adventure of exploring all of Stratford.
