r/StratfordOntario

Have lived in Stratford many years.. this year has been the most noticeable size of encampments and homeless downtown.

Not an easy problem to solve, but surely the City needs a firm solution. The Stratford economy relies almost entirely on tourism. With the new Toronto GoTrain route we can’t have visitors running into this as one of their first impressions arriving at station.. having lived in both, it’s a big reason folks want to get out of the city.

So question is are folks aware of a meaningful plan to address before it gets even worse?

We're a family of four (two little kids under 4), and a dog and are currently living downtown in the heart of the city. Husband has been born and raised here, and I moved here 11 years ago. We've been feeling 'priced out' for a while, but recently, things have started to feel dangerous too. A mentally ill woman assaulted and randomly pepper-sprayed my husband and 3yr old daughter in a Shopper Drug Mart unprovoked. Police were called, but she got away before they arrived. There was a double stabbing two streets over from where we live, fights are constantly breaking out in the subway, drug use rampant in children's parks to the point where we have found needles in the wood chips.

I could go on, but all that is to say, it's feeling untenable raising young children here, and my daughter has started having night terrors ever since the Shoppers Drug Mart incident. We've been thinking about moving for a while, but it seems like now is the time to really do it. We both work remotely, so we can move anywhere in Ontario but are looking for a family-friendly place, liberal-leaning, which feels safer than Toronto lol.

My questions are:

1. What is it like for young kids in Stratford?
2. We are a mixed race, mixed religion household. Frankly speaking, what is the level of 'openness' and acceptance in the city?
3. What is the social scene for millennials raising kids? We'd know nobody there, would we be able to make a community?
4. Are there any neighbourhoods we should stay away from?
5. Would you move here, if you were from elsewhere?
6. What are winters like there?

Thanks!!!

Hello everyone!

As the title says I'm looking for some personal training recommendations in Stratford or surrounding areas.

I'm a complete beginner so a pt who has experience with beginners is preferred.

Thanks in advance!

Howdy! Where can I buy a half bushel of Roma tomatoes locally? What would a good price be?

They're .99/lb at No Frills right now. ​Not sure if I can get a better deal as a bushel or buy a ton at this price.

Thank you! ​

I'm looking for a Vet in Stratford to take my dog to. Any recommendations?

I was just at the Value Village/Beer Store parking lot and there were all these seagull feathers and a person there said there had been a ton of dead birds. Anyone know what happened?

Anyone have recommendations for an outstanding lactation consultant in the Perth area? (Covered or not covered by ohip)

I want to get a women’s suit but can’t find any online. I’m looking for recommendations for stores anywhere around here with in 2-3 hr drive. I’m looking for a more fitted masculine style 3 piece suit, everywhere I see is a more loose flowy female style of just baggy pants and blazer.
Any help would be appreciated

We live in a 140 year old house. At some point between the 1940s and 1970s an addition was put on the back of the house with its own basement. They dug out under the house to run HVAC.

The house has sagged in the middle and isn’t at risk of moving anymore any time soon according to our inspector.

It is bothering me and I’d like to get some more opinions and options for remediation.

Has anyone else dealt with this? If you have who did you use, for what work done, and would you refer them? DM me if you are not comfortable putting names on Reddit.

Thanks in advance!

Where do people fish in and around in Stratford?

Just getting started and hoping find somewhere quiet to practice.