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COLUMN: A stake in the ground – at last

After decades, Stratford city council has finally committed to the first phase of its ambitious community hub project

I’ve been to many, many Stratford city council meetings – as a journalist, as a committee member, as an interested citizen and as an advocate for the Rotary Complex and the Stratford Perth Museum.

Most recently, I attended as a member of the Grand Trunk ad hoc committee.

COLUMN: A stake in the ground – at last Back to video

Very rarely, if ever, have I heard the council chambers erupt in applause when a motion was passed, but that’s what happened last month when the city, after decades of foot-shuffling and navel gazing, took definitive action on the 18-acre site on the cusp of downtown Stratford.

The city, by a vote of 9-1, said “let’s go here” and committed to help fund a new library, YMCA and community space on the property. The next decisions will answer some questions: what does that facility look like, how should it work, and how it fits on the site, including what role “The Shops” structure can realistically and responsibly play.

This remarkable turn of events can trace its genesis to one of the three educational sessions led by city staff for council. On Feb. 26, completely out of the blue, Coun. Mark Hunter said “no one in the private or public sector is going to have any interest in this property until they know what the city is doing about the library and the Y. We need a new library and a new Y, so what are we waiting for?”

There was even a desire to make motions to that effect, which was not permissible, but next thing you know city staff was instructed to begin pricing out options. That suddenly set the wheels in motion to where we are today.

There are contrary opinions out there and, within reason, that’s good – it means people care. But, I can tell you that in my role as communications co-chair for the ad hoc committee, this action very much reflects what I heard from many people in the community and aligns with the general wishes of the ad hoc committee – specifically, do something that........

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