The Perth County Courthouse in Stratford, Ont., is just one of the lovely sights to see in this charming town.
Best known for its annual summer festivities, Stratford is also a joy to behold and experience in wintertime
After growing up in and then living in Toronto for many years, my wife Audrey and I moved to Stratford, Ont. Both cities are great but Stratford in the wintertime has a completely dierent look and feel than a big city like Toronto. You will find a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere here. There are many older heritage homes and buildings that were con
structed in a variety of architectural styles, and when they are covered in snow during winter, it makes the city look less modern, almost as if a small town has blended together with a big city.
Stratford’s downtown city hall was built in 1899 in a Queen Anne architectural style. At Christmastime, the building is beautifully decorated, and with its large festive tree out front, it almost looks like something from an older Hollywood movie set. The Stratford train station, built in 1913, likewise has an old-time appearance in winter. The Perth County Courthouse was opened in 1887 on the site of the first permanent home built in Stratford, and oers a unique winter scene when viewed in the early morning after a fresh snowfall.
The river park near downtown is adorned with Victorian-style lamp posts. When walking or driving through this park, especially in the early morning or evening when the lamps are lit, the inherent feeling of winter or Christmases past, is hard to miss. When shopping downtown, there are many small stores and unique boutiques that are tucked inside these old Victorian build
ings, which is a welcome change from city shopping malls and “big box” stores.
As well as the buildings, Stratford has many great nature areas to enjoy during winter. The T.J. Dolan Trail is a very popular area for dog walking and some people cross-country ski here. The variety of trees and branches in the forest creates a myriad of patterns after a snowfall. A short distance from downtown, you’ll find a walker’s paradise known locally as the Avon River Trail. Set amid scenic woods and oering conveniently placed memorial benches, the trail winds around Lake Victoria and passes by the Festival Theatre. It also features a walking bridge to Tom Patterson Island, where you can view Canada geese and mallards, and if the sky is right, you can take in a colourful sunset over the west side of the city. When Lake Victoria freezes over, many games of pick-up hockey can be seen throughout the winter, a wonderful reminder of my youth!
Stratford in January also hosts a Winterfest weekend for families with plenty of free outdoor activities for young children, and for older folk, it is enjoyable to watch kids having outdoor fun.