Fantastic Growth Opportunities

• 1~ What does the future look and feel like?
  2~ Steps needed to make it happen.
  
  
• 1~ What does the future look and feel like?
  
  
• In the future, the center of Stratford will be a pedestrian village. During the summer, tourists and locals will take part in an eclectic mix of discovery, fun, entertainment, food and shopping. While electric vehicles are being charged on City owned locations around the perimeter, their owners will be shuttled to the heart of activity. The City Hall and the Cooper Site will have been granted to the Festival.
  
  Promotional plays and ‘must see’ events will be presented all summer. Hundreds of rooms will be available at the ‘Grand Trunk Hotel’ thru a shared arrangement with the University of Waterloo and the Festival. During the off-season, students will take-over the low-cost accommodations as the preferred alternative to big-city living. The City core will be prosperous all year with activity and excitement.

2~ Steps needed to make it happen.

The first step is to create a ‘mindset’ that unequivocally embraces the artistic uniqueness and the overwhelming, economic impact of the Stratford Festival. Just as in a sport franchise, the Festival must be promoted as the prime, defining focus for all development and decisions. With their fund-raising skill, political and academic connections: creative growth and new, cooperative opportunities will benefit all of Stratford. (this ability has been proven with the opening of the Tom Patterson Theatre)

The second step is for the City to acquire locations for electric vehicle charging stations. This is paramount, to protect the core from mall, parking-lot installations. With a ‘captive audience’ downtown, local business and theaters will flourish and expand.

The third step is for coordinated planning between the City, the Festival and the University of Waterloo for the renovation of the Cooper Site and the City Hall. As mentioned, a large dormitory/hotel complex will provide for mixed use, year-round. Ancillary businesses, Go Train transportation and environmentally friendly parks and pathways will transform Stratford into a world-class destination for entertainment and education. Imagine the City Hall becoming ‘the jewel’ in a promotional network for, amateur theatre openings, ‘Black Swan’ talent and dining pleasures.’ The U of W could have a showcase for AI research and innovation.

These are just a few of the ideas that are now available for City Council. Fully integrating the future potential of the Festival to the success and image of Stratford, building on the expansive growth of an university population and securing a busy and exciting downtown full of people, are steps that need to be taken right away. Stratford has fantastic growth opportunities that can be realized, let’s work together!