To Stratford: Greetings from the Future

Dear 2023 Stratford,

I am pleased to report that in an increasingly polarized, populist, post-truth world, 2028 Stratford is a city of good faith, fair dealing and courtesy.

The soul of Stratford is evident in its behaviours. There is support for the full arc of human development; i.e., infant, child, youth, adult, family, active elderly, and seniors in need of assistance.

There is also recognition and support of the roles and contributions of agriculture, commerce, industry and education - as well as the need for cohesion between them.

In its concentrated support of these values and behaviours, Stratford’s council scores highly across all of the following performance indicators:

1. Commitment, in the form of engagement, focus and hard work.

2. Comprehension, in the form of listening, studying and thinking.

3. Accountability, in the form of owning its responsibilities, supporting collaborative effort, and delivery upon its word.

This has been achieved through a rebalancing of efforts by the council to address the city's full range of priorities, as described above, guided at all times by the city’s values and optimal behaviours.

In particular, the council has recognized that history is written by people covering their tracks. Winners don’t write history; they make it. Accordingly, council communication is now in plain English and without political spin. “Council-speak” has been discontinued. The council listens to others and challenges itself, not the other way round.

Similarly, the council has recognized that diversity isn’t woke. Without it we’d still be in the stone age. It doesn’t need its own month, no more than we need a “Breathing Month”. Stratford is the change it wants to create. Self-congratulation is no longer a priority.

I wish you well. Take care.

Yours sincerely,

2028 Stratford