The Corporation of the City of Stratford
Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee
Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, September 15, 2025

Time:

4:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Location:

City Hall Auditorium

Ad-Hoc GTR Committee Present:

• Dan Mathieson - Chair Presiding, 
• Mayor Martin Ritsma, 
• Barb Cottle, 
• Franklin Famme, 
• Mark Vandenbosch, 
• Melanie Hare, 
• Nic Flanagan, 
• Paul Parlee, 
• Ron Dodson, 
• Stephen Mitchell, 
• Trudy Jonkman, 
• and Ryen Ropp-Robinson 

Staff Present:

• Adam Betteridge - Director of Building and Planning Services, 
• Andre Morin - Chief Administrative Officer, 
• Emily Robson - Corporate Initiatives Lead, 
• Joani Gerber - CEO of investStratford, 
• Melanie Reasbeck - Project Coordinator, investStratford, 
• Tim Wolfe - Director of Community Services, 
• and Victoria Trotter - Recording Secretary 

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1.

Call to Order

The Chair to call the Meeting to Order.

Land Acknowledgement.

Moment of Silent Reflection. 

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

​The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires any member of Council declaring a pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof, where the interest of a member of Council has not been disclosed by reason of the member’s absence from the meeting, to disclose the interest at the first open meeting attended by the member of Council and otherwise comply with the Act.

Name, Item and General Nature of Pecuniary Interest

3.

Adoption of Previous Minutes:

• Motion by

  THAT the Minutes of the Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee of The Corporation of the City of Stratford dated August 25, 2025 be adopted as printed.

4.

Delegation Requests

None

5.

Business Arising from Previous Minutes

5.1

Refreshing the Grand Trunk Master Plan

Melanie Hare, Chair, Vision, Planning & Architecture Working Group

• Motion by

  THAT the Ad Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee accept the Master Plan update recommendations outlined in this report;

  THAT the Ad Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee accept the implementation recommendations outlined in this report; and,

  THAT the Ad Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee direct that this report be forwarded to Stratford City Council for consideration.

6.

New Business

6.1

End-of-Mandate Survey Report

Ron Dodson, Committee Member

6.2

Reflection Activity: Committee Timeline

Members will add reflections and insights to a timeline of the Committee’s work, highlighting key moments and lessons learned. The purpose of this activity is to acknowledge our shared journey and bring the Committee’s work to a close on a reflective note.

Please come prepared with 2–3 moments from the Committee’s work that were meaningful to you.

7.

Working Group and Staff Updates

7.1

Partnership

Herb Klassen & Karen Haslam, Co-Chairs

None

7.2

Vision, Planning & Architecture

See item 5.1

7.3

Real Estate, Legal & Finance

Franklin Famme, Chair

7.4

Communications, Advocacy, Civic Engagement

Andrew Hilton & John Kastner, Co-Chairs

None

7.5

Infrastructure & Environment

Stephen Cooper, Chair

None

7.6

Working Group Coordinators

Alan Kasperski & Ray Harsant, Coordinators

None

7.7

Staff Update

Emily Robson, Corporate Initiatives Lead, City of Stratford

Joani Gerber, CEO, investStratford

8.

Date of Next Meeting

This is the final meeting of the Ad Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee. The term of appointment for all members concludes on September 30, 2025.

9.

Adjournment

Meeting Start Time:

Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

  THAT the September 15, 2025 Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee meeting adjourn.