Stratford City Council
Committee of the Whole Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

Date:

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Time:

10:00 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

Location:

Council Chamber, City Hall

Council Present:

• Mayor Ritsma - Chair Presiding, 
• Councillor Beatty, 
• Councillor Burbach, 
• Councillor Henderson, 
• Councillor Hunter, 
• Councillor McCabe, 
• Councillor Nijjar, 
• Councillor Sebben, 
• and Councillor Wordofa 

Staff Present:

• André Morin - Chief Administrative Officer, 
• Tatiana Dafoe - City Clerk, 
• Audrey Pascual - Deputy Clerk, 
• Kim McElroy - Director of Social Services, 
• Tim Wolfe - Director of Community Services, 
• Taylor Crinklaw - Director of Infrastructure Services, 
• Karmen Krueger - Director of Corporate Services, 
• Adam Betteridge - Director of Building and Planning Services, 
• Neil Anderson - Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief, 
• and Stuart Filson - Supervisor of Planning Policy & Placemaking  

To watch the Committee of the Whole Open meeting live, please click the following link: https://stratford-ca.zoom.us/j/89678054440?pwd=PmdBTf8CWfsdW4Zyj8YLGhjBV07dV4.1

A video recording of the meeting will also be available through a link on the City's website https://calendar.stratford.ca/meetings following the meeting.

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1.

Call to Order

​​Mayor Ritsma, Chair presiding, to call the Meeting to order.

Councillor Biehn has provided regrets for this meeting.

Respectful Conduct Statement

2.

Declarations 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 to otherwise comply with the Act.

Name, Item and General Nature Thereof

3.

Adjournment to Committee of the Whole In-camera Session

• THAT Committee of the Whole move into closed session to consider the following matter:

  4.1 Confidential Report of the Chief Administrative Officer with respect to an update on the potential redevelopment of municipal property (CM-26-05) - Litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals affecting the municipality or local board (section 239.(2)(e)); and Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege including communications necessary for that purpose (section 239.(2)(f)).

4.

Reporting Out of Closed Session

5.

Grand Trunk Renewal Project Workshop #2

Workshop #2 gives realistic options for the Grand Trunk site by examining constraints, costs, municipal capacity, and decision sequencing. Building on the shared concepts from Workshop #1 on January 27, 2026, it applies those frameworks to Stratford-specific realities. Councillors will gain a clearer picture of what is feasible, what trade-offs exist, and how different decisions now either unlock or constrain future choices on the project. No decisions will be made at the workshop. The goal is to build consensus and prepare the Council for decisions anticipated in the spring. 

5.1

Welcome

Lead: André Morin, Chief Administrative Officer

5.2

GTR: A Cornerstone Project Shaping the Future of Stratford

Lead: André Morin, Chief Administrative Officer

Reviews the project’s outcomes history, achievements, and its alignment with municipal plans and priorities. Reminder of project work ahead and considerations.

5.3

Shared Facility: Investing in Our Growing City

Lead: André Morin, Chief Administrative Officer

Speakers: Krista Robinson - Chief Executive Officer of the Stratford Public Library; Mike Ennis - Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Three Rivers

Reports progress on the shared facility partnership, with some early concepts and costs. The amenity’s impact and benefits for residents will also be reviewed.

5.4

Transforming the Superstructure

Lead: André Morin, Chief Administrative Officer

Summarizes the cost projections of work needed to adapt the superstructure/building for various development outcomes under consideration.

5.5

Closing Remarks and Introduction to Workshop #3

Lead: André Morin, Chief Administrative Officer

Reviews the session’s key points and provides an overview of the topics planned for the third educational workshop.

6.

Date of Next Workshop:

April 9, 2026, at 2:00 pm in Council Chambers located at Stratford City Hall, 1 Wellington Street.

7.

Adjournment:

• ​THAT the February 26, 2026, Committee of the Whole Open Session Meeting adjourn.