Lights on Stratford

HOPE in Downtown Stratford

We live 40 km from the City of Stratford ON which is home to the famous Stratford Festival, previously known as the Stratford Shakespearean Festival. The festival was founded in 1952 by Tom Patterson, a local journalist. We have enjoyed many fine theatrical productions here over the years. My father came for a visit in 2013 after Mom died and we took him to see Fiddler on the Roof, one of his favourite musicals. My nephew, Simri was also there and it was one of the nicest memories with my dad in his final years.

Stratford was founded in 1832 and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. The Ontario river that runs through the city is also called the Avon River. It is a beautiful spot to visit with well-kept older homes and a vibrant downtown. 

Covid-19 has put a hold on the Stratford Festival indoor performances for the past two seasons. Local businesses depend on the theatre patrons for financial success, and once again, restaurants are closed and large gatherings are disallowed. The city has sponsored a winter lights event called Lights on Stratford. We drove over to enjoy the displays and also to support a local restaurant by ordering some take-out food. 

Tom Patterson Island on the Avon River

Tom Patterson Island is opposite the main Festival Theatre and a small bridge takes pedestrians to the island in Avon River. The solar system was displayed but the actual river, dusk sky and rising moon were more spectacular than the lighted planets. The planet display was ideal for young children with plenty of room for them to run about in a socially distanced way. 

Sky Castle, Market Square Stratford

The Sky Castle behind the City Hall was a kalaidescope of changing colours and sounds. Local businesses had lighted displays and like Tom Patterson Island, it was a great place for families with children. We ordered take out at a local Indian restaurant, but had to save it to eat at home. I do hope restaurants are able to open again soon for indoor dining. 

I am enjoying the (very light) British drama mystery series Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators on Britbox. The stories are set in Stratford-on-Avon, England and it is interesting how Stratford Ontario has been modelled after the original theatre town. Hopefully the Stratford Festival will be up and running this year if the pandemic burns out. 

Omicron has been the most challenging and contagious variant of the Covid-19 pandemic. Both the hospitals in the city are dealing with high rates of staff absenteeism due to illness or isolation mandates. Vaccinated people are getting ill and while the numbers of infected patients has skyrocketed in the past couple of weeks, most of them have mild symptoms. Many Covid positive patients are asymptomatic and have been hospitalized for other reasons. But unvaccinated patients are still developing critical illness requiring ICU care. I have been called in for several extra shifts but am glad I was firm about taking a few days off this week. Down time is essential;-visiting Stratford, walking in the woods, reading a good book, watching the moon rise, streaming a film from a place I would like to travel to sometime...

Yes, life is good!