Shakespeares Twin City

Every town or city around the world is said to have a twin and Stratford upon Avon respectively is no exception. Stratford Ontario in Canada is Stratford's twin city which is located in Perth County in Southern western Ontario Canada and has a population of around 31,000 at the last census back in 2006. History dates back to 1828 when the first settlers arrived, then in 1832 Thomas Mercer Jones who was a agent of the Canada Company named the village "Stratford" and he even renamed the river that runs through the village as the "River Avon".

The first town plan was created by John Macdonald a surveyor in 1834,it was his design that created four main roads leading from the centre of the town to other surrounding townships. These roads lead to the Great lakes, and therefore three of them were aptly named after them,as Huron, Ontario,and Erie.

But it would be the arrival of the Railway that would signal a much needed boost to the town, it would be the year 1856 and the Buffalo and Lake Huron Line as well as the Grand Trunk Railway would herald Stratford's long history as a major rail centre. Soon afterwards as you would expect a locomotive repair shop was set up, and the railway system was expanded in 1889 and 1906.

Then it would be the amalgamation of the Buffalo and Lake Huron Line, and the Grand Trunk which would lead to it be overtaken by the Canadian National Railway..

It then became a town in 1859 followed by the recognition as a city in 1886.Originally the town was just a railway junction but then furniture manufacturing took prime importance and became part of the local economy by the 20th century. It was then in 1904 that the Parks Board was created they would be responsible for designing a horticultural system around the area where the Festival Theatre currently stands, known as the Upper Queens Park. The swans that you see today at the park were first introduced way back in 1918,and R.Thomas Orr was to realise his dream by finally succeeding in having the Shakespearean Gardens created.

But with the advent of industrialisation also came the first strike. The strike in 1933 by the "furniture workers and chicken pluckers"got so out of control that the army together with tanks were brought in to quell the disorder.

But a major boost to the economy occurred when the Shakespearean Stratford Festival began in 1953.The annual festival now attracts theatre goer's celebrities and tourists alike from all over the world like Christopher Plummer and Dame Maggie Smith and William Shatner to name just a few. The world famous festival takes place in four theatres around the city.

As well as the festival Stratford Ontario was crowned "Prettiest City In The World" by Nations In Bloom back in 1997.The city is also home to a number of famous Canadians like CBS news anchorman Peter Mansbridge,and famous sports stars like former NHL hockey player Tim Taylor. The first Mayor of the city was John Corry Wilson Daly and the current Mayor is Dan Matheson and as a matter of fact the swan has become a symbol of city and each year 24 white swans are released into the River Avon. All in all Stratford Ontario just like its namesake has a rich mixture of culture history and tradition to please any world travelling tourist.