The City of Stratford’s Strategic Priorities 2024-2027 sets a plan for action that guides progress over the four-year term of Council towards our vision and represents a commitment to move forward on those things that are most important to our community.
Each term of Council is an opportunity to set a new four-year agenda that builds on the progress made, while planning for the future and taking advantage of new opportunities to better serve the community.
The Strategic Priorities includes several key components which together reflect the City’s aspirations and commitments:
VISION, MISSION AND VALUES
Vision
A flourishing city propelled by inclusive growth and innovation, a community that works together to ensure everyone thrives.
Mission
To empower our community with services and opportunities to foster care, well-being, resilience and environmental sustainability.
Values
Belonging and Inclusion | We take action to make everyone feels welcome in our community. We celebrate and embrace diverse cultures including our local Indigenous Peoples. We create inclusive environments by continually asking who isn’t at the table and how we can invite them to participate.
Collaboration | We provide ongoing opportunities for our community to engage with us. We build trusting and reciprocal relationships with our partners and communities. We respect them by seeking their input and working diligently to honour their trust in us.
Innovation and Creativity | We foster these things by creating inclusive environments where people feel safe to express their individuality and create social connections. We create a vibrant and economically strong community by empowering people to pursue their passions.
Integrity | We value transparency, trust and accountability in our community. We recognize our responsibility as community leaders and hold ourselves to high ethical and moral standards.
Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship | We promote and practice environmental sustainability for the well-being of the community and the planet. We model this stewardship to our community, partners and peers.
VISION FOR 2027:
The Vision for 2027 and overarching theme for the 2024-2027 Strategic Priorities is "Thoughtfully Develop Our City". By prioritizing specific areas for development, the city seeks to create a vibrant urban environment while preserving green spaces, promoting active transportation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering community. This approach reflects a commitment to both future planning and addressing current needs, signaling transformative change.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND OBJECTIVES
Enhance Our Infrastructure
To invest in our infrastructure is to support the community's overall well-being. We will address key aspects such as transportation, utilities, energy transition and emissions. By making targeted investments, our focus is to create a resilient foundation that fosters sustainable growth, ensuring a high quality of life for residents and promoting economic stability for years to come.
Objectives:
- Enhance energy efficiency by implementing the short-term initiatives from the Corporate Energy Emission Plan to help us achieve our climate action goals.
- Improve the pedestrian, cycling, and transportation experience by implementing the short-term initiatives from the Transportation Master Plan.
- Advance key infrastructure maintenance and new growth-related projects in the 10-year capital forecast.
Build Housing Stability
Housing affordability remains a challenge in our community. Tackling this complex problem requires support from other levels of government. Yet, we have the ability to act—by reducing barriers to building, advancing our supportive housing projects, prioritizing housing in the Official Plan Review and partnering with our community. Together we help provide safe, attainable, affordable, and supportive places to live.
Objectives:
- Streamlining the approvals process, and enhance opportunities for new forms of residential development through the Official Plan Review, including provisions for inclusionary zoning and suitable intensification.
- Partner with a nonprofit agency to use municipal land for the development of affordable homeownership or affordable rentals.
- Provide safety and stability for unhoused community members by constructing new supportive/supported housing, taking an evidenced-based approach to addressing homelessness.
Work Together For Greater Impact
Stratford is full of creative, innovative, solution-focused people and organizations—the City must support them to respond to the needs of the community. Strengthening the City’s relationships with the community will allow us all to share resources, knowledge, and expertise. By working together, we can make a bigger impact. The City will need to foster a creative and proactive culture to embrace this role.
Objectives:
- Initiate the Grand Trunk Renewal development through a formal partnership model.
- Build meaningful partnerships to address community needs.
- Implement the Sports Tourism strategy in partnership with both Destination Stratford and local sports development groups and industry partners.
Intentionally Change To Support The Future
Change is a consistent presence in our community, presenting both challenges and opportunities. As we look ahead to the future, it is crucial to base our decisions on this evolving context. We need to genuinely explore what these changes mean for the well-being and economic foundation of our community. We have an opportunity to reconsider who we are as a community, what’s important to us, and what makes our community special. This will require a lot of us as we aspire to lead through this transformation. We must be people-centered in our decision-making, lead from our values and align our internal narrative with the identity of the Stratford community.
Objectives:
- Support economic growth and diversification by bringing new industrial lands to market.
- Improve efficiency and service standards by implementing the findings of the Corporate Service Delivery Review.
Implement recommendations from the Municipal Cultural Plan to create programs that celebrate diversity and promote inclusion for everyone.
A link to the City of Stratford's full strategic priorities document, entitled A Roadmap for Inclusive Growth, is available below:
A Roadmap for Inclusive Growth - City of Stratford Strategic Priorities 2024-2027