Committees

Stratford Town Council, through the Council Procedural Bylaw (.pdf), has established a number of committees to assist them in their deliberations. Committees perform a fact finding function and make recommendations to Council. All standing committees have a Council member as the Chair and the Vice-Chair and three to five citizen members to make a total of seven members. The Mayor is an Ex-Officio voting member of all town committees. Some of the committees also have sub-committees to help them to carry out their work. The inclusion of residents on town committees is one of the many ways that Council engages residents in the decision making process. The input and insight of our resident committee members is invaluable to the town in our quest to build the best community possible.

Interested in submitting a volunteer application?

View more information on how to apply, participate, and make an impact through a town committee.

Current Committees:

Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee

The Diversity and Inclusion is a sub-Committee of the Sustainability Committee with a role to:

To regularly review and oversee the implementation of the Town’s Diversity and Inclusion Plan;
To recommend strategies to increase diversity in the Town so that all persons feel welcome;
To recommend strategies to improve inclusion in the Town so that all persons are able to fully participate in the community;
To recommend strategies to enhance the Town’s reputation as a diverse and inclusive community; and
To devise and carry out programs and events in support of the recommended strategies

The Committee is guided by the Diversity and Inclusion Report and Plan for the Town of Stratford.

Download the original Diversity & Inclusion Plan (.pdf).
This plan was updated in 2018: Finalized Town of Stratford Diversity and Inclusion Plan, Updated 2018 (.pdf)

Committee Members

Shamara Baidoobonso
Sandokhan Cleare
Noelle Duncan
Tanju Fernando
Rebecca Mok
Farahnaz Rezaei
Vacant

Watch this video to learn about the Town’s celebration of diversity over the years!

Finance & Technology Committee

The role of the Finance and Technology Committee is:

to ensure good financial stewardship through the development and implementation of a performance based budgeting system for the town and town entities and by making public engagement a central component of the process;
to monitor the expenditures of the town and town entities;
to oversee the development and implementation of sustainable purchasing policies and methods;
to act as the audit committee for the town and for town entities and to make recommendations regarding best practices for accounting;
to plan and implement technology solutions to support the work of the town including communications, computer hardware and software solutions;
to oversee the operation of the Stratford Seniors complex;
to develop and enhance partnerships with individuals, organizations, corporations and governments to improve financial stewardship and information technology deployment; and
to provide advice to council on matters relating to financial stewardship and information technology.

Committee Members

Chair – Councillor Jody Jackson
Vice-Chair – Councillor Jeff MacDonald
Anthony Aucoin
Denis Bergevin
Les Parsons
Roger MacDonald
Lynn Randall

Intergovernmental Affairs & Accountability Committee

The role of the Intergovernmental Affairs & Accountability Committee is:

to oversee the ongoing relationship development between the Town of Stratford and all other levels of government including but not limited to federal, provincial, first nations, municipal, and regional governments including associations such as Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities;
to work with Town Council and staff to host regular meetings with an intergovernmental focus with all levels of government and assist, as requested, in developing agendas, topics, and other identified needs to assist the Town of Stratford’s mandate;
to oversee the legislative function of the town including conducting periodic reviews of bylaws and legislation and making recommendations for changes and enforcement, as well as to oversee the ongoing implementation of the Town’s engagement strategy to ensure residents and stakeholders are informed and engaged in decision making;
oversee the ongoing development and implementation of a strategic performance management system with a particular focus on the measurement and public reporting of results, and annual review of KPI’s; and
to provide advice to council on matters of accountability, transparency and engagement.

Committee Members

Chair -Councillor Jill Chandler
Vice-Chair – Mayor Steve Ogden
Colleen Brown
Jeffrey Collins
Brett van Heyningen
John Walker
Filled

Heritage Sub Committee

The role of the Heritage Sub-committee is:

to recommend an overall heritage strategy which will recognize the importance of heritage conservation and preservation;
to identify and promote the heritage of the Town;
to encourage the conservation, protection, rehabilitation, and on-going use of buildings, streetscapes, and areas of historic, architectural or cultural value;
to facilitate the gathering of a heritage inventory to comprise all heritage items (buildings and structures, natural features, intellectual properties and artifacts.);
to promote the establishment of a heritage museum to provide the appropriate setting to display heritage items and for educating the public on our history;
to coordinate discussions with heritage professionals and interested residents and groups
to establish a network interaction for data collection and for project support and guidance;
to provide advice on the development of policies and the formulation of standards for heritage conservation and preservation; and
to continue in the role as an advisory body to the Planning and Heritage Committee

Sub-committee members:

Elaine Gaudet
Dan Larter
Christa Nawrot
Alex O’Hara
Tim Rose
Raymond Stewart
Vacant *Summary of projects 2006-2018: https://spark.adobe.com/video/7hknNyth7dGdS
*Many past committee members have contributed and are to thank for these projects as well as past and current Council Members, staff and community members.

Infrastructure Committee

The role of the Infrastructure Committee is:

to oversee the development, management and maintenance of all town and utility infrastructure, facilities and equipment except for sport, culture and wellness facilities and equipment;
to oversee the development and implementation of the customer service regulations for water and sewer customers, including interpreting the regulations and making decisions thereon;
to oversee the development and implementation of beautification and naturalization efforts including trees, flowers and shrubs, seasonal decorations, signage, amenities, banners and related items;
to make recommendations regarding traffic including the management of on and off street parking and traffic control devices;
to develop and enhance partnerships with individuals, organizations, corporations and governments to improve stewardship of the town assets; and
to provide advice to council on matters relating to infrastructure and utility customers.

Committee Members

Chair – Deputy Mayor Steve Gallant
Vice-Chair – Councillor Jody Jackson
Alex Dalziel
Kim Dudley
Michael Fleischmann
Malcolm MacKenzie
Nicole Phillips

Planning, Development & Heritage Committee

The role of the Planning, Development and Heritage Committee is:

to oversee the development and implementation of the Town’s Official Plan and related land use, development control and building standard bylaws and policies;
to oversee the development, in conjunction with other committees, of long range plans for transportation, infrastructure and the environment;
to improve the appreciation, preservation and enhancement of the cultural, human and natural heritage of the town;
to develop and enhance partnerships with individuals, organizations, corporations and governments to improve long term planning and heritage preservation; and
to provide advice to council on matters of planning and heritage.

Committee Members

Chair – Councillor Jeff MacDonald
Vice-Chair – Councillor Ron Dowling
Alexandra Boyd
Derek Kronemeyer
Daniel Neuffer
Alex O’Hara
Adam Ramsay

Recreation, Culture & Events Committee

The role of the Recreation, Culture and Events Committee is:

to improve resident physical, mental and spiritual wellness through the development and implementation of a broad and varied range of programs for interested residents and groups;
to improve community spirit and cohesiveness through the development and implementation of special events to help to build a stronger community;
to improve culture and the local cultural sector through the development and implementation of a broad and varied range of programs for interested residents and groups;
to oversee the development, scheduling and maintenance of sport, wellness and cultural infrastructure;
to recognize and promote community volunteerism;
to develop and enhance partnerships with individuals, organizations, corporations and governments to improve resident wellness, culture and events.
to provide a forum and a coordinated means of communication between wellness and cultural organizations and the town; and
to provide advice to council on matters of wellness and culture.

Committee Members

Chair – Councillor Gordie Cox
Vice-Chair – Councillor Jill Chandler
Elizabeth DeBlois
Beth Grant
Shawn MacDougall
Kate Sharpley
Josh Whitty

Safety Services Committee

The role of the Safety Services Committee is:

to improve safety through the development and implementation of programs to address issues that affect the safety and security of residents and properties in the town.
to provide oversight for the policing of the town through liaising with the Stratford RCMP, monitoring crime statistics, public safety bylaws or programs and recommending changes to the strength of the local police force;
to provide oversight for the fire protection through liaising with the Cross Roads Rural Community Fire Company, monitoring fire losses, coordination of the town water supply for fire fighting, fire safety bylaws or programs and recommending changes to personnel or equipment;
to provide oversight for the delivery of animal protection and control through the animal control contract, bylaw and registration program;
to recommend policies for street lighting to provide a safe environment for residents in a sustainable manner and to approve requests for street lighting in accordance with the policy, subject to approved budgets;
to oversee the development and implementation of an emergency measures plan for the Town;
to provide oversight for the delivery of transit services through the transit contract and recommendations to improve the service where warranted;
to oversee the development and implementation of policies, bylaws and regulations regarding unsightly premises in the town;
to develop and enhance partnerships with individuals, organizations, corporations and governments to improve public safety in the town; and
to provide advice to council on matters of public safety.

Committee Members

Chair – Councillor Ron Dowling
Vice-Chair – Deputy Mayor Steve Gallant
Kate Davidson
Kent MacDonald
Wilfred MacDonald
Melanie McCarthy
Jordan Thibault

Stratford Seniors Complex Management Sub Committee

The Management Committee oversees the day to day affairs of the Stratford Seniors Complex.

Sub-committee members

- Chair – Deputy Mayor Steve Gallant

Sustainability Committee

The role of the Sustainability Committee is:

to ensure that the town’s sustainability vision and values are applied throughout the organization and to oversee the development and implementation of a sustainability decision making framework;
to oversee the town’s efforts to build a stronger local economy including liaising with and supporting local businesses and promoting the town;
to oversee the town’s efforts to improve the natural environment including increasing resource efficiency, reducing natural area degradation and improving town and resident stewardship of the environment;
to oversee the town’s efforts to increase diversity so that all persons feel welcome in our community and to improve inclusion so that all residents can participate more fully in our community;
to develop and enhance partnerships with individuals, organizations, corporations and governments to improve the sustainability of the town; and
to provide advice to council on matters of sustainability

Committee Members

Chair – Councillor Jill Chandler
Vice-Chair – Councillor Gordie Cox
Angela Banks
Dawn Binns
Andrew Doyle
Devendra Dusane
Christina MacLeod