The Stratford Slice

May is Asian Heritage Month, and Craig welcomes Justin Poy as his guest to discuss his efforts to combat racism through storytelling. Justin is a distinguished figure in Canada’s advertising and media industry, renowned for his pioneering work in multicultural marketing, particularly on behalf of the Chinese community.

In recognition of Earth Day, we present a runway preview of Stratford Trashion Week. Craig and co-host Joan Chapple, herself a talented  fashion and jewelry designer, chat with event founder Jessica Guy, and artist and clothing designer Claire Scott about how the environment and fashion are intertwined.

Craig’s guest on this episode of The Stratford Slice is Juno-nominated singer-songwriter and community music champion Dayna Manning. Interspersed with musical selections from Dayna’s catalogue, our conversation offers a revealing glimpse into a career highlighted by lucky coincidences, chance encounters and a life changing connection to Canada Day.

In this episode of The Stratford Slice Craig chats with Aaron Martin, Manager of the Stratford & District Chamber of Commerce, for a wide-ranging conversation about the local economic impact of the Trump tariffs on agriculture, manufacturing, and other key sectors. We also delve into Aaron’s entrepreneurial journey—from dairy farming and crafting water buffalo cheese to his latest venture launching a winery and cidery.

In this episode of The Stratford Slice, Craig Thompson sits down with longtime arts champion Ron Dodson to explore Stratford’s vibrant cultural scene and its future. As co-founder of the Stratford Arts and Culture Collective and a member of the Grand Trunk Renewal Committee, Ron shares his vision for transforming the 18-acre former railway site in downtown Stratford into a dynamic neighbourhood that includes an accessible community arts centre. With decades of experience as a high school drama teacher, Ron brings a deep passion for the arts and community building. 

In this episode of The Stratford Slice, Craig sits down with architect and passionate community advocate Robert Ritz. From his roots growing up in Stratford to his ongoing work with the Rotary Club, Robert shares his vision for building a better city amid the challenges posed by the Canada–U.S. trade standoff. We dive into pressing issues like housing, smart urban planning, and the importance of community-led initiatives. With heart, history, and a focus on the future, Robert offers thoughtful insights on how Stratford can rise to meet the moment and thrive in uncertain times.

Craig Thompson sits down with former Ontario cabinet minister John Wilkinson to dissect Canada’s strategic response to the U.S. tariff war. He shares his insights on Canada’s quest for sovereignty against a shifting geopolitical landscape, an imminent Canadian election and a fractured new world order.  

This episode takes a deep dive into Stratford’s evolving food and tourism culture.  Craig is joined by co-host Joanie Chapple for a lively discussion with Megan Jones, co-owner of The Starlight, and Executive Chef Yva Santini. We explore Stratford’s restaurant scene, the importance of community gathering spaces, and how the city’s hospitality industry differs from that of Toronto’s. Megan shares her journey from running the Gaslight, a bar in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood, to launching the Starlight in Stratford during the pandemic, while Yva reflects on her 25-year culinary career which began at the Stratford Chef’s School.

During his five terms as Mayor of Stratford, Dan Mathieson oversaw a period of rapid economic growth in Southwestern Ontario - particularly in the automotive industry and its integration with our neighbouring state of Michigan.   Craig chats with Dan about the Canada-U.S. relationship and how we can best weather the storm that will continue to churn our trading relationship in the months and years to come.

To gain some insights into Donald Trump’s tariff and trade war with Canada, Craig chats with the Honourable Perrin Beatty, who, until August 2024, was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.  Beatty has extensive experience in navigating the Canada - U.S. relationship, including serving in the cabinet of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, in several portfolios including Defence and External Affairs.  Prior to heading up the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, he held a similar position with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association.  He also served as President of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

On the doorstep of a provincial election, in which housing affordability will be one of the many critical issues, Craig chats with John Wolfe, a veteran of the real estate market, about the  current state of the housing market in Stratford and Southwestern Ontario and the shifting realities since the pandemic.

Synopsis:   As the traditional tourist season gets underway, Craig sits down with Zac Gribble, Executive Director of Destination Stratford to learn more about the trends reshaping the tourism economy.  Zac also shares his vision to develop a year-round multi-faceted visitor experience that encompasses arts, culture, culinary and sports.  

Growing up on his family’s dairy farm, Matthew Rae was hooked on news and politics from a young age. So when it came time to choose a career, he chose a path that he imagined would eventually take him into the world of foreign diplomacy and international affairs.  After years in the corridors of power in Vienna, Ottawa and Toronto, he is now front and centre on the political side as the MPP for Perth Wellington and the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.  He sits down with Craig to share his journey and discuss some of the key issues currently on the top of the agenda in Ontario today.

Mick Grogan is a British-born, Oxford-educated film and television director and writer who makes his home in Stratford, Ontario.  Throughout his 30+ year career, Mick has tackled a wide range of documentary subjects from history to crime to science fiction.  Craig Thompson sits down with Mick for a conversation about the appeal of documentaries and factual entertainment and how they reflect the state of the world today.

Brittlestar, otherwise known as Stewart Reynolds is a Stratford-based social media influencer, media commentator and author whose satirical, common-sense viral videos have more than 600 million views across various platforms. He sits down with Craig Thompson to discuss his new book Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon, a series of essays on the rise of technology and social media, politics, being a Dad and what it means to be Canadian.

Craig chats with John Miller, the Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of Stratford Summer Music who is now lending his considerable artistic talents to the Huron Waves Music Festival in Exeter, Ontario.  Miller’s eclectic and varied career includes time spent in education as a teacher and vice principal, in politics, as an advisor to a cabinet minister, leading the Canadian Music Centre as National Director and as Executive Director of the Glenn Gould Foundation. John is one of Canada’s leading arts and culture figures whose accomplishments have been recognized in his community of Stratford.  He has a star on the city’s ‘Walk of Fame’  in the heart of downtown, alongside other prominent art figures such as Glenn Gould, Loreena McKennitt and Christopher Plummer.

If Stratford had a poet laureate, David Stones would make a likely candidate. The retired business executive who now calls Stratford home, transformed his lifelong interest in poetry into a new artistic passion - one that combines words and music into spoken word performance art that has been drawing crowds across Southwestern Ontario. The author of two books of poetry - Infinite Sequels and Sfumato - David Stones discusses with Craig how poetry has helped him express his perception and opinions on the world we live in and how it has created meaning for his fans, many of whom are encountering poetry for the first time.

Anyone brave enough to survive more than three decades in the restaurant industry deserves respect and a sizable tip.  Larry McCabe, however, likes to consider himself “A Pazzo Bouffon” (translation: A crazy fool), which also happen to be the names of the two successful restaurants he runs in the heart of downtown Stratford. Larry is also a newly elected member of Stratford City Council.  Craig and Larry chat about the challenges facing not only the tourism and hospitality industries but small municipalities in general as communities everywhere deal with issues related to housing and affordability

Craig’s guest is Stratford and Perth County historian and writer Dean Robinson. The author of 23 books and the author/editor of eight other titles, Dean maintains that Stratford’s rich and colourful past is a unique part of our community’s character. Craig chats with Dean about his journalism career in London, Kitchener, Seaforth and Stratford and dives into some of the remarkable stories from Stratford’s past that inspired him to write the many books that make up his impressive library of popular history.

Farm to Fork is a new television series from Ballinran Entertainment celebrating Southwestern Ontario farmers who are at the heart of the farm to table movement. Hosted by Waterloo region chef and culinary ambassador Nick Benninger, Farm to Fork airs across Canada on Bell Fibe TV1.  In this episode, Chef Nick and producer/director Julian Wierzbicki join Craig in-studio to discuss the growing interest amongst consumers to know exactly where their food comes from and the people who put the effort into bringing it to their table

In the second of two episodes, Craig chats with former Canadian diplomat, scholar and community advocate Deanna Horton. As a Canadian diplomat in Hamburg, Washington, Tokyo, and Vietnam, she has had a front-row seat to history.  Now based in Stratford, she brings a big-picture perspective to her adopted hometown - reminding us that even places like Stratford can learn from the winds of change sweeping the world.

In the first of two episodes, Craig chats with former Canadian diplomat, scholar and community advocate Deanna Horton.  As Canada’s ambassador to Vietnam, Deputy Head of Mission in Tokyo, and a Minister in Canada’s embassy in Washington DC, Deanna had a front-row seat to world history.  In this episode, she reflects on the shifting geopolitical landscape and global trading relationships in our increasingly polarized world.

From the Hockey Canada Crisis, to the debate over broadcasting’s future, to allegations of foreign election interference, John Nater has been at the centre of it all.  As the MP for the riding of Perth Wellington (which includes Stratford), John was the Vice Chair of the House of Commons Heritage Committee during the heated debates over misconduct in Canada’s beloved game of hockey.  Now, he has a front row seat for the scandal involving allegations of election interference.  Craig sits down with MP John Nater to discuss the many challenges facing our country and the world at large

In the performing arts world, a “triple threat” is a performer who can act, sing and dance.  John Wilkinson could be considered the triple threat of the tech world.  As an investment advisor and former Minister of Revenue in the Ontario Government, he knows finance.  As the former Minister of Research and Innovation in Ontario, he has his finger on the pulse of advanced technology. As a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Music, he can sing.  He brings all three talents to the table for a chat with Craig Thompson for a discussion on artificial intelligence and other technological advances that have the potential to change our world

Three time Juno nominee Emm Gryner chats with Craig about her new album Business and Pleasure, her upcoming international tour, her book The Healing Power of Singing, and reflects about what she learned about the music industry during her stint as a keyboard player and back-up singer in David Bowie’s band.

Ron Sexsmith is truly one of the music industry's greatest troubadours. He counts Paul McCartney, Elton John, Gordon Lightfoot and Elvis Costello as his biggest fans.  On the eve of the release of his new album and the launch of an international tour, Ron chats with Craig about moving to Stratford and how it has influenced his music and perspective on life.

Legendary comedian and improv genius Colin Mochrie chats with Craig Thompson about what it's like to go on stage night after night without a script - and not knowing what might unfold.  The star of the long-running television series Whose Line Is It Anyway was in Stratford to launch the Canadian tour of Hyprov, a new stage show co-starring master hypnotist Asad Mecci that combines the power of hypnotism with improvisational comedy with hilarious results.

The Bookends are Celtic instrumentalists from Stratford, Ontario, whose members have toured with Loreena McKennitt, Great Big Sea and Ashley MacIssac.  Consisting of two couples, who are also neighbours, they fine-tuned their fast-footed music with their masterful arrangements during the pandemic.  The foursome chats with Craig about their new CD, recorded with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra, and their musical quest to discover the heart of the Celtic tradition from Ireland and Scotland.  Get ready to enjoy some good craic and some foot-stomping tunes.

As Stratford radio station CJCS approaches its 100th anniversary in 2024, broadcasting legend Lloyd Robertson chats with Craig, also a CJCS alumnus, about his remarkable career and his ongoing love affair with his hometown

As the Stratford Symphony launches its 18th season with its first in-person concert series since 2019, Craig chats with Bill Rowson, the SSO’s music director and principal conductor about the orchestra and how it’s attracting attention well beyond Stratford.

Former Toronto Star journalist John Goddard is fascinated by small town history.  In his latest book, he takes us back in time to the 1890s and the tragic tale of murder in Listowel - a crime that shocked Canada and led to Stratford’s first hanging.

When Bruce Whitaker cashed out of the world of tech and international finance, he had no definite plan but knew he wanted to raise his family in a small town.  His path to Stratford has since led to award-winning heritage restorations, a skateboard park and a vision for the future of his community.

When Ken Gene was growing up in Stratford he was one of the few “Chinese” kids in town.  For him, life revolved around his family’s restaurant where he worked after school - a business which he took over after a career in Toronto. He talks about his motivation for founding Stratford’s popular Rotary Dragon Boat Festival, the history of the Chinese community here and the gradual demise of small-town Chinese restaurants.

Dr. Sean Blaine became something of a YouTube sensation during the pandemic - offering timely commentary and widely viewed advice on how to navigate the shifting landscape of COVID-19.  Dr. Blaine discusses the current crisis facing health care in Ontario and in particular how it’s impacting smaller communities. He also shares his love for progressive rock and how it helped him through the most intense and stressful period in his career.

Retired Stratford Firefighter Kevin Aitcheson shares the story of his brush with fame as an outfielder with Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays.  He talks about what it was like playing several seasons with the Blue Jays organization with their minor league affiliates and how that experience prepared him for the teamwork on the front line as a first responder.

Craig Thompson, host of The Stratford Slice, turns the microphone on himself as he reflects upon his career as a writer, director and producer in the Canadian and international film and television production industry. With the assistance of collaborator Rick Whelan, Craig shares stories of his early days in his hometown of Stratford and his subsequent career as a journalist and foreign correspondent covering important events such as the conflict in Northern Ireland and the end of the Cold War. He discusses with Rick his 40+ year career working with some of the world’s best-known personalities and how he adapted his skills as a storyteller to documentary filmmaking

Internationally renowned and Stratford-based visual artist Maxine Noel is celebrated for her representations of the Indigenous woman as the embodiment of Mother Earth. She has used her art to unveil the untold stories of abused women and to promote history, culture, reconciliation and environmental stewardship. An advocate for emerging artists, she was a leading force behind the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation—now known as Indspire—and its awards program. A mentor and a volunteer, she continues to use art to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across Canada.

Rick Whelan is an award-winning playwright, journalist and screenwriter. He began his professional life as an actor, appearing as Charlie Brown in the U.S. national company of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and lured to Canada by his wife Cathy, who played Lucy in the touring production. He has worked with such luminaries as Maggie Smith, Brian Bedford, Jean Stapleton and Walter Pidgeon and spent four seasons as a member of the acting company at the Stratford Festival. His plays have been produced in theatres all across the U.S. and Canada, including at Stratford, the Barter Theatre (Virginia), the Actors’ Theatre of Louisville and Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. Rick sits down with Craig to discuss his career and his observations of the changes taking place in the land of his birth.

‘Never judge a book by its cover’ as the saying goes, is an apt reminder when you encounter Fred Gonder.  The retired graphic artist and advertising executive who once designed for Volkswagen and Audi is well-known in Stratford as a prolific and talented photographer who finds freedom thanks to his mobility scooter.  Fred sits down with Craig to discuss ‘perceptions’ attributed to those with disabilities and how he overcame his personal health challenges to open a new chapter of his life in Stratford.

Kelly Walker is someone who has packed multiple lifetimes into his 80 years.  He spent 20 years in the priesthood serving in a Dominican monastery before being told by his doctor that burnout was going to kill him. He’s survived cancer twice. He was in a straight-marriage after leaving the Dominicans before coming out and then getting gay-married.  He’s the author of several best-selling books and if that’s not enough he toured the world as an international recording artist. He sits down with Craig to discuss his fascinating life journey and how his path led to Stratford.

Loreena McKennitt’s ‘eclectic Celtic’ music has won critical acclaim worldwide, selling more than 14 million records and earning gold, platinum, and multi-platinum sales awards in 15 countries across four continents. Beyond her musical career, she is guided by values and principles that have become her compass points on such issues as the environment, digital technology, preserving and protecting democracy.  Craig sits down with Loreena to discuss her community advocacy, her honorary role with the RCAF, and of course her legendary musical career.