In 1830, an innkeeper called William Sargint opened the “Shakespeare Inn” beside one of the rough agricultural tracks that then crisscrossed southern Ontario. The farmers who settled nearby called the local river the “Avon” and named the town that grew up here “Stratford,” after William Shakespeare’s home town.

In 1952 local journalist Tom Patterson (1920–2005) organized a Shakespeare Festival. This first event was a humble affair held in a tent, but since then the festival has grown into one of Canada’s most important theatrical seasons, lasting from May to early November (www.stratfordfestival.com). The leading plays are still Shakespearean, but other playwrights are showcased too, including modern works. Stratford is an attractive town with plenty of green lawns, riverside parks, and swans. The town is geared to visitors, offering over 250 guesthouses and several good restaurants. The visitor center produces a book with information and photographs of all the town’s bed-and-breakfasts. They also organize heritage walks through the town, which pass its many historic buildings. One of the town’s architectural highlights is the Victorian town hall with its turrets. Stratford has a plethora of art galleries, and the central Gallery Indigena features an interesting collection of native works.