I’ve known Robert Ritz since we first met in 2000, and over the years I’ve come to know him as a visionary and progressive leader. He is someone who brings big ideas to the table while remaining grounded in what is practical and achievable.
As a born-and-raised Stratford resident, I’m proud to support Robert’s vision for Stratford’s future. He has a deep understanding of our community, what makes Stratford special, what residents value and where there are opportunities to think differently about our future.
His experience as an acclaimed architect is another tremendous asset. Stratford is entering a period of important decisions about ambitious projects and significant spaces, including the CNR rail shops. These opportunities require imagination, vision and a willingness to look beyond the status quo while remaining grounded in the needs of our community.
I have enormous respect for everyone who has stepped forward to lead Stratford, and I’m grateful for the work of so many community-minded leaders. I will be proud to support whoever wins this election over the next four years. But at this particular moment in Stratford’s history, I believe Robert Ritz is the right choice.
Our business depends on having the right people on our team. We've worked with Robert Ritz on multiple projects over the years and he's someone who listens, seeks out our opinions and works with us to find practical solutions that get results.
That's the kind of approach we need at City Hall.
Stratford: get Ritz on your team!
Robert Ritz understands the importance of protecting the unique character and heritage of Stratford; economically, environmentally, culturally and for quality of life. He will be a wise, responsible and responsive leader of a caring, open and transparent municipal government. I whole heartedly support and endorse Robert Ritz to be Stratford’s new and exciting mayor.
I believe Robert Ritz is exactly what Stratford needs right now. His experience, vision and practical approach would bring positive change to City Hall.
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I love Stratford, but I’m increasingly concerned about affordability. Property taxes have risen significantly in recent years, and while 2026 came in lower, we need to make sure large increases don’t become the norm.
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With major projects and important decisions ahead, we need to get our priorities right. I want Stratford to remain an affordable place for our kids, our grandchildren and families who want to call this city home.
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I believe we need a Mayor who will explore every option, challenge assumptions, listen to residents and treat taxpayer dollars with care. We need thoughtful decisions that consider not only what Stratford needs today, but what those decisions will mean for taxpayers years from now.
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That’s why I’m supporting Robert Ritz for Mayor.
For Dr. Henry Eidt it was restoration of the Avon River and parkland. For Tom Patterson it was the birth of a Shakespearean theatre not far from that river. And for Jim Anderson it was an archives in which to house and preserve the history of Stratford and Perth County. These three were dreamers, some might say, or visionaries. But what set them apart was their will, their resolve to make their visions a reality.
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And that’s what sets Rob Ritz apart when it comes to repurposing the Grand Trunk Railway site, anchored by the deserted and much maligned locomotive repair facility in Stratford’s city centre. As Guelph mayor Cam Guthrie put it in 2024: “I can tell you that every community in this province would love to have 18 acres, downtown, under its control, and ready for development. You have a chance to make a generational change to your city.”
In the past few years, Rob Ritz has obsessed over that opportunity. He has talked to community leaders about their wants and needs. He has consulted planners, fellow architects, engineers, designers, politicians, contractors, suppliers, and historians. And, yes, he’s looked long and hard at costs — how they would be incurred and how they could be met and mitigated. In two well-attended public forums he invited others to share their ideas, as well as their criticism, and used what he learned to fine tune his proposals.
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He is a man with a plan but, equally important, he has demonstrated his will to create the generational change that has been sorely needed for decades.
Dean Robinson
Local Historian & Author
