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For Immediate Release: June 18, 2025
The Town of Stratford has released the results of its 14th Annual Resident Survey which captured opinions from residents earlier this year. The first Annual Resident Survey took place in 2012 and has been used each year since to hear from residents. Stratford uses this mechanism each year to receive feedback from residents and to watch for indications of change over time for those questions asked annually or bi-annually. The 2025 survey saw a slight increase in responses from the previous year with 865 participants. Results have been statistically weighted by age and dwelling type (rent or own) to ensure that the sample reflects the target 2021 Census data.
Health and wellness and physical activity questions saw nearly 9 in 10 residents (TOP3: 89%) rate their health as good, very good, or excellent however 41% of residents are exercising fewer than three times per week, 38% are doing so three to five times weekly, and only 21% responded that they are active more than five times per week. In terms of the time spent only about one-third of residents engage in over 2.5 hours of moderate to vigorous activity each week (35%) or 1–2.5 hours per week (34%). The vast majority of residents, at 93%, are able to walk around their neighborhood without difficulty or mechanical support. When compared to results from 2020 there is an increase of 4% more exercising over five times per week in 2025 (2020: 17%), but 3% more report doing so less than three times per week as well (2020: 38%).
Residents are showing a regular increase to volunteering with the 2025 results showing just under half of residents (45%) say they or someone in their household volunteered for a non-profit or charitable organization in the past year. In 2021 this question had a 41% response and in 2023 a 43% response rate.
“It’s always interesting for us as council and staff to review the data,” commented Councillor Jill Chandler, Chair of Intergovernmental Affairs and Accountability. “We take a look at the current data but also watch for trends. In the area of volunteering, it’s very exciting to see it increasing and we hope it continues that way in the future. We know that volunteers are so desperately needed by many organizations and it’s encouraging to see that more households seem to be taking an interest and investing at least some of their time towards those efforts.”
Of those who volunteered, the 2025 results show that 43% did so within Stratford. Most volunteers (44%) contributed 1 to under 5 hours per month. It’s not all positive however as there has been a 6-percentage point decrease in those volunteering over 15 hours per month, which fell from 15% in 2021 and 16% in 2023, to 10% in 2025. About 11% of volunteers focused on water conservation or environmental protection, and among them, the majority (68%) carried out activities that directly involved or impacted the Town of Stratford.
The net promoter score in 2025 is +37 which suggests that Stratford residents are generally likely to recommend the Town as a place to live. This is up from 2024 at +35 which is the lowest number since the question was incorporated. Though lower than the high 51 achieved in 2022, when compared to available data from across Canada the Town of Stratford remains well above any other community with only one other result having a positive net promoter score which is of an Ontario town with a population greater than 200,000 and a score of +12 (results from 2024 data).
Some additional highlights from the 2025
Annual Resident Survey include:
• 89% often or always shop at a business in Stratford compared to a similar business outside of the Town of Stratford (83% in 2024)
• 66% of respondents are more likely to slow down, move over and think of others when driving (64% in 2024) though data shows that females (69%) compared to males (58%) are more likely.
• 98% feel somewhat or very safe walking around their neighbourhood (95% in 2024)
• 45% believe that crime in their neighbourhood has stayed at the same level over the last 5 years (19% say increased, 2% say decreased, 34% didn’t know or have not lived in Stratford for 5 years)
• 94% have some or a great deal of confidence in the local police force (90% in 2024)
• 76% think the local police force does an average or good job at enforcing the laws (21% don’t know/not applicable and 2% poor job)
Each year the Annual Resident Survey provides an opportunity to include special interest and one-time questions. In 2025 these focused on transit and the Town’s digital sign with the following highlights:
• 83% of residents have not used T3 Transit in the past 12 months. Those who are more likely to use transit are:
o Residents 16-54 compared to those 55+
o Households making less than $50K
o Residents who have lived in Canada for less than 10 years or who were not born in Canada
o Residents who rent
• 93% of residents have access to a vehicle for everyday use
• 54% cite preferring to use their own vehicle or other motorized form of transportation as their primary reason for not using transit
o 29% responded the pick up times do not suit their schedule
o 27% responded that the return times do not suit their schedule
o These remain the same top 3 responses with similar numbers compared to 2020
• 54% indicated they would use an internal route to improve mobility within the community with 31% saying their use would be occasionally, 12% using it weekly, 7% daily and 3% monthly
• The most common purposes to use the proposed internal route are:
o 60% to make short trips to run errands within the community
o 56% to connect and travel on into Charlottetown
o 32% to access services in the community
o 29% to attend community events or gatherings
“As we look to improve access and connections for transit within our community,” said Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden, “these findings are supportive of what we had hoped. We recognize the majority of residents have access to a vehicle in 2025 but with improved service, including more ability to stay within Stratford using transit, we hope that future surveys may begin to see that number trend lower. We are working with the provider on plans to begin to alter existing routes in Stratford to provide to our residents with the ability to connect and stay within the community.”
In the area of the Town’s digital sign, 61% believe that sign should be use exclusively for Town messaging and do not support allowing a third-party to operate it. Of the 39% who were open to a third-party operator (35% requiring restrictions and only 4% without any restrictions), 72% responded that the Town must have control over the types of ads and the ads must align with the communities’ values and standards. 70% said advertising should be limited to local businesses and organizations only.
“Once again the data in the Town’s survey demonstrates that it is a valuable tool for us,” added Mayor Ogden. “We continue to use the survey to gauge the community’s satisfaction, to learn more about what is of interest or need for the community, and to help us deliver programs and services that residents want. There is always strong input and interest from our community in responding to the survey and we look forward to exploring these results even further. I would like to thank everyone who takes the time to respond and have their thoughts shared with us each year.”
The full report and summary of this year and previous surveys can be found on the Town of Stratford website www.townofstratford.ca.
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For more information please contact:
Wendy Watts, Community & Business Engagement Manager
Phone: (902) 569-1995
Email:
[email protected]
2025 Full Report is available here:
Annual Resident Survey