Priorities for the next council.
Stratford needs leadership that will be more responsive to the immediate needs of the community, councillors who can ensure that new projects are not just funded to build and open, but also to run. With twenty years of experience serving Stratford's public, I am running for Council because I believe that Stratford deserves to be a year-round destination that prioritizes its workers and residents, families, and core industries.
Downtown Heritage & Vitality
Stratford's theatres, shops, and restaurants are its integrated community, arts, and cultural centre—its competitive advantage. I will work with council to preserve what makes Stratford extraordinary while ensuring our downtown functions for everyone who lives and works here.
Navigating New Infrastructure
Stratford is making many major infrastructural decisions at once, decisions that will affect the city's finances for years to come. The new GO train service changes Stratford's visitor profile by creating consistent travel corridors between major centres in Southwestern Ontario. The need for residents to have a recreation and library facility on an eighteen-acre property the city already owns runs in parallel with GO Train lines: the Grand Trunk project becomes a hub of activity where residents and tourists can enjoy Stratford's recreation, leisure, and cultural spaces under one roof.
Support for Families & Residents
It is important that Stratford prioritizes those who live and work in the city. Support for families—clearing the way for new child care, more arts and culture events, and more affordable seasonal programs—is a priority for me, not only as a councillor but also as a father.
Stratford-born. Research-informed. Service-driven.
Chris Giannakopoulos was born and raised in Stratford, where his working life began. Over twenty years serving Stratford's public—at Cafe Ten, The Bruce Hotel, The Stratford Chefs School, Pizza Bistro, and Foster's Inn—have taught Chris the value of excellent service, professional standards, and cohesive teamwork. He completed his PhD at the University of Waterloo in 2025, where he now teaches communication to engineering and science undergraduates. In his work at the University, Chris evaluates technical proposals and teaches undergraduates how to produce evidence-based writing that holds up under scrutiny. Chris's work at the University is, in miniature, the work of a councillor—reading carefully, asking the right questions, and making decisions to approve or alter projects based on key evidence.
The Giannakopoulos family has been part of Stratford for decades, owning and operating businesses in the downtown core, attending local schools, and remaining visible through the city's food and cultural life. Chris brings a sense of deep commitment to this campaign, along with a perspective shaped by academic rigour, a professional connection to the arts, heritage, and local business, and the conviction that decisions made by council over the next four years deserve financial discipline, knowledgeable oversight, and a councillor willing to ask hard questions.
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Stratford residents who support Chris's nomination.
Your vote is your voice.
Municipal votes decide the streets you drive, the taxes you pay, and the city your kids inherit. Your voice matters—this October 26th, make your voice heard. Vote Giannakopoulos for city council.
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