Stratford

Stratford is a township municipality of about 1,060 residents in the MRC du Granit, in the Estrie administrative region and the Eastern Townships tourist region. On the shore of Lac Aylmer, it is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Sherbrooke and about 3 hours from Montreal. It draws cottagers, families and retirees who want water, forest and quiet village life.

Living in Stratford

Life centres on avenue Centrale, around Saint-Gabriel church, the community centre and École Dominique-Savio, an elementary school that offers a circus and performing arts program. For high school, Polyvalente de Disraeli, about 20 minutes away, offers a circus concentration among others. For health care, the nearest CLSC (local community health centre) in the Granit network is in Lambton, and the nearest emergency department is at the Granit health centre in Lac-Mégantic, about 40 minutes away.

Outdoors and nature in Stratford

The township has five lakes with homes on their shores, including Lac Aylmer, a widening of the Saint-François River, and Lac Elgin, at the foot of Mont Aylmer. At Parc du Lac-Aylmer, you will find an unsupervised sandy beach, rustic camping, kayak and paddleboard rentals, and a 4 km loop of trails open in every season, with the Maskinongé marsh and its observation tower. The Véloroute du lac Aylmer cycling route is 42 km long, and the south sector of Parc national de Frontenac is about 30 minutes away.

Culture and local flavours

Cleared from 1848 onward, the township takes its name from Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace. At the end of the year, the Christmas market livens up the community centre. Three places to remember: Ferme Couture, a family farm since 1885, for pick-your-own strawberries and raspberries, Les Jardins des TisÂnes, which grows medicinal plants and small fruits, and Camping Les Berges du Lac, with its beach and marina on Lac Aylmer.

Real estate in Stratford

In Stratford, the market is divided between cottages and homes on Lac Aylmer, Lac Elgin and the other lakes, village homes along avenue Centrale, and rural properties, woodlots and sugar bushes. Cottagers look for the water, families for a village school and space, and retirees for calm. A property’s value depends mostly on its lake access, its exposure and its access road. Before buying on the water or renting short term, have the municipal regulations that apply checked.

Frequently asked questions about Stratford

How far is Stratford from Sherbrooke?

Stratford is about 75 km from Sherbrooke, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by car. Quebec City is about 2 hours 35 minutes away and Montreal about 3 hours.

Which lakes are in Stratford?

The township has five lakes with homes on their shores, including Lac Aylmer and Lac Elgin. Grand lac Saint-François and Parc national de Frontenac are nearby, to the northeast.

Is there a school and health care in Stratford?

Yes, École Dominique-Savio, an elementary school. The nearest CLSC is in Lambton, and the nearest emergency department is in Lac-Mégantic.

What types of properties are there in Stratford?

Mainly cottages and homes on the lakes, village homes and rural properties, including woodlots.

Dreaming of a cottage on Lac Aylmer, or thinking of selling your property in Stratford? Discover our properties for sale, get a free home estimate or talk to a broker at BEAU, the real estate team.

Photo: Richard Coté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons