HPHA | Stratford General Hospital - Stratford, ON

The Stratford General Hospital installation, installed on September 12, 2022, is exceptional to us at 1 Bench 1 Tree. The bench, called the Wellness Bench, was designed by the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) class of 2022 led by Steven Clarke, at the University of Guelph. From concept to reality, the bench was brought to life by Ed’s Concrete, a local business in Stratford. Our tree, a sugar maple, was donated by Maple Leaves Forever. Canadian Tire - Stratford also donated extra plantings around the wellness bench and installed them. This was a genuine collaboration effort, which we are proud to be a part of.

Stratford General Hospital, along with three other hospitals, is a volunteer collective under the Huron-Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA). The HPHA was established in 2003 to provide Acute and Community-level care to the area. HPHA employs over 1,100 staff members as well as 500 volunteers and patient partners. The Alliance is an organization born out of change; one that embraces the potential of partnerships; harnesses the power of performance, and values the skills and guidance of our people – patients, families and caregivers included. That’s how we remain at the forefront of care – thriving in a changing environment, pushing the envelope, and committed to the well-being of our patients. HPHA is also a proud part of the Huron-Perth and Area - Ontario Health Team - which aims to allow patients to receive all their care, including Primary Care, Emergency Care, and Mental Health, from one team.

Stratford is a city on the Avon River within Perth County with a population of 31,465. Stratford is the seat of Perth County, which was settled by English, Irish, Scottish and German immigrants, in almost equal numbers, starting in the 1820s. Most became farmers; even today, the area around Stratford is known for mixed farming, dairying and hog production.