Kastner Street 

Kastner Street is a new street (as of 2024) off Perth Line 36 near O'Loane Ave.

The Kastners have a long history in this area as they were one of the first European families in Ellice Township, arriving in 1832, from Alsace.  Kastner Street is located in what was originally Ellice Township before the City of Stratford expanded to have this area within its borders.

John Kastner was the managing editor at The Beacon Herald for a 33 year career leaving in 2012 as the last full-time managing editor . A regional editor then took charge of several newspapers. Kastner Street is not the first Stratford street to take on the name of a newspaper man: others were T.J. Dolan Drive  for Tom Dolan managing editor Beacon Herald and Dingman Place named for the Dingman family of  publishers for the Herald.

In 2013, John  was appointed  General Manager of the  Stratford Perth Museum. He helped bring national and even international prominence to the museum . John’s tenure put the Museum's footprint on the local community, including the building of both indoor and outdoor theatres as well as the completion of a trail system that traces the history of the City and the County. Under his leadership, the Museum presented exhibits including Shakespeare’s First Folio, the Franklin Expedition exhibit from the Royal Ontario Museum, two lengthy runs of the Anne Frank House exhibit, and the popular Justin Bieber exhibit.Those were in addition to new local exhibits that highlighted the railway and The Shops, and the Brooks Steam Car.  John retired in 2023 after eleven years of service . Under  his direction  the museum attendance rose from 185 patrons in 2013 to hosting 18,000 in 2018.

John was chair of the successful Hockey Day in Canada in 2010 . He  was named Stratford Sportsperson of the Year in 2008 and received the Chamber of Commerce Personal Excellence Award 2011 . John  helped bring forward the idea of a new  recreational facility that would become the Rotary Complex and then co-chaired the capital campaign that raised over $5 million in 2012. The Sports Wall of Fame is located in complex.

In his retirement, John  continues to be active in local organizations. He is the chair of the Ontario Hockey Federation, and sits on several Hockey Canada committees.  He is also co- chair of theCommunications, Advocacy, and Civic Engagement Working Group Committee for the Grand Trunk renewal  Project.  

Kastner  Street pays testament to several generations of Kastners. John’s father, Howard, was a veteran of both World Wars. John’s brother Peter was a vice-president of Nortel Telecom  a major telecommunications company and he was also the president of the Progressive Conservative riding association in Guelph.

John and Peter's great-grandfather, also John, was one of many Kastners to be involved in politics. He was the first Justice of the Peace for Ellice Township and also served as the reeve of  Ellice for 10 years. 1857 to 1866 and the 1867 to 1870.

Source: John Kastner