Shakespeare Village

The village that shares its name with the Bard has long been Perth County's antiques stop: a crossroads of shops, tea rooms, and country charm on the road to Stratford's theatres. Shakespeare sits on Highway 7/8, about 12 km east of Stratford, and its motto is "Where Antique and Unique Meet". On Galt Street, the Shakespeare Optimist Hall, Shakespeare Park and the Opti-Mrs Park, with its walking trail and outdoor workout equipment, sit side by side. Every year on the second Saturday in June, Field Day brings a firefighters' breakfast, a soap box derby, a parade at 1 pm, children's games and an evening fish fry and dance.

David Bell, from Dumfriesshire in Scotland, founded the village in 1832, and it was first known as Bell's Corner. In 1852 Alexander Mitchell suggested it be named after his favourite playwright, William Shakespeare. The Huron Road through the village, now Highway 7/8, was the settlers' route west to Goderich, and Sebastian Fryfogel's inn, built for travellers on the road in 1844 and 1845, still stands east of the village. The Shakespeare District Optimist Community Hall was completed in 1980.

The 2021 census counts about 365 homes in Shakespeare. More than eight in ten are single detached houses and about one in sixteen are semi-detached. About three in ten were built in 1960 or earlier and about a third between 1961 and 1980. About one in six were built between 1981 and 2000, and about one in six between 2011 and 2021, on newer streets such as Lindner Court.

Highway 7/8 runs through the village, west into Stratford and east toward New Hamburg and Kitchener. Stratford City Hall is about 12 km away by road, a drive of about 12 minutes, and Kitchener City Hall about 38 km, a drive of about 29 minutes. Stratford's VIA Rail station and its transit terminal are the closest.

Shakespeare Park at 3974 Galt Street has a soccer field, a baseball diamond and a pavilion, run by the Shakespeare and Community Athletic Association. The Shakespeare Opti-Mrs Park beside it has a playground, green space and a walking trail with workout equipment around the hall. The Shakespeare Optimist Hall at 3976 Galt Street is a large hall for receptions, gatherings and sporting events, and hosts the Field Day breakfast each June. Stratford's theatres, shops and recreation centres are about 12 km west.

• Sprucedale Public School — JK to Grade 8. The public school and middle school for the village, on Fraser Street.
• Stratford District Secondary School — Grades 9 to 12. The public secondary school, on Forman Avenue in Stratford.
• Bedford Public School — Grades 1 to 6 in French immersion. The public French immersion school, on Bedford Drive in Stratford.
• St. Ambrose School — JK to Grade 8. The Catholic elementary school, on Louise Street in Stratford.
• St. Michael Catholic Secondary School — Grades 9 to 12. The Catholic secondary school, on Oakdale Avenue in Stratford.
• Jeanne Sauvé Catholic School — JK to Grade 8. The Catholic French immersion school from JK, on Grange Street in Stratford.