City of Stratford, ENorth Media Set to Launch NextStrat Esports Lounge

The City of Stratford, in partnership with Enorth Media, proudly announces the opening of NextStrat, Stratford's first dedicated Youth Esports Lounge, providing a safe and engaging space where local youth can explore their potential through competitive gaming and esports.

The facility opens on July 15th in the Burnside Agriplex on the second floor, featuring professional esports equipment, competitive coaching programs, organized tournament opportunities, and community events designed to inspire the next generation of esports players and industry professionals.

“We are so proud to have this partnership opportunity between the City of Stratford and Enorth Media. Esports is certainly a growing passion in our community particularly with our youth. In my conversations with local youth, as we were preparing for the opening of the Esports Lounge, there was much interest and excitement shared. It is important to continue to provide positive engagement opportunities for our youth,” said Mayor of Stratford, Martin Ritsma.

This innovative youth initiative is in part funded by the Government of Canada’s Building Safer Communities Fund, as part of a broader effort to support crime prevention programs in Stratford.

"NextStrat perfectly aligns with our passion for community building and creating meaningful connections. We're not just providing esports & gaming equipment – we're crafting an environment where young people can develop real skills, build lasting relationships, and discover career paths in the rapidly growing esports industry," explained Kendryx Linscott, CEO & Founder of Enorth Media.

"As storytellers, we're excited to help these youth find and share their own unique stories through the universal language of competitive gaming."

The NextStrat Esports Lounge focuses on:

• Building a safe community space for youth to connect and thrive
• Encouraging skill development through coaching and mentorship
• Creating future career pathways in gaming, tech, and esports
• Bringing in industry professionals to inspire and educate

Through competitive play, education, and community, the initiative aims to inspire passion, build skills, and create brighter futures. NextStrat will serve as a model for esports-driven youth development, with plans to expand to more communities across Canada.

NextStrat will celebrate its Grand Opening on Tuesday, July 15th from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with special appearances from Mayor Ritsma, Stratford City staff, and industry professionals from the Greater Toronto Area’s esports community. The celebration is open to the general public and will showcase the facility’s capabilities and provide an opportunity for the community to come together & have fun!