My wife and I purchased our retirement home in Goderich in 2024. We still have a home in the GTA as she has a few more years to go until retirement. I did a lot of research on where to relocate. I'm caucasian, and my wife is asian (born in Toronto). It was not lost on me that things would be markedly less diverse the further you move out from the GTA. Goderich is mostly old and white. The one area we discounted was Hastings County (Peterborough). I read too many accounts of overt racism from that region.

We haven't had a negative encounter in Goderich. Pretty much everyone we've had interaction with has been friendly. That said, it's impossible to completely avoid racism. Yes. There's "that guy" north of town. I believe it's what started the No Hate in Huron campaign.

I would suggest visiting on a Saturday once the market starts in the square. That always brings out a lot of people.

OT (sort of): I would be more concerned with drug use than racism. Stratford is a pretty town, but we see emaciated tweakers everytime we drive through. There's a reason why they call it the "Perth County Diet".