Chatham-Kent's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Strategy

November 8th is Indigenous Veterans Day and November 11th is Remembrance Day in Canada.

These days are a chance for us to recognize the courage, contributions, and sacrifices of Veterans who serves our Country. We remember. We honour. We are grateful.

Find a list of local Remembrance Day events on CKXS website: LIST OF REMEMBRANCE DAY EVENTS IN CHATHAM-KENT - 99.1 FM CKXS | Your Music Variety

Find names and stories of World War I and World War II heroes from Chatham-Kent: Gathering Our Heroes – Chatham-Kent's WWI & WWII Veterans

Learn about Remembrance Day: Remembrance Day - Canada.ca

Learn about Indigenous Veterans Day: Indigenous Veterans | Veterans Affairs Canada

Learn about Black Canadians in Uniform: Black Canadians in uniform | Veterans Affairs Canada

Learn about Women in Service Women in service | Veterans Affairs Canada

Learn about 2SLGBTQIA+ in Service Pride in service | Veterans Affairs Canada

During Transgender Awareness Week, every year from November 13th to 19th, individuals and organizations recognize the experiences and contributions of transgender and gender diverse people and communities. The week-long celebration leads up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th, an annual observance honoring the lives lost to acts of transphobic violence and systemic oppression.

Whether you are celebrating your trans pride or engaging in education and advocacy as an ally, Transgender Awareness Week is a time for showing up, speaking up, and supporting one another.

Friday, November 13, 12:00 - 12:30 PM,

Transgender Awareness Week Flag Raising

Civic Centre, Chatham (315 King Street West)

Open to everyone. Organized by CK Pride.

Flag raisings, like those for Transgender Awareness Week, affirm that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. They demonstrate a commitment to human rights and a welcoming community.

Join the Chatham-Kent Asian Cultural Association for Diwali in Chatham-Kent 2026, an evening celebrating the festival of lights!

Saturday, November 14, 2026 at Chatham-Kent Secondary School, 285 McNaughton Ave East, Chatham.

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Dinner (registration required)

7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Cultural programme (free and open to all)

For dinner registration: Scan the QR code above or visit Diwali in CK 2026 - Dinner Registration

For more information: 519-401-3162 or ckaca.events@gmail.com

Supported by Riverview Gaming Centre.

About Diwali

Diwali is also known as the festival of lights. It is the biggest and one of the most important holidays for many people in our community. The festival began as a Hindu celebration but is now celebrated by many communities with different legends associated with the festival. What remains consistent across the legends is the theme of good triumphing over evil.

Diwali (or Deepavali) means row of lights in Sanskrit. This is why Diyas (a traditional lamp) and fireworks are important symbols during the festival. These symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.

Diwali is celebrated over 5 days and marks the start of the Hindu New Year. Over these days, people clean and decorate their homes, shop for gold items to bring good fortune, draw Rangoli, lights fireworks, pray, feast, share gifts, and visit with family and friends.

The exact dates Diwali is honoured change each year and are determined by the position of the moon. Usually, Diwali falls in October or November.

Connect with provincial ministries and funding organizations about upcoming grant programs, eligibility requirements, application timelines, and funding priorities.

Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Studio One, Chatham Cultural Centre, 75 William Street North, Chatham

Registration is required. Register at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness website to compete your registration.

Join the Western Ontario Fall Funders Forum Series. This in-person event is a valuable opportunity to:

• Learn about funding programs and deadlines

• Understand eligibility and application expectations

• Connect with ministry representatives and regional stakeholders

• Ask questions and gain insights in a supportive setting

Participants will hear presentations from representatives of:

• Ministry of Rural Affairs (MRA)

• Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT)

• Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD)

• Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming (MTCG)

• Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA)

• Community Futures

• Ontario Small Business Advisory Centres

Please feel free to share this opportunity with any organizations, businesses, operators, or community partners that may be interested in applying for grant funding

Family Service Kent introduces Project Pathways, Hate-Motivated Incident Counselling and Referral Service.

You are not alone. Support is available. Project Pathways provides free counselling and referral support for children over 6, youth, and adults who have been affected by hate-motivated incidents.

Hate-motivated incidents may include:

- harassment, discrimination, or intimidation

- threats or violence or harm

- discrimination or unfair treatment

The incidents may be related to:

- race, colour, religion, creed

- sexual orientation or gender identity

- disability

- cultural background

- personal characteristics

How can Project Pathways Help?

Counselling Support

- a safe and respectful place to talk

- help understand the impact of the incident

- tools to cope with stress and strong feelings

- support based on your needs and culture

Referrals and Connections

- help finding other community services

- support connecting with the right service

- clear information about available options

- coordination with community partners when needed

Ready to Connect?

Support is available by self-referral, police, community organizations, friends, or family member.

Call: 519-354-6221 x 233

Email: intake@familyservicekent.com

www.familyservicekent.com/services/community-counselling-program/

Funded by the government of Ontario through the Safer and Vital Communities Grant.

CK Victim Services has launched a new online tool to report incidents of hate or discrimination in CK.

This new tool will give people an option to report outside of going to the police. Many people don’t report experiences motivated by hate or bias to police. The intention of this new tool is to 1) ensure that people can get access to supports if they need it, and 2) use the combined data to get an idea of trends in the community.

Key points:

• The tool is available on Victim Services website http://www.ckvictimservices.com/report-hate
• People can also call Victim Services at 519-436-6630 and leave a message saying they want to make a report. Calls will be returned within 3 business days.
• People can report their own experiences or experiences they witnessed.
• People have the option of submitting an anonymous report or providing their contact information and indicating that they would like support from Victim Services.
• Hate or discrimination could include things like (but is not limited to) harassment, intimidation, threats, denial of services, witnessing or seeing vandalism aimed at a person or the broader community because of a person’s race, ethnic origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disabilities, or other identities.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has launched CKAlert, a new emergency notification service.

Signing up for this service will allow residents to receive important public safety messages in the event of a major emergency in the community, such as flooding, boil water advisories, major road closures, and more.

Learn more about the service and sign up on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent's website.

Health Care Connect makes it easy to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner in your area.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
1. Call or register online
2. A care connector (a Health Care Connect nurse) looks for a family doctor or primary care nurse practitioner in your community
3. You are contacted when a match is found

Register today, call 811 (available 24/7) or visit ontario.ca/healthcareconnect

Chatham-Kent Public Health’s newly released 2025 Cost of Eating in CK infographic reveals an alarming trend: food insecurity is getting worse in Chatham-Kent.

In 2024, they reported that at least 1 in 5 households struggled to afford enough food. In 2025, the latest data shows that the number has risen to almost 1 in 4 households, meaning close to 25% of local families are now unable to buy the food they need.

This increase highlights a growing crisis in our community, driven not by a lack of food, but by a lack of sufficient income.

“Food insecurity in Chatham-Kent is driven by inadequate and insecure income, not a lack of food,” says Councillor Carmen McGregor, Chair of the Chatham-Kent Food Policy Council. “When people do not earn enough to cover housing, transportation, and food, they’re forced into impossible choices. Policies that support stable and adequate income, including a basic income guarantee, are critical to reducing food insecurity.”

While community organizations across Chatham-Kent provide important emergency food supports, these services offer only temporary relief. They cannot resolve the underlying issue: too many residents do not have enough income to meet basic needs.

Food insecurity comes with serious health consequences. Adults and children living without consistent access to nutritious food face poorer health outcomes.

“Food insecurity is fundamentally an income issue,” says Dr Shanker Nesathurai, Medical Officer of Health for CK Public Health. “Advancing policies that support stable and adequate income ensures that everyone in Chatham-Kent can live a healthier life.”

What Residents Can Do

CK Public Health encourages community members to take action by:

• Learning more about food insecurity and its root causes
• Talking openly with friends, family, and colleagues about why food insecurity happens
• Advocating for income-based solutions, including a basic income guarantee, to help ensure everyone in CK can afford nutritious food

To learn more about how food insecurity affects households in Chatham-Kent, community members can visit the new CK Public Health Household Food Insecurity Dashboard. This interactive tool breaks down income scenarios and offers a deeper look at the factors driving food insecurity. Access it at www.ckphu.com/food-insecurity.