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

Join the Chatham Catholic Faily of Parishes Truth & Reconciliation Action Table October 27, 2026 for a day of learning, reflection and honouring.

Bus departs St. Ursula Church Parking Lot at 7:45 a.m. Return to St. Ursula Church parking Lot at 5:30 p.m.

Register: Online at the Chatham Catholic Parishes website or call the Parish Office 519-352-8530.

Cost: $50/per person. Includes bus travel, guided tours, and museum admission.

Make payment in case of cheque (payable to "St. Ursula Parish") at Parish office by Friday, October 9.

Please bring a bagged lunch.

Space is limited to 56 people. Attendees do not need to be a member of the Catholic Family of Parishes.

Tour includes:

Woodland Cultural Centre, Brantford

Explore Indigenous cultures, traditions, and contemporary art through engaging exhibits and stories.

Former Mohawk Institute Residential School

A guided tour of this interpretive historic site that honours the experiences of Survivors and preserves the truth of Indigenous history.

Goodminds.com Bookstore, Brantford

Visit this inspiring Indigenous bookstore and discover new reads and rising Indigenous authors.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is currently recruiting volunteer citizen appointments to various Local Boards and Committees of Council.

Committees of Council are groups made up of community members and sometimes Council representatives who work together to provide advice and recommendations on specific issues, projects, or services in Chatham-Kent. These committees give residents an opportunity to share their knowledge, experience, and perspectives, helping Council make informed decisions that reflect the needs and interests of the community.

The following Chatham-Kent Local Boards and Committees of Council are recruiting citizen members for the 2026 – 2030 term:

• Accessibility Advisory Committee
• Blenheim Landfill Liaison Committee
• By-law Appeal & Property Standards Committee
• Chatham-Kent Board of Health (Indigenous representative only)
• Chatham-Kent Municipal Museums Advisory Committee
• Chatham-Kent Police Services Board
• Chatham-Kent Public Library Board
• Committee of Adjustment
• Court of Revision for Local Improvements
• Drainage Board
• Municipal Heritage Committee
• Ridge Landfill Liaison Committee

Information about each of these committees can be found on the municipal website or on Let's Talk Chatham-Kent.

Paper copies of the applications can also be picked up at any Municipal Centre.

Applications must be completed online or returned to any Municipal Centre by Friday, October 30, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

The Together CK 2027 Municipal Grant Program is now open for applications.

Together CK grants support local projects and events that benefit the community. Chatham-Kent based community organizations and not-for-profit corporations are eligible for funding. This portfolio includes annual Together CK grants for Significant and Community Events, and Community Projects, as well as Together CK Core Grant funding which supports operational needs for a four-year grant term.

To begin your application, please visit the Together CK Municipal Grant webpage: Together CK Municipal Grant Link

Once on the webpage, click the Apply Now button. This will take you to the E-proval landing page.

Eproval is the new online application portal used to submit Together CK grant applications. The system allows applicants to complete applications, upload supporting documents, and track the status of their submissions through one centralized platform. All applicants must register a new Eproval account before submitting an application.

Important Dates

• Application submission period begins: October 1, 2026
• Information Webinar: October 7, 2026, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (Webinar Ticket Link)
• In-Person Information Session: October 15, 2026, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (In-Person Ticket Link)
  Capital Theatre, Rotary Lounge
• Application deadline: Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
• Together CK Committee Review: November to December 2026
• Funding recommendations submitted to Council for approval: January 2027
• Funding notifications to applicants: January 2027

Considering applying? Review the program guidelines and begin preparing your application early.

Questions? Email TogetherCK@chatham-kent.ca

November 3, 2026, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

John D. Bradley Convention Centre, 565 Richmond Street, Chatham

Free event.

Build Your Future. Break Barriers. Explore the Trades.

*Please note that that this panel discussion will occur during the Education and Training Fair event.

Did you know that Chatham-Kent and Ontario continue to experience significant skilled trades labour shortages?

At the same time, women remain underrepresented in many skilled trades occupations, despite the growing demand for talented workers. Many women face barriers to entering and remaining in the trades, including limited awareness of career pathways, lack of female mentors and role models, financial challenges, and difficulty accessing industry networks and apprenticeship opportunities.

Join the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s CKJobs and Community Attraction and Promotion for an inspiring and informative Women in Trades Live Panel Discussion, designed to connect women with real career opportunities, industry professionals, employers, and training resources.

Hear directly from local women who have built successful careers in skilled trades and non-traditional occupations. Through candid conversations and personal stories, our panelists will share their career journeys, challenges they’ve overcome, lessons they’ve learned, and advice for women considering a future in the trades.

Whether you’re a student, job seeker, career changer, parent, educator, or simply curious about the opportunities available, this event will provide valuable insights into some of the region’s most in-demand careers.

If you’ve ever considered a career in the trades or want to learn more about the opportunities available, this event is for you.

Learn more or reserve your seat: Women Who Build: Real Stories, Career Paths & Opportunities in the Trades - Chatham-Kent Jobs

Saturday, November 14, 2026 at Chatham-Kent Secondary School.

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

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

For more information: ckaca.events@gmail.com

The next municipal election in Chatham-Kent is October 26, 2026. Below are resources for people about voting or who are considering running for Council.

Chatham-Kent Election Information

General Election information: Chatham-Kent | 2026 Municipal Election

Candidate Information: Candidate Information

Make sure you are on the Municipal Voters' List before election day: RegisterToVoteON.ca

Resources from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) hosted a series of FREE workshops for people thinking about running for municipal Council in 2026, with some specifically for equity-deserving communities.

Other resources they offer:

• Learn how to get involved in 2026 municipal elections
• Learn about the general process of running for local Council
• Find resources and organizations for equity-deserving communities considering running

Other Ways to Shape Municipal Decisions

Learn about other ways to get involved in municipal government on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent website

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.