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

Indigenous History in Canada

Saturday, June 20, 1:30 - 3:30 PM

Spirit and Life Centre 184 Wellington Street West, Chatham.

Registration required online or call 519-352-8530.

Free will offering accepted.

Presentation by Tesa Fiddler, Kitchinuhmaykoosib Inninuwug & Onigaming First Nation and Sharon Giroux, M'Chigeeng First Nation.

Tesa and Sharon, educators and former presenters at the Unted Nations, will provide a brief historical overview of Indigenous people in Canada, highlighting key events and their ongoing impact on Indigenous communities. They will also explore the efforts of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) in fostering inclusive, safe, and accepting educational environments for both staff and students.

Participants will gain insights into the association's initiatives, resources, and strategies aimed at promoting reconciliation and meaningful support for Indigenous perspectives within the education system.

Hosted by the Chatham Catholic Family of Parishes and the St. Clair Catholic District School Board.

Taste of Chatham-Kent (TOCK) is a multi-week and multi-event celebration of cultural diversity in Chatham-Kent happening June 27 to July 26, 2026.

TOCK brings together ethno‑cultural associations, First Nations, Métis, Inuit or other Indigenous organizations, cultural restaurants, businesses, and community groups to highlight their culture and heritage through events, programming, recreation, food, and storytelling initiatives.

Proudly founded and organized by the Taste of Chatham Kent Committee in partnership with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

Get Involved

• Organize a cultural event or activity within Chatham-Kent or a nearby First Nation (supportive grant funding may be available)
• Sponsor Taste of Chatham-Kent
• Participate in an event

Learn more at the Taste of Chatham-Kent website.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is starting to post various summer student positions for the Summer of 2026. Positions will continue to be posted over the next couple of months.

Find the postings on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent website.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain talented employees in a workplace that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the diverse community we serve. Learn more about the Municipality as an employer and our hiring processes on our website.

Should you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources & Organizational Development (HROD) at 519-360-1998. Applicant information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation and will be used strictly for the purpose of candidate selection.

August 7 - 9, 2026

Caldwell First Nation Reserve, Mersea Road 1, Leamington

Mersea Road 1 (beside Caldwell Gas & Variety)

Everyone is welcome.

$10 admission fee. Seniors $5. Children 4-8 free.

Grand entries:

Friday August 7, 6:00 PM

Saturday August 8, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

Sunday August 10, 12:00 PM

No pets. Drug & alcohol free event. Bring a lawn chair. Security on-site 24 hours.

Learn more about Pow Wows and etiquette:

A primer on Indigenous Pow Wows from Indigenous Corporate Training

Indigenous Pow Wow Protocols from Indigenous Corporate Training

Indigenous Pow Wow Dances from Indigenous Corporate Training

Tips for Attending:

Listen to the Master of Ceremonies/Emcee – they’ll explain what’s happening to help visitors.

Ask permission before taking pictures.

Don’t touch people’s regalia without permission. They are not costumes and hold special meaning to dancers.

Support the vendors. Some vendors may have interact or etransfer options, but please make sure you have cash on hand as well.

Outdoor settings are sometimes uneven so watch your footing.

Sometimes bleachers are available for people, but it never hurts to bring a chair with you.

Seats closest to the dancing circle are reserved for singers, dancers, and drummers.

Respect that some sections set aside for those with mobility issues to sit with mobile chairs or walkers.

Leave pets at home as animals are not necessary at cultural gatherings and ceremonial functions.

Don’t bring alcohol or drugs.

Have fun!

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.

CK Pride and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent Relaunch “Our Door Is Open to Everyone” Window Sign Campaign

CK Pride, in partnership with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, is proud to announce the relaunch of the Our Door is Open to Everyone campaign, a visible community initiative that affirms inclusion, safety, and belonging for 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and visitors across Chatham-Kent.

Originally launched with cardboard signage, the campaign has been refreshed in 2026 with durable window clings and stickers that reflect CK Pride’s updated name and new logo, making it easier for businesses, organizations, and public spaces to visibly demonstrate their commitment to welcoming and affirming environments.

The window clings were designed by Joel Emery and produced locally by CutiePatootieStudios, supporting community-based creatives while ensuring high-quality, long-lasting materials suitable for storefronts, offices, and public-facing spaces. This project is supported by Council Ward Funding, through a partnership between the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and Hydro One.

The Our Door Is Open to Everyone window clings signal that a space is one where people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions are respected and supported. Participating locations are encouraged to reflect this commitment not only through signage, but through everyday practices rooted in dignity, equity, and inclusion.

“Visibility matters,” say the Board of Directors at CK Pride. “In a community as diverse and geographically large as Chatham-Kent, these window clings offer a simple but meaningful way to signal safety, allyship, and care. For many people, especially youth, newcomers, and those navigating rural isolation, seeing that sign can make the difference between entering a space or walking away.”

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent continues to support the campaign as part of its broader commitments to equity, diversity, inclusion, and community safety. The relaunch aligns with ongoing municipal efforts to foster welcoming public spaces and strengthen trust across communities.

Window clings and stickers will be available to local businesses, community organizations, and municipal spaces. Participation in the campaign is voluntary, and CK Pride encourages participants to engage with the campaign thoughtfully and authentically.

Organizations interested in displaying an Our Door Is Open to Everyone window cling can contact info@ckpride.com, or pick one up from Bill's Place, Community Space, 48 Centre St. during drop-in hours. They will also be distributed at Municipal Centers and CK Public Library branches.

Inclusion and representation are essential to building a health care system that reflects and meets the diverse needs of everyone in Chatham-Kent.

In 2021, the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team (CKOHT) Diversity and Equity Working Group established the Anti-Black Racism/Anti-Oppression Action Team.

For several years, the Anti-Black Racism/Anti-Oppression Action Team has heard anecdotal evidence about racism, discrimination, stereotypes, stigma and oppressive behaviours and actions occurring in health care environments in Chatham-Kent.

In 2024, the Action Team asked the community questions to understand their experiences of racism in local health care.

Find out what the Team learned and how CKOHT and Partners are committing to action on Anti-Black Racism through the video linked above and on the CKOHT website.

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.

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.