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

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

Pow Wow Guide by Full Circle Indigenous

Tips for Attending:

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

Ask permission before taking pictures of people. Generally, pictures are not allowed during Grand Entry but allowed at other times, but listen to the MC for instructions.

Use the term 'Regalia' to describe what dancers are wearing.

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

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.

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.

Leave pets at home.

Don’t bring alcohol or drugs.

Listen for 'Round' or 'Intertribal' dances - times where people of all Nations and without Regalia are usually welcome to join in.

Have fun!

The 103rd North Buxton Homecoming is happening September 4 - 7!

The first Buxton Homecoming began as a picnic under a Pear Tree on Labour Day in 1924 on the Robbins Family Farm, across the street from the present-day Buxton National Historic Site & Museum. Created to bring former residents home to reconnect with family, friends, and community, it captured the true spirit of "homecoming". Today, that small gathering has grown into a four-day Labour Day weekend celebration welcoming over 5 000 visitors each year.

The 103rd Buxton Homecoming, themed "The Power of Community," features music, sports, cultural events, family activities, and opportunities to celebrate shared heritage.

Events are open to everyone.

Learn more on the North Buxton Homecoming Facebook page.

Dgwaagig Pii-maadoongeng Dibik Giizis

"Harvest Moon Pow-Wow"

September 12 and 13, 2026

Highbanks Park, Bkejwanong Territory, Walpole Island

For more information visit the Walpole Island First Nation website or the Dgwaagig Pii-maadoongeng Dibik Giizis Facebook Page.

Learn more about Pow Wows and etiquette:

A primer on Indigenous Pow Wows from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

Indigenous Pow Wow Protocols from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

Indigenous Pow Wow Dances from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

Pow Wow Guide by Full Circle Indigenous(External link)

Tips for Attending:

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

Ask permission before taking pictures of people. Generally, pictures are not allowed during Grand Entry but allowed at other times, but listen to the MC for instructions.

Use the term 'Regalia' to describe what dancers are wearing.

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

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.

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.

Leave pets at home.

Don’t bring alcohol or drugs.

Listen for 'Round' or 'Intertribal' dances - times where people of all Nations and without Regalia are usually welcome to join in.

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.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent's Employment and Social Services program has created a website with information for people who may need food assistance, including resources like:

• food banks
• little free pantries
• soup kitchens
• food voucher programs
• drop-in/outreach services.

Visit www.chatham-kent.ca/EmergencyFood or scan the QR code above to go to the website.

These services are here to support individuals and families in our community. Whether you're in immediate need or looking for ongoing assistance, there are options available to help you.