Chatham-Kent Welcome Week is happening September 12th-21st. The week is an opportunity to connect newcomers to services in Chatham-Kent, celebrate the contributions of newcomers to Chatham-Kent, and to promote diversity in our community.

Events are happening all week, but the week starts on September 12th with a flag raising at Chatham-Kent Civic Centre at 12:30PM.

A full list of events is available on the Living CK website.

Hope to see you there!

Dgwaagig Pii-maadoongeng Dibik Giizis

Harvest Moon Pow Wow

September13 and 14 2025

Bkejwanong Territory, Walpole Island

Gates Open at 10:00 AM, Grande Entry at 12:00 PM

Free Entry.

For more information visit the Walpole Island First Nation website.

Learn more about Pow Wows and etiquette:

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

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

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

Tips for Attending:

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

Ask permission before taking pictures.

Want to get in on the dancing? Listen for the Intertribal dances - these are for all people present to partake in the dance.

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 e-transfer 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 (including dogs) are not necessary at cultural gatherings and ceremonial functions.

Don’t bring alcohol or drugs.

Have fun!

September 15, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, Chatham Cultural Centre

Author Talk: Gabriel Allahdua - Harvesting Freedom: The Life of a Migrant Worker in Canada

Free event and open to all. No registration required. Light refreshments will be served.

CK Local Immigration Partnership and Chatham-Kent Public Library are excited to welcome author Gabriel Allahdua. Gabriel will discuss his experiences as a migrant worker in Canada, where he was called essential, but treated as disposable, and how a truly healthy, sustainable, and just food system must nourish everyone - from the land to the workers.

Copies of 'Harvesting Freedom: The Life of a Migrant Worker in Canada' are available to borrow from Chatham-Kent Public Library.

Made possible in part by the support of Rotary Club of Chatham-Kent in celebration of Welcome Week.

September 30th is Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Read on to learn about these days, local events, and how to learn more.

About Orange Shirt Day

The Orange Shirt Day movement was started by Phyllis Jack Webstad, a member of Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation and residential school Survivor. As she prepared to go to residential school at six years old, Phyllis's grandmother bought her a new orange shirt. When she arrived at the school, the shirt was taken from her. For Phyllis, the shirt represented her experience at residential school, and the neglect and harm children faced. Today, Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led, commemorative day to reflect, learn, and raise awareness about the inter-generational impacts of residential schools. September 30th was chosen because it's the time of year children would be taken from their home to residential schools.

Learn more about Orange Shirt Day from the Orange Shirt Society or read the book Phyllis's Orange Shirt.

About National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was officially recognized by the Government of Canada in 2021 as a result of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. This is a day to lean in, listen, and learn about the ongoing impacts of colonization, including residential schools. It's a day to learn the 'truth' of our shared history, but also about how we can create pathways towards reconciliation and healing in our personal and professional lives.

Learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day on the Government of Canada website.

Events

We encourage community to wear orange and participate in events below to show support for the children who never made it home, Residential School Survivors, family members, and communities impacted. Events are open to everyone and free.

Throughout September and year-round

Make-Your-Own Takwíhleew Orange Shirt Pins are available from Come Together CK (CTCK).

Takwíhleew (Tuck-we-l-ow) means 'Come Together' in the Lenape language.

Contact Lana Parenteau, CTCK Indigenous Navigator parenteaulana58@gmail.com for more information.

Monday, September 22, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Chatham Site.

Friday, September 26, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Wallaceburg Site.

Sacred Fire

Join Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in Ceremony and gather around the Sacred Fire. This is a time for reflection, learning, and healing.

Please bring a blanket or chair for comfort, an open heart and respectful presence. No registration required.

Click on the image to the left for more details. Contact equity@ckha.on.ca with questions.

Wednesday, September 24, 6:30PM

GINDAASDAA Circle

495 King Street West, Chatham and on Zoom

A book club focusing on Indigenous authors who write about Indigenous Knowledge, Reconciliation, and Worldviews. Everyone is welcome.

September's book is Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga.

GINDAASDAA (Ghin-daahs-daah) means 'looking at somethign together and learning from it' in the Ojibwe language.

See the full flyer for more details.

Friday, September 26, 2:00PM, Information booths 1:00 - 3:00PM

Survivor's Flag Raising

Chatham Civic Centre, 315 King Street West, Chatham

Partnership with Maawnjidimi Indigenous Network, Ska:Na Family Learning Centre, 7 Generations Indigenous Cultural Friendship Centre, and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent,

September 30, 2025, 10:30 AM

4th annual Healing Walk & Gathering

Wallaceburg

Join us for a meaningful walk and ceremony honouring and listening to Survivor's of Residential Schools. Walk begins at Wallaceburg Library and ends at Civic Square Park for the gathering. Partnership between Walpole Island Employment & Training and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

Contact us to add additional events: DEIJ@chatham-kent.ca or 226.312.2023 x. 2447.

Learn

September 30th is a great time to commit to learning. Resources to support learning are included below. This list is not comprehensive but is meant as a starting place.

Listen:

A Day to Listen (September 30th)

Tune in to your favourite local radio station to learn about moving reconciliation forward in a meaningful way. Learn more from the Downie & Wenjack Fund website.

Watch:

Orange Shirt Day

Learn about the origins of Orange Shirt Day through this Youtube video by the Orange Shirt Society.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Lunch and Learns (September 22-26, 1:00-2:00 each day)

Open to anyone, five different webinars are offered throughout the week to build understanding of the Residential School system and meaningful efforts towards reconciliation. Learn more from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission website.

Remembering the Children: Live Event Broadcast (September 30, 2025, 3:00PM EST)

Watch the national event at Parliament Hill. Watch and learn more on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission website.

Read:

Residential Schools Timeline

A visual timeline of residential schools in Canada. Find it on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission website.

The Witness Blank

Explore items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings accompanied by the voices of Survivors. Visit The Witness Blanket website.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action

Drafted from consultations with residential schools survivors and family members across the Canada. Recommendations are directed at individuals, organizations, and all levels of government. Read the Calls to Action on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission website.

CK Road to Understanding Indigenous Cultures

Learn about local First Nations, relationships with government, and Treaties. Find the resource on the Living CK website. Hard copies of this resource are available by contacting us.

Supports

You are not alone. Reach out if you need support.

Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help 24/7 to all Indigenous Peoples in Canada. 1-855-242-3310 (toll free) or online chat www.hopeforwellness.ca

National Residential School Crisis Line provides 24/7 crisis support to former Residential School students and their families. 1-866-925-4419 (toll free)

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.

Reach Out Chatham-Kent (R.O.C.K) has designed a Homelessness Response Toolkit for local businesses, organizations, and area residents better understand and engage with local homelessness response efforts. The goal is to provide practical guidance, reduce stigma, and encourage compassionate and informed interactions with individuals experiencing homelessness.

The kit includes a quick reference postcard with information on who to call in specific situations, including phone numbers for outreach services, sharps clean-up, shelter, and other essential resources, ensuring that businesses and community members have immediate access to support when needed.

Digital copies can be accessed at www.reachoutck.com/resources.

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.

At the February 2025 Board of Health meeting, CK Public Health released a report about household food insecurity in Chatham-Kent. A few key findings included:

• 1 in 5 households in CK are food insecure
• Many people in CK don't have enough money to buy food
• The root cause of food insecurity is poverty
• Emergency food charity is not a long-term solution.

The report calls on community members and organizations to learn about food insecurity, talk to friends, family, and colleagues about the true causes of food insecurity, and advocate for income solutions.

Find the full report, the above infographic, and more information on the CK Public Health 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.

We are pleased to share with you the 2023-2027 Human Resources (HR) Strategies, which include the People and Culture Strategy, Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHW) Strategy, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Strategy!

We appreciate the collaboration and input many employees and partners have provided tour team since 2021 to develop these Strategies.

Many action items have already been started and many more are on the horizon to achieve our objectives by 2027.

We look forward to sharing the Municipality’s progress and celebrating accomplishments along this path of continuous improvement!