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

What’s Brewing Chatham-Kent?

New to Chatham-Kent?

Whether you are a newcomer to Chatham-Kent, Ontario, or Canada, we are here to welcome you!

Come join us to get connected, make new friends and discover all that Chatham-Kent has to offer!

Turns and Tales (213 King St W, Chatham)

Wednesday February 5, 2025

6:00 to 7:30 pm

Registration not required.

Contact cklip@chatham-kent.ca for inquiries.

Supported by Turns & Tales, Thamesview Family Health Team, Adult Language & Learning, United Way Centraide Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent, Living CK at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Chatham-Kent Local Immigration Partnership, and Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

February 4, 2025, 12:00PM - 2:30PM

Building Bridge: Anti-Racism 101

Studio One, Chatham Cultural Centre.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Spots are limited. Registration Required. Register via Eventbrite

Please join Chatham-Kent Local Immigration Partnership and LivingCK for the Building Bridges: Anti-Racism 101 Workshop the Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto delivered through their Opening Doors Project.

This workshop explores issues of racism, diversity and anti-racism, and is ideal for people who are familiar with the idea of multiculturalism and diversity but have not been introduced to anti-racism. It encourages participants to explore how racism works and its different forms in particular contexts. Participants are encouraged to question their own prejudices and explore practical alternatives.

Discussions about harassment and/or discrimination can bring up strong feelings. We encourage participants to actively contribute to a brave space by being respectful, attentive, and open minded during these discussions. And, to actively engage in self-care or to seek support as needed during and after the workshop. If you require support the Chatham-Kent Victim’s Services, Ontario Human Rights Commission, and Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent can be of assistance.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Define: Racism, race, anti-racism, micro-aggressions, and other equity-related terminology
• Understand: The history of racism and its connection to present-day racial discrimination
• Unpack: How discrimination works and manifests in society
• Identify:
  • Different levels of racism, types of racism, and white supremacy from a Canadian perspective
  • Connection between racism and health
    • Racial Trauma
• Tools: Addressing racial discrimination
• Advocate:
  • Becoming Anti-Racist
  • Tips on challenging racism and tools on how to deal with discrimination

GINDAASDAA Circle

Thursday, January 16th, 2025, 6:30 - 8:00 PM

In-person at 495 King Street, West, Chatham, or on Zoom.

Contact Naomi naomi@skanaflc.com to RSVP and/or get the Zoom link.

Book: Who We Are, by the Honourbale Murray Sinclair cc Mazina Giizhik

Everyone is welcome.

The Gindaasdaa Circle is a book club focusing on Indigenous authors who've written about Indigenous Knowledge, Reconciliation, and Worldviews. There is a recommended reading list that is available. One book will be chosen for everyone to read, review, and discuss at the bi-monthly Gindaasdaa Circle meetings.

Gindaasdaa (Ghin-daahs-daah) means looking at someting together and learning from it in the Ojibwe language (as we didn't have books).

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.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is starting to post various summer student positions for the Summer of 2025. 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.

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.

Western University of Ontario, in partnership with the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society, is recruiting youth (13-24 years) and Elders (25+) to learn about the experiences of Black youth living in Southwestern Ontario. From school, to mental health, to employment, the researchers are looking at how to improve the outcomes, health, and well-being of Black youth community.

Get a $20 gift card of your choice for participating.

Youth interviews (13 to 24)

First hand experiences living in Southwestern Ontario as told by Black youth themselves.

Elder interviews (25+)

Experience and expertise from elders who are connected to Black youth.

Interviews will take place December 17 - 19 at the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society or virtually.

To sign up, use the QR code on the poster above.

Join the Municipality of Chatham-Kent's Community Attraction and Promotion team for the Know Your Rights 101 Workshop delivered by the Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto through their Opening Doors Project.

December 10, 2024, 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Zoom

Space is limited. Please register by Eventbrite.

This workshop is based on Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), and is ideal for newcomers, service providers, and mental health workers. The workshop aims to familiarize participants with the Ontario Human Rights Code and build strategies for dealing with discrimination and harassment including ways of accessing the OHRC.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Define The process of human rights violations
• Understand: The various ways their rights can be violated and the human rights system in Ontario
• Unpack: The protected grounds, and social areas with examples
• Identify: Build their capacity to recognize the ground and social area violated in a situation
• Tools: Gain a clear understanding of the complaint process and the importance of documentation
• Advocate: Use the knowledge gained to assert not only their rights but others around them

Please Note: Discussions about harassment and/or discrimination can bring up strong feelings. We encourage participants to actively contribute to a brave space by being respectful, attentive, and open minded during these discussions. And, to actively engage in self-care or to seek support as needed during and after the workshop. If you require support the Chatham-Kent Victim’s Services, Ontario Human Rights Commission, Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent can be of assistance.

Join Community Living Chatham-Kent on December 5th to hear Michael Jacques' incredible presentation!

December 5, 2025. Two presentation times: 3:00-4:00PM or 6:00-7:00PM.

Register before December 1st by contacting Natalie Jansen njansen@clc-k.ca

Diagnosed with autism and an intellectual disability at a young age, Michael has always embraced challenges head-on. Now an author, public speaker, and activist, he shares his life's journey to foster understanding, acceptance, and a sense of belonging. In 2018, he self-published his first book, Can't Read, Can't Write, Here's My Book, written using speech-to-text technology. Two years later, he co-authored I Belong: Can I Play? with Heather Gals, a children's book aimed at promoting inclusion. Michael's work inspires audiences of all ages, reminding us that everyone has a place and voice in the world.

Join CK Pride for their yearly candle lighting ceremony on Nov 20^th at noon at the Civic Centre to celebrate trans and gender-diverse communities and honour the memory of transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.

Please reach out if you need support:

Trans Lifeline (peer support) Home - Trans Lifeline

Additional supports list: Supports – CK Pride

CK Public Health, working with The Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation (CAPE) project presents Do Ontarians have the Alcohol Policies they deserve? Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation (CAPE) Results for Ontario

Alcohol use is a cause of substantial health, social and financial harms. The Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation (CAPE) is an ongoing research project that provides rigorous assessments of the existence of evidence-based provincial, territorial, and federal alcohol policies in Canada to reduce harm from alcohol use. This 60-minute session will present the latest CAPE results for Ontario, focusing on alcohol policies related to pricing and taxation, health and safety messaging, and alcohol strategies. The presentation will briefly touch on equity impacts of policies, the current situation of expanding access to alcohol in Ontario and will provide recommendations for strengthening Ontario’s alcohol policies. There will be dedicated time for questions.

Presenters: Tina Price, Dr. Adam Sherk, Dr. Norman Giesbrecht

Learn more or register on EventBrite.