Category justice   Show all

  • New Resource: Workplace Inclusion During Ramadan

    This year, Ramadan will be observed from about March 10th - April 9th. Learn about Ramadan and how to be supportive of colleagues during this important time for people who are Muslim through the resource below.

    This resource is intended for Municipal employees.

    A video is up on our public DEIJ website with tips for how businesses and organizations can support colleagues and community members honouring Ramadan. Please feel free to share that post and video.

    Have questions or feedback about the resource? Contact the DEIJ Coordinator DEIJ@chatham-kent.ca or .2447

    Click on the image below to view the resource.



  • Feb 10: Inaugural CK Black Excellence Awards and Gala

    Black Excellence Awards and Gala tickets on sale now.


    On February 10th, the first ever Black Excellent Awards and Fala will be held at Retro Suites in Chatham.


    The event, held during Black History Month, will honour the outstanding accomplishments of Black community members and celebrate local Black communities.

    Gala tickets are $100 each and can be purchased through Event Brite.

    Nominations for the awards are open until January 10th and can be made through the Google Doc form.


  • Welcome Week 2023 in Chatham-Kent


    Chatham-Kent Welcome Week is happening September 8th - 17th. 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 8th with a flag raising at Chatham-Kent Civic Centre at 3:30PM followed by networking and speakers. More details on the flyer above.

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

    Hope to see you there!

  • September 2023 DEIJ Calendar

    Please click on the image below to download the September 2023 calendar of dates significant to communities in Chatham-Kent. The calendar can also be found under the 'Resources' section.

    Please contact us if you notice dates missing or errors deij@chatham-kent.ca or x. 2447

    Uses for the calendar:

    • Use this calendar to inform programming, scheduling, and to better understand colleagues and communities we serve.
    • To ensure everyone can participate and show respect for each other, avoid scheduling events (for staff or community) on important days of significance.
    • Supervisors: People may ask for time off in honour of some of these dates. Employers have a duty to accommodate employee's creed to the point of undue hardship, including providing time off for religious holidays. Learn more from the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

    Community Events:

    Find more information about community events to honour days of observance in the DEIJ Outlook calendar (contact us if you want access and don't have it) and the 'Engage' section of the DEIJ Employee Portal.

    We will share a schedule of events related to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.


  • April 2023 DEIJ Calendar

    The April 2023 DEIJ Calendar is now available for download through the DEIJ Calendar link under Important Documents or by clicking on the image below. The DEIJ Calendar has various days of significance with links to learn more.

    Most Municipal employees should also have access to a DEIJ Calendar in Outlook that has days of significance with links as well.

    Use this calendar to inform your programming, avoid unintentionally excluding certain groups by scheduling important meetings or events during days of significance, and to learn about the diversity of days observed by colleagues and community members in Chatham-Kent.

    As always, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns, or if you see any dates I've missed.



  • Happy Pride Season!

    Image of progress pride flag.


    Note: We recognize that the terminology in this article may be new to some folks. If you’d like to deepen your understanding of 2SLGBTQIA+ terminology and communities, visit the CK Pride website.


    June kicks off Pride Season, when we celebrate the diverse Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and additional identities (2SLGBTQIA+) communities in Chatham-Kent!


    The History of Pride Celebrations

    Many people are unaware that pride celebrations started as protests. In the U.S.A., in June 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club, in Greenwich Village, New York. The raid led to six days of riots and protests by residents, staff, and bar patrons, many of whom were racialized trans people. The riots, now known as the ‘Stonewall riots’ were a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States, and around the World.

    In Canada, similar raids happened in Toronto in the early 1970s, leading to protests for rights and protections for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada. The first pride week was held in major cities across Canada in August in 1973 to rally for equal rights. This is why some communities in Canada (including Chatham--Kent) honour Pride in August instead of June.

    Of course, throughout time and history there has been celebration of, and resistance among, what we now call 2SLGBTQIA+ people and communities.


    Learn about Pride flags from the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.


    How is Pride celebrated today?

    There is a growing movement to use the term Pride season in recognition of the diverse history of 2SLGBTQIA+ rights movements, and the various times and ways Pride is celebrated. Now, Pride gatherings are used to honour the work that has been done and to raise awareness about the work still needed to achieve respect, dignity, safety, and rights for all 2SLGBTQIA+ people. It is also a time when people who may at other times feel unsafe or marginalized because of their identities have a short window of time and place to honour their authentic selves. Events include parades, rallies, workshops, concerts as well as memorials and commemorations for community members, family, and friends who lost someone due to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS.


    How is Pride Honoured in Chatham-Kent?

    In Chatham-Kent, Pride is celebrated in August, with a week of events organized by CK Pride.

    Learn about local Pride events on the CK Pride website. Learn about CK Pride's history on the CK Pride website.


    To folks celebrating - we celebrate you throughout the year, but especially during Pride Season!