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2025 Food Insecurity in Chatham-Kent
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.
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April 10: Bridging Generations at Work Webinar
Friday, April 10, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM on Zoom
Bridging Generations at Work: Addressing Ageism and Building Collaboration
Register online
Today’s workplaces bring together multiple generations, each with different experiences, communication styles, and perspectives. This introductory session provides practical insights for navigating intergenerational workplaces, recognizing and addressing ageism in all directions, and strengthening collaboration across age groups. Participants will explore strategies for building respectful relationships, improving communication, and working effectively with colleagues and community members from different generations.
Participants will learn how to:
- Understand common generational perspectives and workplace expectations
- Recognize and address age-related bias and assumptions
- Improve communication across generations
- Strengthen collaboration and mutual respect in diverse teams
- Navigate generational differences when working with colleagues and community members
Who Should Attend
- Frontline Team Members
- Managers and supervisors
- HR professionals
- Team Leaders
- Anyone working in multigenerational teams
Together, we grow!
About Dr. Janelle Abela
Dr. Janelle Abela is the CEO and Growth Strategist of Diverse Solutions Strategy Firm Inc., where she leads organizational initiatives focused on leadership, workplace culture, and equity. She has extensive experience working with public sector, regulatory, private, and non-profit organizations across Canada and the United States. Janelle specializes in trauma-informed engagement, psychological safety, and evidence-based approaches to strengthening leadership and workplace culture.
Sponsored by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Program. Contact DEIJ@chatham-kent.ca with questions about the session.
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April 13: Screening of Nika & Madison
Chatham-Kent Film Group Screening: Nika & Madison
April 13, 4:00PM and 7:00PM
Galaxy Cinemas
Purchase tickets at the door for $12.
Director, Walpole Island First Nations’s Eva Thomas, will be present for the screenings! Don’t miss out on the chance to meet this fabulous, local director!
Nika & Madison expands upon Walpole Island First Nation Director Eva Thomas’ short film Redlights (TIFF ’23), which was propelled by what are called Starlight Tours — where Canadian police officers drive Indigenous people to isolated locations outside of city limits, and dump them there, putting them in danger of frostbite, hypothermia, and, all too often, a frozen death.
In Thomas’ solo directorial feature debut, Madison (Star Slade) returns home to her community from university, greeted by her less-than-enthusiastic former best friend and cousin, Nika (Ellyn Jade). When Nika rejects Madison’s offer to accompany her to the local bar, a fateful decision is made. After some drinks, Madison winds up in the back of a young police officer’s car, and things go very wrong from there. He attacks her, and Madison comes to her rescue. While the pair are forced back together, on the run, two police officers (played by Amanda Brugel and Shawn Doyle) investigate what really happened.
While the police brutality and systemic racism that could lead to something as horrific as the Starlight Tours are the jumping off point, it is the relationship between the women that is the core of the film. The tension, both in their friendship and in their opposing lifestyles — one is more traditional and hunts, while the other is urban and outgoing — makes Nika & Madison crackle with intensity.
- Description written by Kelly Boutsalis
Learn more from the Chatham-Kent Film Group website
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April 16: Candidate Information Session
Thinking about running for Mayor, Council or School Board Trustee? Get the information you need before you file your nomination.
Join the Municipality of Chatham-Kent's Clerk, Judy Shantz, for our Municipal 2026 Election Candidate Information Session:
April 16 at 6:00 PM
Council Chambers, Chatham Civic Centre
Register by emailing ckelection@chatham-kent.ca
No fee.
This session will cover responsibilities, expectations, timelines, and what to know before filing your nomination.
Learn more about 2026 municipal elections:
Municipality of Chatham-Kent 2026 election webpage
Municipality of Chatham-Kent - Running for Municipal Office
Resources for Running for Municipal Council - includes resources for several equity-deserving communities
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April 18: 2026 Black Excellence Awards & Gala
Nominations are Now Open and Tickets are For Sale!
The Chatham-Kent Black Excellence Awards & Gala returns on April 18, 2026 at the Everest Convention Centre.
This Black-Tie event is filled with recognition, culture, community, and celebration of local Black leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, youth, artists, advocates, and changemakers.
Proudly presented through a collaborative partnership between Buxton National Historic Site & Museum, Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum, Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History, and Buxton’s Next Generation. With the generosity of our title sponsor Enbridge.
Nominate community members for awards before April 9, 2026.Purchase tickets before they sell-out.Visit the Black Excellence Awards & Gala Facebook page for more information. -
April 21: Webinar - Building Stronger Teams
Building Stronger Teams: Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Immigrant Talent
April 21, 2026, 12:00 - 1:00, Virtual
Register on Eventbrite
Learn how to:
- attract and connect with skilled immigrant talent
- reduce barriers in hiring and onboarding
- strengthen employee retention and workplace culture
- build inclusive practices that support team performance
Whether you are looking to diversify your workforce, address labour shortages, or strengthen retention, this webinar will equip you with actionable strategies and real-world insights to support your organization's success.
Presented in partnership with the Chatham-Kent Local Immigration Partnership, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, and WILL Immploy.
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April 24: Creating Cultural Safety within the Low German-Speaking Community
Creating Cultural Safety within the Low German-speaking Community
Friday, April 24, 2026, 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Virtual Event
$45 registration
Explore the concept of creating cultural safety within Low German-Speaking Mennonite communities focusing on strategies to build respectful and inclusive spaces where individuals can express their identities and experiences without fear of discrimination. The webinar will delve into the unique cultural dynamics of these communities, highlighting the importance of understanding historical contexts, navigating language barriers and addressing cultural sensitivities. The session will offer practical guidance on fostering open dialogue, promoting empathy and implementing policies that support both cultural preservation and the safety of marginalized voices within these communities.
Facilitate by Perter Dyck through the Mennonite Central Committee.
Learn more or register: Creating Cultural Safety: A Webinar for Service Providers | Mennonite Central Committee
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CTC-CK's Youth Action Team: Things I Wish You Knew
The Children's Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent's Youth Action Team are highlighting something important.
In their latest video, members talk about the things people with disabilities wish others understood— the small things, the big things, and the everyday moments that matter.- Humans are more than their diagnosis.
- Inclusion isn’t about pity, it’s about respect.
- Accessibility benefits everyone.
- Sometimes the hardest part about disability is other people’s attitudes.
Inclusion starts with understanding. Listen. Learn. Include.Watch the video on the CTC-CK Facebook page.
Learn more about the lived experiences of local youth and young people living with disabilities on the CTC-CK's Youtube page.
