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.

May 5th is National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People (MMIWG2S), also known as Red Dress Day. In honour of this day, several events will be held in Chatham-Kent. Scroll down to learn about the day and events.

All events listed are open to everyone.

Please contact us DEIJ@chatham-kent.ca if you would like to add other events.

Note: it is appropriate to wear red pins, ties, coats, shirts, to show support, but not to wear a red dress. Read more about the purpose of the red dress below.

About The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People

Also called Red Dress Day, the day honours and brings awareness to the disproportionate violence that Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people face in Canada.

The red dress was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, in which she hung empty, red dresses to represent the missing and murdered women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people found that, in Canada:

• Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people are 12x more likely to go missing or be murdered than all other women, and 16x more likely than Caucasian women.
• In the last 30 years, more than 4000 Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit people have gone missing or been murdered. That’s about 133 a year or 3 a week.
• Because of persistent forms of oppression (racism, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism), complaints about missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Women, are less likely to be taken seriously or followed up.

The National Inquiry led to 231 Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Canadians.

Local Events

Tuesday, April 22nd, 6:30PM Red Dress Pin Making

Turns & Tales, 213 King Street West, Chatham

$5 per person. All proceeds donated.

Sign up in advance online or by calling 519-354-2233

Sunday, May 4th, 4:00 - 5:00PM

Deshkan Ziibi, 495 King Street West, Chatham

Co-sponsored by: Ska:Na Family Learning Centre; 7 Generations Indigenous Cultural Friendship Centre; Maawnjidimi Indigenous Network Social Planning and Action Network Member Table; and Women's Equity Business.

The vigil will have smudge, prayer, hand drums, and guest speakers.

Everyone is welcome.

Supports

This day may be triggering for some people. Help is available.

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people toll-free support phone line (24/7) 1-844-413-6649

Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7) 1-855-242-3310

Manitoba MMIWG2S Self-Help Resources

Chatham-Kent Victim's Services

Learn More

Read the final report and Calls for Justice from the MMIWG2S+ National Inquiry on the National Inquiry website

Visit the National Family and Survivors Circle website

Visit the Amnesty International No More Stolen Sisters website

Find book, video and podcast recommendations on Simon Fraser University’s website

Join the CK Black Historical Society and Black Mecca Museum for a 2025 CK Black History Symposium with a focus on Black Health.

Happening on Saturday April 26, 2025 at the W.I.S.H Centre (177 King street East Chatham ON) from 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM.

Keynote speaker is Dr. Shanker Nesathurai. Tickets are $25 and include a chicken lunch, local presentations, goodie bag, and networking.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are not available at the doors. Purchase tickets using the QR code above, online via Zeffy, or at the CK Black Historical Society.

For additional information please call 519-352-3565 or email CKBlackHistoricalSociety@gmail.com

This is an annual fundraiser for the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum.

Free Anti-Islamophobia 101 Virtual Workshop

Tuesday, April 29, 12:00-1:30PM

Space is limited. Learn more and register on EventBrite.

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.

April is Sikh Heritage Month!

This month, we celebrate Sikh culture and heritage and honour the important contributions of Sikh community members to our social, economic, political and cultural lives.

Sikhism is one of the world’s youngest religions but is the fifth largest religion in the world. The first wave of settlers who were Sikh arrived in Canada in the early 1900s. Today, Canada has the second largest diaspora of people who are Sikh in the World!

Sikh Heritage Month was first established in Ontario in 2013 and then in Canada in 2019. April was chosen because it is the time that Sikh people observe Vaisakhi, which commemorates the creation of the Khalsa and Sikh articles of faith. Vaisakhi (sometimes spelt Baisakhi) may also be called Khalsa Sanja Diwas. In Chatham-Kent, Vaisakhi is being honoured with a Nagar Kirtan, a Sikh religious parade, on May 4th, 2025 (rescheduled from April 20 due to Easter holiday weekend). This public event is open to people from all communities in the surrounding area to get a taste of Sikh culture and celebrate. See the posters at the bottom of this post for more information.

Happy Vaisakhi to community members honouring this important time in Chatham-Kent!

Learn More:

Find information about local ethno-cultural communities on the Living CK website.

Learn about the history of Sikhs in Canada from:

Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada

Sikh Research Institute

Early Concepts (resources for educators)

Sikh National Archives of Canada

Learn about Sikhism and other religions in the workplace from Encounter World Religions.

Sikhism in Canada from Wikipedia

Peel Art Gallery Museum + Archives (PAMA)

Thank you to members of the Sikh Cultural Society Chatham-Kent for reviewing the contents of this post.

For more information about the Sikh Cultural Society Chatham-Kent or the Nagar Kirtan on May 4th, contact the Society at 519.784.1748 or gudwarachathamkent@gmail.com or Dr. Bidhi Singh Bains 519.351.8043 bidhi_bains@hotmail.com

Chatham-Kent Accessibility Advisory Commitee Awards Call for Nominations 2025

The Accessibility Advisory Commitee (AAC), the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, and Chatham-Kent Council are calling for nominations for this year's annual Accessibility Advisory Committee Awards.

Members of the community are invited to nominate a business or individual they feel should be recognized in one of three categories outlined below.

To fill out a nomination form, complete the form on Let's Talk Chatham-Kent. When completed, hit 'SUBMIT'. Forms can also be submitted to any member of the AAC, by emailing CKinfo@chatham-kent.ca or ck311@chatham-kent.ca, or by dropping them at the Customer Service Desk and 315 King Street West, Chatham.

Deadline for submission is Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Awards will be presented at the June 9, 2025 Council meeting.

Categories:

Dr. Veronica Vaughn Accessible Business Award

Presented to a business that stands out as providing an accessible facility and/or accessible customer service.

Sheila Lindsey Powers Accessibility Advocate Award

Presented to an individual in this community who stands out as an advocate for the inclusion of people of all abilities.

Sid Ebare Perseverance Award

Presented to an individual who stands out as a person who perseveres beyond their limitations to participate in community life.

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.

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.