This December, walking artist Ken Johnston will embark on an 8-day, 90-mile Walk to Freedom from Detroit, Michigan to Dresden, Ontario. His journey honours the winter routes taken by Freedom Seekers who escaped enslavement before what became known as “Heartbreak Day.”

Ken’s walk retraces historic Underground Railroad pathways, connecting with important museums, churches, and community groups throughout the region.

Walk to Freedom Itinerary:

Detroit and Area — December 26:
Detroit Kwanzaa Walk to Freedom
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity House
Detroit Underground Railroad Museum
Hart Plaza
Tower of Freedom, Windsor

Windsor-Essex — December 27–29:
Dec 27 — Tower of Freedom → The Historical Sandwich FIRST Baptist Church → LaSalle
Dec 28 — LaSalle → Amherstburg Freedom Museum
Dec 29 — Amherstburg Freedom Museum → Harrow

Chatham-Kent — December 31 to January 2:
Dec 31 — Buxton National Historic Site & Museum
Special Q&A with Ken at 12 p.m. — All welcome!
Jan 1 — Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum
Jan 2 — Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History & Dresden Ontario Heritage Trust

These stops honour the communities that welcomed thousands of Freedom Seekers between 1830 and 1865.

Fresh from a 165-mile walk from Niagara Falls to Owen Sound, Ken continues to use movement as a powerful tool to bring history to life and inspire conversation — reflecting the legacy of the Underground Railroad and the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom.

The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority offers education programs at C.M. Wilson Learning Centre in Blenheim. Bring your class or group out for programs, like Winter Storytelling!

Book a visit in January or February to learn about Indigenous storytelling and hear stories that can only be shared at this time of the year.

Visit their website for more details.

February is Black History Month!

Each February, we are proud to honour Black History Month, an opportunity to recognize the histories and achievements of Black Canadians and communities.

Chatham-Kent is home to some of the most successful Black settlements in Canadian history, shaping the Chatham-Kent, and Canada, we know today. In Chatham-Kent, three historic sites are dedicated to sharing these local histories, Buxton National Historic Site & Museum, The Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum, and The Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History.

How is Black History Month being honoured In Chatham-Kent?

Learn about Black History Month, local historical sites, and events on the Visit CK website.

Offered by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent:

Kids Club Featuring Artis Shreve Lane: February 14th, 9:00 - 10:00 AM at the Imagination Station

Children 6-12 years of age, join CK Museums to celebrate the works of artist and Chatham-Kent native, Artis Shreve Lane. Learn about Artis and create your very own clay sculptures. Register online.

Let Us March on Til Victory is Won: The Struggle for Racial Equity in Chatham-Kent and Ontario

Book the travelling exhibit or explore the online exhibit through CK Museums.

Why do we honour Black History Month?

Although Black communities have been an important part of Canada’s heritage, the role of Black individuals and communities is often excluded from mainstream recounting of Canadian history. This shared history is important all year, but having a designated Black History Month ensures these stories are told. Black History Month highlights the accomplishments of Black community members and the continued struggles for liberation, equity, and justice.

How was Black History Month established?

In Canada, Black History Month was first proclaimed in 1978 by the City of Toronto as a result of advocacy by the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS), including Dr. Daniel G. Hill and Wilson O. Brooks.

In 1993, the OBHS successfully filed a petition in Ontario to proclaim February as Black History Month. Following that success, Rosemary Sadlier, president of the OBHS, introduced the idea of having Black History Month recognized across Canada to the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.

In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada following a motion introduced by Dr. Augustine. The House of Commons carried the motion unanimously.

In February 2008, Senator Donald Oliver, the first Black man appointed to the Senate, introduced the Motion to Recognize Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History Month. It received unanimous approval and was adopted on March 4, 2008. The adoption of this motion completed Canada’s parliamentary position on Black History Month.

Save the date! Friday, February 27, 2026, 8:30 - 4:30.

Reconcili-Action Conference: Continuing the Journey

Portuguese Club, Leamington, 217 Talbot Street West, Leamington, Ontario

Breakfast, beverages, and lunch provided.

Registration link coming in January.

This event will be an opportunity to deepen your understanding of Indigenous issues, connect with community members, and engage in meaningful dialogue about how we can collectively address these challenges. Whether you are a member of the Caldwell First Nation, an ally, or someone who wishes to learn more, your presence and participation are valued. Speakers will include Dr. Vanessa Ambtman-Smith, James Vukelich,and more.

More details coming in January. For more information, please email Carrie Ann cultural.dev@caldwellfirstnation.ca or visit the Caldwell First Nation website.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is offering a series of FREE workshops for people in equity-deserving communities* who are thinking about running for municipal Council in 2026.

*Equity-deserving communities are communities that often face barriers to participation and, as a result, are often under-represented in municipal government. Examples include but are not limited to people in the following communities: Indigenous, Black, Racialized; Women; 2SLGBTQIA+; People with Disabilities, Newcomers to Canada; Youth.

This 90-minute workshop provides useful insights and strategies to support you in getting your name on the ballot. Facilitated by former municipal Councillors Steve Anderson and Jasvinder Sandhu, you will be taken through:

• What to expect running as a candidate from an equity-deserving community (what they call diverse candidates)
• Critical strategies for successfully campaigning for municipal office
• Understand what it takes to become a candidate
• Identifying your target audience,
• Developing effective messaging and branding,
• Utilizing community engagement practices to enhance visibility and support.
• And more!

Dates:

• December 3, 2025 - 10:00am - 11:30am
• February 4, 2026 - 10:30am - 12:00pm
• April 8, 2026 - 10:00am - 11:30am

Learn more and register on the Association of Municipalities of Ontario website.

Additional Resources

Find information about the 2026 Chatham-Kent municipal election on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent website.

Learn about other ways to get involved in municipal government on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent website

Learn about the general process of running for local Council from Association of Municipalities.

Find additional resources and organizations that support equity-deserving communities to run for municipal office on the Association of Municipalities of Ontario website.

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.

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.

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.

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.