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

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 communicationContinue reading
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.
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, allContinue reading

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
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-deservingContinue reading
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
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 theyContinue reading

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 19 2026: Ceremony in Honour of Songkran Festival

Wat Raeng Ngan Thai Samakkee warmly invites community to join their Merit-Making Ceremony in celebration of the Songkran Festival.
This special event is an opportunity to come together as a community, preserve Thai cultural traditions, and participate in meaningful merit-making activities.

Event Details:
📅 Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Wat Raeng Ngan Thai Samakkee, 2 Le Muel St., Thamesville, Ontario N0P2K0

For more information contact +1 226-345-0839.

Wat Raeng Ngan Thai Samakkee warmly invites community to join their Merit-Making Ceremony in celebration of the Songkran Festival.
This special event is an opportunity to come together as a community, preserve Thai cultural traditions, and participate in meaningful merit-making activities.

Event Details:
📅 Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Wat Raeng Ngan Thai Samakkee, 2 Le Muel St., Thamesville, Ontario N0P2K0

For more information contact +1 226-345-0839.
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.
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.
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 andContinue reading
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
April is Sikh Heritage Month!

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 theContinue reading
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.
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.
May 5 2026: MMIWG Vigil & GINDAASDAA Circle

May 5, 2026 Starting at 4:00PM
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Awareness Vigil
495 King Street West, Chatham (Deshkan Ziibi)
4:00 Vigil opening and drumming
4:10 Giving of Tobacco
4:30 Sharing Circle (Open Sharing)
5:00 Vigil Closing & Drumming
5:15 Taking down of the Red Dresses
5:30 - 6:30 Pot Luck meal
6:30 - 8:00 GINDAASDAA Circle (Book Club)

GINDAASDAA Circle (Book Club)
Everyone welcome!
In-person at 495 King Stret West, Chatham (Deshkan Ziibi) or Zoom if you can't make it in-person
Contact Naomi naomi@skanaflc.com to RSVP and/or to get the Zoom link.
Book: Odagahodhes: Reflecting onContinue reading
May 5, 2026 Starting at 4:00PM
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Awareness Vigil
495 King Street West, Chatham (Deshkan Ziibi)
4:00 Vigil opening and drumming
4:10 Giving of Tobacco
4:30 Sharing Circle (Open Sharing)
5:00 Vigil Closing & Drumming
5:15 Taking down of the Red Dresses
5:30 - 6:30 Pot Luck meal
6:30 - 8:00 GINDAASDAA Circle (Book Club)

GINDAASDAA Circle (Book Club)
Everyone welcome!
In-person at 495 King Stret West, Chatham (Deshkan Ziibi) or Zoom if you can't make it in-person
Contact Naomi naomi@skanaflc.com to RSVP and/or to get the Zoom link.
Book: Odagahodhes: Reflecting on Our Journeys by Gae Ho Hwako Norma Jacobs (Author), The Circles of Odagahodhes (Author), and Timothy B. Leduc (Editor).
Meet the Author! Norma Jacobs will be at Deshkan Ziibi for the Vigil and the evening at the GINDAASDAA Circle.
Please shop local and check out the bookstores in your local area for availability.
The book follows a series of Indigenous sharing circles, relaying teachings by Gae Ho Hwako and the responses of participants - scholars, authors, and community activists - who bring their diverse experiences and knowledge into reflective relation with the teachings. Through this practice, the book itself resembles a teaching circle and illustrates the important ways tradition and culture are passed down by Elders and Knowledge Keepers. The aim of this process is to bring clarity to the challenges of truth and reconciliation. Each circle ends by inviting the reader into this sacred space of Odahahodhes to reflect on personal experiences, stories, knowledge, gifts, and responsibilities.
GINSAASDAA (Ghin-daahs-daah) means 'looking at something together and learning from it in the Ojibwe language. The GINDAASDAA Circle is a book club focusing on Indigenous authors who've written about Indigenous Knowledge, Reconciliation and Worldviews. A book will be chosen for everyone to read, review, and discuss at the bi-monthly GINDAASDAA Circle meetings. Suggestions are always welcomed.
May 8 2026: Into the Light - The History & Legacy of a Black Canadian Community

Join in person or online to welcome Dresden historian and author Marie Carter who will discuss the history and legacy of the Black community in and around Dresden, Ontario.

Marie grew up in Dresden, next door to the Josiah Henson Museum’s original location, and has had a lifelong interest in Canada’s multicultural history. Marie is a former member of the Uncle Tom’s Cabin Community Advisory Board; Researcher and writer for The Dawn Settlement Tour; Community Advisor (with Diane French) for the Dresden Cemetery Relocation Project; Co-investigator on The Promised Land Project (5 year, $1M Community University Research Alliance project.)Continue reading
Join in person or online to welcome Dresden historian and author Marie Carter who will discuss the history and legacy of the Black community in and around Dresden, Ontario.

Marie grew up in Dresden, next door to the Josiah Henson Museum’s original location, and has had a lifelong interest in Canada’s multicultural history. Marie is a former member of the Uncle Tom’s Cabin Community Advisory Board; Researcher and writer for The Dawn Settlement Tour; Community Advisor (with Diane French) for the Dresden Cemetery Relocation Project; Co-investigator on The Promised Land Project (5 year, $1M Community University Research Alliance project.); the author of several books; the founder and administrator of the Dresden Virtual History Group; and founder and co-chair the Dresden History Group (Working Committee) which oversees the Dresden Archives, and organizes historical tours.

Presentation will be held at the McKinlay Reception Centre at 463 St. Clair St., Chatham (please park in the plaza parking lot NOT the funeral home) at 7:00 PM. Or register HERE to attend online.

FREE and open to everyone.