The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is reviewing its fireworks bylaw and looking for community perspectives through a survey. Part of the review is to ensure that the bylaw reflects the diversity of holidays celebrated in our community. Currently, fireworks can legally be set off in Chatham-Kent on the following days:

• Victoria Day and the three days before and after it
• Canada Day and the three days before and after it
• New Year's Day and New Year's Eve
• Diwali
• Days proclaimed by Municipal Council as suitable for celebration with fireworks.

Share your perspectives in a short survey on Let's Talk Chatham-Kent before 4PM on December 16th.

We are sharing a few local updates related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Event

CK Pride is hosting an event on Sunday, November 20th, 5PM at the Chatham Civic Centre to honour the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.

Learn more about the event on the CK Pride Facebook page.

Learn more about Transgender Day of Remembrance on the Queer Events website.

CK Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) Newsletter

This newsletter has a lot of information about local events and resources related to immigration in Chatham-Kent.

Find the latest edition of the CK LIP newsletter.

Subscribe to the CK LIP newsletter on the CK LIP website.

Learn More

Learn about Municipal initiatives to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and justice by visiting the Municipality of Chatham-Kent's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice website.

CK Tourism is looking for community models that would be willing to participate in a Many Faces of Tourism Photo Shoot on Sat. Dec. 10^th.

For our last shoot of 2022, we are looking for multi-generational families willing to come out and have some fun in front of the camera as we capture some of CK’s winter and holiday activities and events.

No previous modelling experience is required! We are looking for models that haven’t participated in past photo shoots so that we can capture more of the Many Faces of CK 😊

We ask that families be available for at least one shoot location (1.5 hrs) on Sat. Dec. 10^th, and they will be compensated for their time at the end of their shoot.

Locations may be spread out throughout CK and we will make every effort to accommodate the needs and schedules of our community models.

Please reach out to your networks to see if there might be someone interested in having some fun with VisitCK.

You can connect with Andrea McCulligh for questions or if you would like see examples of what has been captured with this project over the past year.

Contact information:

Andrea McCulligh, Tourism Development Coordinator | Community Development

Phone number: 226-312-2025 x 4221

Email: andream@chatham-kent.ca

November 6th to November 12th is Treaties Recognition Week!

We encourage everyone to take some time this week to learn about Treaties. Further understand their importance, what they mean, and more from the Treaties Recognition Week Poster attached in this post.

The resources listed in the infographic can be found below:

Treaties and Agreements on The Government of Canada Website

Mckee Purchase Treaty on The Canadian Encyclopedia

The Grandfather of all Treaties on Briar Patch

Treaties in Ontario from Ontario's Ministry of Indigenous Affairs

Indigenous Voices on Treaties from Ontario's Ministry of Indigenous Affairs

Anishinabek Nation Resources from Anishinabek Nation

Learn more about local Indigenous Cultures from the CK Road To Understanding

Please reach out to Amrit Khaira or Rebecca Haskell-Thomas at DEIJ@chatham-kent.ca or 226.312.2023 x 3610 if you have any questions or comments.

Thank you,

The DEIJ Team

The DEIJ team has created a monthly quiz to raise awareness as to what is going on this month. Test your knowledge on various religious holidays and days of observance taking place in November by participating in the DEIJ Quiz or scanning the QR Code above.

Let us know how you did in the comments and share this quiz with others!

As part of Islamic Heritage Month celebrations, Chatham Islamic Centre (CIC) is hosting an open house. Chatham-Kent public are invited to tour the center and Mosque and ask any questions they may have, and enjoy light refreshments provided by CIC.

The open house will take place on October 22nd, 22 (Saturday) from 11:00am-2:00pm at 310 McNaughton Avenue West, Chatham.

We hope to see you there!

Chatham-Kent officials have launched this year’s online survey designed to gather public input on where and how their property tax dollars are spent.

At Let's Talk Chatham-Kent(External link) residents can have their say on the 2023 Chatham-Kent budget through a survey that allows them to express their thoughts on what services they deem important and whether spending should be increased or decreased.

The survey is comprised of a number of wide-ranging questions. Throughout the survey, participants are asked to provide as much information as they like.

This year’s budget process is entitled Budget 2023: Inspiring Chatham-Kent.

The survey concludes with opportunity for residents to provide general comments. The survey results and public comments will be used by administration in the development of the budget and will be provided to Chatham-Kent Council prior to deliberations.

Steve Brown, Chatham-Kent’s Director of Budget & Performance Services, said the online survey gives residents the opportunity to provide input at their convenience.

Brown said completing the survey doesn’t preclude residents from voicing their opinions later as well. “The more information we have and the earlier we have it, the better we can understand the needs of the community,” he said.

The online survey will be open until October 31^st.

Citizens are also encouraged to bring budget concerns to their Councillors at any time through email or by phone.

On Wednesday January 11, 2022, Council will host its Budget Committee Opening Night Meeting beginning at 6 pm.

Community Consultation Meetings will be held as follows:

Wednesday, January 18 at noon.

Thursday, January 19 at 7 p.m.

Details on how the public will access the meetings will be provided once the format is finalized.

Budget Committee Deliberations will be held at 6 p.m. on January 25, 26 and 31 with contingency dates on February 1 and 2 if needed.

For more information, contact:

Steve Brown
Director of Budget & Performance Services
Municipality of Chatham-Kent
519-360-1998 x 3100
steven.brown@chatham-kent.ca

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is currently recruiting volunteer citizen appointments to various Local Boards and Committees of Council.

The application can be completed online by visiting www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca. Paper copies can also be picked up and returned at any Municipal Centre.

Applications must be completed by Friday, October 28, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.

The following Chatham-Kent Local Boards and Committees of Council are recruiting citizen members for the 2022 – 2026 term:

• Accessibility Advisory Committee
• Age Friendly Committee
• Blenheim Landfill Liaison Committee
• By-law Appeal & Property Standards Committee
• Chatham-Kent Board of Health (indigenous representative only)
• Chatham-Kent Municipal Museums Advisory Committee
• Chatham-Kent Police Services Board
• Chatham-Kent Public Library Board
• Committee of Adjustment
• Court of Revision for Local Improvements
• Drainage Board
• Infrastructure, Bridge, Culverts and Roads Innovation Committee
• Municipal Heritage Committee
• Ridge Landfill Liaison Committee

As per the direction of Council, the CK Plan 2035 Committee and the Community Development Advisory Committee will not be recruiting members until after the new term of Council has set its strategic directions.

Information about each of these committees can be found at www.chatham-kent.ca.

For more information, contact:

Meredith Cadotte, Council Coordinator
Municipal Governance / Clerk’s Office
Email: meredithc@chatham-kent.ca
Phone: 360-1998 ext. 3805

Test your knowledge!

The DEIJ team has created a monthly quiz to raise awareness about some of the days of observance happening this month. Test your knowledge and learn about some of the important days in October or scan the QR Code below.

Let us know how you did in the comments, and share this quiz with others!

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is partnering with Whyte’s Pickles and a local Indigenous artist for the installation of a Truth and Reconciliation crosswalk in downtown Wallaceburg.

The crosswalk will be painted orange in recognition of the tragic history and ongoing legacy of Residential and Day Schools in Canada, it also includes feathers that were custom designed to represent the Seven Sacred Teachings, with the insignia “Every Child Matters”.

The Seven Sacred Teachings – also known as the Seven Grandfather Teachings – are guiding principles on living a good life based on First Nation lessons. They include wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth.

Similar crosswalks have been approved or completed in Timmins, Burnaby, Oakville, Kamloops, Edmonton and several other Canadian towns and cities.

The local artist is Nicholas Riley from Bkejwanong First Nation. He studied graphic design at Fanshawe college and is a graduate from Lambton College Business Marketing program. He designed the logo for the Sarnia Lambton Native Friendship Centre and has since designed logos for the Walpole community, Employment and Training, and Elder Abuse Awareness.

Nicholas’s latest work is featured on the cover of Bkejwanong Dbaajmowinaan, Stories of Where the Water Divides.

The Whyte’s management team stated that “we are honored to partner in this initiative with the Municipality of Chatham -Kent. We aim to uphold the values of the Seven Sacred Teachings and are deeply appreciative of our team and community members who are First Nation. It is with great pride that we participate in this commemoration and support the work of local artist Nicholas Riley.”

Rebecca Haskell-Thomas, Coordinator, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) for the Municipality says, “The orange crosswalk symbolizes our recognition of the harms that have been done. Incorporating the Seven Grandfather Teachings shows us a pathway for moving forward. True Reconciliation requires efforts from everyone in our community and the Municipality’s DEIJ team are proud to work with community members to learn and take action together’

For more information contact:

Amy Wilcox

Manager, Corporate Initiatives & Communications

Municipality of Chatham-Kent

519-360-1998 x 3055

amyw@chatham-kent.ca