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 April 20, 2025. This 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!

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

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 April 20^th, 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.

Free Anti-Islamophobia 101 Virtual Workshop

Thursday, March 27, 12:00-1:30PM

Space is limited. Learn more and register on EventBrite.

Join CK Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) and LivingCK for the Anti-Islamophobia 101 Virtual Workshop, delivered by the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) through their Digital Anti-Racism Education (DARE) Project.

This workshop seeks to address the realities of Islamophobia and the way in which it operates within Canadian society. It will help participants critically examine the impacts of Islamophobia on the lives of Muslims living in Canada and how it further marginalizes Black and Indigenous Muslims, queer Muslims, and Muslims with disabilities. Participants will learn how to be active allies to counter Islamophobia.

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.

Ramadan is here!

Observed during the 9^th month of the Islamic lunar calendar and dependent on sightings of the Moon, Ramadan is expected to be honoured this year from February 28^th – March 29^th.

During Ramadan, Muslims heighten their spiritual commitment and practice self-discipline. It is considered a time for physical and spiritual cleansing. Although there is diversity in the way people honour the month, during Ramadan, people may fast during daylight hours, commit to acts of charity and engage in increased periods of reflection and prayer.

For Muslims, Ramadan also commemorates the revelation of the Qur’an, Islam’s holy book to the Prophet Muhammed (P.B.U.H), God's Messenger.

The end of Ramadan is celebrated with Eid al-Fitr, a festival of gratitude, forgiveness and connection with family. This significant holiday is celebrated over several days with prayer, charity, social gatherings and gift exchanges.

Ramadan Mubarak to everyone honouring this blessed month!

Learn More:

Learn about how to be supportive of people honouring Ramadan in the workplace through our tip sheet and video created in partnership with the Chatham Islamic Centre.

Honouring Ramadan? Find 7 tips to take care of yourself this month on our website!

Find information about local ethno-cultural community groups and places of worship on the Living CK website.

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.

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.

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.

We are pleased to share with you the 2023-2027 Human Resources (HR) Strategies, which include the People and Culture Strategy, Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHW) Strategy, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Strategy!

We appreciate the collaboration and input many employees and partners have provided tour team since 2021 to develop these Strategies.

Many action items have already been started and many more are on the horizon to achieve our objectives by 2027.

We look forward to sharing the Municipality’s progress and celebrating accomplishments along this path of continuous improvement!

New! Unbound Book Club.

For people who may feel bound by the lack of accessibility in our works, join to explore new worlds, unique stories and meet new characters through the word of books.

For young adults (18+) who have a disability or are an ally for the disability community.

September Book Club Pick: The Reading List, by Sara Nisha Adams.

Books chosen based on availability in both print and audiobook formats.

September 18, 2024, 7-9PM. Turns & Tales Bookstore. 213 King St W, Unit 2, Chatham.

For more information contact 226-626-6585 or erin.genge@gmail.com

Future meeting dates:

October 23, 2024; November 20, 2024; December 18, 2024.