The Chatham Voice, Jan. 30, 2025 by Chatham Voice

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Another community has popped up in the “let’s de-amalgamate from Chatham-Kent” movement.

Disgruntled citizens in Blenheim have launched a petition to leave C-K to become a standalone municipality. The effort is along the lines of what’s occurring in

Bothwell-Zone where a petition is calling on the province to release the community from Chatham-Kent to allow it to join Lambton County.

“We don’t need these clowns in Chatham. They just want to spend, spend, spend. We’re fed up and we’ve had enough.”

- Blenheim’s Rick Williams

Rick Williams, who is helping spearhead the Blenheim petition, said many residents in the South Kent community are “disgusted” by the municipality’s governance.

“We don’t need these clowns in Chatham,”

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Williams told The Voice. “They just want to spend, spend, spend. We’re fed up and we’ve had enough.”

Williams pointed out Blenheim was successful on its own before being forced by the province to become part of Chatham-Kent when the single-tier government was formed in 1998.

“We’re going to try and do it on our own,” Williams stated. “We did it before successfully.”

It’s unknown what de-amalgamating from Chatham-Kent would look like or what it would cost. The Chatham Voice reached out to Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra but received no answer as of press time.

A number of Rant and Rave pages on social media are now peppered with talk of separating from the municipality and an online petition has been launched in Wallaceburg.

Ridgetown Independent publisher Jim Brown said he’s heard folks in Orford/Highgate say they want to join Rodney in Elgin County.

The former C-K councillor said he understands where residents are coming from.

“There’s a perception out there that rural Chatham-Kent has fell by the wayside. Anything is possible.”

- Former councillor Jim Brown

“There’s a perception out there that rural Chatham-Kent has fallen by the wayside,” he said, noting the potential loss of elected rural representatives at the council table is an aggravating factor spurring the exit movement.

Other de-amalgamation rumours are rumbling elsewhere in C-K. Since news about the Bothwell petition broke, other areas of C-K are getting on the bandwagon.

“Anything is possible,” Brown added. Rumours are that a similar movement is afoot in Tilbury/Wheatley but The Voice could not confirm this as of press time.

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Booster supports fixing, not leaving

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

While Jackie Beatty admits there are problems between Bothwell and Chatham-Kent, she doesn’t think it’s time to break up.

“I would like to work on the relationship before we get a divorce,” said the long-time community booster.

“How can we fix it?”

Two-tier systems run better, Beatty added, noting members of a small council have a vested interest when they make decisions.

“They live there and work there,” she said.

“The fact is they’re (Chatham-Kent) trying to run us as a city,” she explained. “They keep talking about our rural roots but we’re treated like an urban area.”

“I would like to work on the relationship before we get a divorce. How can we fix it?”

Beatty’s comments come in response to questions about a petition currently circulating that’s calling on the province to “release” Bothwell and the former Zone Township, so it can once again become part of Lambton County, to which it was originally attached more than a century ago.

- Bothwell’s Jackie Beatty

The threat of cuts to services such as the library and fire department are a perennial concern, Beatty claimed. Cuts to rural road services and the fact East Kent may soon lose one of its seats at the council table have fuelled dissension in the community.

Following decades of being its own entity as part of Kent County, it was forced by the province to join the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998, along with 21 other communities that comprised Kent County. Its citizens have managed to keep the spirit of the close-knit community alive by coming together to handle misfortune – such as the recent fire – by supporting one another.

In her professional life, Beatty has worked with officials at the municipality who try hard.

“Council and staff are all good people who try to do the best for everybody,” she said, noting the problem is that it’s not a good system.

“Doing that (separating) is not going to be easy. First Chatham-Kent would have to agree, then the province would have to agree. All of this would have to happen before it comes to us.”

- Lambton Warden Kevin Marriott

That being said, Beatty said there are problems associated with a single-tier system like the one Ontario imposed on Chatham-Kent during the Harris government’s “Common Sense Revolution.”

The creation of community councils in C-K’s rural communities aimed at working with the municipality could be a step in the right direction, she added.

Beatty said she’s unsure how the province will respond to Bothwell’s request, noting it could open “a can of worms.

“We don’t want to ostracize ourselves from Chatham-Kent, because we’re all in this weird soup together. We want to feel like we’re a community of com-

munities. I can’t see putting the genie back in the bottle.”

Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff echoed Beatty, calling Bothwell a “closeknit community with a rich history.”

He said that while he supports the rights of residents to petition, he stands firm in “wanting Bothwell to remain an important part of our community.”

Canniff said he’ll be working with East Kent councillors Morena McDonald and John Wright to identify and address “the potential root-cause issues at play here.

“I want to see Bothwell prosper, which means I would not support the closure of Bothwell’s arena or any other municipally owned facilities in rural areas throughout Chatham-Kent,” the mayor said. “Now more than ever it is evident that Bothwell needs strong support, which Chatham-Kent offers, and I am committed to ensuring that happens through both council action and municipal administrative support.”

Officially, there’s been no talk of Bothwell-Zone joining forces with Lambton County, according to that county’s warden, Kevin Marriott.

“At this point, it’s not been part of the discussion,” Marriott said, noting Chatham-Kent’s elected officials would have to start the ball rolling.

“We haven’t talked about it yet,” he added.

“Doing that is not going to be easy. First Chatham-Kent would have to agree, then the province

would have to agree. All of this would have to happen before it comes to us.”

Cottagers seek lease extensions

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Cottage owners in Rondeau Provincial Park are still waiting to see what the province has to offer when it comes to extending their long-term lease agreements.

SENIORS LIVING

That’s the word from David Colby, president of the Rondeau Cottagers Association that represents 270 property owners.

“I’m optimistic we’ll be able to get an agreement we can all embrace,” Colby told The Voice. “We expect something to be coming from the province very soon.”

The statement by the long-time park resident comes on the heels of a 14-year lease agreement offered by the province. The offer would see current leases extended to Dec. 31, 2038. It was posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) in December.

However, officials say there are details that need to be worked out.

According to Colby, some cottage owners are “disappointed” and “unhappy” with what the province has put forward, but he didn’t want to delve into details, saying the group is positive an agreement can be worked out.

Under the current rules, people own the buildings but not the land on which they are located.

Within Ontario, Rondeau isn’t the only provincial park that’s home to private cottages as Algonquin, Sandbanks and Long Point also contain private dwellings.

A proposal by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to act as a purchasing agent for the Rondeau Cottagers Association was nixed in 2022. Under that plan, a portion of the park would have been privatized. Chatham-Kent had offered to purchase 279 lots with extended leases for $29.2 million and sell them back to the cottagers while privatizing a portion of the park.

A petition opposing C-K’s involvement in the sale started by Shrewsbury resident Ken Bell garnered some 12,000 signatures.

A 30-day public consultation regarding Rondeau cottage leases took place on the ERO last fall. It generated nearly 1,000 comments, covering everything from conservation to heritage designations to the need for increased controls to preserve the park’s ecology.

Points in favour of extending the leases included the importance of preserving heritage structures; protection of personal investment; commitment by cottagers to preserve the park’s ecology and the positive impact of cottagers on the local economy.

Those who oppose the private use of public park land emphasized negative impacts of cottagers on park ecology.

The fact that cottagers are allowed to remain in the park has been an ongoing bone of contention between environmentalists and property owners. In 2017, a 50-year lease agreement between owners and the government expired, however that deal was extended for another two years until 2019.

Image courtesy Ontario Parks

Rondeau has for decades enjoyed a blend of natural landscape and cottager occupation. The cottagers are awaiting changes to a proposed new lease structure from the provincial government.

Bothwell residents still get their mail

By Pam Wright

Local Journalism Initiative

pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Following the Jan. 17 fire that destroyed a section of Bothwell’s downtown, post office services are again up and running.

A temporary post office is now operating out of the Community Room of the Bothwell Town Hall at 320 Main St. Hours of operation are from Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The community’s post office was one of three buildings impacted by the $3-million fire.

According to a municipal media release, residents can pick up carded items at the new location by providing valid government-issued photo identification. Residents who had P.O. boxes at the post office can also pick up their mail with photo identification.

Mail service is again up and run-

ning, however retail services will not be available at the Main Street site. Retail customers are asked to temporarily access services at either the Thamesville or Wardsville post offices.

Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff said that restoring Bothwell’s post office services was a key priority after the fire.

“I would like to thank both the team at Canada Post for their quick action and the residents of Bothwell

for their patience while we work through the readjustment process,” the mayor said in a media release. “Municipal staff and I will continue to work with the residents of Bothwell and the downtown businesses towards revitalization.”

Residents are encouraged to contact the Canada Post Customer Service team with any questions about postal services online at canadapost. ca/support or by telephone at 1-866607-6301 (TTY: 1-800-267-2797).

Casino cash adds $443K to C-K coffers

March 31, to $1.3 million.

Chatham-Kent’s municipal coffers are $443,141 richer thanks to the third quarter earnings gleaned from Cascades Casino Chatham.

That brings C-K’s total earnings for the fiscal year from April 1 to

Overall Chatham-Kent has received a grand total of $19,123,677 from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation for hosting the casino since 2001.

These payments to host communities are based on a formula consistently

applied across all gaming sites in Ontario using a graduated scale of gaming revenue at the hosted site.

“OLG’s Municipality Contribution Agreement payments help pave the way for Chatham-Kent to build critical infrastructure and fund important

programs that make a real difference for residents,” said Trevor Jones, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington. “Gateway Casinos Chatham supports numerous jobs and generates significant economic activity that, in turn, enhances the well-being of our local community.”

Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice

Restoration personnel examine the damage inside the Bothwell Post Office in the wake of the Jan. 17 fire that ravaged it and two other buildings in the community. The municipality has worked with Canada Post to have mail pickup available in the Bothwell Municipal Centre.

The Chatham Voice

Opinion

Selfish politics

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Friday his plan for a provincial election in late February.

Great. An election during the tail end of winter. And one that is 15 months ahead of schedule.

Since late 2016, Ontario law has held that provincial elections are to take place on the first Thursday in June four years after the previous one.

We had a provincial election on June 2, 2022 where Ford was re-elected. He holds a comfortable majority. In theory, there is no need for an election, right? Especially one held with snow in the air.

But Ford expects us to believe that an election is needed so he can best battle the U.S. and the threat of tariffs.

If you believe that, we have a new bridge over the Detroit River we can sell you.

The realities are more telling that this is purely a selfish move to retain power and a majority. Ford began speculating about a 2025 election deep into last year. The reasoning was to have an election in advance of the federal one. Why? Because he wanted to be back in power before the federal Conservatives boot Prime

Minister Justin Trudeau out of office.

Well, Trudeau has resigned. He prorogued Parliament until mid-March to stave off a non-confidence vote against his government and let his party have a new leader in place when Parliament resumes. Also very selfish. And desperate.

But back to Ford. Following his rebates to Ontario taxpayers, he hopes to ride popularity to another majority.

NDP leader Marit Stiles said the early election is to wag the dog – to distract the public from the RCMP investigation into his government. That probe is into the Greenbelt plan that blew up in Ford’s face.

No, Doug, we don’t believe your reasoning. In fact, there is no moral reason to call an election 15 months ahead of schedule.

There are, obviously numerous selfish ones.

We remind you, sir of David Peterson, who in 1990, called a snap election a year early, hoping to ride his popularity.

He lost.

Ontario instead elected Bob Rae and the NDP.

Foreshadowing? Perhaps.

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Fast action fixes watermain break

Editor: Kudos to Chatham-Kent municipal workers Mike and Moe among others who repaired a broken watermain next to my driveway recently. We first noticed the water gushing from the ground just after 9 a.m. My first thought was, “Oh, great, now the road, etc. will be a mess for days.” Boy, was I wrong. The team arrived along with a backhoe. Determining that the cause was most likely a simple break, they started to work and quickly discovered that their diagnosis was correct. After calling in a sucker truck to vacuum the

water and mud from the hole, they had the repair finished and back filled by noon. Their crew performed like a well-oiled machine. I was impressed!

Bryan Marino Chatham

Editor: Are people in Canada thinking correctly when they hear somebody like Donald Trump come up with some ideas? Sure, lots of people dislike Trump, but stop and think; don’t panic like Justin Trudeau is doing.

Canada and the United

States can have pari ty in a form of the Euro like the European Union has. Stable currency. The countries do not have to join each other and can have their own borders. By levelling the playing field with the same currency

like the Euro for North America, this makes way too much sense, and no national identity is lost on either side.

Wayne Robertson Chatham

Coldest Night event returns

on Feb. 22

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

As Chatham-Kent emerges from its first cold snap of 2025, it’s a fitting time to talk about the Coldest Night of the Year (CNoY).

The annual event, set this year for Feb. 22, is a fundraiser for NeighbourLink. The organization helps Chatham-Kent’s most vulnerable citizens and does not receive regular government funding.

Al Baker, managing director of NeighbourLink said the recent weather illustrates the need.

“The problem (homelessness) has only gotten worse. It can be quite overwhelming when you look at the stats,” he said. “Homelessness has shot up 171 per cent here.”

Hope Haven officials reported that during the deep freeze last week, between 60 and 70 people were using their facilities for overnight stays.

Baker said it was a matter of survival.

“It’s either that (go to Hope Haven), or freeze to death.”

NeighbourLink does what it can to help those in need. And on Feb. 22,

the community does what it can to help ensure the organization stays up and running.

“The CNoY funds mostly go to cover rent and general expenses. It’s really the only way we have to keep the lights on,” he said. “You’ve got to have a base and an infrastructure to help address the problem.”

This will mark the ninth year for the event, which sees upwards of 200 people gather and walk either 5K or 2K in fundraising support.

This year, the event takes place at Grace Christian Reformed Church on Tweedsmuir Avenue in Chatham. Baker said people will begin gathering around 4 p.m., with the walk starting at 5 p.m.

A chili supper at the church follows the walk.

In 2024, the walk raised just under $70,000. This year’s goal is $80,000.

“Our expenses have shot way up, because of the number of people coming in asking for food cards, plus gas cards for our volunteers,”

Baker said. “The frequency for giving out food cards has gone up noticeably.”

To sign up to take part, visit cnoy. org/location/chatham-kent.

KFA hopes to give, give, give

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

Members of the Kent Federation of Agriculture (KFA) have Feb. 11 circled on their calendars, but add it is only one day in the calendar year.

That date is Canada’s Agricultural Day, a day where farmers and other food producers are to be recognized for their efforts in ensuring the na-

tion has food security. But for the KFA, it’s also a day of giving back.

Brad Snobelen, co-chair of the Ag Day committee within the KFA, said the organization will be presenting Outreach for Hunger and the Salvation Army food banks with local produce and meat, a tradition they’ve been doing for two decades.

The goal is to assist local families that are experi-

From left, Kent Federation of Agriculture’s Mike Vannieuwenhuyze, the municipality’s Rosemarie Montgomery, KFA’s Jacques Tetreault, Salvation Army’s Maj. Larry Bridger, Outreach for Hunger’s Brenda LeClair, KFA’s Stan Brien, Brad Snobelen and Paige Handsor showcase some of the food items KFA members donated to local food banks on Canada Ag Day last February.

encing food shortages and hardships.

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“We have a lot of social issues going on right now,” Snobelen said. “With the homelessness in Chatham, with people struggling, demand on food banks is larger than it’s been in some time.”

Helping feed those in need is an effort in which the KFA is proud to be involved.

“It’s an important thing to do. If we can help out as agricultural leaders, we want to do it,” Snobel-

en said.

The KFA membership is quick to support the endeavor, he added.

“It’s never been a problem. We put out the ask and the community supports us with open arms,” he said.

“It’s unbelievable what they do.”

With more than 70 different crops grown in Chatham-Kent, the options are diverse.

As diverse as the options are, delivery for the food banks is even more widespread.

“The big thing is it is not just this one day. This is a day we go and solicit donations. But our donations go on throughout the year,” Snobelen said.

Included in that is the purchase and delivery of ground beef, he added.

“We divide the ground beef between the two food banks. But we don’t want to swamp them with just one huge shot, so we divide it up throughout the year,” Sno-

belen said. “We’ve talked to them throughout the years and improved our donations to make it count as much as we can. Knowing they have a supply when things run low, it really helps.” It also leaves plenty of room for other individuals and organizations to support the food banks throughout the year as well.

Snobelen said there is still time to join the support effort, which takes place at the Salvation Army Church on Orangewood Boulevard in Chatham on Feb. 11. Anyone wishing to donate food or funds to the food banks can reach out to the KFA at kfa@uoguelph.ca.

“If they want to make an in-person donation, we’ll be there at the Salvation Army Church between 9 a.m. and about noon,” he said.

Representatives from Chatham-Kent’s economic development department will also be on hand, with a display of local food.

Chatham Voice file photo

Sarah Schofield/Special to The Chatham Voice Five-year-old Chase Chittim enjoyed a number of intricate scale dioramas on display at the 22nd Annual Chatham-Kent Toy Show & Sale. Held at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre on Jan. 19, this was a record year for attendance at the event, with proceeds from its fundraiser given to Outreach for Hunger and the Chatham-Kent 4-H Farm Toy Club.

New book shines a light on history of Dawn Settlement

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Marie Carter was only six years old when she started to wonder what was going on down the road.

Now, more than half a century later, the child who grew up beside Uncle Tom’s Cabin has penned a book showcasing the pivotal role Dresden and the surrounding community played in Black and Canadian history.

Carter is currently preparing for the official launch of “In the Light of Dawn, The History and Legacy of a Black Canadian Community,” set for Feb. 8. It’s taking place at the Josiah Henson Museum of African Canadian History at Dresden, formerly known as Uncle Tom’s Cabin. She’ll be accompanied by Black historian Dr. Afua Cooper for a discussion about the community’s 200-year legacy of resistance to oppression.

“Some of the book is personal history,” Carter said in a recent interview with The Voice. “Some of it is history of the community and some is Black history. What I tried to do is make my experience of the land and people into a story that made sense to me.

“I’ve been interested in it all my life.”

As the daughter of immigrant Flemish parents, Carter heard the story about Henson from her father Gus DeBruyn who had read Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin when he was a boy in Holland.

But as a youngster, Carter felt that pieces of the story didn’t quite fit with

her experience. At the original site on what has been renamed Freedom Road, a white neighbour of Carters’ named William Chapple had purchased the Uncle Tom’s Cabin site. He turned it into a museum, charging 25 cents admission.

As children do, Carter kept pestering her parents with questions, so one day her mother slipped her a quarter and she went with her brother to see Uncle Tom’s Cabin for herself.

The experience of visiting the site and holding some of the artifacts in her hands, sparked Carter’s life-long quest to explore and subsequently write about local history.

What she discovered after more than 20 years of research differs from the Underground Railroad story that’s traditionally told.

Not every Black person who came to the Dresden area was a formerly enslaved person escaping in the night. Carter found out that early Black settlers – some of them prosperous Freemen – arrived years before Henson, the supposed founder of Dawn. The free people settled alongside white and Indigenous neighbours.

In the beginning, there was a co-existence of this diverse population, Carter said, until, with the influx of greater numbers of African-descent people, prejudicial and discriminatory practices entered the picture.

Her research revealed that Pennsylvania abolitionists William Whipple and Stephen Smith – the two richest Black men in America – came to Dawn

and purchased dozens of properties. Carter also discovered that Dresden’s first doctor and real estate agent were both Black.

Traditional narratives about the Dawn Settlement assume that the settlement failed, a misconception that was due to its close association with the troubled British American Institute (BAI). Co-founded by Henson with other abolitionists, 300 acres were purchased by the BAI in 1841 with the goal of creating farming and manual education opportunities for Black refugees.

However, the BAI development was hindered by conflict in its management through the 1850s and ’60s leading to the perception it had failed. Carter concluded that resulting court challenges led to restructuring and the land was sold off mainly to white settlers and industrialists.

By 1872, under what was called the Wilberforce Institute, these lands were absorbed into the newly incorporated town of Dresden and today they encompass much of the southwest corner of the town.

Things changed for the Dawn Settlement when the American Civil War ended in 1865. According to Carter, many Black settlers decided to return to the U.S. to assist with efforts to promote Black rights in the Southern U.S. during the American Reconstruction. Some stayed in the former Dawn Settlement, Carter said, and continued to play a role in the development of the community and the ongoing struggle for civil rights.

Their legacy continues, she stressed, and is felt to this present day.

Carter’s experience as a writer began when she worked at the North Kent Leader newspaper in Dresden.

She continued in the job until she married and became a mother, and her writing took a different path.

Encouraged by her husband Jeff, who is also a writer, Carter started freelancing, eventually specializing in social justice reporting.

During that time, she also served on the board of Uncle Tom’s Cabin when it was purchased by the St. Clair Parkway Commission. Today it’s part of the Ontario Heritage Trust network.

Marie, along with her husband, took on the Trillium Trail Historical Walk project in Dresden. This led to Carter’s invitation to be part of the Promised Land project, probing the freedom and experience of Blacks in the Dawn Settlement and Chatham. Through the Promised

Land initiative, Carter met Cooper, who later edited some of Carter’s submissions to an anthology of Promised Land Papers. Carter continued to research, write and present her findings and hoped to bring it all together in a single volume. She finally set out to write a book draft during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I became very aware of my own mortality and decided that I better get started if I was going to do it,” she said.

Continued on page 14

Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice Local author Marie Carter showcases her latest book, “In the Light of Dawn, The History and Legacy of a Black Canadian Community” that focuses on the Dawn Settlement in North Kent.

Black History Month is a time to celebrate and pause as we recognize the many achievements of Black Canadians who through history have done so much to make Canada the diverse place it is today. It wasn’t until December of 1995 that the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada, following a motion introduced by the Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.

Once considered a destination for freedom seekers, Chatham-Kent is home to some of the most successful Black settlements in Canadian history. It is important to recognize Chatham-Kent’s significant Black historical figures and our role in the Underground Railroad.

The Buxton Museum is Ontario’s second largest national historic site and is a tribute to the Elgin Settlement, established in 1849 by Rev. William King. The site is home to one of the last standing schoolhouses, as well as an 1852 log cabin, a 1853 barn, a community church and cemetery, the Liberty Bell, and museum. Download the Driftscape app on your mobile device to enhance your tour of the site and surrounding areas. Book your virtual tour at www.buxtonmuseum.com or take a public on-site tour Monday - Friday between 1:00pm and 4:30pm.

Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History is the site of the Dawn Settlement built by Rev. Josiah Henson in 1841. The Interpretive Centre includes a collection of 19th century artifacts and books, a rare early edition of Henson’s autobiography and a signed portrait of Queen Victoria which she presented to him. In addition to the Josiah Henson House, the site also includes the Sawmill, the Smokehouse and the Pioneer Church and Cemetery. Visit: www.heritagetrust.on.ca/en/properties/ josiah-henson-museum

Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society and Black Mecca Museum shares the emotional journey of Chatham’s Black community that settled along McGregor’s Creek at end of the 18th century to present day. CKBHS is dedicated to the discovery, research and preservation of Chatham-Kent’s Black history and it’s contribution to business, education, medicine, sport as well as literary and cultural arts. A visit includes not only a self-guided tour of the museum, but also a guided walking tour (weather permitting) of a number of significant locations within the community, including BME Freedom Park. Visit www.ckbhs.org for information and virtual tours.

Follow the North Star

Have you ever seen this sign and wondered what it means? Placed along highways, roads and streets this metal sign symbolizes ‘Follow the North Star’. Much like the slaves of the past who followed the North Star to Freedom, these road signs will lead you to various Underground Railroad sites.

Visit the municipality at https://www.chatham-kent.ca/ visitck/doandsee/heritage/undergroundrailroad/Pages/ black-history-month-in-chatham-Kent.aspx for videos Celebrating Chatham-Kent Black History and more!

What’s Happening in Chatham-Kent during Black History Month

Saturday, February 1

An Evening with Shelton Brooks at the Kiwanis Theatre Featuring incredible local talent, An Evening with Shelton Brooks celebrates the artistry of North Buxton-raised, internationally known entertainer Shelton Brooks and his music. Tickets available through CK Tickets.

Saturday, February 8

Saturday, February 1

All Youth Expo at the WISH Centre in partnership with Black student leaders to inspire young minds regardless of race, and emphasize education, leadership, and empowerment. Two outstanding Black Excellence Youth Award recipients will be announced.

“Chatham was not a Mecca only. In a broader and truer sense, it was the coloured man’s Paris” - Rev. Richard R. Disney

Marie Carter - “In the Light of Dawn” book launch and signing at 1:00pm. Held at Josiah Henson Museum of African Canadian History.

Friday, February 14

60-Minute live tour of Josiah Henson Meseum of African-Canadian History at 1:00pm. For more information on free-live virtual tours and more special events and programming visit the Ontario Heritage Trust website.

Saturday, February 15

Stand By Me: A Century of Black Music and Its Influence at St. Andrew’s Church. It features a soulful, candlelit concert exploring a century of Black music. The performance will highlight the influence of Black artists on the world of music. Tickets available through St. Andrews Church.

Saturday, February 22

Soul Food Dinner and Dance at the WISH Centre.

The event is an evening filled with soulful music and traditional cuisine. The dinner and dance promises an unforgettable experience of unity, culture, and community.

Chatham-Kent

Black Excellence Awards and Gala

Saturday, March 1, 2025 Doors open 6:00pm Retro Suites, Derby Room, Chatham

Black Tie Event, Dress Your Best!

Tickets include: meal & cash bar w/one complimentary signature BEA cocktail. DJ entertainment following awards ceremony.

www.ursulines.org

For tickets visit: eventbrite.ca and search Black Excellence Awards

Book part of university’s Black studies series

Continued from page 11

After presenting a draft to Cooper and asking for her opinion on its merits, she was surprised at an invitation to submit the manuscript to the University of Regina Press, which was launching a new Black studies series conceived by Cooper. Five years later, “In the Light of Dawn” was published, and the book has been chosen as

the first in The Henry and Mary Bibb Series in Black Canadian Studies which Cooper founded. According to Carter the story is an inspirational one, of a 200year continuum of contribution and resistance by people of African descent. That significance is evident in the later appearance of important civil rights activists such as Rosa Parks, who visited Dresden twice.

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“You can see the foundational work of 19th-Century abolitionists in terms of community building and resistance to injustice running like a golden thread from generation to generation,” Carter explained. “It’s a story that should interest a broad audi-

ence, because of the intertwining of Black history with the broader history of white and Indigenous peoples in Canadian history.”

Carter hopes everyone will read the book.

“The richness of the story is mind boggling,” Carter stressed. “ There are so many stories with so many layers...it’s impossible to get it all in.”

Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice

The Josiah Henson Museum of African Canadian History in Dresden, formerly known as Uncle Tom’s Cabin, drew Marie Carter’s interest from a young age.

Contributed image

Tim Bits show off their Face off for Mental Health attire prior to the Chatham Maroons doing the same on Jan. 19 in advance of their game against the St. Thomas Stars. The awareness-raising and fundraising effort saw they green uniforms auctioned off, and the event raised nearly $3,500 for the C-K Mental Health Table.

Immunizations lacking for 1,700 students in C-K

The Chatham Voice

Chatham-Kent parents whose children’s immunizations are not up to date have been served notice.

According to a Chatham-Kent Public Health media release notices have been sent to 1,686 students who face being suspended from school if their records aren’t up-todate by March 4.

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1990, students are required to be vaccinated against, or obtain a valid exemption for, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and varicella.

The release said it’s “cru-

cial” for parents to realize immunization records are not automatically reported by health-care providers to C-K Public Health, meaning parents may receive a first notice letter even if their child has all the required vaccinations.

To avoid problems, parent and guardians are advised to review immunization records, contact their health-care provider about missing vaccinations or reach out to CKPH to find out about upcoming clinics.

Records can be submitted online at ckpublichealth.com/vaccinations or they can be dropped off or mailed in.

For information, call 519352-7270 ext. 2457.

Community Events

Thursday, January 30, 2025:

• Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am-9:30pm. The kitchen is open to serve lunch from 11:00am-1:30pm. Come check out our daily specials. Senior Euchre starts at 1:00pm. Everyone welcome.

• Afternoon Jamboree with all singers & musicians welcome 1-4pm at the Merlin Legion. Come out and enjoy good music and great company. Donations welcome. Call 519-350-8937 for info.

• Messy Thursdays at 4:30pm at the Merlin branch of the CKPL. Every week is something new and maybe messy. All ages, no registration required.

• UCC Grade 8 Open House - 7:00pm in the theatre. Your invited to discover “The Pines” Ursuline College Chatham.

• Lunch at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St, 11am-1:30pm. Daily specials are available as well as a menu. Everyone welcome.

Friday, January 31, 2025:

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am-9:30pm. Kitchen open to serve lunch from 11:00am-1:30pm. Supper will be served from 4:00-6:00. No orders after 5:30pm. Tonight’s specials are liver & onions or fish & chips, $13.00. Take out is also available by calling 519351-8733 or 519-351-5639. Fun Darts start at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome.

• Building with Bricks from 10:00am2:00pm at the Blenheim branch of the CKPL. Spend your PD Day at Blenheim Branch! We’ve got magna-tiles, giant linking acrobats, tons of Lego bricks and more! All ages. No Registration Required.

• Come check out Chair Yoga with MaryAnn! Friday’s from 12pm- 1pm. No registration needed. Active Lifestyle Centre, 20 Merritt Ave, 519-352-5633.

• Lunch at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St ,11am-1:30pm. Daily specials are available as well as a menu.

Friday night supper is a Breaded Pork Chop dinner with potatoes vegetables, coleslaw and a bun. Dine ins $13 and pickups $14. All meals are served at 6 PM. Please call 519-352-8291 to order. Everyone welcome.

Saturday, February 1, 2025:

• Fun Day Crib Tournament at Branch 18 Wallaceburg Legion, Clubroom. 2 person teams, register 11-11:45 games start at noon. $10. Per person, lunch available.

• Morning Breakfast Program at First Presbyterian Church (corner of Fifth St. and Wellington). A delicious and nutritious breakfast served free of charge from 9:30am-11:00am, serving indoors, no take out. Wheelchair accessible.

• Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 10:00am–9:30pm. Line Dancing lessons from 10:00am-12 noon. There will be meat draws at 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30pm. The kitchen is open from 3:00pm–6:00 pm. Come check out our menu. Entertainment by Allen James from 4:30-9:30. Everyone is welcome.

Sunday, February 2, 2025:

• Brunch at the Chatham Granite Club 41 William Street N. All you can eat. Adults $15, children aged 4-10 $6 and under 4 are free. Brunch served from 10:30am-12:30pm. Come and enjoy, everyone welcome. We accept cash, credit card or debit.

• Breakfast at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St from 9amNoon. Breakfasts are cooked to order. Everyone welcome. Jamboree from 1-5pm, $5. Come enjoy and dance to the great sounds of Hired Hand.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025:

• Messy Thursdays at 4:30pm at the Merlin branch of the CKPL. Every week is something new and maybe messy. All ages, no registration required.

• Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am–9:30pm. The kitchen is open to serve lunch from 11:00am–1:30pm. Today’s special is

Spaghetti with meat sauce. Come play Euchre at 1:00 or spend the evening playing Shuffleboard or Euchre starting at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025:

• Preschool Storytime at 10:30am at the Blenheim branch of the CKPL. Join us for songs, rhymes, and stories! Best suited to children 5 years and younger. Drop-in. No Registration required.

• Patricia M. Productions presents Monthly Luncheon Fashion Shows from 12noon-1pm. Casa Bella on the Thames, 425 Riverview Dr., Chatham. 519-3545270. Fashions by: Goldcoast Fashions. Call restaurant for reservations. Supporting the CK Women’s Centre.

• Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am–9:30pm. The kitchen is open to serve lunch from 11:00am–1:30pm. Our daily special is Meat loaf Dinner. Come check out our other daily specials. We have Fun Darts at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome.

Thursday, February 6, 2025:

• Afternoon Jamboree with all singers and musicians welcome 1-4pm at the Merlin Legion. Come out and enjoy good music and great company. Donation welcome. Call 519-350-8937 for info.

• Messy Thursdays at 4:30pm at the Merlin branch of the CKPL. Every Thursday is something new and maybe messy. All ages, no registration required.

• Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am–9:30pm. The kitchen is open to serve lunch from 11:00am–1:30pm. Come check out our daily specials. Senior Euchre starts at 1:00pm. “BINGO” hosted by our Ladies Auxiliary starts at 7pm, come early to pick your cards. Everyone is welcome.

Send your events to bruce@chathamvoice.com or michelle@chathamvoice.com

Fun Stuff

51. Discourages from doing

CLUES DOWN

1. Supreme god of ancient Egyptians 2. Nevada city 3. Energy, style and enthusiasm

4. Bird’s beak 5. Language 6. Midway between south and southeast 7. Punjab village 8. Small biting flies 9. Sportscaster Patrick

CLUES ACROSS

1. Where entertainers perform

7. Miller beer variety

10. Ageless

12. River in SE Europe 13. Able to be repaired 14. Type of wrap 15. Atomic #54 16. Type of tent

17. U.S. Treasury position 18. Opposed to 19. Protective covering 21. Bridge building degree 22. Clouding of the lens

27. Priestess of Hera loved by Zeus

28. Unacceptable

33. Mr. T’s “The A-Team” character

34. American national park

36. One point south of due east

37. Assist in a crime

38. Greek mythological personification of Earth

39. A major division of geological time

40. German courtesy title

41. English family dating back to Norman times

44. Discounts

45. South American nation

48. Former Milwaukee Buck Michael

49. Hostile

50. Passports and drivers licenses are two

10. A way to get around

11. Repeat

12. A way to cook with fat

14. Temporary loss of consciousness

17. Reciprocal of a sine

18. Fir tree genus

20. “Transformers” director Michael 23. Criminals who steal

24. Genus of leaffooted bug

25. Music product

26. “Talk to you”

29. Santa says it three times

30. Doctors’ group

31. African nation

32. Ageless

35. When you hope to get somewhere

36. Worn

38. Deprives of vigor

40. Used to have (Scottish)

41. Where you live

42. Muslim ruler title

43. Basics

44. Type of drug (abbr.)

45. Spanish soldier

46. It precedes two

47. Illuminated

Calm, cold and beautiful

Crime Stoppers powered by volunteers

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

The Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers team continues to take a bite out of crime.

Thanks to the fundraising efforts of volunteers and the work of co-ordinator Erica McIntosh, a total of 120 cases were cleared in 2024 and $172,410 worth of drugs and property were taken off the streets or recovered.

In total, 531 tips led to 15 arrests for the year, according to C-K Crime Stoppers vice-chair Aaron Hurst, with around $4,000 distributed to anonymous tipsters.

Hurst said the effort is a busy one.

“We’re getting a lot of our tips online,” Hurst said recently of the initiative, that with the exception of the co-ordinator’s part-time role, runs entirely on people dedicated to the cause.

Even though fewer tips were received in 2024 compared to 2023, police were able to make more arrests, he said.

Hurst said the group is actively looking for volunteers to help out with fundraising events. One of the goals for 2025 is to host the second annual golf tournament at Hidden Hills Golf & Country Club, an event that sold out last year.

“We’re continuing to grow,” Hurst told The Voice. “The success of our

program depends on volunteers and we’re actively looking for more people to join.”

Hurst said he wants to stress to the public that tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous, whether by phone or online.

“That’s what our program is based on,” he added.

Since its inception in 1987, Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers has been responsible for eliminating more than $115 million worth of stolen property and illegal drugs from the streets, as well as seizing 340 illegal weapons.

Notice of Public Meeting to Consider Amendments to the Zoning By-law

Take Notice that the Council of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent will consider amendments to the Chatham-Kent Zoning By-law, under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O.1990, c.P.13, concerning the entirety of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent

And Take Further Notice that the proposed amendments will be considered on the date, and at the time and place shown below:

Date: Monday, February 24, 2025 Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Municipality of Chatham-Kent Council Chambers Address: 315 King Street West, Chatham ON

Four Housing Units on Fully Serviced Urban Low-Density Residential Properties

Purpose and effect: On April 12, 2024, the Government of Canada released a new housing plan, known as “Solving the housing crisis: Canada’s Housing Plan” The focus of the plan involves three main goals: building more homes, making it easier to rent or purchase a home, and helping citizens be able to afford a home. To implement this plan and enact its goals, the Government of Canada has given funding opportunities to Canadian Municipalities in exchange for local reforms to land-use planning and housing policy. One of the requirements is that local zoning by-laws be amended to permit four housing units as-of-right on all fully serviced urban residential properties.

Currently, more than 50% of Chatham-Kent’s existing low-density urban residential parcels permit four units as-of-right. The proposed changes will allow for new neighbourhoods to develop with more affordable housing types, and increase housing options in existing neighbourhoods The following communities are affected by this proposed amendment: Blenheim, Charing Cross, Chatham, Dresden, Merlin, Mitchell’s Bay, Pain Court, Ridgetown, Thamesville, Tilbury, Wallaceburg, and Wheatley.

The proposed Zoning By-law amendment includes changes that will add Semi-Detached Dwellings and Semi-Detached Dwelling Units as permitted uses in the Residential Low Density-Estate (RL1-E), Residential Low Density First (RL1), and Residential Low Density Fifth (RL5) Zones, and establish applicable performance standards. This will result in a Semi-Detached Dwelling and Unit being permitted in all Residential Low Density (RL) zones, and, in effect, permit four units as-of-right on all serviced urban residential properties.

Information and Providing Comment

For more information about these matters, including information about appeal rights, contact Planning Services at 519.360.1998 or ckplanning@chatham-kent.ca. A full copy of the proposed amendments are available at www.chatham-kent.ca Mail should be directed to Municipality of Chatham-Kent Planning Services, 315 King Street West, Box 640, Chatham ON N7M 5K8.

Dated at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent this 4th day of February, 2025.

Ken Bell/Special to The Chatham Voice

The frozen beauty of Rondeau Bay is showcased here. January delivered winter’s deep freeze, seemingly freezing Rondeau Bay and Mitchell’s Bay overnight. Even Lake Erie saw vast stretches of ice dominate its shorelines in short order.

Mary Nemesvolgyi