What's Happening in Chatham-Kent Today — Saturday, October 24

Morning, CK. It's a sunny Saturday with a high of 18° once the early fog clears. Police are pausing their work with Crime Stoppers after a national data breach, record numbers have already voted ahead of Monday's election, and Ontario is trimming WSIB premiums. Here's your Saturday rundown.

💙 A quick thank-you: CKNow passed 2,000 subscribers this week and has delivered over 70,000 emails to Chatham-Kent inboxes since launching in late July. It's free with no paywall, but if you enjoy it, a tip of any amount helps cover the cost of running it. Totally optional, and sharing CKNow with a neighbour helps just as much.

⛽ Gas Prices

Regular: Chatham stations run from 167.3¢/L at the Shell on Junction Ave to 168.9¢ at most stations, with the Esso on Bloomfield Rd at 170.9¢ and the Mobil on Grand Ave E higher at 179.5¢. Blenheim is 167.7¢ to 168.9¢, Charing Cross is 168.3¢ to 168.9¢, Dresden is 169.7¢ and Thamesville is 170.9¢. Lowest around is Moraviantown First Nation at 140.9¢ to 144.9¢, with one station there at 154.7¢.

Diesel: Chatham is 259.3¢ to 259.9¢ at most stations, with the Petro-Canada on Grand Ave W at 269.9¢ and the Mobil on Grand Ave E at 287.3¢. Blenheim and Charing Cross are 259.9¢ (the Petro-Canada on Chatham St S is 265.9¢) and Dresden is 261.9¢. Moraviantown is lowest at 229.4¢ to 234.9¢.

GasBuddy Chatham · cknow.ca/gas-prices

☀️ Weather

A sunny Saturday, with fog patches dissipating in the morning. It's 7° at 8 AM, 12° at 10 AM, 16° at noon and a high of 18° around 2 PM. The UV index is 4, which is moderate. The evening is clear, with 14° at 6 PM, 13° at 7 PM and 11° by 9 PM. Tonight stays clear with a low of 9°.

cknow.ca/weather

🚨 Major Story — Police Pause Participation in Crime Stoppers After National Data Breach

The Chatham-Kent Police Service is temporarily pausing its participation in Crime Stoppers after a data breach that affected Crime Stoppers programs across Canada, including the local one, according to the Sydenham Current. Police say the service and Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers are separate, independent organizations and that the breach did not involve police systems or databases. The scope and impact of the breach are still unclear, so police say they're taking a cautious approach. They've stopped promoting and using Crime Stoppers reporting channels effective immediately, and the pause will last until more information is gathered and assessed.

If you have a tip, you can call police at 519-352-1234, submit a report through the police website, or call 911 in an emergency. Police note that they take reasonable measures to protect personal information, but they can't guarantee anonymity when reports go directly to them. Chief Kirk Earley says residents need confidence their information is protected, and the service thanked Crime Stoppers' volunteers and board members for their past contributions. Read more at Sydenham Current →

🗳️ Major Story — Record Online Voting Ahead of Monday's Election

As of Oct. 20, 15,994 Chatham-Kent residents, about 17.8% of eligible electors, had already voted, according to the Sydenham Current. That includes a record 12,313 online ballots, up from 9,787 cast online in 2018, and 3,681 in-person advance votes, the highest in-person advance turnout in Chatham-Kent since 2014.

Online voting is over, so Monday, Oct. 26 is in person only, from 10 AM to 8 PM at your assigned location (check your Voter Information Notice or the Where Do I Vote tool at ckelection.ca). You can still be added to the voters' list or update your information at any municipal centre until 4:30 PM on Monday, or at your voting location on Election Day. Not sure who's on your ballot? Try the CKNow Election Tracker. cknow.ca/vote → · Sydenham Current →

💼 Major Story — Ontario Cuts WSIB Premium Rate for 2027

The province is lowering the average WSIB premium rate from $1.23 to $1.18 per $100 of insurable payroll, effective Jan. 1, 2027, according to the Sydenham Current. The cut applies to more than 80% of premium-paying businesses and is expected to save employers $160 million in total. Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Trevor Jones, Ontario's labour minister, was among the officials quoted.

Officials say the cut gives small businesses relief amid U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty, and that Ontario's average rate is nearly 30% below the national average. Individual 2027 rate statements will be available through WSIB online services starting in November. Read more at Sydenham Current →

📰 Today's Quick Stories

🔥 Suspicious fire on Dover Street. Chatham-Kent Police are investigating a fire reported around 6:20 PM on Wednesday, Oct. 14 that caused more than $30,000 in damage to the outside of a building. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information can contact Const. Cole Freeman at 519-436-6600, mailbox 807412. Sydenham Current

🤝 JOBWORX and CKJobs team up. Community Living Chatham-Kent's JOBWORX Employment Services and the municipality's CKJobs program are partnering to connect employers with job seekers and promote inclusive hiring of people with diverse abilities. Sydenham Current

🥍 Walpole Island goalie signs with the Buffalo Bandits. Waukiigan Shognosh has signed a three-year deal with the National Lacrosse League club, pending league approval. He was picked 14th overall in the first round of the 2025 NLL draft. Sydenham Current

🚁 A drone vs. frost near Thamesville. Blenheim-area Drone Spray Canada used its T-100 drone to push warmer air from the temperature inversion layer down onto a one-acre dahlia field before sunrise. The neighbouring plot showed frost damage and the treated plot didn't, the company says. The Voice

💚 Heart Buddies is welcoming new members. The Chatham support group for people recovering from open-heart surgery or other heart issues, and their caregivers, meets the third Wednesday of each month at the Thamesview Family Health Team on Grand Avenue. Call 519-354-0070 or visit thamesviewfht.ca. The Voice

🍐 North Buxton's 120-year-old pear tree. The hollow Jesuit pear tree on Seventh Line, thought to descend from trees French missionaries brought in the 1700s, was named Best Tree in Chatham-Kent in NatureCK's contest. It's also where North Buxton's Homecoming began as a picnic over 100 years ago. The Voice

🀄 Free mahjong lessons in Wallaceburg. The library's "Learn to Play Chinese Mahjong" session is Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10:30 AM at the Wallaceburg branch. Registration is required: 519-354-2940 or cklibrary@chatham-kent.ca. Sydenham Current

🗳️ The CKNow Election Tracker. Find your ward, your candidates, and your voting location all in one place, with local coverage on each candidate. No AI involved: every detail comes word-for-word from local news and the candidates themselves. Check it out at cknow.ca/vote

📌 Community Bulletin

Post yours free at cknow.ca/bulletin

🙋 Volunteers Wanted — Chatham-Kent Boards & Committees. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is accepting applications from residents interested in serving on local boards and committees. Applications are open through October 30 at 2 PM. Learn more →

🐴 TJ Stables Trick or Treat Trail and Story Time — Chatham. Join TJ Stables on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 1 to 4 PM at 837 Gregory Dr. E. for a Halloween afternoon for younger families. Wear your costume, explore the whimsical woods, collect candy, visit the gingerbread house and meet unicorns, fairies, witches and friendly farm animals. There's a story time station, candy in a haystack, a unicorn meet and greet, pony rides and a scavenger hunt. Bring your own trick-or-treat bag. $30 per child; adults enter free.

💼 Local Jobs

Recent Chatham-Kent postings on Job Bank:

Personal support worker (nursing care), Maple City Retirement Residence. $25 an hour. Details →

Construction site supervisor, 3D Gutter Services Inc. $25 to $35 an hour, to be negotiated; various locations. Details →

Food service supervisors. Tim Hortons on Third Street, $18.20 an hour (details). Mr. Sub, $21 an hour (details). Subway, $18.50 to $20 an hour (details). Taco Bell, $18 to $21 an hour (details).

Shift manager, KFC/Taco Bell/Pizza Hut. $18.20 an hour. Details →

General farm labourer, Sarah's Farm Markets. $17.95 an hour. Details →

🎉 Coming Up

Today, Sat., Oct. 24 — Chatham Farmers Market, 9 AM to 2 PM, 100 King St. W. House & Haven Vintage Barn Market, 10 AM, Octagon Barn (free). The Garage Gallery, 10 AM, Blenheim (free). Spooktacular Halloween Party, 11 AM, Camlachie Community Centre (free; adult food by donation). Mary Webb Centre for the Arts Open House, 2 PM, Highgate. Wallaceburg Haunted Museum, 7 PM ($5). Forever Seger: The Silver Bullet Experience, 7:30 PM, Capitol Theatre ($49.72).

Every night — Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo, 1416 Dufferin Ave. Doors open at 5 PM, bingo starts at 7 PM.

Sun., Oct. 25 — Capes & Crowns CK, 11 AM, Everest Convention Centre, Chatham. A Taste of Ireland, 6 PM, Capitol Theatre ($64.16-$109.21).

Mon., Oct. 26 — Election Day, polls open 10 AM to 8 PM (ckelection.ca).

Wed., Oct. 28 — Master Forger Paint Night: Doris McCarthy, 6 PM, Thames Art Gallery ($40). Free Movie Night: Minions and Monsters, 7 PM, Capitol Theatre (free).

Thu., Oct. 29 — Lancers Scare Hunger food drive, 5 to 8 PM, Chatham. Halloween Bingo, 6 PM, Legion Branch 642, Chatham ($10). Barn Laughs, 7:30 PM, Red Barn Brewing, Blenheim ($25). Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 — Wallaceburg Halloween Town Fair, Glen Mickle Park. Fri., Oct. 30 — Escape the Milner House: Shadows After Sunset, 5 PM, Milner Heritage House ($75). Sat., Oct. 31 — Escape the Milner House, 10 AM ($75). The Garage Gallery, 10 AM, Blenheim (free). TJ Stables Trick or Treat Trail and Story Time, 1 to 4 PM, 837 Gregory Dr. E., Chatham ($30 per child, adults free). Golden Pumpkin Event, 4 PM (free).

See the full lineup at cknow.ca/events →