What's Happening in Chatham-Kent Today — Wednesday, October 21

Morning, CK. It's a sunny day with a high of 17°, once the early fog burns off. Downtown Chatham's Thames riverfront has a finished new look, and OPP have laid charges after a drug and firearm seizure in Tilbury. Here's your Wednesday rundown.

⛽ Gas Prices

Regular: Chatham stations run from 169.3¢/L at the Shell on Junction Ave to 170.9¢ at most stations, with the Mobil on Grand Ave E higher at 179.5¢. Blenheim is 169.7¢ to 171.9¢, Charing Cross is 169.5¢ to 169.7¢, Dresden is 171.7¢, Thamesville is 172.9¢ and Ridgetown is 175.9¢. Lowest around is Moraviantown First Nation at 142.8¢ to 145.5¢.

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, Charing Cross and Thamesville are 259.9¢ (one Blenheim station reports 274.9¢), Dresden is 261.9¢ and Ridgetown is 262.9¢. Moraviantown is lowest at 225.8¢ to 234.9¢.

GasBuddy Chatham · cknow.ca/gas-prices

☀️ Weather

A chilly, sunny start: 4° at 8 AM, with fog patches dissipating in the morning. It's 9° by 10 AM, 13° at noon, 16° at 3 PM and a high of 17° around 4 to 5 PM. The UV index is 4, which is moderate. The evening is clear, with 14° at 7 PM, 11° at 9 PM and 7° at midnight. Fog patches may develop overnight, with a low of 5°.

cknow.ca/weather

🌊 Major Story — Chatham's Thames Riverfront Gets a Finished New Look

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has unveiled the completed Thames River Slope Stabilization Project. The work covers the stretch of the river between the Third Street and Fifth Street bridges, where years of erosion and aging infrastructure had raised concerns about the bank's long-term stability. Construction began in summer 2025.

Crews replaced the old retaining wall with a new one about half a metre taller, which should offer more protection when water levels are high. They also improved stormwater infrastructure, regraded the bank to a flatter slope, and reinforced it with quarried rock and native plants. The project added a new accessible pathway along the waterfront.

The articles don't give a total cost. Council backed the investment, and about 40 per cent of the funding came from the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. Mayor Darrin Canniff spoke at Monday's unveiling. Read more at CK News Today →

🚨 Major Story — Three Charged After Drug and Firearm Seizure in Tilbury

Three people are facing charges after a drug trafficking investigation in Tilbury. OPP say officers from the Lambton County and Essex County community street crime units, along with specialty teams, executed a search warrant at a Tilbury home on Oct. 15.

Police say they seized suspected cocaine, a firearm, cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia. All three people are charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. OPP allege a 25-year-old from York also faces nine firearm-related charges, including possession of a loaded prohibited firearm and careless storage of a firearm. That person remains in custody; the other two were released and have future court dates. The charges have not been proven in court. Read more at CK News Today →

🚌 Major Story — School Bus Safety Week Is on Until Friday

Chatham-Kent Lambton Administrative School Services (CLASS) is marking National School Bus Safety Week, which runs Oct. 19 to 23, according to the Sydenham Current. The consortium is encouraging parents, students, school staff and drivers to think about bus safety.

CLASS provides daily bus transportation to more than 17,000 students of the Lambton Kent and St. Clair Catholic district school boards across Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent. The week also includes Driver Appreciation Day, a nod to the people who handle those routes in every kind of weather. Motorists are reminded to watch for buses and children, especially at stops. Read more at the Sydenham Current →

📰 Today's Quick Stories

🚔 Two Tilbury men charged after assault. Police say a man was hurt around 7:30 PM Monday on Canal Street East in Tilbury. He told police he was struck in the head with what he believed was a baseball bat, then tackled and assaulted, and he was taken to hospital with injuries to his head, shoulder and hand. Two men, aged 57 and 32, are charged with assault causing bodily harm, and the 57-year-old also faces an assault with a weapon charge. Both were released with a future court date. CK News Today

🔎 Police still looking for a second credit card fraud suspect. Police say a wallet was stolen from a vehicle in a driveway on Thelma Street in Chatham on Friday morning, and the card was then used several times at local businesses. Video from those businesses helped officers identify two suspects. A 41-year-old Chatham man was arrested later that day and is charged with credit card theft, possession and unauthorized use, fraud under $5,000 and possession of a controlled substance; police say suspected fentanyl was seized for testing. A Chatham woman faces the same card and fraud charges and police say she is still outstanding. The charges have not been proven in court. CK News Today

🚓 Police blotter, Monday's release. Police logged 305 calls for service on Oct. 19, with 39 reportable calls and 4 arrests. A 26-year-old Chatham man was arrested Tuesday and charged with four counts of failing to comply with a release order after police say he tried to contact a person he was barred from contacting on Oct. 17 and 18; he was held for a bail hearing. The Canal Street East assault in Tilbury (above) is in the same release. CK Police

🚓 Police blotter, weekend release. Between Oct. 16 and 18 police report 251, 209 and 258 calls for service each day. Other incidents include a 39-year-old Chatham man charged with theft after cash was allegedly taken from a King Street West business counter, a 27-year-old Chatham man charged with impaired driving and speeding (77 km/h in a 50 zone) on Keil Drive North, and a 35-year-old Wallaceburg man charged with theft under $5,000 after an alleged shoplifting on McNaughton Avenue. All charges are allegations. CK Police

🎶 Organ concert marks a church's 100th year. The Chatham Centre of Organ Canada is helping First Christian Reformed Church celebrate its centennial with the "Pipe Organ Plus One" concert on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 PM at 25 Tweedsmuir Ave. E. in Chatham. Sydenham Current

🎺 Brass concert coming to Wallaceburg. The Wallaceburg Brass Quintet and Friends present "An Enchanted November Evening" on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 7 PM at Trinity United Church, 750 Wellington St. More than 50 musicians from Southwestern Ontario in eleven groups will play holiday favourites, and donations will be accepted. Sydenham Current

🎭 Old Czech Hall show cancelled. Organizers say a show at the Old Czech Hall will no longer go ahead, and anyone who bought tickets will be refunded. 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 →

🎃 Halloween Bash at the Barn — Blenheim. Head to Red Barn Brewing on October 23 for a Halloween fundraiser supporting the Children's Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent. Live music, costumes and more. Event details →

🐴 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:

Chef, Links of Kent Golf Club. $70,000 to $85,000 a year. Details →

Restaurant manager, Satellite Restaurant. $20 to $24 an hour. Details →

Visiting nurse, VON Canada. $29.41 to $41.34 an hour; two more VON visiting nurse postings list $26.29 to $29.35. Details →

Draftsperson, Franklin Terrazzo Company. $20 to $28 an hour. Details →

Farm and produce work, Pain Court. Kejay Farms is hiring a general farm labourer and Nature's Finest Produce a fruit and vegetable grader, both at $17.95 an hour. Farm labourer · Grader

Part-time bartender, Wallaceburg Moose Lodge 1156. Smart Serve required, weekends. Drop your resume at 110 Duke Street.

More openings. This week's roundup lists postings from TD Bank, Fairfield Park and Five Star Tool and Die. Details →

🎉 Coming Up

Today, Wed., Oct. 21 — Municipal Tax Sale tender opening, 3 PM, Civic Centre Council Chambers (in person only). Free Movie Night: The Librarians, 7 PM, Capitol Theatre (free).

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

Thu., Oct. 22 — Book Bedazzling, 6 PM, Tilbury library branch. Seafood & Oyster Night, Glasstown, Wallaceburg (dinner 5 PM, oysters 6 PM; reservations recommended).

Fri., Oct. 23 — Bash at the Barn Halloween Bash, 7 PM, Red Barn Brewing, Blenheim ($50). Eye 4 Art opening reception, 7 PM, Thames Art Gallery (free). Haunted Museum, 7 PM, Wallaceburg & District Museum. "Pipe Organ Plus One" concert, 7:30 PM, First Christian Reformed Church, Chatham. Parabolus: Complete TOOL Experience, 8 PM, Kiwanis Theatre ($51.35). Tom Arnold: My Crazy X-Wife, 8 PM, Capitol Theatre ($55-$70).

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). Battle for Recovery, Walpole Island, 770 Tecumseh Rd. (community lunch at noon). First Baptist Church free community meal (moved to this date). Wallaceburg Haunted Museum, 7 PM ($5). 80's Gone Wild: A Tribute to Hair Bands, 7 PM, Kiwanis Theatre ($38.50). Forever Seger, 7:30 PM, Capitol Theatre ($49.72). Sun., Oct. 25 — Capes & Crowns CK, 11 AM, Everest Convention Centre. A Taste of Ireland, 6 PM, Capitol Theatre.

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 — 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 — 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 →