Friday Briefing
Friday Briefing — October 30, 2026
Mayor-elect Bondy sits down for his first interview, CK's charity season closes out $340,000 richer, and your full guide to Halloween weekend.
By CKNow7 min read
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Good morning, Chatham-Kent, and happy Friday. It's been a big week — a new mayor-elect sat down for a interview, and three different charity events combined to raise more than $340,000 for local causes. Halloween weekend is also shaping up to be a busy one, so we've got your full guide below, along with a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 15 to get you through today.
📣 CK Spotlight
10 Van Allen Avenue, Unit 903, Chatham
Courtesy of Bridget Blonde, REALTOR®, Nest Realty Inc. Brokerage
Bridget Blonde has a new condo listing in Chatham for anyone who wants river views without the yard work. This 9th-floor, two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit looks out over the Thames, with a gas fireplace in the living area, a dining room, in-suite laundry and a large balcony reached through two patio doors. The second bedroom works as a guest room with a built-in desk and a Murphy bed, and the Murphy bed is included.
Here's the part worth knowing: the building has a secure entrance and an elevator, the unit comes with one assigned garage parking spot, and there's shared storage plus a shared patio with a gas BBQ and a party room. Downtown, groceries, pharmacies and a bus stop are close by. The $510 monthly condo fee covers exterior maintenance, parking, water and storage.
⛽ Gas Prices
Regular: Prices eased a little this week — most Chatham-area stations are sitting between 160¢ and 167¢ a litre, with a few outliers as high as 179.5¢ at the Mobil on Grand Ave E. Moraviantown First Nation remains the cheapest fill-up in the region, with Moravian Corner Store on Selton Line at 139.9¢.
Diesel: Outside of Moraviantown, diesel is mostly sitting around 259.9¢ across Chatham, topping out at 269.9¢ at the Petro-Canada on Grand Ave W and 287.3¢ at the Mobil on Grand Ave E. Peters Petro in Moraviantown has the best diesel price in the area at 219.7¢.
☀️ Weather
A mix of sun and cloud today with a high of 15°. Winds out of the northwest at 20 km/h easing by this afternoon, and a UV index of 3 (moderate). Clear tonight with fog patches developing and a low of 3°.
🎙️ What the New Mayor Told Us: Bondy's First Sit-Down Interview
Mayor-elect Michael Bondy sat down this week for his first in-depth interview since winning the election, speaking with CK News Today's Georgia Newman for episode 19 of the outlet's "Beyond the Headlines" podcast series. He described election night as more anxious than he expected after six months of campaigning, watching results come in from a backyard gathering of 30 to 40 people — including several council candidates — and refusing to celebrate until all 32 polls had reported. By his own account, he didn't think he'd win going into the day, and was surprised by the size of his margin once the votes were counted.
He was happy to see turnout climb to just over 40%, up roughly 10 points from the last election, calling it a sign people wanted change — though he said he wished it were higher. Bondy was candid that the campaign got ugly, telling Newman “social media is just an evil thing if it wants to be,” pointing to a lot of anonymous and untrue claims circulating during the race. He doubts it changed many votes, but worries it leaves a lasting impression on the people who do believe it.
Looking ahead to the new term, Bondy named three priorities: holding the line on property taxes by finding efficiencies in the municipal budget; addressing homelessness and street-level drug use, which he says the municipality isn't handling well and plans to approach with what he called “a little tough love”; and rebuilding public trust, pointing to projects like the biosolids hub and digester as examples of decisions made without enough public input. His message to the people who elected him: “Be patient, please… I'll do my best, and I will listen to people.”
You can listen to the interview here - CK News Today
💙 CK's Charity Season Closes Out $340,000 Richer
It's been a remarkable week for local giving. The Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation's 10th-anniversary gala raised $221,962 for end-of-life care, complete with gourmet dining, an auction and a family's personal account of their time with the hospice. Days earlier, the Shake the Lake Charity Fun Run brought in $111,000 for six local charities, with a pledge toward the new hospital being developed for the municipality.
Then, to round out the week, the fifth annual BrewFest CK raised more than $7,000 for four more local charitable organizations. Add it up, and Chatham-Kent's charity circuit raised somewhere north of $340,000 in a single week — a good reminder of what this community turns out for.
📰 This Week's Quick Stories
🎃 Police want you safe and seen this Halloween. Chatham-Kent Police are reminding trick-or-treaters and drivers alike to plan for visibility and safety on the big night. CK News Today
⚖️ Five-day arson trial set for next fall. A Blenheim woman accused of arson is scheduled for a five-day trial in Chatham court next fall. The charges have not been proven in court. CK News Today
🚗 Wheels of Hope needs volunteer drivers in Wallaceburg. The Canadian Cancer Society is looking for volunteers to drive local residents to cancer treatment appointments — as little as two or three weekdays a month, with mileage reimbursed. Sydenham Current
🧽 Small business spotlight: Sho Time Detailing. After completing training through the Chatham-Kent Business Centre, Neetahwis Shognosh-Diaz is growing his fully mobile detailing business, taking on everything from sedans to fleet vehicles. Sydenham Current
📚 Catholic school enrolment climbs again. Local Catholic schools have posted another year-over-year increase in student enrolment. CK News Today
📆 This Week, In Case You Missed It
🏒 Maroons name Brett Hope head coach. The Chatham Maroons have a new bench boss heading into the rest of the season. CK News Today
🥌 Chatham curling club scores $100K-plus grant. The club is putting the money toward new curling stones. CK News Today
🌳 270 trees, four Wallaceburg parks, one morning. Volunteers and students planted the trees across Thompson, MacDonald, Optimist and Dauw parks last Friday. Sydenham Current
📦 A week in a storage unit raises $13,000 for charity. A local YouTuber who spent seven straight days living inside a portable storage unit blew past the fundraising goal for the stunt. CK News Today
👋 Three familiar faces leave the council table. Three outgoing councillors who weren't re-elected said their goodbyes as the current term winds down. CK News Today
🎃 Your Halloween Weekend Guide
Fri., Oct. 30 — Escape the Milner House: Shadows After Sunset, 5 PM, Milner Heritage House ($75).
Sat., Oct. 31 — Halloween — Escape the Milner House, 10 AM ($75). The Garage Gallery, 10 AM, Blenheim (free). Wallaceburg Boo Bash, 10 AM, James St., with Nightmare on Nelson Street opening to trick-or-treaters at 5 PM. Golden Pumpkin Event, 4 PM (free).
Sun., Nov. 1 — Wallaceburg Moose Lodge BBQ & Dabber Bingo, doors noon, bingo 1 PM, 110 Duke St. ($20 for a 3-strip book).
Tue., Nov. 3 — Blood donor clinic, 1 to 7 PM, UAW Local 251, Wallaceburg. Chatham-Kent Education and Training Fair, with a women in trades panel, 3 to 7 PM, John D. Bradley Convention Centre, 565 Richmond St., Chatham.
Every night — Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo, 1416 Dufferin Ave. Doors open at 5 PM, bingo starts at 7 PM.
If you're out trick-or-treating or driving Saturday night, be safe and be seen — see the police reminder above. See the full lineup at cknow.ca/events →
Looking ahead — a few more to pencil in for next week: K-Pop Dreamworld, Thu., Nov. 5, 6:30 to 8:30 PM, Chatham Capitol Theatre ($55–$70). CK International Film Festival, Fri., Nov. 6, 7 to 10 PM, Kiwanis Theatre ($12–$45). Theatre Kent presents Come From Away, Thu., Nov. 12, 7:30 to 9:30 PM, Chatham Capitol Theatre ($28.60–$46.20).
📌 Community Bulletin
Post yours free at cknow.ca/bulletin
🎟️ Annual Penny Sale — St. Joseph's (City) C.W.L. Monday, Nov. 16 at the Spirit and Life Centre, 184 Wellington St. W., Chatham. Doors open at 6 PM, the sale starts at 7 PM. Penny prizes, a 50/50 draw, a bake table and refreshments. Fun for the whole family.
🦃 Turkey Raffle — St. Joseph's (Harwich) C.W.L. and St. Joseph's K of C Council 10436. Friday, Nov. 20 at the Spirit and Life Centre, 184 Wellington St. W., Chatham. Doors open at 6:30 PM, draws start at 7 PM. $10 a person gets you turkey bucks for a chance at a turkey, ham or liquor packages, plus a 50/50 draw, pizza, popcorn and fixins, and a cash bar. Cash only, advance tickets required at 519-358-6705.
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