CKNow Daily
What's Happening in Chatham-Kent Today — Thursday, October 15
A Public Health overdose alert, the 2026 Cultural Hall of Fame inductees, and rain on the way tonight
By CKNow··5 min read
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Morning, CK. It's a cool, cloudy start at 8°, with showers by mid-afternoon and steady rain tonight. Plus an important health alert below. Here's your Thursday rundown.
⛽ Gas Prices
Regular: Chatham stations run from 171.7¢/L at the Mobil on Richmond St to 174.9¢, with most between 172.3¢ and 174.5¢. The Esso on Queen St is 176.6¢ and the Mobil on Grand Ave E is 179.5¢. Blenheim runs 173.9¢ to 174.9¢, Charing Cross is 173.5¢, Thamesville is 174.9¢, Dresden ranges from 174.4¢ to 180.9¢, and Ridgetown is 179.9¢. Lowest around is Moraviantown First Nation at 146.8¢ to 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 one Mobil on Grand Ave E reporting 287.3¢. Blenheim is 259.9¢, with one Esso at 274.9¢. Dresden is 259.9¢ to 264.8¢. Moraviantown is lowest at 233.9¢ to 236.9¢.
☀️ Weather
Cloudy and cool this morning: 8° at 8 AM, 12° by 10 AM and 15° at noon, with a 10% chance of precipitation. Highs of 17° arrive around 2 PM, but a 40% chance of showers moves in from 3 to 5 PM. Periods of rain are likely from 6 PM (80% chance), holding at 16° through the evening with a risk of thunderstorms at 10 and 11 PM.
🚨 Major Story — Public Health Warns of a Spike in Overdoses
Chatham-Kent Public Health has issued an alert about a rise in drug overdoses and unexpected reactions to substances in the community. CK EMS responded to 13 suspected opioid overdose calls between Friday and Tuesday, more than the usual rate. Windsor-Essex has issued two drug poisoning alerts in the past two weeks, and Public Health says Chatham-Kent has historically seen more suspected poisonings in the weeks after similar alerts in nearby areas.
🎨 Major Story — Cultural Hall of Fame Names 2026 Inductees
Chatham-Kent Arts and Culture (CKAC) has announced six inductees for the 2026 Cultural Hall of Fame: Brent Foster (visual arts), Ron Sparks (performing arts), James Snyder (cultural builder), Yejide Kilanko (literary arts), Kevin McMillan (music) and Joseph W. Storey (legacy inductee).
Five of the six are from Chatham and one is from Wallaceburg. It's the fifth year of the Hall of Fame, which brings the total to 60 inductees. The induction ceremony is Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6 PM at the Chatham Cultural Centre, with free admission (donations welcome) and a silent auction of local artwork.
📰 Today's Quick Stories
🚓 Police seek help after Chatham assault. Police are asking for the public's help after a 31-year-old man was injured in an assault around 4 PM Monday, Oct. 12, near Grand Avenue East and Taylor Avenue. Anyone with information is asked to contact police. Sydenham Current
🎂 Burns Restaurant turns 20. The Dresden restaurant at 296 St. George St. marks 20 years under its current ownership today, Oct. 15, with customer appreciation promotions and giveaways. Sydenham Current
🎪 Together CK Grant info session is tonight. It runs 6 to 8 PM in person at the Capitol Theatre Rotary Lounge. Applications for 2027 events and projects close Oct. 31. CK News Today
🎩 HELLARIOUS comes to Chatham. The Halloween-themed show of illusions and comedy stars illusionist Aaron Matthews, on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 8 PM at the Kiwanis Theatre, 75 William St. N. Sydenham Current
🌱 Wallaceburg students transform school gardens. Horticulture students at Wallaceburg District Secondary School prepped the site, laid garden stone, added soil and mulch, and planted perennials donated by Canadian Tire Wallaceburg. Sydenham Current
⚽ Kids' sports still open in Wallaceburg. Registration is still open for ages 3 to 8 in basketball, soccer, volleyball and more. Sign up online, by phone at 519-360-1998, or in person at your local municipal centre. Sydenham Current
🏒 Frank Dymock Classic needs one more team. Wallaceburg Minor Hockey is looking for one more U13 team (Four Counties or local league) for the annual tournament, Oct. 23 to 25. Sydenham Current
🚓 Impaired driving charge in Wallaceburg. Police allege a 48-year-old Wallaceburg man was arrested after a traffic stop on McNaughton Avenue at about 10:43 PM Tuesday and has been charged with impaired driving. Sydenham Current
🗳️ Reminder: advance polls open today. They run Oct. 15 to 17 (hours differ each day). Online voting closes tomorrow, Friday, at 4 PM; you'll need the Voting PIN mailed to you and your date of birth. Election Day is Monday, Oct. 26.
🗳️ 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 →
💼 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
🎉 Coming Up
Today, Thu., Oct. 15 — Advance polls open (through Oct. 17). Together CK Grant information session, 6 to 8 PM, Capitol Theatre Rotary Lounge. Nothing else listed on our events page.
Every night — Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo, 1416 Dufferin Ave. Doors open at 5 PM, bingo starts at 7 PM.
Fri., Oct. 16 — Online voting closes at 4 PM. Wallaceburg Haunted Museum, 7 PM ($5). The Comic Strippers, 7:30 PM, Capitol Theatre.
Sat., Oct. 17 — CK Animal Rescue Dog Coat and Sweater Sale, 9 AM, Active Lifestyles Centre. The Garage Gallery, 10 AM, Blenheim. Kid's Club: Trick-or-Treat, 11 AM, Dresden library branch. DIY Lip Balm, 1 PM, Chatham library branch. Neil Diamond Tribute Show, 7:30 PM, Capitol Theatre. Hellarious, 8 PM, Kiwanis Theatre.
Thu., Oct. 22 — Cultural Hall of Fame induction and silent auction, 6 PM, Chatham Cultural Centre (free). Fri., Oct. 23 — Eye 4 Art 2026 opening reception, 7 PM, Thames Art Gallery. Tom Arnold: My Crazy X-Wife, 8 PM, Capitol Theatre ($55-$70).
Sun., Oct. 25 — Tom Waits Appreciation Congregation, Old Czech Hall, 116 John St. E, Dresden. Details →
See the full lineup at cknow.ca/events →