Good morning, Chatham-Kent. Council is pushing ahead on two big civic investments this week — a new ball diamond complex in Blenheim and steady progress on the downtown Community Hub — while a CK delegation is in Ottawa fighting for housing protections. Here's your Tuesday. 👇
⛽ Gas & ☀️ Weather
Gas: Regular is sitting around 152.9¢/L today and forecast to rise a few cents tomorrow — worth filling up today if you can. Check today's cheapest stations on GasBuddy →
Weather: A genuinely nice one today — sunny with a high near 26–28°, feeling comfortable with light winds. Morning starts around 17–20°, climbing through the afternoon before easing into the evening. Overnight clouds build with a 60% chance of showers developing toward Wednesday morning. Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.
🏛️ Major Story — CK Delegation Lobbies Ottawa on Housing as Renoviction Fight Continues
Mayor Darrin Canniff and six councillors are in Ottawa this week for the AMO conference, pushing housing, renoviction protections, and infrastructure funding as top priorities. The trip comes as council doubles down locally — on August 10 it approved a motion from Councillor Melissa Harrigan directing administration to advocate provincially against the loss of multi-bedroom rental housing.
That builds on CK's new Rental Renovation Licensing By-law, aimed at stopping landlords from using N13 eviction notices to clear tenants under the guise of renovations, then re-renting at higher prices. The issue became especially visible after all 40 residents of Chatham's Terrace Forty Apartments — some in their 90s — received N13 notices earlier this year. "Chatham-Kent Council has made housing a priority, and that means looking at both sides of the equation by building more housing while also protecting the housing we already have," Canniff said.
Housing affordability is one of the most pressing issues facing CK families right now — and this election will show who's serious about it. With a record field of candidates running this fall, housing policy is likely to be one of the defining issues voters weigh before heading to the polls.
With CK council pushing housing protections at the provincial level and cracking down on renovictions locally, where do you land?
📰 Today's Quick Stories
🎨 ARTspace reopens to the public Wednesday, August 19. Chatham-Kent Arts & Culture announced ARTspace (165 King St. W, Chatham) will welcome visitors back this week, following a collaborative effort between municipal teams and the building's landlord to prepare the space. ARTspace gives local and regional artists a venue to showcase their work and connects residents with arts and culture in the community. Members will receive additional details directly from Arts & Culture, with updates also shared on municipal social media.
⚾ Council approves land for $16.7M Blenheim ball diamond complex. Council voted unanimously (17-0) to purchase roughly 32 acres in Blenheim for a future four-diamond, tournament-style ball complex plus a new PUC reservoir. The land is funded through Hydro One and PUC reserves, not tax dollars. Read on Sydenham Current →
🦞 Rare 1-in-30-million orange lobster found at Chatham Superstore. A striking orange lobster nicknamed "Pumpkin" turned up in the seafood department at the Real Canadian Superstore in Chatham — roughly 15 times rarer than the more commonly known blue lobster. A fun local talker this week. Read on CK News Today →
🏗️ Community Hub now 22% complete, on budget. Council's quarterly update confirms the downtown Chatham Community Hub — combining the Civic Centre, library branch, and CK Museum — is tracking on schedule. The revised construction contract sits at $38,592,618.37, slightly under the original estimate. Completion is expected in early 2028.
🚴 Local cyclist riding 1,200km for CK Hospice. Jeff Thibert is cycling 1,200 kilometres in 90 hours to raise money for Chatham-Kent Hospice, continuing the "Kilometres for Care" fundraiser he runs alongside Brad McAuliffe of VanHoof Siding. A serious effort for a great cause.
🚨 Six charged after violent Chatham home invasion. CK Police laid numerous charges against three adults and three young offenders following an August 10 incident where a group forced entry into a home, assaulted occupants, and stole property.
🗑️ York1 Dresden landfill — public comment window narrowing. York1 has applied to scale back its proposed Dresden facility, but council remains unanimously opposed and has retained an independent expert to review the application. Residents have 15 days from receiving York1's notice to submit comments directly to the province.
⚾ Barnstormers on the road tonight vs. Guelph Royals — 7:05pm. Chatham-Kent heads to Guelph looking to build on momentum as the regular season winds down. First pitch is 7:05pm.
🏒 Chatham Maroons pre-season underway. The Maroons held main camp this weekend at Thames Campus Arena, including a public intra-squad game. Pre-season continues on August 24, with the regular season opening on the road September 13.
🏆 Ontario invests $800,000 in accessible youth sport. The province's Inclusive Grassroots Recreation program is putting $800,000 toward accessible sport and recreation for nearly 6,000 kids and youth, including funding for Jays Care Foundation and KidSport Ontario.
🗓️ Today in Chatham-Kent
💼 Concentrix Job Fair — 2–6pm, 180 Keil Drive South, Chatham. On-site hiring for Automotive Customer Support Specialist roles, with a Hyundai training class starting August 31. Bring a resume, photo ID, and proof of SIN.
📅 Coming up this week: BIZconneCKt networking event Wednesday at the Capitol Theatre · Handmade Crafts & Vendor Fair Friday in Historic Downtown Chatham · CK Pride Fest Saturday at 48 Centre Street.
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