Angelo Tourlas, DD
Homeless camp can stay…for now
By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com
For the short term, the Grand Avenue East homeless encampment is staying put. But it may be moving on after Aug. 11, as council will examine municipally owned properties where encampments are legal. Administration is tasked with preparing a report looking at locations and setbacks away from private homes in 25-, 50- and
100-metre increments. The decision came at the tail end of a four-hour meeting that saw a packed council chambers filled with about 80 people in the meeting and dozens in the civic centre’s overflow area. That’s on top of more than 500 people who watched online. Council ended up approving an amended motion put forward by Mayor Darrin Canniff. Each point was voted on separately, with most passing unanimously 17-0 (one councillor was
absent). However, a recommendation to allow Chatham-Kent police to put CCTV cameras in at the “sole direction” of police was narrowly approved in a 9 to 8 vote.
In a move prompted by lengthy discussion, Canniff’s recommendation to change the existing encampment protocol from 10 metres to 100 metres was deferred following an amendment from Chatham Coun. Alysson Storey. She said she also asked for the deferment in the name of transparency, noting she was among the people blindsided when the encampment migrated to the PUC green space
in July. Storey asked that the community be better informed going forward “to makes sure we don’t repeat what just happened.”
A total of 28 deputations were presented to council. Sixteen of those were made in person, 11 were emailed and one came via Zoom. It was close to an even split between those advocating for the encampment to remain at the PUC property and those who say it needs to move on.
However, deputations opposing the Grand Avenue location generated more applause from the audience than those in favour.
An expected motion from
Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy didn’t materialize, as Bondy said there wasn’t enough time. According to administration, a 100-metre setback would be very restrictive, with only the Thames Grove Conservation Area and O’Neill Nature Preserve (Paxton’s Bush) able to meet the criteria.
The encampment has been a hot topic this summer. In July, people moved their tents from Rotary Park on Thames Street to the green space at the Chatham water treatment plant. It’s led to extensive backlash from homeowners, youth sports groups and businesses in the neighbourhood.
Homelessness facts
The Chatham Voice
• There are currently 80,000 homeless people in Ontario.
• As of July 28, there were 242 known homeless people in Chatham-Kent.
• Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Chatham-Kent has gone up 82 per cent since 2018, with asking rent at $1,700 a month.
• Every month an estimated 33 people fall into homelessness in C-K, but only 19 exit.
• There were 39 stayers in the Victoria Park Place shelter overnight July 28, with 44 beds available.
• There are currently 10 homeless encamp-
ments in Chatham-Kent.
• Chatham-Kent has a number of housing projects in the pipeline, including supportive housing and deeply affordable housing.
• Chatham-Kent communications manager Eric Labadie said a Let’s Talk CK page will be dedicated to addressing concerns around the Grand Avenue East encampment.
• As of July 28, Chatham-Kent police had responded to 143 calls at the Grand Avenue encampment, with 72 of those being reactive. Nine arrests have been made.
• Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission general manager Darren Galbraith said security has been stepped up around the water treatment plant in order to prevent any threat to the water supply.
• In 2024, Hope Haven had 30,000 visits to its Chatham facility.
• An 1,840-signature petition asking Chatham-Kent to relocate the Grand Avenue East encampment to better access services for the homeless was received by council July 28.
Public speaks out on homeless encampment
By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative
pamwrightlji@gmail.com
Residents living near the homeless encampment on Grand Avenue East are worried.
Their concerns, prompted by the recent relocation of the downtown Chatham encampment to the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission green space, led to a slew of deputations at the July 28 council meeting.
Many were calling for a better solution.
But a quick fix isn’t in the cards. Council has tasked staff with exploring other municipal properties where an encampment could be located, with a report to come back to council Aug. 11.
Several of the deputations detailed problems that have arisen since the encampment moved in early July.
Amanda Leidl whose family has lived on the edge of the PUC property for 17 years, was emotional as she described a scary encounter.
According to Leidl, her husband discovered an unconscious male lying face down beside the public walking path July 16. She said she was conflicted about who to call as police had asked the public not to call 911 with encampment complaints. However, she was connected to a dispatcher who talked her through what to do.
“I felt so guilty,” Leidl said. “I was afraid to approach the individual due to his location and potential circumstances. I was unsure of what I was doing was right.”
Police arrived to deal with the matter, Leidl said, but that wasn’t the end of it. The next day someone deposited
a pile of human excrement at the home’s back gate.
She said her family no longer feels safe.
“My heart hurts because our children can no longer go out in their yard,” the woman told council, adding the couple has contacted realtors to discuss their options.
Tyler McKaig, representing the Scrub Hub Dog Wash & Car Wash, Beez Kneez Ice Cream, Chatham youth beach volleyball and Chatham youth soccer, spoke about the negative impacts of the tent village.
According to McKaig, coin machines at Scrub Hub, which is located across the street from the encampment, have been targeted repeatedly since the tents moved in.
“In the last two weeks we have seen a massive increase in attempted break-ins,
vandalism and harassment,” he told council, noting many calls have been made to police.
McKaig said he’s personally confronted people who were attempting to break into the machines and mechanical room right while he was standing there.
“These aren’t customers. This is private property and we no longer feel safe on it,” he said. “We’ve literally had an issue every single day since the tents started moving over there.”
He said he’s considering shutting down the ice cream business this summer.
Continued on page 5
September 4, 2025
“ALL THINGS TRAVEL”
Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice
Scott Roose delivers a deputation to council at a special meeting called July 28 to address homeless encampments.
Citizens concerned over crime, public safety
Continued from page 3
McKaig said if the municipality doesn’t fix the problem quickly, it sends the wrong message to young families and those who want to invest in C-K.
Claire McDowell, another resident living near the encampment, said she approved of the ideas put forward by Mayor Darrin Canniff as they have been successful in other jurisdictions.
McDowell said she has witnessed people coming to heckle the unhoused and would like to see a buffer zone created between the public and the tents.
According to McDowell, there’s been a “constant stream” of traffic past the encampment with “gawkers” driving by taking photos and videos of the homeless and sometimes yelling obscenities.
On the flip side, deputations from advocates of the homeless and mentally ill pointed out people don’t choose to live in tents out in the elements.
Reach Out
Chatham-Kent (R.O.C.K.) Missions executive director Renee Geniole said she understands people are angry.
“We hear you. We are angry too. We are angry that more and more people in our community are forced to live without the basic human right of safe, stable housing.”
Geniole said the community should be angry
at systems that keep people down and “stuck on the margins of society.”
She stressed that directing anger at the people in the encampments is “misplaced and harmful to us all.
“Sleeping rough is not a choice, it’s the only option left,” Geniole stressed, noting decisions about the homeless need to be based on truth, not “rage bait videos.”
Moving the homeless on without providing solutions ends up costing everyone, she said, noting encampment stayers are more likely to be victims of violence, rather than causing violence.
“Not all behaviour that makes us uncomfortable is unsafe,” Geniole
said, stressing the fact encampments put addiction, mental health and poverty issues on display.
“To enact the change we are all seeking, we must ask ourselves if someone poses a genuine threat or if it’s just discomfort, we are feeling,” she said, noting the solutions rest on investments in supportive housing, mental health care, trauma-informed outreach and upstream prevention.
“Remember, people living in encampments are not them – they’re us,” she said. “And they are worth the effort.”
Hope Haven general manager Loree Bailey expressed similar concerns, but admitted she doesn’t
know the answer to the problem.
“How do we help people when we have nowhere to send them?” she asked.
When speaking about managing the encampment, Chatham-Kent Police Service Chief Kirk Earley stressed police are a “partner
agency” working in tandem with municipal housing services and organizations such as R.O.C.K. Missions.
“This is not something we can arrest our way out of,” Earley told council, adding that for the most part, encampment dwellers adhere to the rules.
But there are “outliers,” he added, and arrests are made when necessary. The consistent lack of funding from the provincial and federal governments to support housing and homelessness initiatives was also raised by South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci.
from
2018 was a busy year for us, as we were “engaged” in September and married in October. At that time, I became step-dad to my two eldest boys, Hunter and Keaton, and we were later blessed with the two younger boys, Archer and Cohen. For those of you who do not know Amanda, she is a perfectionist and the hardest worker I know. She had ‘almost’ straight A’s throughout most of her academic career, graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Accounting Co-op degree from Brock University.
Amanda had been working two jobs that she loved before she gave them up to come work with me at the funeral home – a sacrifice I will always appreciate. She is an amazing mother to our four boys. She spends as much time as she can with them during the day, working on the books late into the night and early morning. When she gets a free moment, Amanda is either painting a room, moving stone in the garden, or planning the next family trip.
One privilege of running a family business is having the opportunity to share your career and your passion with the person you cherish most. We brainstorm, strategize, and execute plans for the business every day, and together with our team we have had the honour of serving thousands of families across Chatham-Kent and beyond.
I cannot imagine my life without Amanda in it. She is the most loyal, ethical and capable person I know.
So, this year we celebrate:
· Seven years in business · Seven years of marriage · Seven years of devotion
In funeral service, we have a very unique perspective on what matters most. We learn to cherish every moment and not to take any of our time on Earth for granted. So, this week, during this milestone, I wanted to take the time to acknowledge what matters most in the world to me. I love you, Amanda.
Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice
The tent encampment taking shape on the Chatham water treatment plant green space has sparked pushback from people and businesses in the neighbourhood.
Opinion
Self-help time
Homelessness, wind turbines, landfills, oh my.
These items are at the forefront of the minds of many a Chatham-Kent resident these days.
The homeless encampment on Grand Avenue East has led to public outcry, and council will reconsider municipal options Aug. 11.
A wind turbine farm could be coming to parts of East and South Kent in the future if Capstone Infrastructure deems it worthwhile.
And the Ford government has all but paved the way for York1 to develop a landfill and recycling centre just outside of Dresden.
These are legitimate concerns for area citizens.
Despite these issues, we have to admit Chatham-Kent remains a great place to live. We must at times take a step back and remember the positives.
We’re not saying ignore what is transpiring, but we encourage people to try to avoid developing tunnel vision on matters.
Step away, recharge and reapproach your issues of concern.
Summer in C-K leaves one with a plethora of local getaway options. Weekends are jammed with a multitude of activities and go-to destinations.
Take advantage and avoid developing mental health issues of your own.
As for the issues we are enduring,
citizens can complain (and the people of C-K are very good at doing just that), offer suggestions for improvements, or join together in protest to bring further awareness to their concerns.
Complaining about potential wind turbines is one thing. Are the concerns legitimate? Will their construction and operation foul water wells as they did in parts of North Kent? We don’t know the geology of the area, so we can’t comment.
Are they eyesores? To some, yes.
As for the homeless encampment, residents that abut the PUC property on Grand Avenue East should remain vigilant and contact the authorities when warranted.
The tiny cabins project is to be unveiled this week and it could take some of the pressure off the encampment by providing a number of the homeless a place of their own.
The proposed landfill remains a potential environmental burr in the sides of a growing group of individuals and environmentally friendly organizations. Premier Doug Ford must continue to hear about the concerns of the people on a daily basis and at the very least re-institute an environmental assessment for the property.
But, folks, take a step back, breathe, find and smell the proverbial roses, even for an afternoon. It could change your perspective and help find solutions.
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‘We invite you to open up your backyard’
Editor’s note: This is a social media post from a Park Avenue East business in Chatham in regard to the actions of a man caught on their security cameras.
He’s a perfect example of why you shouldn’t do drugs – and what businesses like ours have to deal with as a result.
This individual, clearly under the influence, caused over $10,000 in damage to our car wash facility this past weekend. Who pays for that and cleans up after him? We do. We have worked too hard to purchase, maintain and operate a car and dog wash, just to have it damaged by people like this.
He ripped off hoses, shoved garbage up his butt, stood in our garbage pail before spreading it all over, stuck his feet
inside the vending machine, bent our dog wash tub, and broke everything he could in less than 25 minutes there. He also spent the entire time inappropriately touching himself and smearing his hands on everything – to top it off, he smashed our vending machine before finally getting caught.
Maybe when you run out of funds for repairs, have your insurance dropped from too many claims, or even worse – get hurt from them, you will understand that is not the answer.
Chatham-Kent has a serious problem.
There should be zero sympathy for behavior like this.
If you’re one of those people saying, “We’ve failed them as a society,” or “They need love and compassion,” we invite you to open your backyard – let them set up camp there and see how long your sympathy lasts.
The only way to help people like this is by giving them real consequences to their actions. Our justice system is broken. Our tax dollars should be going towards real solutions. Giving them clean needles, tents, supplies and being socially tolerant of them is not working. We need to ban open air encampments completely by offering supervised housing whether they are currently using or not (hopefully coming soon).
Continued on page 7
No tents during the day: Coun. Bondy
By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com
Michael Bondy thinks the public deserves an apology from Mayor Darrin Canniff and top administrator Michael Duben.
That’s because the Chatham councillor says he was unable to bring
forward a motion at the July 28 council meeting devoted to homeless encampments. Bondy’s motion would see tents dismantled and removed in daylight hours, including their contents.
The migration of the downtown Chatham tent village to the Chatham water treatment plant on Grand Avenue East last
Tougher laws, more help needed
Continued from page 6
We also need mandatory mental health/addiction treatment if they want to stay housed; more jail space for the ones who refuse; tougher sentencing, or better yet, castle doctrine laws, so people can defend themselves and their property without fear of being the ones thrown in jail. People like this would either learn fast from real consequences – or stop draining public resources altogether.
We have hours of footage of individuals like this trespassing, vandalizing, and damaging property. We monitor our cameras constantly, but we can’t catch everything.
We’re incredibly thankful to our local police –they respond quickly and do all they legally can.
The issue isn’t enforcement – it’s the justice system that keeps letting these people back out. To the other business owners and residents dealing with this daily – we feel for you. Sadly, public exposure and humility like this is one of the few tools we have left to prevent them from coming to our property. Let’s be honest based on our current legal system: If we had caught him in the act and handled it the way he deserved… we’d be in jail. And he’d still be back out like he is now.
Our appreciation goes out to our customers for being patient while we make repairs. We are still open and thankful for your business and support.
Car, Dog and Boat Wash
month has kicked up a firestorm of opposition.
At the four-hour meeting July 28, council moved ahead with a multipronged motion brought forward by Canniff. West Kent Coun. Melissa Harrigan took over as chair for that segment of the meeting.
Bondy told The Voice he’s not asking for an
apology because his feelings are hurt. The councillor said he’s asking because the public was denied the opportunity to hear a motion that would “solve the problem.”
According to Bondy, council’s actions don’t fix the encampment issue, instead it has created more fear in other neighbourhoods. The Thames
Grove Conservation Area and Paxton’s Bush have been named as municipally owned sites where the encampment could legally move to.
Bondy said that’s “thrown gas on the fire” and he’s already fielding calls from irate people in the neighbourhoods of the two named sites.
Normally, council votes
FORM 6
SALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER
The MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT
to extend a meeting beyond the four-hour mark, if necessary, with the mayor raising the issue. “Not one time have I ever saw a councillor call for a meeting extension,” Bondy said. “It’s my understanding that extending the meetings is always on the mayor.” Council will revisit the issue Aug. 11.
Take Notice that tenders are invited for the purchase of the land(s) described below and will be received until 3:00 p.m. local time on August 21, 2025, at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent Civic Centre, located at 315 King Street West, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8. The tenders will then be opened in public on the same day as soon as possible beginning at 3:15 p.m. at the Council Chambers of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, located at 315 King Street West, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8. Tune into our Municipal Facebook page or the Chatham-Kent YouTube channel for a virtual event where the tenders will be opened live beginning as soon as possible at 3:15pm.
Description of Land(s)
All lands are in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, the following are the geographic descriptions and municipal addresses.
1. 1. ROLL #3650-320-001-01300 - LT 184 PL 141; CHATHAM-KENT
Being 125 Oak St. W., Bothwell
2. P.I.N.: 00642-0103 (LT)
According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $32,000.00.
2. Roll #3650-410-012-02900 - PT LT 24 CON 2 CHATHAM GORE AS IN 658457; DESIGNATED AS PART 2, PLAN24R9372; S/T INTEREST IN 658457; CHATHAM-KENT
Being 8409 North River Line, Chatham P.I.N.: 00592-0062 (LT)
According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $232,000.00.
5. 3. Roll #3650-420-054-03800 - LT 8 PL 595; CHATHAM-KENT
Being 123 Coverdale Street, Chatham
6. P.I.N.: 00549-0201 (LT)
According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $146,000.00.
Minimum Tender Amount
$27,256.49
$56,250.30
$20,095.78
Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit in the form of a money order, bank draft, or cheque certified by a bank or trust corporation payable to the municipality (or board) and representing at least 20 per cent of the tender amount Except as follows, the municipality makes no representation regarding the title to or any other matters relating to the land to be sold. Responsibility for ascertaining these matters rests with the potential purchasers.
This sale is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Tax Sales Rules made under that Act. The successful purchaser will be required to pay the amount tendered plus accumulated property taxes and any taxes that may be applicable such as the land tra nsfer tax and HST The lands do not include mobile homes situate on the lands. The municipality has no obligation to provide vacant possession to the successful purchaser. Purchasers must retain a lawyer to complete the purchase of any property for which their tender is accepted.
Pursuant to the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non -Canadians Act, S.C. 2022, c. 10, s 235 (the “Act”), effective January 1, 2023, it is prohibited for a non-Canadian to purchase, directly or indirectly, any residential property, as those terms are defined in the legislation. Contraventions of the Act are punishable by a fine, and offending purchasers may be ordered to sell the residential property. The municipality assumes no responsibility whatsoever for ensuring bidders/tenderers comply with the Act; and makes no repres entations regarding same. Prospective bidders/tenderers are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act and are advised to seek legal advice before participating in this sale.
A copy of the prescribed form of tender is on the Municipality of Chatham -Kent website, www.chatham-kent.ca and on the website of the Government of Ontario Central Forms Repository under the listing for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
For further information regarding this sale and a copy of the prescribed form of tender contact:
Title
Amy McLellan, Manager Revenue or Matthew Torrance, Deputy Treasurer
Address of Municipality or Board 315 King Street West, P O Box 640, Chatham, Ontario, N7M
Name of Municipality or Board
Municipality of Chatham-Kent
Peer program receives $600K boost
R.O.C.K. Missions’ Peer-2Peer Program has received a major boost.
Thanks to a $600,000 Grow Grant from the Trillium Foundation, the non-profit will be able to expand its outreach work over the next three years.
R.O.C.K.’s executive director said the money will be used to address issues associated with inequity and mental health.
“Increasing opportunities for connection and belonging are critical to our community’s collective houselessness response,
as well as addressing the increasing social divide, negative mental health and isolation,” said Renee Geniole in a media release. “Recent years have laid bare the deep inequities in our programs and structures that have long existed. R.O.C.K. is excited to continue to build on the work already being done by our team of diverse and amazing individuals, while making a significant impact in Chatham-Kent with a population who deserves as much support as everyone else.”
Chatham-Kent–Leamington MPP Trevor Jones said the
$2200 Raised! Way To Go Brenda!
Brenda, our dedicated resident at Meadow Park, has once again shown her incredible spirit by raising an outstanding $2,200 for the Chatham-Kent Alzheimer’s Society, making her our top fundraiser.
With a life devoted to service, Brenda continues to inspire those around her through her
compassion, generosity, and unwavering commitment. She plays an integral role in our long-term care home, uplifting others with her kindness and setting an example of what it means to truly make a difference.
Together with Brenda Meadow Park raised $3,500.
Trillium funding will strengthen the “important and compassionate” work carried out by R.O.C.K. Missions to assist people experiencing homelessness.
“By fostering meaningful connections, promoting dignity, and building a deeper sense of be-
longing, R.O.C.K. Missions is making a lasting difference in the lives of our most vulnerable residents,” Jones said. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact this funding will have over the next three years.”
According to the release, the money will be used to “build meaningful connections and belonging” among the unhoused
through outreach, drop-in services, peer support, community education and awareness building.
Watch for our New Home St. Angela’s Meadow Care Centre 575 McNaughton Ave. W., Chatham Coming Spring 2026
MEADOW PARK CHATHAM
The Peer-2-Peer Program was built from the ground up, officials said, to develop, expand, and support peer-led outreach and overdose response interventions in marginalized neighbourhoods in Chatham-Kent, through community-driven, collaborative, trauma and violence informed care approaches.
Much of R.O.C.K.’s approach is drawn from those with lived experience. The Peer-2-Peer program address the overdose crisis in Chatham-Kent, ensuring those impacted by homelessness and the war on people who use drugs have access to harm reduction and overdose response services.
To learn more about R.O.C.K., visitreachoutck.com online.
Families love the personal attention our residents receive. In great spirits above is Brenda (centre) with daughter Shari Lamore (left) and Physiotherapy
Assistant Alicia Gaur.
25 McFarlane Chatham
The Chatham Voice
Contributed image
From left, Jen Richmond, Peer-2-Peer co-ordinator; Jenn Schatz R.O.C.K. board member; Albert DeVogelaere, peer pathfinder; Lutz Plotzke, OTF Representative; Renee Geniole R.O.C.K. executive director; Jordynne Lindsay, education co-ordinator; and Marge Muharrem, Chatham operations co-ordinator, celebrate a funding boost to R.O.C.K. Missions’ Peer-2-Peer program from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Court awards $20K to Jubenville
Part of integrity commissioner’s decision ‘quashed’ by judicial review
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville has $20,000 in her pocket and a smile on her face following a court ruling that gave her partial vindication last week.
In mid2023, following a report by then-integrity commissioner Mary Ellen Bench over social media posts, the majority of Jubenville’s fellow municipal councillors (13-3) opted to dock her three month’s pay, the harshest penalty possible. Jubenville took the matter to court. It was heard
in May by divisional court justices Richard A. Lococco, D.L. Edwards, and Sharon Shore. And on July 28, they handed down their decision.
“At the end of the day, I’m ‘predominantly successful. I was given the costs. I would take that as a win.”
- Coun. Rhonda Jubenville
The court ruled that Bench’s decision that Jubenville had violated council’s code of conduct in a discreditable manner.
“All members of council have a duty to treat members of the public, one another, and staff in a civilized way and without abuse, bullying or intimidation, and to ensure that their work environment is free from
Rhonda Jubenville
discrimination and harassment,” the justices wrote. “The Ontario Human Rights Code applies, in addition to other federal and provincial laws.”
However, in regard to Bench’s decision that Jubenville had made improper use of influence,
the court said the decision was “unreasonable.”
As a result, “the (integrity commissioner’s) report is quashed and returned to the integrity commissioner for reconsideration of the recommendation of penalty,” according to court documents.
Because of that, council’s decision to censure Jubenville and dock her pay, which was made based on the report by Bench, was also quashed, to use the court’s terms.
Furthermore, the justices opted to award court costs to Jubenville, meaning the municipality and Bench are to pay her $20,000.
The issue began in the spring of 2023, revolving around social media posts largely relating to flying Pride flags on municipal
and a school’s property.
In a 47-page report, Bench said she had received “many complaints” about social media posts and related behaviour, stating Jubenville had used “her influence as a public official” to intimidate others, utilizing “bully tactics to silence her critics.”
Jubenville said she’s “fairly happy” with the decision that came down July 28.
would take that as a win.”
As for what happens next, Jubenville said the issue is in the hands of the municipality.
“The way it was written, the judicial review, leaves an opening for the integrity commissioner to submit a new report, only using Section 15 of the code of conduct,” she said.
“The integrity commissioner was ordered by the court to submit a new report with a reconsideration of her recommendation on the appropriate penalty to be applied to Coun. Jubenville.”
- C-K’s Dave Taylor
“At the end of the day, I’m ‘predominantly successful,’” she said, quoting the judicial review.
“I was given the costs. I
Dave Taylor, director of legal services for the municipality, said the integrity commissioner will submit a new report on the matter.
Continued on page 11
Partial victory for Jubenville
Continued from page 10
“The court considered the reasonableness of the report, and found that the conclusion that Coun. Jubenville breached one of the sections of the code of conduct was reasonable, but found that the conclusion of the integrity commissioner that a second section of the code of conduct was breached, was an unreasonable finding,” he said in an email to The Chatham Voice. “Since one part of the report upon which council’s decision to issue a penalty was found to be unreasonable, the court has quashed council’s decision. This means that the integrity commissioner
was ordered by the court to submit a new report with a reconsideration of her recommendation on the appropriate penalty to be applied to Coun. Jubenville. Council is then required to re-consider its decision on the appropriate penalty to apply for the breach of the code of conduct.”
For Jubenville, she’s adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
“I will react accordingly and continue to do what I do in council chambers,” she said, adding she’s hoping to put the matter behind her. “I’m hopeful this might be the beginning of the end of all this so I can continue to work with all my colleagues to
take on the issues in Chatham-Kent that are more important than this.”
Taylor said the municipality will not be saying more at this point.
“Chatham-Kent is not in a position to provide any further comments about next steps on this matter. Further legal analysis will be required by the external legal counsel that represented Chatham-Kent and the integrity commissioner in this matter,” he said. “Council and the public will be provided with further updates as this matter progresses.”
SC Consulting replaced Bench as C-K’s integrity commissioner in late November of 2023.
Child porn charges laid
A Chatham-Kent man faces child pornography charges following an extensive investigation. It began last November when the Chatham-Kent Police Service’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE), received information from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children that
a Chatham-Kent resident was sharing child sexual abuse material on the social media platform Kik Messenger.
In January, as part an ongoing investigation, members of the unit executed a search warrant at the residence of a 41-yearold Chatham-Kent man, where several electronic devices were seized during a search of the
home.
Following an analysis of the seized devices, police allege that the man was also purchasing such material through various means online.
On Tuesday, police charged the man for possession of child porn, accessing child porn and creating it (in written format).
The investigation is ongoing.
The Chatham Voice
AMO opposes landfill for Dresden
By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com
The fight against the Dresden dump expansion has gained the support of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO.)
North Kent Coun. Jamie McGrail, raised the issue with the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) where she is a
board member, and in turn the request went to AMO.
In a municipal media release, the councillor expressed her gratitude.
“I sincerely appreciate AMO for standing with Dresden and, more broadly, with rural Ontario, on this important issue,” said McGrail. “With AMO’s support, I strongly believe it is time for the provincial government to take a step back and
re-evaluate its position – considering the real and lasting impacts this decision could have on small-town and rural communities across the province. There is a better solution out there, and together we can find it.”
cations of Bill 5 and the York1 landfill project, as well as the municipality’s commitment to environmental protection and community well-being.
Rhonda Jubenville, North Kent’s other councillor, expressed her support for McGrail’s actions.
SENIORS LIVING SENIORS LIVING SENIORS LIVING
AMO recently sent a letter to the province, urging a more balanced and responsible approach to environmental approvals – particularly those affecting waste disposal infrastructure. AMO’s letter raises significant concerns about the precedent set by Bill 5, which removes the requirement for a comprehensive environmental assessment (EA) for the Dresden project, despite the site’s proximity to residential areas, agricultural land and sensitive natural habitats.
As a member of AMO, Chatham-Kent continues to voice staunch opposition to the impli-
“This only demonstrates that there continues to be many organizations and citizens throughout Ontario who are against Bill 5, and specifically, bringing a landfill to Dresden without a comprehensive environmental assessment completed,” said Jubenville. “I, along with all of Chatham-Kent council, continue to advocate for Dresden and surrounding areas to oppose Bill 5. I continue to respectfully offer an invitation to Premier Doug Ford to visit Dresden and the potential landfill site.”
Mayor Darrin Canniff reiterated the municipality is not supportive of the Dresden landfill expansion.
“This project would dramat-
ically increase the landfill’s capacity and introduce new industrial activities less than a kilometre from homes, farms, and water systems, all without the full environmental review that such a proposal would normally require,” the mayor said. “While Chatham-Kent recognizes the need to increase Ontario’s landfill capacity to support growth, the municipality, AMO, and many other concerned organizations stress the importance of proper environmental and community review processes to prevent long-term negative impacts.” AMO’s position echoes the municipality’s concerns that relying on outdated Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs) fails to account for the scale and complexity of today’s proposed projects. The municipality supports AMO’s call for a modernized, risk-based landfill approval process that maintains strong environmental protections while facilitating responsible growth.
Linking arms to protest York1
By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com
Residents of Chatham-Kent are being asked to help form a human chain in Dresden on Aug. 10 to protest the York1 landfill.
According to organizer Angie Richards-Mills, volunteers are needed to link arm in arm from 29831 Irish School Road south to Dresden Area Central School.
The distance from the dormant dump to the elementary school is about two kilometres.
Calling it a grass roots community event, Richards-Mills said all are welcome to come to support Dresden to push to the provincial government to repeal the Bill 5. Approved in June, the controversial
legislation creates “special economic zones,” specifically naming the York1 project and removing the need for an environmental assessment at the site.
Premier Doug Ford has justified the York1 project by saying it needs to go ahead because of the threat of U.S.
President Donald Trump, who could close the border to Ontario’s garbage.
Richards-Mills, a Lambton Kent District School Board trustee, said she’s spearheading the “peaceful” effort because she’s worried about the future.
“I’m hoping to get our kids out to be seen,” she told The Voice. “That’s what my pull is, it’s protecting these kids. Join us as we stand side by side to protect what matters most, our farmland, our
water, our children’s future. This is a powerful symbol of unity against environmental harm and government overreach. Bring your passion, your friends and family.
“We believe that standing together can make a difference,” she added. “Let’s show our strength, our love for this place, and our commitment to protecting it.”
The chain will begin at 1 p.m. Parking at the start of the chain is available on a farm owned by Richards-Mills and her husband Mike across the road from the landfill on Irish School Road north of town.
For more information or if interested in attending email jodijaness@gmail.com or call 519-365-3303, or millsangie09@gmail.com or 519-8096633.
WAMBO (Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing) is one of Canada’s largest transportation shows. The show features Antique Boats, Antique, Classic & Specialty Cars, Fire Trucks & Motorcycles. Other popular displays include Models & Toys, Art in the Park and Product / Direct Sales.
Enjoy your choice of entertainment at various locations around town of Live Music, Karaoke, a Soap Box Derby & Fire Truck Parade as well as a Dream Cruise of Classic Cars.
Refreshments are plentiful with food, snacks and beverages all around town and a licensed tent at the main stage.
WAMBO has something for everyone and ADMISSION IS FREE!
Friday, August 9
All Day Arrival of boats on the Sydenham River 5pm Opening Ceremonies & bell ringing at Wallaceburg Civic Park (near fountain)
4:30pm Knights of Columbus Chicken Dinner BBQ at the K of C Hall with live music.
5:00pm Refreshment tent opens
5pm-9pm Terry Glover Memorial Cruise 5pm gathering between Tim Hortons and Walmart (McNaughton Ave.) Cruise to start at 7pm.
7:00pm “Leave Those Kids Alone” on the Main Stage in downtown Wallaceburg.
8am-5pm Boats along Sydenham River
8am-sold out Knights of Columbus BreakfastDowntown Wallaceburg under the beer tent.
8am-5pm Cars & Motorcycles on James St.
9am-5pm Wallace St., east of Hope St. & WAMBO Tour Wagon Stop
9am-5pm Art in the Park / Crafts, grassy area on the north side of river next to Wallaceburg’s Adult Activity Centre/Library
Saturday, August 10
9am-5pm Wallaceburg & District Museum rope making, face painting, giant plinko. King St. South side.
10am-1pm Soap Box Racing Practice and Time Trials on South side
10am-3pm Museum BBQ 11am-Midnight Refreshment Tent
- James St. Parking Lot
Afternoon entertainment
12pm-6pm Karaoke tent by the Wallaceburg Library with DJ’s Mike & Melody Shepley.
12pm-2pm Colt McLauchin
Live music at James St. Municipal Parking Lot 1pm Soap Box Racing on South Side 4pm-5pm Awards Ceremonies for Cars - there will be a People’s Choice ballot box available for spectators to vote!
8:30pm “Steven Page Trio” at James St. municipal parking lot. Be sure to bring lawnchairs
Sunday, August 11
10:00pm Interdenominational Church Service - James St. Municipal Parking Lot.
WAMBO
PHOTO CONTEST
Photos of ANYTHING and EVERYTHING WAMBO, Aug. 8 - 10, 2025
Individual photos of people or children, permission must be granted and submitted to WAMBO with name & contact info for image. Images must be received by Aug. 15, 2025 by thumb drive or email to brage@bell.net Each photographer can submit up to 5 of your best images Contest form available for download at www.wambo.ca under events or by email to btage@bell.net with WAMBO photo contest as the subject line. Winners will be announced on August 29, 2025. Photos will be judged by a 3 person panel. All selections will be final.
CASH Prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th place!
MPP calls for donations probe
By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com
A Liberal MPP is calling on Ontario’s integrity commissioner to investigate whether political donations improperly influenced the Ford government’s cancellation of
the environmental assessment of the York1 landfill.
In a letter dated July 23, Ted Hsu, MPP for Kingston and the Islands, asks Cathryn Motherwell to “consider additional information” published by media outlet The Trillium on July 23.
According to Hsu, an
article in The Trillium has revealed Progressive Conservative Ontario Fund chair Tony Miele may have undue influence with politicians and developers. Based on the story, Hsu said the information “raises further questions about whether political donations and insider ties improperly influenced the exercise of ministerial power,” and whether the Ford government may have violated sections of the Members Integrity Act 1994.
It’s the second letter Hsu has penned asking the integrity commissioner to probe the matter.
“I continue to believe this matter is of significant public interest,” Hsu stated. “Given the financial stakes of those involved, the history of integrity concerns sur-
rounding land use decisions in Ontario, and the new and substantial powers that ministers gave themselves through Bill 5, I want to reiterate my belief that the public deserves a full and independent investigation.”
The Ford government passed legislation in June that removed the requirement for an environmental assessment of the proposed York1 Dresden landfill project that would have hindered expansion.
According to wellplaced sources cited in The Trillium report, Miele has done business with both Andrew and Daniel Guizzetti. The Guizzetti brothers and York1 chief operating officer Brian Brunetti control the site of the landfill under a secondary company called Whitestone Fields Ltd.
The property was transferred from York1 to Whitestone Fields Ltd. in February 2025.
When reporting on the story, The Trillium called Miele to ask if he’d had any involvement in the Dresden landfill reversal or any business relationship with the Guizzetti brothers. He declined to comment.
Official records indicate individuals with the names matching the Guizzetti brothers, their families and the executives of their companies have donated at least $200,000 to PC causes since 2018, the year Ford was elected.
The expansion of the dormant landfill at Dresden has faced fierce opposition, including condemnation from Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles and Ontario Party Green Party leader Mike Schreiner.
dering what’s behind the decisions that the Ford government makes, you only need to look as far as who benefits from it and whether they’ve donated to the Progressive Conservative party,” Stiles told a reporter.
Schreiner had strong words as well.
“If you’re ever won -
“Doug Ford’s government has a pattern of prioritizing the interests of wealthy, well-connected insiders over the needs of everyday Ontarians. New information about backroom dealings and preferential treatment for donors and political insiders raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability,” he said. “The proposed Dresden landfill project could have lasting consequences for the land, water, and community. We echo the call for a full and independent investigation into Tony Miele’s ties to developers and whether these relationships may have improperly influenced land-use decisions in Dresden.”
Barnstormers
drop manager
The Chatham Voice
Recently clinching a playoff berth, the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers are parting ways with their manager.
Effective immediately, Gil Rondon is out as manager, with no explanation provided by the team.
“We thank him for his leadership and dedication throughout the season. As we prepare for the upcoming playoffs, general manager Harry Muir will assume managerial duties,” the team said in a news release. “Our focus remains on supporting our players and pursuing a successful postseason. No further comments will be made at this time.”
The Barnstormers named Rondon as manager in February. He had served as the Intercounty Baseball League team’s pitching coach previously.
Tons of fun in Dresden
Support for Nature’s Finest
The Chatham Voice Nature’s Finest Produce in Pain Court is
ting from funding from the provincial and federal governments.
Up to $150,000 in government funds are on the way through the Food Safety and Growth Initiative to the company. This support will help enhance food safety and traceability at the local agribusiness by funding the purchase of an automatic carrot bagger and an optical automatic grader.
These upgrades will enable Nature’s Farm to improve production efficiency and position the business for long-term sustainable growth while protecting local jobs, according to a provincial media release.
“By supporting Nature’s Finest Produce through the Food Safety and Growth Initiative, our government is taking bold steps to protect Ontario’s agri-food sector and foster prosperity in Chatham-Kent,” said MPP Trevor Jones, Chatham-Kent-Leamington, in a media release. “This investment will protect local agri-food jobs in the face of external threats. Together, we’re building a stronger, more competitive agri-food industry
that delivers safe, worldclass products to our communities and beyond.”
The Food Safety and Growth Initiative will invest up to $4.4 million across Ontario’s $51 billion agri-food industry to help eligible food processors, producers and service providers adopt new food safety and traceability equipment, technologies, and standards, while providing essential training for employees.
This initiative was open to food businesses with
fewer than 100 employees and is funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agri-food sector.
Strike at Dajcor
Employees at Dajcor Aluminum went on strike last week.
The employees report-
edly walked out after their union, Unifor Local 127, learned the company was planning on removing equipment from the Chatham operation.
“Any attempt to remove equipment from a Unifor facility or bring in scabs will always be met with the swiftest possible response from our union,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne in a media release. “This is a clear case of escalation that calls for action.”
Continued on page 19
Dajcor employees go out on strike
Continued from page 18
“Our members have every right to defend their jobs, their plant, and their community from these deceitful tactics.”
Earlier in the week, workers voted to reject a tentative agreement.
Cogeco offers cell service Cogeco has entered the mobility world.
It launched new mobile services recently in Quebec and Ontario, and chose Chatham-Kent as one of its launch areas.
A complete rollout to all
Cogeco markets, which will provide more wireless choices to millions of Canadian consumers, is planned for fall 2025.
“For almost 70 years, Cogeco has been deeply rooted in regional markets. The launch of Cogeco Mobile is not just a new chapter, it’s a bold declaration of our unwavering commitment to be a competitive force in Canada,” said Frédéric Perron, president and CEO, in a media release.
Plans are starting at $0 for the first year in a lim-
ited-time offer.
Picsume partners with C-K Chamber
The Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce has entered a new strategic partnership with Picsume, an award winning Canadian workforce technology company, aimed at transforming the way local employers attract and hire talent while supporting job seekers with modern, accessible tools.
This collaboration introduces Pathfinder Con-
nect – a dedicated job network powered by Picsume.
Designed to support workforce growth across the region, Pathfinder Connect allows Chamber members to post jobs at no cost, while job seekers gain access to free tools to stand out and take control of their job search.
“Having grown up in Blenheim, it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to support the growth of business and opportunity in Chatham-Kent,” said Jordan Goure, pres-
ident and CEO of Picsume, in a media release.
Key benefits of the partnership include job board access, customized hiring tools for members, and Employment Standards Act compliance aid.
Through this partnership, the Chamber is strengthening its role as a champion for business and workforce development in the region –bringing technology and opportunity together under one locally-branded solution.
“The launch of Pathfind-
er Connect reflects our ongoing commitment to support and grow Chatham-Kent’s business community,” said Rory Ring, president and CEO of the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce.
• Business Voice is a bi-monthly column in The Chatham Voice that highlights some of the achievements made and efforts underway in Chatham-Kent’s business community. Send your information to bruce@chathamvoice.com.
Community Events
Thursday, August 7, 2025:
• Afternoon Jamboree with all singers & musicians welcome 1–4 pm at the Merlin Legion. Enjoy good music and great company. Donations welcome. 4pm is bike night come out for drinks and pool. Call 519-350-8937 for more info.
• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00 am-9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am-1:30pm. Senior euchre at 1:00pm. “BINGO” –The Popular L.A. Bingo at 7:00 pm. Everyone welcome.
• Lunch at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St from 11am-1:30pm. Daily specials and menu items available. Everyone welcome.
Friday, August 8, 2025:
• CK Pride’s Pride Dance Party Night at JazzBah, 270 King Street West, Chatham 9 PM, featuring DJ Courtney Wells and themed drinks to celebrate Pride Week. $5 at the door or free with a Theatre Gargantua Sidestream Festival ticket!
• CK Pride’s Faith with Pride Group special meetup at Bill’s Place 48 Centre Street, Chatham. 11am. Watch & discuss the United Church of Canada’s public apology on “Ongoing and Past Harm to 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities.”
• The Chatham-Kent YMCA in turning 80 in 2025! Plan to join us for our anniversary celebration at Sons of Kent’s backyard event space. Gates open at 5:30pm. Tickets $20 in advance, $30 at door. Children under 12 free. Purchase at ymcaswo.ca/cky80.
• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00 am-9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am-1:30pm. Supper served 4:00-6:00pm. No orders after 5:30pm. Tonight’s specials are roast beef, potatoes $15.00(HST included) or fish & chips, $14.00(HST included). Take out available by calling 519-351-8733 or 519-351-5639. 5:15pm. is weekly CatchThe-Ace draw (tickets can be purchased at the bar). Fun Darts at 7:00pm. Everyone welcome.
• Merlin Legion Scrumptious Merlickin’ Pork Chops, scallop potato & hot veggie, plus dessert. Chicken strips and fries are also available. Served from 4:30–7pm at Merlin Legion. Contact 519-689-4884 for more information. Take outs also available.
• Lunch at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St from 11am-1:30pm. Daily specials & menu available. Supper will be a Shepherds Pie dinner w/ coleslaw and a bun. Dine in $14 and pickups $15. All meals served at 6pm. Call 519352-8291 to order. Everbody welcome.
Saturday, August 9, 2025:
• Morning Breakfast Program at First Presbyterian Church (corner of Fifth St. and Wellington). A delicious and nutritious breakfast served free of charge from 9:30am-11:00am, serving indoors, no take out. Wheelchair accessible.
• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 10:00 am-9:30pm. Line Dancing lessons from 10:00am-12noon. Meat draws at 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30pm. Ending with a 50/50 draw. The kitchen is open 3:00 pm–5:30pm. Come check out our menu. Entertainment by Big City from 4:30-9:30pm. Everyone welcome.
Sunday, August 10, 2025:
• The Adam Butcher Band comes to the Two Creeks stage at 6pm. No admission, but we do pass the hat. Food and drink from the Scouts. Lots of convenient parking.twocreeks.ca
• St. Andrew United Church annual diversity service for Pride Week dedicated to embracing and honoring our differences. 10:30am. All are welcome! Come as you are and experience the power of unity in diversity.
• Calling all Veterans. The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham will be hosting a Buddy Check for all Veterans from 10:00am–12:00 pm. Enjoy a coffee and talk to other Veterans. This venue is for Veterans Only.
• NatureCK’s Youth Day from 10:00am2:00pm. Free and open to all famiilies. Guided nature tours and trail walks, creative crafts, games, snacks, and exciting prizes. Fun for the youth and the young at heart. CM Wilson Conservation Area, 21799 Fargo Road, Charing Cross.
• Merlin Legion Summer Fest Fundraiser Concert 2-8pm. In support of the Merlin and Tilbury legions. Free live entertainment, 50/50, $25/person cornhole tournament. Vendors and Food Trucks. Come out and enjoy ALL the fun.
• Breakfast at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St from 9am until Noon. All meals are cooked to order.
Monday, August 11, 2025:
• Join CK Pride at 12 PM at the Civic Centre, 315 King St, Chatham, for our annual Pride Flag Raising to kick off Pride Week and celebrate love, diversity, and inclusion!
• Join us at 7:00 PM at Bill’s Place in Chatham for a Community Forum: “Gay, Gray, & Paved the Way” with Dale Glover, focusing on identity 7 activism.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025:
• Join us at 5 PM at Bill’s Place, 48 Centre St., Chatham, for an all-ages Rainbow Storytime hosted by CK Public Library, followed by a free ice cream social hosted by the Outrageous Wise Ladies Group. Everyone is welcome to enjoy stories and sweet treats with family and friends!
• Afternoon Jamboree with all singers and musicians welcome 1–4pm at the Merlin Legion. Come out and enjoy good music and great company. Donation welcome. Starting at 4pm is bike night come out for drinks and pool. Call 519-350-8937 for more info.
• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00 am–9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am–1:30pm. Today’s special is spaghetti with meat sauce. Euchre at 1:00pm or evening shuffleboard or euchre at 7:00pm. Everyone welcome.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025:
• Join us from 11am-1pm at Fuel for You, 80 William St. S. in Chatham for a CK Pride Fundraising BBQ. Join CK Pride for a community bonfire from 9-11pm. Email info@ckpride.com for the location.
• 4pm – Flag Meet and Greet Kid Zone. This is a meet & greet to form a group for a much-needed 2SLGBTQIA+ space for youths, aged 12 and under to come & hang out while their caregivers connect with each other! Come out to the green space next to 48 Centre Street, Bill’s Place, for a free event for yard games, freezies, water games, face paint, and more surprises!
• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00 am–9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am–1:30pm. Our daily special is meatloaf dinner. Come check out our other daily specials. We have Fun Darts at 7:00pm. Everyone welcome.
Fun Stuff
vice or folly to ridicule
64. Gold
65. Longtime Braves hurler Julio
67. Humor
69. Shawl
70. Hospital unit
CLUES DOWN
1. Animal disease
2. Commercial
3. Necklace materials
4. Containers
5. Investment account
6. Colorado Heisman Trophy winner
7. Dipped down
8. Head injury category (abbr.)
9. Lay about
CLUES ACROSS
1. Spiritual leaders
7. Salt 13. Fortified wine 14. Edible mollusk 16. They precede C 17. A way to compare 19. State lawyer 20. “Game of Thrones” actor Ciaran 22. Eighth month (abbr.)
23. Very willing
25. __ ex machina
26. Satisfies
28. Mountain in New Zealand
29. A doctrine
30. Popular Dodge truck model
31. Dekagram
33. Naturally occurring solid
34. Company officer
36. Villains
38. Cricket frogs
40. One of the founders of modern psychology
41. Endured
43. A female domestic
44. You can get stuck in one
45. Partner to feather
47. Passive optical network
48. French ballet dynasty
51. Employee stock ownership plan
53. Bottom layer
55. Sound
56. Yankee great Judge
58. Dickens character
59. Late beloved TNT sportscaster
60. South Dakota
61. Exposing human
10. Intestinal
11. Not yes
12. Caused to be loved
13. Muslim spiritual leader
15. Showing sincere conviction
18. Not in
21. Number above the line in a fraction
24. Lawn pest
26. Pouch
27. Ancient language in India (abbr.)
30. Start over
32. Wild white flower
35. Fourteen
37. Visual way to interact with computer (abbr.)
38. Side by side and facing the same way
39. Religious conflicts
42. Touch lightly
43. “Boardwalk Empire” actress Gretchen
46. Violent seizure of property
47. One who supports the pope
49. Malaise
50. Body fluid
52. Inauthentic person
54. Title of respect
55. Chilean city
57. Japanese city
59. Silk garment
62. Draw from
63. Automobile
66. The man
68. Top government lawyer
Taking the plunge in memorial swim
By Michael Bennett Local Journalism Initiative The Ridgetown Independent
Jane Baldwin-Marvell was just a young girl in Toronto when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a fierce storm on Lake Superior that fateful night of Nov. 10, 1975.
Fifty years later, Baldwin-Marvell is taking part in a historic memorial swim to honour the former Queen of the Lakes and its 29-man crew who perished.
The Ridgetown resident is one of 68 swimmers participating in the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim, a 411-mile journey that began July 26 on the eastern edge of Lake Superior and is scheduled to end on Aug. 27 at the Detroit Yacht Club on Belle Isle.
The swimmers are symbolically completing the route the Fitzgerald took on its last journey, as the 729-foot ship was carrying 26,000 tons of taconite ore pellets from Superior, Wisc., to the steel mills on Zug Island in Detroit.
“I vaguely remember it as a child, hearing about it on the news,” Baldwin-Marvell said of her memory of the Fitzgerald’s sinking. She remembers seeing freighters unloading cargo in silos and terminals along the Toronto waterfront.
“Back in those days, Toronto was a working port, not like today, where you have Queen’s Quay and all of the nice shops and restaurants,” she said.
“I remember seeing those massive ships and I’ve seen storms on the lake ... I can visualize what it must have been
like and how terrifying it was.”
Baldwin-Marvell also recalls one year later, when Gordon Lightfoot released his hit song ‘The Wreck of the Edmund
Fitzgerald,’ which further magnified the legacy of the ship and its sinking.
“The song really solidified how everybody felt,” she said.
“I think Gordon Lightfoot absolutely touched the whole heart, the haunting words and the instrumental pieces, the guitar that sounded like the whining
of the wind.”
Baldwin-Marvell, a Grade 6-7 French Immersion teacher at McNaughton Avenue School in Chatham, first heard about the memorial swim when Jim Dreyer, the event organizer, was interviewed on Windsor Morning CBC Radio in May.
When registration opened in June, Baldwin-Marvell was one of the first to sign up.
She quickly raised the minimum $2,500 – thanks to family and friends – as the swim is also a fundraiser for the preservation of Whitefish Point Lighthouse, located near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
The memorial swim consists of 17 stages, each approximately 30 miles in length. The stages will be held on alternating days, in case of any weather-related delays.
Continued on page 22
Contributed image
Jane Baldwin-Marvell prepares for her upcoming swim, which starts at Lexington, Mich., and will end at the Bluewater Bridge in Port Huron.
Team effort for Fitzgerald swim
Continued from page 21
There will be four swimmers per stage, who will take turns spending approximately 30 minutes in the water until they reach their destination.
Baldwin-Marvell is taking part in the 15th stage, which starts at Lexington, Mich. and ends at the Bluewater Bridge. The Lexington to Port Huron stage is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 23, starting at 7 a.m., but the date is subject to change pending any delays.
The swimmers will be accompanied by a support boat, which will have a licensed captain and first mate, a paramedic, a doctor, a rescue swimmer, and a film crew, as the event will be featured in ‘The Legend Lives On,’ a documentary commemorating the Fitzgerald’s 50th anniversary. Swimmers will ride on the support boat until it’s their turn to return to the water.
When she applied, Baldwin-Marvell had to answer a questionnaire about her swimming experience, including how
The odyssey began at the site of the Fitzgerald’s sinking, about 17 miles from Whitefish Bay, with the permission of families of the 29 crew members.
Werner Lindemann
89, Thursday, July 24, 2025 Alexander & Houle Funeral Home
Allan Charlton
84, Sunday, July 27, 2025 Life Transitions
John R. White
71, Sunday, July 27, 2025 Life Transitions
Diane Elodie Johnson
83, Sunday, July 27, 2025 Life Transitions
John Spencer Cairns
74, Wednesday, July 23, 2025 Nicholls Funeral Home
Wellington St. W., Chatham 519-352-2710 alexanderandhoulefuneralhome.ca
far she could swim in 30 minutes and whether she was comfortable swimming in the dark, as the days would be shorter toward the end of August.
Baldwin-Marvell said she was a competitive swimmer in clubs in Etobicoke and high school, as she qualified for provincial championship meets. Since moving to Ridgetown 20 years ago, she has swum regularly at the Chatham-Kent YMCA. She has also swum long distances with local triathletes in training, including a 2.5-kilometre swim in Lake Erie on Canada Day.
OBITUARIES
Harold Joseph Miller
95, Saturday, July 26, 2025 Nicholls Funeral Home
Sara Wiebe
55, Friday, July 25, 2025 Kendrick Funeral Home
Evelyn Spotton
98, Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Kendrick Funeral Home
Jacqueline Clark
59, Sunday, July 27, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home
Sharon Lee McKay
83, Monday, July 28, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home
Baldwin-Marvell has recently been preparing for her journey by swimming a minimum of one kilometre daily at the Gable Rees Rotary Pool in Blenheim while the YMCA pool was undergoing maintenance.
“I know in a pool, I can do a mile in 35 minutes,” she said. “In a lake, if it’s calm and clear conditions, I can probably do close to that. But some other factors could come into play, like waves, currents and wind.”
The 16th stage runs the length of the St. Clair River to Algonac, with the final 30-mile leg crossing
Lake St. Clair to the Detroit Yacht Club tentatively set for Aug. 27.
A memorial service will be held at the Mariners’ Church of Detroit (corner of Jefferson Avenue at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel) on Aug. 28, at 12:10 p.m. The names of the sailors who perished will be read, followed by the church bell ringing 29 times “for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald,” as depicted in Lightfoot’s song.
land, the Fitzgerald’s destination on its final voyage. The Fitzgerald made 784 round trips from Wisconsin to steel mills in Detroit, Cleveland and Toledo during its 17 years on the lakes.
The Fitzgerald left Superior, Wis., on the afternoon of Nov. 9, 1975, and it ran into a fierce winter storm on Nov. 10 with hurricane-force winds and 35-foot waves.
Yvonne Marie King
77, Monday, July 21, 2025 Hinnegan Peseski Funeral Home
Miriam Christina Secord
100, Monday, July 21, 2025 Badder Funeral Home
James Wesley Welch
93, Saturday, July 26, 2025 Badder Funeral Home
Rolland Joseph Huff
74, Monday, July 28, 2025 Badder Funeral Home
Joanne Helen DeVries 84, Sunday, July 27, 2025 Badder Funeral Home
The Edmund Fitzgerald was only in service for 17 years when it sank. At 729-feet, it was the largest ship on the Great Lakes when it was launched on June 7, 1958, at the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, just south of Detroit, next to Zug Is-
The ship, being followed by the Arthur A. Anderson, disappeared from radar just after 7 p.m. and was only 17 miles from Whitefish Bay.
Three days later, searchers found the Fitzgerald, broken into three pieces, 530 feet down on the Canadian side of Lake Superior.
The Chatham Voice
The Ridgetown and Highgate branches of the Chatham-Kent Public Library will be hosting events that introduce people to reptiles up close.
Reptilia staff will be on hand at both libraries to showcase an assortment of scaly creatures. Presentations take place Aug. 13 at 11 a.m. in Ridgetown, and 1 p.m. in Highgate.
Howard “Howie” Holdaway 66, Thursday, July 24, 2025 Blenheim Community Funeral Home
Cindy Eileen Girard 68, Thursday, July 24, 2025 Blenheim Community Funeral Home
Spotton, Evelyn (nee Couture)
Passed peacefully at the age of 98, with her family at her side, to be reunited with her loving husband, Raymond (1995) and her son, Richard (1989), on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Dear mother of Judy (John) Jensen, Nancy (Rick) Ross and Larry Spotton. Her grand children whom she loved are Randy (1999), Michael, Christine, Tanya, Laurie (2019), Michelle and Jeffrey. She also had 9 great grandchildren to love. Predeceased by her parents, Dolphis and Mary (nee Labadie) Couture and all of her siblings. Evelyn will be fondly remembered by her many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Evelyn loved to sew and created many quilts which have become cherished family heirlooms. She was always one to not sit idle. You would catch her tending to her yard, sewing, canning or preparing for her yard sale. She always welcomed a visit though and was willing to make a meal and give you something from her house. The staff at her nursing home would come to witness her self reliance and her subtle humour. She will be missed and loved always. A private family service will be held at a later date. If you wish, donations in memory of Evelyn may be made to the charity of your choice. Thank you to the compassionate staff that took care of our mother at Copper Terrace and the friendship from her friends there. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.kendrickfuneralhome.com.
McKay: Sharon Lee (née McAskile)
Sharon, a longtime resident of Chatham, passed away suddenly at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance - Chatham Campus on July 28, 2025 at the age of 83. Born in St. Thomas, Sharon was the daughter of the late Lee and Queenie (née McLaren) McAskile. Beloved wife of 50 years to the late Robert “Bob” (2014). Loving mother to Dr. Michael (Aynsley), Steven (Sue), and Matthew (Denise). Caring grandmother to Chloe, Adrian (Jessica), Carter, Colin, and Raegan. Great-grandmother to Naomi and Kingston. Sister to Barbara Thatcher (the late Barrie) and Diane Bell (Doug). Sister-in-law to Kay McKay. Sharon will be missed by many nieces, nephews, friends and extended family. Besides her family (especially her Grandchildren), Sharon loved to cook. She will be remembered for her amazing meals and her “Nana” sized slices of cake. Her home was always a welcoming place for family and even friends of family, often feeding friends and neighbours. Sharon loved to read cookbooks, shop and listen to talk radio. Sharon and her late Husband Bob loved spending time at their Erieau retreat during the summers. Sharon was a caseworker with the County of Kent, her true compassion was evident with the purchases of food and clothes for many of her clients out of her own pocket. She started her career as an RN at Chatham Public General Hospital. Cremation has taken place. A family gathering will be held at a later date. Donations made in memory of Sharon to the Pet and Wildlife Rescue or to the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com. McKinlay Funeral Home, 459 St. Clair Street, Chatham. 519-351-2040
Classifieds
Expert Tree Trimmer. 3 small front trees in Chatham. Phone 519-3547241.
For Sale
6 ft aluminum step ladder
$50.00. “P” handle utility cart, 40lb air tires $50, Rates 250 plus. Phone 519-3656261.
Silk Cemetery Saddle Arrangements. Everyday/ Holidays. Readyto-go. Many colours available. $40. 519-354-3411
Wanted
Wanted to Buy: Antiques, costume jewellery, gold, silver, coins, military, furniture, tools. We Buy All - Paid Cash. 519-7278894.
Sell your items in the classifieds! Starting at only $7 plus tax. Phone 519-397-202! We will answer the phone!
Thank You
We would like to express our deepest thanks to Riverview Gardens and the Staff for the wonderful care Sandy received while living there. The many thoughtful notes, cards, phone calls, donations and expressions of sympathy are also very much appreciated and will be remembered. We add our special thanks to McKinlay Funeral Home for their compassionate guidance.
Dana McGrail, Rod Samways
Sally McGregor
GOLD Silver
ALL COINS
BUYING
9am-4pm
Thursday, Aug. 14
Active Lifestyle Centre
Friday, Aug. 15
9am-4pm
Canada, USA World Blenheim Legion
34 Catherine St., Blenheim Coins for Sale? FREE ESTIMATES
20 Merritt Ave., Chatham
ALWAYS PAYING MORE THAN THE BROCHURE FROM QUEBEC BEST TO DEAL LOCAL!
TOP PRICES PAID Appointments available GOLD SILVER ALL COINS
House calls available. Dan Jones B.A.B.Ed 519-818-1805
AUCTION SALE 857 HOWARD AVE., WINDSOR SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
Preview: 8:00am, Auction Starts: 9:00am Indian motorcycle 2017, vintage chief, White Rose & Fire Chief gas pumps, alignment machine, alignment rack, Lincoln electric arc welder, solid weld gun welding, large air compressor, mechanical biologistal filter, Bear alternator regulator tester, wheel balancer, parts washer, ast aquaculture system,
tank
drainers, AST filters, air hoses, rims,
workbench &
power washer, transmission power flush machines, floor jacks, transmission jack, turbo fans with dyno, tire machine, engine hoist, tool cart, 2 coolant flush, pipe bender, large quantity tires, oil & grease wheel, Quaker State tank, Danby bar fridge, trailer 1 axle, sign board, pro diagnostic leak detector, lathe AMMCO, ladders, Mercedes aluminum rims, lights, metal hi lights, transmission jack, doors, chairs, snow blower like new, lax party bus international caterpillar engine, salt water 700 gallon aquarium, coke fridge, paper shredder, surround sound, much more.
A huge congratulations to Zach and Katie (Dutton) Szypula for conquering the Lake Placid Ironman on July 20, 2025. They swam 3.8 km, biked 180 km and ran 42.2 km. They trained hard, faced all the elements, and smashed their goals with times of 11 hours, 44 minutes for Zach and 13 hours, 19 minutes for Katie. Love your very proud parents Andy and Cynthia Szypula
MORTGAGES / LOANS
Baptist Chapel “Come Out, Join Us”
11am and 7pm. Wednesdays 7pm, Friday 7pm. Old Hymns and KJV Preaching Go to chathambaptistchapel.com to watch sermons.
2 ‘legends’ honoured
By Jim Blake jim@chathamvoice.com
Two Wallaceburg sports legends were honoured recently with the unveiling of a new baseball scoreboard at Andy Johnston Field at Kinsmen Park.
The $40,000 scoreboard replaced an earlier version and was erected through a community fundraising effort.
The scoreboard was dedicated in memory of minor baseball supporter Mike Childs.
Kim Murray, a longtime official with the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame, spearheaded the two-year fundraising effort which attracted donations from the Wallaceburg Kinsmen Club, Chatham-Kent
Coun. Aaron Hall through the ward funding program, and the hall of fame itself.
Murray said ownership of the board was transferred to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, which oversaw its installation.
Financial aid also came from local firms mPower, Bartech, Tom and Al’s, and PuroClean.
Andy Johnston was a star pitcher for the Wallaceburg Warriors teams in the 1980s, which earned a spot in the provincial championships for 11 straight seasons, winning titles in 1986, ’87 and ’89. He also won provincial honours for Port Lambton and Chatham and pitched for the London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball
League.
Childs was a mainstay of Wallaceburg sports, following the legacy of his
father, Gord. He was an organizer, volunteer, executive member and sponsor in minor baseball and
operated the Oak’s Inn Slow-Pitch team for many years. The baseball field in King George Park was re-
named in his honour. Both men are members of the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame.
Jim Blake/The Chatham Voice
Members of the Johnston family were part of a group that gathered recently for the unveiling of a new scoreboard at Andy Johnston Field in Kinsmen Park in Wallaceburg. Fundraising for the $40,000 scoreboard was a community-wide initiative.