Cam-pain
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
The Five Man Electrical Band once sang, “Sign, sign, everywhere a sign,” but these days in Chatham-Kent, many a property is missing campaign signs.
That in the wake of the great election sign purge of 2026. Earlier this month, municipal staff removed hundreds of campaign signs they said were on municipal property.
Most of those were in front of private residences, but were too close to the roadway and thus were in violation, staff said.
Chris Bantok, election co-ordinator with the municipality, said municipal officials were simply following up on a horde of complaints.
“What we were seeing was a growing number of complaints and concerns regarding election signs placed on municipal property when they aren’t supposed to
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be there until Aug. 27,” he said of the 60-day campaign period leading up to the election. “We made attempts to remind everyone of the rules and the regulations of the (election sign) bylaw. We worked with candidates to educate on where signs should be. Unfortunately, we continued to get complaints. We had to take steps to re-
move the signs and enforce the bylaw.”
Long-time councillor Michael Bondy believes as many as 450 of his signs were pulled.
Bondy, who is on the sixth election of his political career, is running for mayor. He was essentially the first candidate out of the gate, filing his candidacy papers with the mu-
nicipal clerk’s office May 1, the first day of the election cycle.
He said as of early July, he had an estimated 600 signs on properties around Chatham-Kent. About 450 were pulled down during the great election sign purge of 2026.
Continued on page 3
Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice Election signs from a diverse group of candidates are seen here on Victoria Avenue in Chatham, after Public Works officials had cleansed the streets of signs that sat too close to the roadway – at least according to one municipal bylaw. These signs are at an approved distance from the roadway.
C-K staff pull election signs
Continued from page 2
“I’ve been at this for six elections. I have never seen signs taken off front yards,” he told The Voice. He picked up about 200 of his signs a couple of days after they were pulled. Bondy said some were ruined, as they had split at the seams. He understands the letter of the bylaw, but called the sign removal “splitting hairs.
Incumbent Mayor Darrin Canniff said he was also a victim of the sign purge.
“To take them off people’s lawns, I think is in terribly bad taste.”
- MIchael Bondy
“We tried really hard to ensure the sign regulations were taken care of, but when you have numerous volunteers and homeowners putting signs in, they tend to put them close to the sidewalk.”
“I think it’s tasteless. It took me a month to get them out there. I didn’t put any on what is perceived as public land,” he said. “To take them off people’s lawns, I think is in terribly bad taste.”
- Darrin Canniff
“We’ve had a lot of signs removed. We tried really hard to ensure the sign regulations were taken care of, but when you have numerous volunteers and homeowners putting signs in, they tend to put them close to the sidewalk,” he said. Canniff said he is aware people did call up the municipality to report out-of-place signs prior to the purge.
“I know there were several complaints that were put into 311,” he said. “I know some councillors pointed out how to report signs that are in the wrong spot. The municipality took action.”
Continued on page 4
Steve Kenney, who is running in Ward 7 for council, estimated he had about 30 per cent of his 170 signs yanked by Public Works personnel.
Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice
This Darrin Canniff re-election sign is seen on Gladstone Avenue in Chatham, in clear violation of the municipal election sign bylaw that states such signs must be at least four metres back from the road. Municipal staff removed hundreds of campaign signs recently after receiving a large number of complaints of placement.
Large number of complaints spark sign removal
Continued from page 3
He said his campaign team was able to track where the signs were pulled and had replacements out in short order.
“I have a pretty good campaign team. We have a good database of where our signs were,” he said.
“They’re all back on the lawns now.”
But a little further away from the roadways.
“Some of my signs were out of compliance by a couple of feet. They want them back behind the cable boxes,” he said. “There were some supporters of mine who were quite an-
gry about it. I’m OK with it. I’ve moved on.”
The widespread removal of the election signs caught Bondy off guard. He said bylaw enforcement is complaint-driven. If someone had an issue with a sign on a particular property, then pull the sign there, he added.
“Nobody complained about 450 addresses. It’s totally insane,” Bondy said.
Bantok said municipal staff, as they went to retrieve signs known to be in violation, picked up other signs they saw in contravention of the bylaw as
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“As we heard about different situations, staff, as they were driving around, were pulling signs on municipal property, but it got to the point it wasn’t only complaints based,” he said. “Because of the volume of complaints, enhanced enforcement was required.”
That “enhanced enforcement” led to the mass purge.
Bantok said no candidate was excluded and none were singled out, adding he did not have a count on how many signs were pulled, and that the re-
movals took place in urban and rural areas.
“We want to apply things fairly and consistently. We’re not picking and choosing which signs were pulled,” he said.
Despite the loss of the signage, Canniff said the rules are the rules.
“The idea is it creates a level playing field so the signs are in a spot where they are allowed,” he said. “We’re given rules and we have to follow them collectively.”
Kenney agreed.
“We weren’t completely in compliance. I get it. Now we are. I’m hoping it’s behind us,” he said.
Bondy said he has no idea where every sign of his was located, as he’d leave 15 signs in his driveway in the morning and encouraged people to stop by and pick them up.
“It’s very, very frustrating, but I’ll get them all back out there,” he said.
Bantok said complaints about candidate sign
placement occur every election year, and he doubts it is unique to Chatham-Kent. However, the increase in the number of candidates this time around has led to more signs and more sign bylaw violations.
“We’re at 70 candidates as of today (July 7). In 2022, we only had 59 candidates,” he said, referring to mayoral, council and school board totals. Nomination don’t close until Aug. 21.
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A special thank you to our commentators, Ray Trahan and Fred Pletsch, who did an outstanding job throughout the day, promoting our sponsors, vendors, and activities during the show. Thank you to all of our sponsors for supporting our show. We are grateful for your contributions, as they make our show possible. Thank you to all the vehicle enthusiasts and the winners who brought out their vehicles that day for us to enjoy. To our many vendors, thank you for participating and making our show a success. Thank you to our special guests, Tom Towers and his tractors and sleds used in the children’s tractor-pulling event; it was a big hit with everyone. A big thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers who donated their time and efforts to ensure a successful show. Thank you to Rick, Louise, and your food crew; they outdid themselves… again. Also, to all the leads and their team, great job. There is no show without their support and enthusiasm. Thank you, everyone! Lastly, thank you to the public who came out to Mitchell’s Bay to enjoy the vehicles, food, vendors, events, and sunshine with us. It was a beautiful day for a car show!
1st Place Car - 1967 Pontiac Beaumont Sport Deluxe Leo & Pat Levack
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1st Place Motorcycle1954 James J5 Nigel Mitchell
Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice Election signs for Sandra Dorner and a Steve Kenney are seen on Victoria Avenue.
‘We haven’t gotten there yet’
By Jim Blake jim@chathamvoice.com
Words matter to Tony
Cohen.
That’s why the 62-yearold native of Montgomery County, Maryland, refers to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as a time of commemoration, not celebration.
was, so to realize that he came here to gain is freedom about 200 years ago has quite a bit of significance to me,” he said.
“The framers (of the Constitution) had some great ideas and they were able to implement a few of them, but it’s for Americans to implement the rest, and we haven’t gotten there yet.”
- Tony Cohen
“There is a movement in our country to rewrite history, to eliminate stories about what it took for millions of us to become free,” he said. “That story is uncomfortable, and it doesn’t match what they like to call the American narrative. We are commemorating the 250th anniversary through truth-telling. Any nation can’t claim to be great if it can’t confront the truth.”
“We are commemorating the 250th anniversary through truth-telling. Any nation can’t claim to be great if it can’t confront the truth.”
- Tony Cohen
“We don’t use the term ‘celebration’ because we can’t celebrate something we haven’t achieved,” he said of the United States. “The framers (of the Constitution) had some great ideas and they were able to implement a few of them, but it’s for Americans to implement the rest, and we haven’t gotten there yet.”
Cohen walked from his home to Niagara Falls, N.Y. and then through Southwestern Ontario, accompanied by a truck hauling a nine-foot, 2,200-lb. bronze sculpture of abolitionist icon Harriet Tubman leading her niece to freedom.
Billed as the Tony Cohen Freedom Walk 2026, the event marks the 30th anniversary of his effort in retracing one of the routes taken by slaves seeking freedom through the Underground Railroad.
His trip brought him to the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History in Dresden as part of the Ontario Heritage Trust.
“I was born in the same area that Josiah Henson
During his travels, he asks those he encounters for a word or phrase that represents what they want to see during the next 250 years.
”We’ve been asking that question, and no one has said ‘empire,’ no one has said ‘capitalism.’ One 10-year-old said ‘no AI,’ and another 10-year-old said ‘more robots.’
What people have been saying they want is justice, equality, clean water, jobs, I mean everything that is forward-looking and not about beating up someone else, so maybe we can be as honest as we need to be.”
Tuesday, July 21st
Judy Woodrow/Special to The Chatham Voice
Tony Cohen and his “brother” Al strike a post emulating that of the Harriet Tubman leading her niece on the Journey to Freedom in Canada.
The 2,200-pound bronze statue made its way throughout Chatham-Kent recently, including a stop in Dresden.
Opinion
Sign of the times
You can’t please everyone.
That’s especially the case in the misinformation haven that is social media.
But here in the real world, the same applies.
We’re talking this time about the removal of election signs from properties across the municipality.
According to municipal officials, they received a plethora of calls to complain about the placement of such signage. Any signs closer than four metres from the edge of a road, or in a “visibility triangle,” faced removal.
Hundreds of signs were yanked by municipal staff and dumped at Public Works yards in various parts of Chatham-Kent.
It was interesting to see on social media where some people complained about one candidate, only to be offended when the signs of a candidate they support were pulled as well.
Other folks wondered why it was a mass sign purge rather than a mass education program. Why not speak to the property owner and educate them on the election sign bylaw?
Many of these same folks have argued the municipality needs to be more efficient in its spending – and in this case that translates to the amount of staff time utilized to address the
problem.
Yanking signs in violation of the bylaw is as simple as pulling them up and lobbing them into the back of a truck. When talking about hundreds of signs, think of the manpower that would have been required to send someone to each property owner’s door to knock and to take the time to explain the violation.
It’s just not an efficient use of time. Could candidates have been given, say, 48 hours to ensure their signs were in compliance? Absolutely. We think that would have been a better move, as staff would not have had to spend as much time removing signs as they did.
Was any one candidate singled out. No. However, when you have a lot of signs out there, and were first out of the gate as Michael Bondy was, naturally, you stand to have suffered the removal of the most signs.
Had the municipality gone to extremes and followed every letter of that bylaw, offenders could have faced fines. That would have rightly caused a massive uproar.
Now, is this election sign bylaw applicable at this point in time? That too is debatable and will be discussed in a story in next week’s Chatham Voice.
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Nurse collaboration
Editor: The subject is nurses, specifically at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA).
My frame of reference is a six-day, two-shift stay in the PCU (Progressive Care Unit). My room fed directly into the nurses’ station. I enjoyed a bird’s eye view of their process. The experience was entirely positive. The nurses are professional, knowledgeable, and aside from an occasional short-lived morning grumpiness, outgoing and positive in their attitudes. Rather than a teamwork, I saw instead the individual efforts feeding the whole. These workers have to understand a lot of pro-
cesses in different departments. They have to fit in at a moment’s notice with no detriment to the patient. Their interaction was a pleasure to listen to as they teased, laughed and enjoyed energetic discussion throughout their shift. The night shift in particular, which was remarkably quiet on their part in deference to the patients, still managed to keep that communication flow upbeat and sometimes funny. The senior nurses were evident in their quiet demeanor and example. The younger lot were like comets streaking by.
were very quick and thorough with sufficient discussion to impart the necessary info. What struck me the most about their groups is that it did not require an overall supervisor to delegate and generally put their stamp on things. I only saw (and met) this person on my last morning. This last point is what impressed me the most. All those individuals, all their personalities, worked because they wanted it to work. Keep it up, folks. You saved my life.
The shift turnovers
Adrian van den Enden Chatham
Support for housing project
By Jim Blake jim@chathamvoice.com
A $30.9-million affordable housing project in Wallaceburg is officially underway following a groundbreaking ceremony last week.
The five-storey apartment building will be located at 199 Westcourt Blvd., adjacent to the current West Court complex and will consist of 50 affordable and 22 market-rate units, with 20 per cent of the units being accessible. The units will range from one to four bedrooms in size.
Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, was on hand for the ceremony, which was also attended by Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault, Mayor Darrin
Canniff and other municipal officials.
Rae lauded the co-operation between provincial, federal and municipal governments in bringing the project forward to meet what he called housing “affordability challenges in rural Ontario.”
Canniff echoed that statement, noting that “we wouldn’t be here today without the assistance of senior levels of government.
“Whether it’s a senior looking to age in place, a young family starting or someone simply looking for a safe, affordable place to call home … increasing our supply of affordable housing is one of our highest priorities. Growth is only successful when people of all income levels have access to quality housing,” he said. Continued on page 8
Jim Blake/The Chatham Voice
Municipal and provincial officials turned out recently for a groundbreaking ceremony at a $30.9-million housing project in west Wallaceburg. The 72-unit building will have a mix of affordable and geared-to-income units. It will be completed within two years.
’Burg project fills a big need
Continued from page 7
Pinsonneault said housing was an issue during his term as a Chatham-Kent councillor and remains a need across the province.
“We need to ensure people have safe, affordable, and quality places they
can call home,” he said.
The $6.8 million in federal and provincial funding was announced during the event. After including other grants and funds from its new construction reserve, council unanimously approved borrowing $13
million over 30 years to finance the remainder of the cost.
When completed in two years, the project is intended to operate on a cost-neutral basis.
Chatham-Kent municipal housing director Ray Harper said seeing work
beginning on the project is a large step forward.
“I see the need for affordable housing every day,” he said. “We’re always working on several initiatives, but seeing this taking place shows what we can do for Wallaceburg and all of Cha-
tham-Kent.”
According to a report submitted to council in May, there has been no new community housing built in Wallaceburg since funding was provided through the Ontario Housing Corporation in the 1980s.
RETIREMENT LIVING AND LONG-TERM CARE: UNDERSTANDING
When people begin exploring options for themselves or a loved one, one of the most common misconceptions is that retirement living and long-term care are essentially the same thing.
In reality, they serve very different purposes. Long-term care homes are designed for individuals who require 24/hour daily assistance and ongoing medical support. Retirement communities, on the other hand, are intended for older adults who remain largely independent but are looking for a lifestyle that offers convenience, community, and peace of mind. At St. Angela’s Meadow Retirement Lodge, many residents tell a similar story.
They didn’t move because they could no longer live independently. They moved because they wanted to spend less time maintaining a house and more time enjoying life.
Instead of worrying about cooking, shovelling snow, housekeeping, or home maintenance, residents are free to focus on the things that matter most to them. Whether that means joining a fitness class, participating in social events, enjoying a meal with friends, pursuing hobbies, or simply relaxing with family, retirement living creates opportunities to make each day more enjoyable.
Perhaps the biggest surprise for many visitors is just how active retirement communities can be.
Walk through the doors of St. Angela’s Meadow on any given day and you’ll find residents participating in programs, gathering for coffee, celebrating special occasions, welcoming local entertainers, and connecting with friends. The atmosphere is often far more vibrant than people expect.
The decision to explore retirement living is rarely about what someone can no longer do. Instead, it is often about choosing how they want to spend the years ahead.
For many families, the best time to learn about retirement living is long before it becomes a necessity.
What if retirement living isn’t what you think?
For many seniors, retirement living means more freedom, more connection, and more opportunities to enjoy each day. At St. Angela's Meadow, residents enjoy the privacy of their own suites, a welcoming community, engaging activities, and support tailored to their needs.
Chatham-Kent’s centralized waiting list of households in need of affordable housing stands at 1,455. At present, 23 per cent or at least 333 of the 1,455 current households on the waiting list are looking for units in Wallaceburg.
Touring a community, asking questions, and understanding the options available can help remove uncertainty and replace it with confidence.
Retirement living is not a step into the unknown, it’s simply a new chapter filled with greater freedom, connection, and opportunity. To learn more about life at St. Angela’s Meadow Retirement Lodge, book a personal tour with Chris and discover what retirement living can truly look like.
St. Angela’s Meadow Retirement Lodge 20 Merici Way, Chatham, Ontario Call Us Today (519) 352-5225 ext.1025
Impressed with $35M press
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
Management and staff at Martinrea in Ridgetown unveiled their new stamp press at an event July 9.
The 3,000-tonne press was years in the making and, according to officials, showcases the company’s long-term commitment to being in Ridgetown.
A stamping press of this size allows Martinrea to form larger and more complex metal components such as engine cradles and control arms. In Ridgetown, they are mak-
ing elements for multiple vehicles from multiple companies on both sides of the border.
Don Gillier, general manager of the Martinrea plant in Ridgetown, said components for the Chevrolet and GMC heavy trucks as well as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, vehicles that are built in Ontario and Michigan, are made in Ridgetown.
Gillier said the local stamp press is the third of four such presses Martinrea has across North America, with two more in Mexico and another in
Kentucky. It is also the second largest press of its kind in Canada.
Expanding the plant to accommodate the press
and to purchase the SIMPAC unit involved a $35-million investment from Martinrea. The company added a 34,000
square-foot expansion onto its Ridgetown operation.
“It allows for the production of larger and more
complex parts or stamping for our customers,” Giller said.
Continued on page 11
Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice
Martinrea officials, with Trevor Jones, MPP for Chatham-Kent–Leamington, celebrate the opening of a 3,000-tonne stamp press at the company’s Ridgetown facility recently.
Martinrea showcases its expansion
Continued from page 10
“It allows Martinrea to address the high demand for lightweight and highstrength metal solutions in the global automotive industry.”
Stuart McFadden, director of economic development with the municipality, was happy to see the project come to life.
“It shows a huge confidence in the community of Ridgetown and the plant they have here and the people they have here,” he said.
through the threat of tariffs, and produces products utilized in Canada and the U.S. In fact, Martinrea CEO Pat D’Eramo said the plant is at a crucial location in terms of automotive parts supplying.
“It shows a huge confidence in the community of Ridgetown and the plant they have here and the people they have here.”
“This plant is actually closer to most of the Detroit assembly plant than our Michigan plant,” he said.
- C-K’s Stuart McFadden
McFadden said it is also a sign Martinrea is committed to Ridgetown and Chatham-Kent for years to come.
“This is a huge investment that’s giving them a runway of 10, 15 or 20 years,” he said.
“There’s nothing the industry can’t throw at them that they can’t handle.”
“Today, seeing this 3,000-tonne press, it’s cool to see a huge investment in our town. It’s really exciting to see a business like Martinrea invest in Ridgetown.”
Investing in Ridgetown made sense for Martinrea. Officials credited the ability to work out a four-year labour agreement with Unifor, which represents the plant’s employees, was an intrinsic element of the decision to invest.
- Coun. Morena McDonald
East Kent Coun. Morena McDonald attended the announcement. A tour of the new stamping press area left her impressed.
“When you drive by industries in Ridgetown or any of the small towns, unless you work there or have some sort of experience with it, you have no idea what goes on inside.
But today, seeing this 3,000-tonne press, it’s cool to see a huge investment in our town,” she said. “It’s really exciting to see a business like Martinrea invest in Ridgetown. We’re used to being such a small community, but when big businesses invest here, it means a lot to us.”
The project persevered
to cross borders – despite all the tariff talk – tariff-free, essentially. It’s very critical to our business in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico,” he said.
“Any time you have a chance to advocate for that agreement, please feel free to perpetuate it.”
Gillier said the Ridgetown location has continued even with the tariff threat.
“That has been a challenge. We’re still battling it today,” he said. “But we are still supplying parts to the U.S. as well as Canada.”
That includes aluminum heat shields for GMC’s heavy trucks, a contract which Martinrea earned in Ridgetown. The heat shields are used in truck production in Oshawa as well as Flint, Mich., he said.
“That flexibility is the key for the future. I think we could have more growth here as well,” he said. “This makes us very proud to be a part of this community. It makes it a lot easier to invest when you have this type of situation.”
CUSMA – the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, recently lapsed, leaving companies wondering what the future will hold as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens new tariffs with very familiar past trading partners such as Canada. D’Eramo urges people to lobby for CUSMA to be renewed.
“It allows the supply base, including this plant,
“You can do business in Canada in the midst of a tariff challenge.”
Trevor Jones, MPP for Chatham-Kent–Leamington, said the installation of the press shows how Martinrea officials believe
in work on this side of the border.
“This represents confidence in Ontario and Chatham-Kent. Our re-
gion continues to be one of the best places to invest, manufacture, grow and raise our families,” he said. “Martinrea’s nearly
$35 million investment is a significant commitment to the future of advanced manufacturing here in Chatham-Kent.”
Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice
Don Gillier, general manager of the Martinrea plant in Ridgetown, discusses the commitment of the company to its Ridgetown facility.
PLAN TO ATTEND! The 43rd ANNUAL
THURSDAY,
JULY 16th
Sidewalk SalesAmazing All Day Shopping 9AM - 7PM FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE STARTS FROM SOBEYS!
Vendor Market 9AM - 6PM
World’s Finest Show Rides
($30 Ticket Ride All Day) 10am - 10pm Dancers 2PM-5PM? Battle of the Bands starts at 7PM BLENHEIM LEGION, FOOD TRUCKS, LOCAL RESTAURANTS SERVING UP COLD DRINKS AND GOODIES ALL DAY!
SATURDAY, JULY 18th
Blenheim’s Amazing
Stop by CHERRY CENTRAL for Pies & Other Cherry Delights!
Sidewalk Sales Continue 9AM - 5PM Vendor Market 9AM - 5PM World’s Finest Show Rides ($30 Ticket Ride All Day) 10am - 6pm
Plenty of food vendors, restaurants and the local Branch 185 Legion and the Senior Centre serving up delicious assortments of burgers, perch burgers, fries, cheeseburgers and barbecue. The Blenheim BYC will be serving delicious sweetness and cherry treats.
Watch for Kobbler Jay and Bellas Magic during their Busker Stops at various locations around town 11AM
Cherry Pie Baking Contest will also be a part of the festivities Saturday morning
• Drop Off at Cherry Central between 9:15 & 9:50AM
• Pie Judging 10:00AM
• Cherry Pie Auction 11AM
Cherry Pie Eating Contest 11:30AM with various divisions.
Rotary 50/50 Draw
Proceeds to the Health Hub
Followed by CANADIAN NATIONAL
PIT SPITTING CONTEST @ 1:00PM
Featured Entertainment Saturday at the Ford & McIntyre Stage...
Chad Oulds 10AM - 11:30AM
Cellar Door 12PM - 1:30PM Quatro 2PM - 2:30PM
FRIDAY, JULY 17th
Sidewalk Sales -
Continue All Day Shopping 9AM - 7PM
Vendor Market 9AM - 7PM
World’s Finest Show Rides ($30 Ticket Ride All Day) 10am - 10pm Roaming Busker featuring Bella and Magic & Juggling CHERRY PIT SPIT REGISTRATION & TRY OUTS VARIOUS DIVISIONS - 3PM - 4:30PM Battle of the Bands Winner 4:30PM FREE ENTERTAINMENT on the Waste Connections Canada Ridge Landfill stage on McGregor Street (Main Stage) Black River Remedy 5:30-7PM (Main Stage) The Heartless Saints 7:30 PM (Main Stage) 40 Hours Over 9:30-11PM
BAYSIDE BREW PUB AND THE BOATHOUSE WILL BE SERVING UP REFRESHMENTS including Bayside’s popular beer brands while Abbi from the Boathouse will be creating specially seasonally mixed drinks to enjoy. Charges apply.
Drop Off Foodbank Donations atCentralCherry
Cherryfest takes over Blenheim Thursday
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
The shows, the fun, and the food must go on.
Despite a spring frost that took out much of the local cherry crop, Blenheim’s annual Cherryfest and Sidewalk Days is prepared to spit pits, enjoy treats and soak up the fun.
That’s the word from Mike Russelo, chair of the Blenheim BIA.
The annual affair has food, fun and entertainment for all ages.
From July 16-18, Blenheim’s downtown morphs into a pedestrian playground, with shopping, midway, food and entertainment dominating the downtown. Back again are the midway rides from World’s Finest Shows. All-day ride passes are the same price as last year, at $30. Continued on page 14
Chatham Voice file photo
Street performer Bella Magic wows the kids during Cherryfest in 2025. The annual Blenheim extravaganza is back and people are invited to take in the food, entertainment, fun, rides and shopping.
Midway, pit spits, and more
Continued from page 13
That is an anchor in the downtown for the three days. So too are the super sales happening at local stores. Russelo said some shops are dropping prices by as much as 70 per cent for select merchandise.
“Shop early. It’s popular,” he said.
In terms of the dearth of local cherries, Russelo said organizers have worked around it, purchasing cherries from local grocery stores to make up the difference.
“We’ve been able to
make it work. We’re getting through it and still supporting the growers as much as we can,” he said.
At the heart of Cherryfest is the pit spitting competition and tryouts.
The tryouts take place Friday, while the competition runs on Saturday. Returning this year after a prolonged absence is a Battle of the Bands on the Thursday night. Russelo said local bands can take to the stage and battle it out for exposure and a cash prize.
Continued on page 14
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Chatham Voice file photo
The midway for Cherryfest, run by World’s Finest Shows, returns, with all-day ride passes at $30.
3 days of fun in Blenheim
Continued from page 14
The folks at Sound EQ are sponsoring and organizing the event on the Mainstreet Stage on George Street.
“It’s an opportunity for these young bands to get up on stage under the lights and be professionally produced,” Russelo said.
In terms of weekend entertainment, he said there will be buskers on Friday and Saturday at various points in the downtown. Bands Black River Remedy, Heartless Saints and 40 Hours Over perform on the main stage Friday evening, with the winner of the Battle of the Bands opening.
Adult beverages will be available for purchase thanks to Bayside Brewing and Boathouse Social House after 3 p.m.
On Saturday, Chad Oulds, Cellar Door and Quatro perform on the Ford & McIntyre stage.
All the bands are sponsored by the Blenheim BIA.
Russelo said an event such as Cherryfest and Sidewalk Days showcases the power of Buy Local/ Support Local.
“The event is put on by the Blenheim BIA, and the BIA is a group of local businesses. All the entertainment is free,” he said, with the midway and he-
licopter rides coming at a fee.
“There’s all this happening. But there’s no fee to enjoy Cherryfest. We get the support of our community throughout the year,” Russelo said.
“We’re not just supporting local jobs. This is a giveback that you get from shopping locally. We’re able to do things like this in the community and have been for 40-some-odd years.”
The circle of support is best indicated by the Blenheim Rotary Club.
The BIA, a non-profit
group, works with Rotarians, members of a non-profit service club, to hold a 50/50 draw during Cherryfest. The proceeds go to support the Blenheim Health Hub.
Or there is the pie backing competition Saturday morning, with judging at 10 a.m. It’s followed by a pie auction, with all proceeds going to support the Word of Life Food Bank.
Event organizers are also collecting food donations at Cherry Central downtown, which will also be donated to the same food
bank, Russelo said.
“Everybody’s giving back,” he said. “Everybody’s involved with this. It’s a community event.”
The support of the Ridge Landfill Community Trust is integral to the three-day event. Apollo Property Management helps out as well, Russelo said.
Naturally, with a pie-baking contest, there needs to be a pie-eating contest. That takes place after the pie auction.
Interested parties can register for any of these events in advance or sign up day of, Russelo said. Visit blenheimbia.ca to learn more.
Getting to the busy downtown during Cherryfest is not a problem. There will be a shuttle bus running from the Sobey’s parking lot on Chatham Street to the Royal Canadian Legion and back again, with buses coming and going about every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and form 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
And if you want a different perspective on Cherryfest, hop in a helicopter.
Helicopter rides, offered by Zimmer Air, will take place by the Blenheim Medical Hub on Chatham Street North from noon to 8 p.m. all three days of Cherryfest.
Chatham Voice file photo
The midway is always a hit at Cherryfest.
Home sales flat in June in C-K
The Chatham Voice
One sale.
That’s the difference between home sales in Chatham-Kent this past June and June of 2025.
According to statistics from the Chatham-Kent Association of Realtors (CKAR), 115 units
changed hands last month. That was down by one compared to last year.
Looking further back, home sales were 3.5 per cent below the five-year average and 14.7 per cent below the 10-year average for the month of June.
On a year-to-date basis,
Discover the best area shops, restaurants, services and offers right here in your local newspaper!
home sales totaled 593 units over the first six months of the year. This was a dip of 3.3 per cent from the same period in 2025.
Carrie Patrick, president of CKAR, said the market has remained lukewarm from a buyer’s standpoint, but was sizzling for sellers.
“Sales activity was flat on a year-over-year basis, as buyers showed tepid interest in the market despite sellers posting the highest number of new listings in any June on record.”
as buyers showed tepid interest in the market despite sellers posting the highest number of new listings in any June on record,” she said in a media release.
Patrick added good news is on the housing horizon.
- CKAR prez Carrie Patrick
“Sales activity was flat on a year-over-year basis,
“There were two relevant housing-related pieces of news in June, one of which was the announcement of the $8.8
billion federal-provincial funding program to support housing-enabling infrastructure projects. This will hopefully reduce development charges in municipalities and speed up the construction of new homes,” she said.
“Later in June at a Housing Affordability Summit hosted by CKAR, a proposal was put forward to eliminate development charges on residential housing altogether for the next three years, a move which would certainly unlock funding from the federal-provincial program and get more homes
to market.”
In terms of what sold, the average price of homes sold in June was $472,448, up nearly eight per cent from June 2025.
The more comprehensive year-to-date average price was $446,368, a gain of about three per cent from the first six months of 2025.
The number of new listings saw an increase of 4.1 per cent (13 listings) from June 2025. There were 329 new residential listings in June 2026. This was also the largest number of new listings added in the month of June in history.
Upgrade your lifestyle at
PARK PL ACE CHATHAM
PARK PLACE
One new candidate files papers
(Two seats.)
It appears the dog days of summer are upon us in terms of people filing their papers to run in the fall municipal election.
As of press time July 10, only one new candidate filed their nomination papers over the previous week. Jeff Komiskey is running in Ward 6. Mayor: West Kent Coun. Lauren Anderson, Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy, Nelson Burm, incumbent mayor Darrin Canniff and Ryan Gow.
Chatham Ward 6: Jeff Komiskey, Ben Labadie, Brian Machado, Sheila Moir-Martin, Karen Montgomery and incumbent Alysson Storey.
Chatham Ward 7: Steve Adkins, Michael Fife, incumbent Amy Finn, Dustin Gawne, Larry Hutchins, Steve Kenney, Marc King, Jason Reynolds and Doug Robbins. (Two seats.)
Chatham Ward 8: Sandra Dorner, Ryan Drouillard, John Duquette, Andy Fisher, Paul Graciano, Debbie Martin, Rick Nicholls, Stephani Shill, Scott Thompson and Luke Van Der Vliet. (Two seats.)
South West Kent Ward 1: Tom Askew, Mark Authier, Michael Bond, incumbent Melissa Harrigan, Andrea Palmer and Gerhard Taves. (Two seats.)
Continued on page 18
The Chatham Voice
Boat upkeep never ends
Best Tree contest returns
The search for the perfect – to you – tree in Chatham-Kent is back on.
NatureCK is once again holding its Best Tree in Chatham-Kent contest. If you have a favourite tree, organizers want to hear from you.
In an effort to get more people to celebrate the beauty, diversity, and significance of trees in our community, NatureCK started this friendly contest last year. But it’s more than just a pretty tree situation. NatureCK officials said they want to know why that tree speaks to you. Is it the tree’s size, location, age or overall beauty? Perhaps
it holds a special place in your heart or memory. Regardless, they want photos and want to hear from you.
To enter, email your nomination to besttree@ natureck.ca
Include your name, phone number, email address, the location of the tree (it must be in Chatham-Kent), why the tree should earn the Best Tree in C-K title, a photo of the tree and whether or not you have the property owner’s permission to visit the tree.
Both native and non-native species are eligible. Deadline to enter is Aug. 15 and the winners will be announced Sept. 15.
61 in race for council, mayor
Continued from page 17
South East Kent Ward
2: Chad Carnie; Matthew Giffin, Matt Lamarche, Denise Maynard, Albert Pilbeam, Brad Snobelen, Spencer Stinson and Hassan Tariq. (Two seats.)
North East Kent Ward 3: Lauren Aziz, Kyle Carter, Cory Couture, Mark Huston, Emery Huszka, Matthew Pietens and James Plunkett. (One seat.)
North West Kent Ward
4: John Cummings, Kirk Hooker and incumbent Rhonda Jubenville. (One seat.)
Wallaceburg Ward 5: Brendan Authier, Loree Bailey, Steve Burritt, Jay Debuck, Zac Nicholson, Dave Hyatt and Chris Young. (Two seats.)
Nominations are open until Aug. 21. Anyone interested in running can access the necessary information on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s webpage.
Editor’s note: This is the list of candidates available on the municipality’s webpage as of press time July 10. The list does not include school board candidates.
The Chatham Voice
Jim Blake
/The Chatham Voice
Shirley Wilson of Mitchell’s Bay spent an early summer morning recently getting her pontoon ready for the season. She and her husband John have been avid boaters for years and spend time cruising the bay and surrounding waters.
New docs in training at CKHA
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) recently welcomed four new family medicine Residents to the hospital.
Doctors Sanya Sharar, Neelesh Taticherala, Amanjot Kaur, and Murad Mun began their post-graduate training at CKHA this month. The physicians will gain experience by working with local physicians and CKHA’s health-care team to provide support and direction as they complete the clinical portion of their medical training.
“Chatham-Kent offers an exceptional learning environment where residents can build confidence, expand their clinical skills, and become part of a collaborative health care team,” said Dr. Zeke Milkovic, CKHA’s chief of staff, in a media release. “Throughout their residency, they will gain valuable hands-on experience across the full scope of family medicine
while providing care to our community. We are proud to support the next generation of physicians and look forward to the contributions they will make during their time at CKHA.”
Taticherala completed his medical school in China, working in rural India as a general practitioner before continuing his training in internal medicine in Germany.
He’s passionate about practicing medicine.
“Combining that with palliative care and emergency medicine lets me provide comprehensive, compassionate care whenever and wherever it’s needed most,” he said.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family at the beach, fishing, or playing ball with his son.
Sharar completed her medical degree in Bangladesh before moving to Canada. She is looking forward to experiencing broad clinical exposure and developing a well-rounded skill set
across both community and hospital settings.
“I am interested in family medicine with an additional interest in maintaining some hospital-based work,” said Sharar. “I really value continuity and comprehensive care, and I enjoy building lasting doctor-patient relationships over time.”
Sharar is interested in working in a family medicine practice after her residency, while continuing to maintain some hospital work as she enjoys combining the continuity of outpatient care with the dynamic nature of inpatient medicine.
In her spare time, Dr. Sharar enjoys cooking, gardening, and fishing.
Kaur completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in India, followed by post-graduate training in obstetrics and gynecology. She is interested in practicing family medicine with a focus on women’s health, emergency medicine, and mental health.
“I am very excited to
begin my family medicine residency in Chatham-Kent,” she said. “Growing up in a farming household in Punjab, India, I feel a personal connection to Chatham-Kent and its strong agricultural roots. I am particularly passionate about preventive care because I believe that empowering people to make healthy, informed choices can have a significant impact on their lives, families, and communities.”
After her residency, Kaur hopes to continue to work in the community of Chatham-Kent.
Outside of her studies, she enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and dancing to Punjabi folk music.
Mun went to medical school in Bangladesh, where he then served as a resident medical officer at a tertiary-care hospital. He is interested in practicing family medicine, as he is passionate about advocating for the patients in his community.
“What I really like about doing residency here are the knowledgeable educators, plenty of resources for learning, and support-
ive environment for my personal well-being,” said Mun.
After his residency, he plans to join a team of other physicians and allied health professionals to continue to provide comprehensive health care to a community.
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, playing sports like soccer or hiking and fishing.
STERILIZATION ASSISTANT WANTED
We are looking for a motivated, reliable and enthusiastic individual to join in our dental team as a Sterilization Assistant. No experience necessary
- we will provide comprehensive training.
Responsibilities include:
• Cleaning, sterilizing and organizing dental instruments
• Maintaining sterilization records and protocols
• Assisting with operatory setup and turnover
• Ensuring a clean and safe clinical environment
• Supporting the dental team as needed
Requirements:
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment
• Excellent organization skills
• Team-Oriented and dependable
This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in starting a career in the dental field.
Please send your resume to info@chathamkentdental.com or fax 519-354-3720. Join
team and grow with us at Chatham-Kent Dental!
The Chatham Voice
Four more.
Contributed image
From left, doctors Murad Mun, Neelesh Taticherala, Amanjot Kaur, and Sanya Sharar have accepted resident positions with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Sunflower fundraiser delayed
The Chatham Voice
The sunflowers are coming, but just not quite yet.
That’s the word from Matthew and Gail Whitney, owners of Puddleford Tree Farm in Kent Bridge. They grow U-cut Christmas trees, and each summer use some of their open fields to grow sunflowers as a fundraiser for the CK Alzheimer Society’s Day Program.
This is their sixth year hosting the fundraiser.
“Thanks to the generous donation of sunflower seeds from our local Pioneer dealer, along with the incredible support of our community and local media, we have raised more than $17,000 for the CK Alzheimer Society’s Day Program,” the Whitneys said in a media release. “Every dollar raised helps provide meaningful programming
for participants while also giving much-needed respite to their caregivers.”
The sunflowers normally reach full bloom in mid-July, but like other crops are delayed somewhat this year.
When they do bloom, the Whitneys will open the fields to the public for approximately two weeks. Families, friends, and visitors are invited to stroll through the flowers, take photographs, and create lasting memories together.
Admission is $5 per vehicle. Visitors can cut sunflowers to take home at $1 per flower.
The Whitneys ask any professional photographers who come to use the field for photos of clients to donate $35 per hour.
All proceeds are donated directly to the CK Alzheimer Society’s Day Program. Payments can be made by
cash or e-transfer to puddlefordtreefarm@gmail.com.
To keep track of the sunflowers’ progress, visit Pud-
or Instagram.
Chatham Voice file photo
This year’s crop of sunflowers at Puddleford Tree Farm are delayed. However, the owners say they expect to open Aug. 1.
dleford Tree Farm on Facebook
Chatham was once a bustling lumber town
Have you ever been to St Mary’s, Ont.? I think, because of all the stone buildings, it is a beautiful town. Many of those structures were built with material (stone) that was common and locally available which would explain why, in Chatham, there were so many houses and stores built of wood – it was cheap and plentiful.
In the early days, mid 1870s for example, there were lumber dealers located in various parts of Chatham.
According to the 1876 Town Directory, J.J. Binsley had a yard near the northeast corner of King and Fourth streets; the Hadley Lumber Company was on the north side of Wellington Street, about opposite Harvey Street; the J. Northwood lumber yard and mill was located at the river at the foot of Second Street, about opposite the present-day fire department bay doors. John Piggott later bought
John Rhodes
this mill; in the meantime Mr. Piggott had a yard where the present-day Capitol Theatre stands. The Schulenburg mill was located at the river foot of Victoria Avenue; Summerville and Chaffee had a mill and yard on the east side of Queen Street, about half way between School and Harvey streets.
In compiling this list I noticed an unidentified but substantial mill and yard appearing in the 1875 Stoner Overview Map and located at the southeast corner of Colborne and Prince streets, right next to a bridge, and
I had to know who owned this business. It took some looking and digging, but I found out that it was owned by a man named Aldis.
Salem Goldworth Aldis was born on July 12, 1821 at Tivershall, St. Mary’s, England and was in Canada by 1836. I am not sure of his arrival date in Chatham, probably the late 1830s.
Salem and Alfred Aldis, I think him to have been a brother, established their mill and yard on Colborne Street shortly after arriving.
In the 1860s, Salem married Victoria Arrabella Dauphin of Pain Court (1849-1913) and with her had nine children, which was a common family size for that era.
The Chatham-Kent Public Library challenged local teen artists, and those teens delivered.
Library officials have announce the winners of the 2026 Teen Art Contest, which invited young artists across the community to explore this year’s theme, “Imagination.”
“CKPL is incredibly proud of the creativity, effort, and passion demonstrated by our
community’s teen artists,” officials stated in a media release. “The contest provided an opportunity for participants to express themselves through a variety of artistic mediums while showcasing their unique perspectives and talents.”
The Teen Art Contest features four distinct categories – Mixed Media, Painting, Drawing, and Photography –highlighting the diversity of artistic expression.
Ivy Vandendool, with her
In researching the lives of the children, I noticed that several of them died at Detroit, indicating that, at some point, the family moved to the United States.
Teen art winners
Salem Aldis died on April 6, 1886 and reposes in the family plot, Old Ward A, Maple Leaf Cemetery.
“Beyond,” won top spot for Mixed Media.
Diti Nirella, “My Perfect Photograph,” took top honours for Painting.
Hillary Skellet, “Gachiakuta,” led the Drawing category.
Klhoe Tinning’s “The Upside Down,” took top Photography position.
All artwork will be showcased online and featured in a digital gallery across CKPL branches.
Contributed image
Salem Goldworth Aldis, lumber man.
The Chatham Voice
Alec Matskiv Free Estimates
Corporate kill: The demise of The Courier Press
I couldn’t have been more than 16 or so the first time I met Gary O’Flynn. I was one of a handful of teenagers running the Wallaceburg Minor Baseball Association, and I took some game scores into his office at the Courier Press.
The term “office” glorified what was actually an old brick garage on the riverfront on Hope Street. Gary sat in a decrepit chair in front of an ancient Underwood typewriter; his desktop was a plank of wood held at table height by a pile of cinderblocks.
I didn’t pay a lot of attention to what we called grown-ups in those days.
O’Flynn was a gruff kind of guy who looked like he’d seen everything in the world. Twice.
Gary was the founder of Wallaceburg’s “other” newspaper, the alternative to the staid Wallaceburg News, owned for decades by the Colwell family, pillars of the community. Gary was loud, brash, opinionated and argumentative. He also loved Wallaceburg and Wallaceburg (most of it anyway) loved him right back. Being called a “Wallaceburg National” was the highest honour Gary could bestow.
My gang of buddies got that honour once when he wrote that without us
Jim Blake
“baseball in Wallaceburg would be buried under the rock-hard surface of Kinsmen Park.” A bit overstated, but very welcome to us.
He eventually sold the paper (more on that later) and became the Mayor of Wallaceburg. He had turned that Courier office into an extremely profitable business, using it to help purchase the Baldoon Golf Course. He did so well that years later, when he won a $1-million lottery prize and was asked what it felt like being a millionaire, he bristled, “I was already a millionaire.” That was Gary for you.
My thoughts turned to Gary when it was announced recently that the Courier Press was being shuttered by Post Media, the paper’s most recent corporate owner. The company had long since abandoned any pretense of local control or ownership, and the paper’s fate was a foregone conclusion.
There aren’t any layoffs because there aren’t any
staff left to lay off. I remember the thrill of seeing my name in print for getting a big hit or winning a championship. It was the same thrill so many people had in those days. Gary and those like him (Max Heath at the Wallaceburg News and Phil Gower at the Wallaceburg Bureau of the Chatham Daily News) made everyone in town puff their chest out a little bit for everything from athletics to growing an award-winning garden or speaking at the Rotary Club.
Telling your own little circle of friends on Facebook that your team did something just doesn’t compare. Giving people in Chatham-Kent the chance to puff out their chest a little is one of the reasons we do what we do here at The Voice. There is plenty to celebrate in our community, and we’re not shy about doing so.
When Gary de-
cided to sell The Courier, I was editor of a Sarnia newspaper and looking for a way to get back to town.
I was working on a deal to purchase The Courier (basically a dollar down and a dollar a day) when I received a call that Sandy Green, the president of
the newspaper company for which I was working, was on his way from London and wanted to see me.
It didn’t take a genius to know that he knew what I knew.
He didn’t mince words, and my professional life flashed before my eyes
when he said “I understand you’re trying to buy the Courier Press.” It was a statement, not a question, and I replied that, yes, I was. “Well, good for you. You’re not going to, though, we are. Would you like to run it for us?” With that, I was back.
Public Utilities Commission for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent
Chatham Sanitary Pumping Station #11 Relocation
Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Addendum
Notice of Study Commencement and Public Information Centre
The Study
The Public Utilities Commission for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent (CK PUC), through its consultant TYLin, has initiated a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) Addendum for the relocation of Chatham Sanitary Pumping Station (SPS) #11. The MCEA Addendum will evaluate current and future sanitary sewer capacity requirements and confirm a preferred solution to accommodate projected growth and increased wastewater flows from existing and planned development in northwest Chatham.
The study builds upon the recommendations of the 2016 Schedule B MCEA for the existing SPS #11, located at the intersection of Oxley Drive and Sandy Street. The study will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and the Municipal Engineers Association's MCEA process, following the Schedule B Addendum planning process. Upon completion of the study, a Project File Report Addendum documenting the planning process, evaluation, and recommendations will be made available for public review.
How to get involved
The CK PUC invites anyone with an interest in the study to have an opportunity to provide feedback and help inform the decision-making process. One virtual Public Information Centre (PIC) will be held. The PIC will re-introduce the study and present the alternative servicing strategies, evaluation criteria, and the recommended servicing strategy including the associated infrastructure locations.
Public Information Centre (PIC)
The PIC will be presented online as a video recording. This recording will be available starting on July 16, 2026 and the comment section will be open from July 16 to July 27. To access the PIC materials and video please visit the Lets Talk Chatham-Kent webpage at the following address: https://www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/.
With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record of the Study. To provide feedback, request more information or if you want to be placed on our mailing list for updates, please contact us:
Ali Akl, M.Eng., P.Eng.,
Chatham-Kent PUC
Tel: 226-312-2023 ext 4347
Email: alia@chatham-kent.ca
TYLin
Tel: +1 343.296.1571
Email: abdel.ismail@tylin.com
Community Events
Thursday, July 16, 2026:
• Shrine Day: Truly, a hidden gem in Southwestern Ontario; Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine, located at 5773 10th Line, Merlin. Served by the Rosarian Order. Check out our Shrine Schedule and details on our website: www.olrshrine.ca/shrine. Come enjoy an oasis of Peace with Our Lord & His Blessed Mother; everyone is welcome to attend.
• Join us every Thursday afternoon from 1-4pm at the Merlin Legion for a Music Jam. Donations welcome. Bring out your singing voice and instruments to have a great afternoon!!
• Join us with your teams of 4-6 for a fun night of trivia at the Links of Kent. 7:00pm start. Registration at 6:30pm. $25/person. Sign up by visiting our website at: habitatcha tham-kent.ca under the events tab.
• Join us at The Chatham Legion, 39 William St.N. Chatham from 11:00am-9:30pm. Kitchen is open to serve lunch 11:00am-1:30pm. Check out our daily specials. Euchre at 1:00pm. Darts 7pm. Food Truck 5–9pm. Members & non-members welcome.
Friday, July 17, 2026:
• Our third summer ghost walk starts from the back parking lot of Harvey’s Restaurant and continues over the Third St bridge to enter the historic and haunted downtown of King St. West. You will hear about a girl in a blue dress, a fire that left a single glass of wine untouched, unexpected visitors to the Kent Club plus other ghostly encounters and finish at Turns and Tales. Tickets available at www.eventbrite.com. $17 plus Eventbrite fees for an Adult ticket. Visit “Ghost Walks of Chatham-Kent” Facebook page for more info
• Merlin Legion Tasty Perch and/or Chicken Dinner with choice of potato & coleslaw plus dessert. Served from 4:30-7pm at Merlin Legion. 5 pc perch $22.50 – perch/chicken combo $22.50 and 3 pc chicken $15.50. Contact 519-689-4884 for more info. Take outs also available.
• Join us at The Chatham Legion, 39 William St.N. Chatham 11:00am-10 pm. Kitchen is open to serve lunch 11:00am-1:30pm. Dinner served 4:00–5:30pm. No orders after 5:30 pm. Tonight’s specials are Spaghetti & Meat Balls or Fish & Chips, $15.00(HST included). Take out is available by calling 519-351-8733 or 519-351-5639. Fun Darts at 7:00 pm. 6 pm BBQ on the patio. Entertainment by the Acoustic Cats 7pm -10pm. Members & non-members welcome.
Saturday, July 18, 2026:
• Join us at the Merlin Legion for Karaoke Bob 7-Midnight. Please call 519-689-4884 for more info.
• The Chatham Legion, 39 William St.N. Chatham open 11:00am–9:30pm. Line Dancing 11-12pm. Meat Draws 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30pm ending with a 50/50 draw. The kitchen is open 3:00pm–5:15pm. Check out our menu. Entertainment by Hunter By Knight 4:30-9:30pm. Members & non-members welcome.
Sunday, July 19, 2026:
• Vintage Car, Truck, Tractor and Motorcycle Show at the Merlin Legion, 2 Stanley St. 10am-3pm Registration of vehicles at 9am. Food available starting with breakfast sandwiches at 8:30am. Big Cooler filled with Beverages Raffle, 50/50 draw, Meat Draws and A Free Draw for a Huge Lego kit. $10. Don’t miss it – a great way to support your Legion and Community. Contact Lori at 519-476-5870 for more details!!
• Join us at The Chatham Legion, 39 William St.N. Chatham for the Ladies Auxiliary Euchre Tournament. Register at Noon – game starts at 1pm. Two person teams. $5 per person. BBQ 11am-3pm. Members & non-members welcome.
• British Beat, our British music invasion, returns to Two Creeks at 6pm. No admission, but we do pass the hat. Food and drink by the Scouts. www.twocreeks.ca.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026:
• Are you looking for a place that leads children to contemplation, wonder, and joy? The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a time-tested approach to Christian faith formation. It feeds the deepest needs of children, allowing each one to know God personally. Through hand-made materials and an environment prepared for them, children experience the most essential truths of scripture and liturgy, and come to know the voice of their Good Shepherd. Our atrium (program) takes place on Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30pm, for children 3-6 years old. St. James the Apostle Anglican, 707 James Street, Wallaceburg. For more info, call: (647)781-6142.
• Join us at The Chatham Legion, 39 William St. N. Chatham 11:00am–9:30pm. Kitchen open to serve lunch 11:00am-1:30pm. Today’s special is Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. Euchre at 1:00pm and 7pm. Shuffleboard 7:00pm. Members & non-members welcome.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026:
• Join us at The Chatham Legion, 39 William St.N. Chatham 11:00am–9:30pm. Kitchen open to serve lunch 11:00am-1:30pm. Our daily special is Meatloaf. Check out our other daily specials. Fun Darts at 7:00pm. Members & non-members welcome.
Fun Stuff
61. Vehicle
62. Georgia rockers
63. High resolution microscope
64. Pitching statistic
65. Attempt CLUES DOWN
1. Indoor plant
2. Marketable 3. Rather
4. Collected
5. A bag-like structure in a plant or animal
6. Irish hip-hop trio
7. Ageless
8. Course requirements
1. Tire pressure measurement
4. Request
7. Clairvoyance
10. 007’s creator
11. Adult male
12. God of battle (Scandinavian)
13. Cloths spread over a coffin
15. Breeze through 16. Ladyfish genus 19. We all take them 21. Earl’s jurisdiction
23. Members of U.S. Navy
24. Rummy-like card game
25. Affected by injury
26. Member of a Semitic people
27. Withdrew from a union
30. Woman’s cloak
34. Spanish river
35. Prohibit
36. Something you can take
41. Dish soap brand
45. Ottoman military commanders
46. Ancient Italian-Greek colony
47. Makes somber
50. Discuss again
54. A tool to inject
55. Support
56. Informal term for money
57. Catch doing something wrong
59. Prehistoric people
60. Large African antelope
9. Pokes at 13. TV channel
14. They __ 17. Cooking material
18. Investment account
20. Iron-containing compound
22. Swiss river
27. Small coin (French)
28. Electronic countermeasures
29. Taxi
31. Helps little firms
32. Unhappy
33. Midway between northeast and east
37. Glowing
38. Item to be addressed
39. An informal body of friends
40. Intrinsic nature of something
41. Neural structures
42. Brews
43. A place for ships
44. One who sings holiday songs
47. Sino-Soviet block (abbr.)
48. Scottish town
49. The most worthless parts
51. Sticky
52. Put to work
53. Precursor to the EU
58. Retrospective analysis (abbr.)
July 8 to July 25
SUGAR
Written by Kristen Da Silva
CLUES ACROSS
Donald Henry Hopson
79, Saturday, July 4, 2026
Kendrick Funeral Home
Leo Knoblauch
92, Friday, June 26, 2026
McKinlay Funeral Home
Marva Haskell
94, Friday, July 3, 2026
McKinlay Funeral Home
Paul Joseph Woodman
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
McKinlay Funeral Home
Denise Jenkins
68, Saturday, July 25, 2026
McKinlay Funeral Home
Deion List
31, Wednesday, July 8, 2026
McKinlay Funeral Home
John William Deline
59, Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home
Eva Marie Beausejour
95, Thursday July 2, 2026
Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home
Mark Louis Scruton
65, Friday, July 3, 2026
Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home
Victoria Ave, Chatham (519) 352-2390
Kingsville, Wheatley & Chatham kendrickfuneralhome.com
OBITUARIES
Wanda Johnston
93, Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home
Angelo Novelli
87, Wednesday July 8, 2026
Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home
Bill Killick
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Badder Funeral Home
Doug Goodreau
77, Friday, July 3, 2026 Badder Funeral Home
Larry Ramsden
73, Tuesday, June 20, 2026
Blenheim Community Funeral Home
Terry Wheeler
66, Saturday, July 4, 2026
Blenheim Community Funeral Home
James Ray Burchiel
75, Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Blenheim Community Funeral Home
Sophie Thomas
36, Sunday, June 28, 2026 Alexander & Houle Funeral Home
Brian Darrell June 70, Friday, July 3, 2026 Life Transitions
519-695-2716 Visit us: badderfuneralhome.com
Bonnie Sue Gabriella Wilbur
61, Thursday, July 9, 2026 Life Transitions
Edward 'Ted' DeBaeremaeker
75, Thursday July 2, 2026 Cavanagh Funeral Home
Paul Harrett
66, Saturday, July 4, 2026 Cavanagh Funeral Home
Charles 'Chuck' Langstaff
84, Sunday, July 5, 2026 Cavanagh Funeral Home
Shirley Johnston
84, Monday, July 6, 2026
Cavanagh Funeral Home
Helen Ryan
87, Monday, July 6, 2026
Cavanagh Funeral Home
Jessie Kilbride
94, Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Cavanagh Funeral Home
Gaye Ritchie
71, Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Cavanagh Funeral Home
See full obituaries at chathamvoice.com/obituaries
Classifieds
Obituary
Doug Goodreau was called home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, July 3, 2026, with his wife and lifelong friend Wendy (nee Pilon) by his side. Born in Chatham, Ontario 77 years ago and a resident of Dresden, Ontario, Doug was the son of the late John and Marie Goodreau. He and Wendy enjoyed 56 years of marriage. He was the loving father of Brenda Goodreau, Deborah and Phillip Ibrahim and Brad and Rachel Goodreau. Doug was also a doting grandfather and loved to spend quality time with each of his beloved grandchildren, Isabella and Ava Ibrahim, and Sydney, Emma, Madeline and James Goodreau. There was nothing he enjoyed more than cuddling them as infants, letting them lead him on adventures as toddlers, teaching them technical and mechanical things as they grew, and catching up on their lives and accomplishments as they matured. He always had time for his grandchildren and wanted to be with them, enrich their lives, and hear everything about them whenever he could. He also encouraged each of them to pursue a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Doug was the brother of Elaine and Mark Geroux. He is also survived by in-laws Patricia Pilon, Joanne Van Kesteren, Bill and Margaret Pilon, Jack and Janet Pilon, and John and Sherri Pilon. Doug is predeceased by his brother Robert Goodreau, brothers-in-law Clyde Pilon and Hughie Van Kesteren and sister-in-law Betty Pilon. He will also be missed by numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
At the age of 19, Doug began a long and fulfilling career as an industrial mechanic and millwright at Union Gas, retiring after many years of faithful service. In retirement, Doug quietly gave his time in various ways to neighbors and people in need. You could find him volunteering in various capacities for Meals on Wheels, clearing a neighbor’s driveway of snow after a blizzard, checking and fixing items at the Re:find Charity Thrift Shoppe, helping to organize activities with the Dresden Ministerial, or wearing an apron, sleeves rolled up, in the Dresden Christian Reformed Church kitchen. Doug’s spiritual gift was service to others, and he used it joyfully – with enthusiasm, diligence and a smile on his face. Doug loved the Lord and, over the years, served as both an elder and deacon in his beloved Dresden Christian Reformed Church. Doug also loved and held in high regard the Word of God, ensuring that it be read to his family after every meal. Doug was an avid beekeeper, gardener, cultivator of trees, amateur historian, and lover of nature, fishing and hunting. His experience as an industrial mechanic also meant that he could fix almost anything that was broken with unique and effective solutions. Doug was generous with advice and found joy in the ordinary magic of life with his family and community. He will be greatly missed by all who know and love him.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 from 1-3 pm and 6 - 8 pm at Dresden Christian Reformed Church, 956 Mooney Street, Dresden, Ontario. A Celebration of Life took place at 11 am on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at Dresden Christian Reformed Church. A private Interment was held prior to the Celebration of Life. Donations to the Wallaceburg Christian School (c/o 693 Albert St., Wallaceburg ON. N8A 1Y8) would be appreciated. Online condolences may be left at www.badderfuneralhome. com. Arrangements entrusted to the Badder Funeral Home, Dresden
Obituary
Jenkins: Denise Claire (née Pinsonneault)
A resident of Chatham, Denise Jenkins passed away peacefully with family by her side at the Chatham-Kent Hospice on July 5, 2026 at the age of 68. Born in Chatham, Denise was the daughter of the late Orville and Marie (née Charron) Pinsonneault. Beloved spouse and companion for almost 40 years to Bill Crow. Loving mother to Matthew (Justine) Jenkins. Step-mother to Barry (Melissa) Crow and Jennifer Crow (Erik Urban). Gran D to Zoey Jenkins, Kai Jenkins, Jaxon Crow, Grayson Crow, and Hudson Urban. Sister to Melvin (the late Sandy) Pinsonneault, Frank (Diane) Pinsonneault, Louise (Ray) Brown, Jerome Pinsonneault, Annette Pinsonneault-Oostveen, and Paul (Francine) Pinsonneault. She will be lovingly remembered by extended family and many friends. Family was an enormous part of Denise’s life. Her grandchildren were everything to her and she enjoyed every moment she got to spend with them. Denise was a kind soul and was never afraid to lend a hand to those in need, never wanting anything in return. She had an infectious smile that would light up the room and make everyone feel welcomed. Denise loved social gatherings, particularly with her close friends and family. Whether it was a celebration or just a small get together, Denise would take any chance she could to be around those she loved. She was the life of the party and always made sure everyone had a great time. Denise was the queen of one liners and always had people laughing wherever she went. She enjoyed cooking and crafting and spent much of her life traveling. She visited many destinations including Japan, New Zealand, Alaska, Hawaii, Croatia, and she was extremely proud when she hiked to the top of Machu Picchu in Peru. She was able to go on many vacations with her traveling companion, Mary Collinson. Although she wasn’t able to make it, Denise had a great desire to visit Africa. Denise excelled in sports and always found joy in movement and teamwork. She played basketball, baseball (specifically slow pitch), and ran track. She was able to create many friendships and memories playing and traveling. Although her time was short, she will always be remembered as a beautiful and kind woman. As per Denise’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Donations made in memory of Denise 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
Handyman Services. Eavestrough cleaning & repair. Junk removal, grass cutting & other small jobs. Call 519-352-5414 or 226-627-5414. Services
Call to place your ad today!! 519-397-2020 or email michelle@ chathamvoice. com!
Classifieds
Celebration of Life
Celebration of Life
Celebration of Life
Inlovingmemoryof Gail Merle Kolthoff
January 31st, 1943 - January 15th, 2026
Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 at two o’clock in the afternoon Links of Kent Golf Club, River Deck Room 20 Indian Creek Rd. W. Chatham, ON
We would love you to join us and share the amazing life of our Mother Gail Kolthoff
Obituary
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Bonnie Sue Wilbur, born on January 7, 1965, who passed away peacefully with family by her side on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at the age of 61. Bonnie will be lovingly remembered by her mother Noella Inghelbrecht, her siblings Cathy Inghelbrecht (Janet) and Ron Inghelbrecht, and by her children Shaylene Greevink (Peter), Kameron Wilbur, and Shyanne Wilbur, her cherished granddaughter Emberly Greevink, as well as her extended family and many dear friends.
For more than 25 years, Bonnie worked as a Health Care Aide at Meadow Park Nursing Home, where she cared for others with kindness, compassion, and dedication. Diagnosed with lupus in her 40s, she faced the challenges of the disease with remarkable strength, resilience, and determination, inspiring everyone who knew her. She was also an active member of New Beginnings, where she found community, support, healing, and lasting friendships. She will be remembered for her unwavering strength, her loving heart, and the stubborn determination that carried her through life’s greatest challenges. In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to New Beginnings, a community that meant so much to her. Arrangements are entrusted to Life Transitions Burial and Cremation Service Inc.
For Rent
Room for Rent. Older male or female. 226-4941862.
Mortgage Money Available
Private lender offering private mortgages at reasonable rates. For more info call 519-436-7229. Mortgages
Carpet Cleaning
Green Spotless
Deep steam carpet cleaning, area rugs, and upholstery. WE WILL PICK UP YOUR AREA RUGS. Call Alec - 25+ Years Experience. 226-229-0451. greenandspotless@gmail.com. We are local Chatham-Kent Residents.
Estate Sale 5178 Gleeson Line, Tilbury 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Rain or Shine
July 17, 18, 19
Household items, adult clothes, Cat & Dog items! Something for Everyone! No furniture or large items • Cash Only
For Sale
2 Twin Beds and 6 drawer dresser with mirror. $50 each. 548-9967453.
Wanted
Wanted to Buy: Antiques, costume jewellery, gold, silver, coins, military, furniture, tools. We Buy All - Paid Cash. 519-7278894.
WE BUY GOLD! Best prices paid. Call for Free Estimates 519-4367229.
Sell your unneeded items in the classifieds! Starts at only $7 plus tax. Phone 519-397-2020
Silk Cemetery Saddle Arrangements. Everyday/ Holidays. Readyto-go. Many colours available. $40. 519-3543411
12,000 BTU A/C & sleeve. $600. 5,000 BTU A/C window shaker $100. Phone Ken 519-784-6419.
Yard Sale
119 Tweedsmuir Ave. W., Saturday, July 18 8am -12pm Craft supplies, sewing machine, beautiful treasures, exercise equipment, crock pot, air mattress. Something for everyone. Rain date July 25. 5834 Queens Line Saturday, July 18 9am -3pm Ladders, farm equipment, household items. Something for everyone.
Announcement
Chatham Baptist Chapel “Come out, All Are Welcome” Sunday Services 11am and 7pm Wednesday Bible Study 7pm Go to www.chathambaptistchapel. com to watch sermons.
Whether
are
to purchase a home, refinance your mortgage, or consolidate debt, it’s important that you are making an educated decision and receiving professional unbiased advice.
by tony gray
synopsis:
while the conduit rushes to meet up with maria’s contact in an effort to increase his power level, Beau Tauchsen discovers the true effects of the transformation caused by a serum from ‘gunner’ menard and the Thames Gang. meanwhile, as their deadline approaches for the retrofest to hand over a prohibition-era cadillac, ‘gunner’ menard and ‘cigarette’ mousseau race to the festival for their much vaunted prize.
no. not granite. granite is course and rough. my skin’s becoming smooth and crystallized like polished marble
‘gunner’ told me that the thames gang could make me ageless.
yet, not only are the lines and wrinkles on my face fading, but my features are disappearing as well!
my skin! it’s turned into into granite!! i am rendered ageless! i represent perfection and i owe it to ‘gunner’.
speaking of ‘gunner’ menard, we switch scenes to catch up with him and ‘Cigarette’ Mousseau who are on their way downtown to pressure the retrofest festival staff.
for the last time, NO, you can’t enter this car into the classic vehicle show at the festival. we’re going there to steal a vehicle!
being a criminal isn’t as much fun as i hoped for. so far I’ve crawled in sewers, wrecked my shoes, and now i can’t even participate in a car show. pffft!
NEXT WEEK: the conduit looks to amp up his game!
THE INCREDIBLE CONDUIT™ and all characters©2026 by Tony Gray and GlassMonkey Studios
