The Chatham Voice, Nov. 20, 2025 by Chatham Voice

Sarah Schofield/Special to The Chatham Voice

Santa Claus Parade.

The Gift returns on Nov. 22

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

The Gift is once again ready to help local residents unwrap some Christmas goodness. The community-wide drive, which got its start during the pandemic, will see an army of volunteers

gathering donations Nov. 22. Folks are being asked to put a new gift or food donation out on their porch at noon for pickup. Currently headquartered at Junctura Inc. at 15 Maple Leaf Dr., signs are being painted and volunteers are organized for the drive.

Rocky Gaudrault, Junc-

tura owner and CEO, said he’s happy to be a longterm supporter of The Gift.

“The idea is that we can make an awesome Christmas for anyone who needs it,” Gaudrault told The Voice recently. “This is an effort that represents different levels of support and includes peer support.

“It’s inclusive. We don’t judge and that’s the magic sauce,” he added. “Be loud. Be generous. Lend a hand.”

According to Gaudrault, he likes the way The Gift operates. Volunteers round up donations and bring them to a site where people can come and “shop” for holiday items.

The Gift campaign operates across Chatham-Kent and people are encouraged to access the organization’s webpage to find out where donations will be warehoused and handed out.

Come Together CK executive director Brent Wilken, who is the Blenheim

Contributed image

Volunteers Sher Gaudrault and Pam Kamarlingos-Zuidema are ready for this weekend’s door-to-door collection of items for The Gift. To take part, just put your donations on your front porch and volunteers will be by about noon on Saturday to collect them.

community Gift captain, said people are hurting economically.

“The need is great and the people that are donating are struggling too,” he said. “Whatever amount of donations raised will be going back into the community.”

According to Wilken,

who has spearheaded The Gift from the outset, volunteers are enthusiastic and “loving it more than ever.”

“Everyone is welcome,” he added. “There are no religious or political affiliations.”

For more information access thegiftck.ca online or call 519-358-1030. The Gift’s wish list includes non-perishable food, unwrapped toys, puzzles, games, craft and art supplies, winter coats, scarves, hats and gloves, gift cards, backpacks, clothing, hygiene and selfcare products, blankets, sleeping bags, and tents.

‘Pathways of False Hope?’

Drug use rampant at tiny cabins project: resident

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Heather Brown says she doesn’t feel safe living at Chatham’s tiny cabin complex.

Clean and sober for 22 years, Brown found herself homeless earlier this summer, living in her car with her dog.

Originally from Blenheim, the lifelong Chatham-Kent resident lost her job and the room she was renting, which in turn led her to Pathways on Park – Chatham’s new

tiny 50 cabin transitional housing complex.

Brown, who is currently on medical employment insurance benefits, pays $600 a month to live at the complex, but she says Pathways is full of drug users, and only a handful of residents are clean. Brown, who has made her circumstances known on social media, said she feels like she’s getting the short end of the stick, and calls Pathways on Park “Pathways of False Hope.”

She said the Pathways’ motto “to help everyone”

doesn’t seem to apply to her.

“I feel like I’m alone with no help,” she said in a recent interview with The Voice, adding that because she owns a car and has a car payment, she’s disqualified for extra help and can’t get an Ontario Works drug card to cover her life-saving blood pressure medication.

Brown said she’s not alone in her concerns.

Other Pathways on Park residents feel the same way she does, but they don’t want to draw attention to themselves by

complaining.

“I’m not worried about any hate getting directed towards me,” Brown said. “They’re already trying to push me out.”

When contacted by The Voice regarding the problems Brown is speaking out about, Jennifer Crowell, Chatham-Kent’s manager of housing services and the person responsible for homelessness prevention throughout the municipality, said she was aware of the issues posed by Brown on social media.

However, she said she couldn’t speak to an individual case due to privacy restrictions.

“I’m sorry one person feels that this is not a safe place to live, but there are 49 others here,” she said. “We encourage residents to come forward and let us know so we can fix issues.”

Aside from residing with active drug users, Brown said there are problems with maintenance at the site. Blood on the bathroom walls, human feces inside the shower that she had to clean up before she could use it, feces on toilets and needles on the walkways are some of the problems Brown said she has encountered.

“This is supposed to be transitional housing not a daycare for addicts,” Brown added, noting there have been seven fentanyl overdoses in the past month she’s aware of.

Continued on page 5

Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice Pathways on Park resident Heather Brown, seen here just outside the facility, is worried about drug use at the tiny cabin complex in Chatham and wants officials to take action.

Drug use allowed: officials

Continued from page 3

In response to allegations of drug use at the complex on social media and a lack of supports, Crowell said she can’t speak to an individualized case because of privacy concerns.

However, she did say that Pathways on Park takes a “housing first” approach and that sobriety is not a requirement to live there.

“Pathways on Park is transitional housing with a goal of finding long-term housing,” Crowell said. “If substance use is a barrier to that, staff will be having those conversations to find out if they want to address it.”

However, she stressed that case managers are “not counsellors.” Instead they refer clients to appropriate services.

“We connect the client to community resources,” Crowell said. “We create an individualized case plan for each person and this can look very different for everyone. We work with people where they’re at, building supports and services for them that they need.”

Meanwhile, Brown feels imprisoned.

“It’s like being in jail but jail provides you with three meals a day,” she explained, adding that as someone who suffers with PTSD and anxiety, she’s

triggered by drug activity at Pathways.

“Fetty (fentanyl) fills that place like you wouldn’t believe,” she said, and people constantly smoke cigarettes and drugs inside their cabins.

As far as cleanliness in the shared washrooms and common area goes, Crowell said the space is checked numerous times a day, as five bathrooms are shared amongst 50 people. Mud can be a problem within the shared spaces she said, as it’s tracked in by people using the dirt walkways.

As for people being asked to leave because they aren’t following the rules, Crowell said it happens. Since opening in August, eight individuals have been asked to leave.

Nine individuals have moved on to permanent housing and two have left to attend residential treatment for substance use disorder.

Crowell said an ultimatum is given to people who refuse to work with a case manager to try and resolve their issues.

Each person that comes to Pathways on Park is assigned to a case manager who works with a client towards the goal of helping them overcome obstacles and find permanent housing. They are required to meet with their case manager

at least once a week and to take part in some of the 22 different programs offered at the cabins. Their case manager also follows them after they move on from the complex.

While substance use at the complex is discouraged, being clean and sober is not a requirement to live in the tiny cabins, Crowell said, noting it’s not a pre-requisite in other areas of society, such as renting a home or getting a job. Crowell pointed out that’s nearly impossible to solve the homelessness issue in light of skyrocketing rents with a one-bedroom apartment renting for $1,500 to $1,700 a month.

A person on Ontario Works receives only $390 a month a month for shelter.

Homelessness is something that has always

existed, Crowell added, but the problem mushroomed nation-wide during the pandemic.

Currently there are 1,400 local

residents on a waitlist for rent geared-to-income housing. As for Heather Brown, she’s hoping to find a job and a place to live so she can move on.

Chatham Voice file photo

An overhead view of Pathways on Park.

Opinion

‘It

makes no sense’

Applying cookie-cutter funding concepts may look smart from the ivory towers of Queen’s Park, but on the ground in Chatham-Kent, it doesn’t work.

In fact, in some cases, it’s downright idiotic.

And it’s costing local ratepayers big time.

Chatham-Kent was amalgamated in 1998. That forced amalgamation, turning 20-plus municipalities into one, is exactly the reason we sit under a $10-million Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) cap today. Well, that and the fact the provincial government put in that cap to prevent any municipality in Ontario from receiving more than 2.5 per cent of the $400-million-a-year OCIF pot.

Again, that looks smart on paper, in an ivory tower smack dab in the biggest city in the province.

But…factor in the realities. Chatham-Kent has 0.7 percent of the population, yet has 4.88 per cent of the bridges of the entire province. It also has 16,000-plus culverts and 20 per cent of the drains in the province.

That’s a lot of infrastructure that requires maintaining.

But rather than let the funding flow in a fair manner – under a formula created by the provincial government – the Ford government instead

capped things off with their cookie-cutter approach.

Remember who forced amalgamation on Chatham and Kent County 27 years ago? A Conservative government. The same government downloaded all those infrastructure maintenance responsibilities onto C-K.

Now, today, who is in power limiting the flow of provincial funds to C-K to address all the downloaded roads, bridges and culverts? A Conservative government. Heck, the son of the guy who gave us amalgamation is a cabinet minister these days!

Thank you, Mike Harris Sr. and Jr. Chatham-Kent is a blue zone in Ontario. We traditionally elect Conservatives to Queen’s Park and Ottawa. Sure there were hiccups, but those occurred years ago.

The reward is being horribly short changed.

And it’s not just OCIF cash. Homeless assistance funding saw us receive a few drops, while neighbouring municipalities received a torrent.

Ditto for infrastructure aid for water and wastewater to help fuel projects to address housing shortages. We were shut out entirely, while our neighbours received huge quantities -- $26 million, $44 million and even $88 million – from the province.

As C-K’s chief financial boss said recently, “It makes no sense.” No, Gord, it doesn’t.

Chatham Voice advertising policy

The publisher of this newspaper, CK Media Inc., reserves the right to clarify or refuse any advertisement based on its sole discretion. The publisher reserves the right to reject, discontinue or omit any advertisement without notice or penalty to either party. Liability for errors or non-insertion is limited to the amount paid for the cost of space occupied by the error. Claims of errors must be made prior to the next publication date.

Vital role of dissent

Editor: I am writing in response to the editorials in The Chatham Voice on Oct. 30 (“Lack of vision”) and Nov. 6 (“Remember your code)” regarding three council members who voted against the proposed Chatham-Kent Community Hub project. While the role of an opinion column is to provoke discussion, I must respectfully challenge the assertion that these three councillors’ votes represented incompetence or a failure to uphold an ethical duty.

(Editor’s note: At no time in those editorials did we suggest incompetence. And the latter editorial did not mention a single councillor’s name.)

The core responsibility of an elected official is two-fold: to participate in effective governance for the municipality as a whole and, to represent the specific voice and interest of their constituents.

When these three council members cast their “No” votes against the Chatham-Kent Community Hub, they were not exhibit ing a “lack of vision” or “memory loss,” they were performing their fundamental democratic obligation. (Editor’s note: The editorials never questioned their right to vote and in what manner.) They were listening to and acting upon the majority opinion of their residents in their respective areas who were demonstrably opposed to this project.

Coun, Bondy, Coun. Storey and Coun. Jubenville, showed political courage by prioritizing the concerns of the people who elected them.

This is the very definition of responsible governance at the local level.

Dissent in a democracy is not a defect; it is a feature that ensures all voices are heard and consid-

ered, even when the majority decision ultimately moves forward. Furthermore, referencing past or present integrity commissioner ( IC ) investigations alongside a councillor’s legislative vote attempts to unfairly conflate process with political position. An IC investigation addresses matters of conduct and due process; it does not invalidate a councillor’s right or duty to vote in accordance with their constituents’ wishes on a matter of municipal policy. (Editor’s note: Our editorials did not criticize a councillor’s right to vote.) To imply that engaging in their legislative duty is somehow unethical because of unrelated conduct matters is a misguided linkage that undermines public trust in the democratic process.

Continued on page 7

Better education for drivers warranted

Editor: I was very surprised to read Bruce Corcoran’s recent column (“Near miss in the roundabout”) about roundabouts, more so the one he almost had a bad experience at.

Over my almost 30 years of experience in driver education, I have never seen an intersection, a curve, a bridge or any road shape or form to cause any collisions. My experience about this is the failure of a human user, and or a faulty vehicle.

Traffic signs aren’t decorations, they do indeed direct drivers what to do. I find that this province overall has a good enough amount of traffic signs directing the public on what to do here-there an most everywhere we drive.

People need to keep in mind that driving is a privilege, not a right. The road belongs to everyone who uses it.

All levels of government miserably fail to educate the public in a massive way what to do with our latest signs, lights, and road technologies.

A roundabout is designed to move traffic better, as it is not a must to stop, depending where you are at.

A yield principle is a must! Just like any yield ramp, no difference. We in C-K have lots of yield signs at small, and midsize ramps.

Jane and Joe can fend and will fend for themselves.

A positive for a roundabout is no hydro is needed, so it works day or night, with or without hydro anywhere.

U turns are A OK. In a single-lane roundabout, the immediate exit goes to the right, second exit goes straight, and the third exit goes left. Easy enough. The fourth exit, which is the one you entered, is the exit of a U turn.

The onus is on whatever the level of government that places a roundabout to make sure the driving public know what to do.

In my mind, I see traffic advisors talking to government traffic employees who decide what to throw at the public, but no sign of a driver adviser, so they know how it works. Any

Majority must rule, however

Continued from page 6

We can all agree that the majority must rule and that, once a decision is made, council must move forward. However, the four councillors remain obligated to represent the ongoing concerns of those who are still upset the Hub is proceeding. To condemn them for continuing to advocate for their constituents’ perspective is to condemn the very act of local representation and dismiss democracy – doing away citizenry representation.

In all of my years in driving education, not once I have seen a real campaign to educate the public about the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) which is composed of thousands of laws and rules of the road. Every time any level

of government makes a serious change to traffic formats and or laws, they just send a press release, do a press conference, posted in their website that very few people bother to look at.

The regular public also fails to even try to understand what the road signs mean, or other people just don’t care and do what-

ever they want, again with the attitude that the road is for them alone. I am on the road just about every single day. Small roads, big roads, little intersections and big ones, in all kinds of weather, residential and main roads, highways and freeways. Books can be published on what people do on

the road that are safety issues for themselves and others. There are already enough laws to make the motoring public more aware and safer. Education by all levels of government to the public is certainly needed.

Hugo Ramos Wallaceburg

Where My Mother Chose to Live Her Final Months

A daughter’s story of how Hospice became a place of joy and connection

My mother, Sandra Angelini, grew up poor, so she learned to be happy with whatever she had and tended not to speak up when she needed anything. Still, she created the life she wanted, getting her Master’s degree, becoming an English teacher, marrying, and raising a family. Friends, family, work, and travel filled her life with joy.

The hospice staff immediately surpassed our expectations; after her first night, she told me she was being treated “like a queen.”

(Editor’s note: Again, in the editorial “Remember your code,” where we quote portions of the Code of Conduct for Chatham-Kent councillors, we did not name a single councillor and spoke in generalities.) We should celebrate-not attack-councillors who take a firm stand on behalf of their voters, especially on significant, high-cost projects such as the Hub. Their resistance was a principled act, and it is vital the actions of these three councillors is recognized as responsible representation.

John Cryderman Chatham

She lived independently after my father passed away, but at 82, she suddenly became too weak to walk, and she finally had to ask for help. Realizing I couldn’t give her the care she needed, I convinced her to go to the hospital. There, she was told she had cancer and about three months to live. After some discussion, we decided hospice was the best choice. My mother was at peace with being near the end of her life and wanted a calm, comfortable environment.

For me, the day she moved in was daunting—it felt like the final step toward the end. It was also a relief: she would be someplace safe and supportive.

On her second day, the staff wheeled her bed into the courtyard so we could have lunch in the sun. The courtyard soon became her favourite part of the hospice. Every day, I took her there in her wheelchair. She loved sitting beside the waterfalls with her coffee and was happiest in the fresh air.

The staff and volunteers always cared for her physical and emotional comfort. They treated her like a person, not a patient, and always knew what would brighten her day. They cut the crusts off her sandwiches, made her milkshakes in the evening, and compared Wordle scores with her every morning.

One day, the social worker told us about a program where hospice residents take a day trip with family, escorted by local paramedics. We went to a conservation area. In the

pictures from that day, she is glowing, obviously excited. We had a picnic, explored, and spotted wildlife. The trip, coming at a time when my mom thought she would never be leaving the walls of this final home of hers, was a meaningful reminder that she was still alive.

My mom and I had both viewed hospice as the place she would go to die. It was not. Hospice was where she regained a sense of normalcy after the hospital, where she enjoyed sunshine and lunch outdoors, laughed and played games with her grandchildren, and was moved to tears when a volunteer played a meaningful song on the piano. Most importantly, it was where she spent her final months living rather than dying.

-Shared by Cindy in loving memory of her mother, Sandra

Showcasing epic home for charity

Christmas-themed tours set for Glenlochie Lodge

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

For the second year in a row, lights will twinkle for charity at Dresden’s Glenlochie Lodge.

And for those who want to get into the holiday spirit, guided tours will be held at the stately Victorian home on Nov. 22 and 23.

The tour will showcase all things Christmas, including at least 25 decorated trees.

“We basically have one for every window,” said Christy Cummings, who owns the home with husband John.

The three-storey brick home was built in 1883 by Alexander “Sandy” McVean. The Cummings purchased the structure

in 2019 and poured their energy into restoring the home.

John said they had to cut down 22 trees, as you could barely see the house through the brush; removed countless layers of wallpaper, went through 75 gallons of paint, restored the original pine floors and installed new plumbing and electrical throughout.

According to John, much of the house remains intact.

“This is all original,” he added, pointing to the intricately carved wood trim in the sitting room. “We painted, fixed and just about replaced everything.”

The pair are happy they chose to call Dresden home.

“When we moved to town, we had so many people help us,” Christy explained, add-

ing they’ve made many friends along the way and wanted to give back.

“We got the volunteer bug all of a sudden,” she added, noting 50 per cent of the money raised will go towards the Dresden Shines Christmas Town fund to help buy lights and decorations. The Dresden Historical Society will benefit from the other half of funds raised.

Time slots for tours on Nov. 22 are 2 p.m.; 3:30 p.m.; 5:30 p.m.; 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. On Nov. 23, tours will be conducted at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased via email at glenlochielodge@gmail.com or by calling 519-384-0874.

The home is located at 384 St. George St. Dresden.

Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice John and Christy Cummings are hosting the second annual Christmas at Glenlochie Lodge Nov. 22 and 23.

Real estate market still sluggish

The Chatham Voice

Home sales continue to underperform in Chatham-Kent compared to last year.

In October, 104 units changed hands, according to information from the

Chatham-Kent Association of Realtors (CKAR). That’s down slightly –nine sales – compared to October of 2024.

October sales for this year were 10.5 per cent off the five-year average and more than 15 per cent be-

low the ten-year average. Through the first 10 months of 2025, sales totalled 1,044 units. That’s down about six per cent from the same period last year.

Barbara McCaughrin, president of CKAR, said

Ashley Wilton Sales Rep 519-437-7564

Elliot Wilton Sales Rep 519-358-8755

sales may be sluggish, but it is transitioning into a buyer’s market. “Sales were down on a year-over-year basis in October, although there has been a marked improvement when looking at the monthly data since the beginning of the year,” McCaughrin said in a media release. “New listings set a new record for the month of October as sellers were more determined than ever to attract buyers to their properties. Overall inventory levels now stand at their highest in a decade as supply continues to outpace demand in our region.”

McCaughrin is also hopeful municipal expansion of affordable housing could help the real estate market.

“In more positive news, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent continues to purchase more land to build affordable and supportive housing, approving the acquisition of four more properties in October,” she said.

The number of new listings saw a gain of 28.4 per cent from October 2024.

There were 298 new residential listings in October 2025.

New listings were 29.3 per cent above the five-

year average and 51.6 per cent above the 10-year average for the month of October.

The average price of homes sold in October 2025 was $419,216, a minor increase of 1.5 per cent from October 2024.

The more comprehensive year-to-date average price was $431,634, a small gain of 1.3 per cent from the first 10 months of 2024.

Active residential listings numbered 564 units on the market at the end of October, up by 18.2 per cent from the end of October 2024. Active listings haven’t been this high in the month of October in more than a decade.

Active listings were 39.1 per cent above the fiveyear average and 68.4 per cent above the 10-year average for the month of October.

59 Talbot St. W., Blenheim • 519-676-5444

A well of frustration

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative

pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Christine Burke says the Ford government has reneged on its promise to test the sediment in North Kent’s fouled water wells. Her comments came following a recent letter from the Ministry of Health, asking residents in North Kent to test their wells for E. coli and coliforms. A resident who received the letter passed it on to Burke.

But it looks like the government isn’t looking to test the bio-accessibility of sediment found in the aquifer’s black shale – something homeowners with dirty wells have been seeking for years.

“They want to check for E. coli and coliforms and ignore the sediment,” Burke told The Voice.

“Testing the sediment to find out if it’s toxic to humans was the whole purpose.

“We want to know what the sediments are doing if we consume or ingest these sediments,” she

emphasized. “We were promised a health hazard investigation by Doug Ford. This was reduced to an all-hazard investigation. It’s just so frustrating.”

The Mitchell’s Bay area resident, whose own well has been spewing black water for a decade, has been dealing with the issue since 2014 when the East Lake St. Clair wind farm went into operation. Burke and her husband Terry have been part of the fight advocating for clean water for residents whose wells have been affected.

Some of wells are now useless and homeowners are forced to truck in water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

However, Burke’s well wasn’t among the those tested by in the ministry’s all-hazard study conducted in 2022.

The letter, sent to all of the North Kent residents whose wells were tested in the study, states that “overall, the water quality in this area, from the sampled homes, does not constitute a health hazard

under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Nevertheless, the ministry recommends that individual well owners exercise vigilance to safeguard against any risks that may be present in an individual’s owner’s well.”

As part of what it calls a “final outreach” the ministry is encouraging residents to undertake E-coli and/or total coliforms” this November, and again in April and August of 2026.

If problems are found, the ministry is encouraging residents to seek help from Chatham-Kent Public Health.

The letter is the latest development in Chatham-Kent’s long-running black-water saga. Residents in the former Dover and Chatham Townships discovered their wells went bad during the construction and subsequent operation of three wind turbine projects.

In the Dover area, the Boralex project came online in 2009, with the East Lake St. Clair one taking

property owner in North Kent who has black water in their

with black water for more than a decade, is giving up hope the

sediment to determine if it is toxic to humans.

shape in 2013. The North Kent Wind project in the former Chatham Township became operational in 2017. Continued on page 12

Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice Mitchell’s Bay area resident Christine Burke displays a well testing kit provided to her by a

well. Burke, who has been living

Ministry of Health will test well

Ford gov’t has reneged: Burke

Continued from page 11

That’s led to the formation of grassroots advocacy groups, protests, court cases and pleas to government to remedy the problem. In response, the province ordered an all-hazard study of affected wells in Chatham Township, overseen by an expert panel, includ-

ing local geoscientist Keith Benn. At the time, Benn stressed that toxic heavy metals found in the water needed to be tested, but his request went unheeded.

In 2023, Burke and Wallaceburg Area Wind Concerns members fundraised to have nine North Kent wells tested by an

independent lab in the United States. The water analysis found significant concentrations of arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, and nickel. Mercury was found in two cases.

Later in 2023, a motion was brought forward by North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville asking the

Ministry of Health to test the well sediment for health hazards.

Two letters requesting the sediment testing be done have been sent to the MOH by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, but no response has been received to date.

In recent times, three wind turbine projects

have been turned down, including one in the Wallaceburg area and two in East Kent. However, the municipality has stopped short of declaring itself an unwilling host to wind turbine farms. To date, 159 Ontario municipalities are prohibiting wind turbine development.

Burke said she is in contact with Ontario ombudsman Tom Baker about the matter. She also points out that while on the campaign trail prior to the 2018 election, Doug Ford wrote a letter to Water Wells First members vowing to complete a health hazard study of affected wells.

OPEN THE DOOR TO A BRIGHTER WINTER

Every year, winter seems to arrive a little faster than we expect. One moment, autumn’s golds are still hanging on; the next, snow piles against the door, the sidewalks turn icy, and the days stretch out long and quiet. For many older adults, that shift brings something deeper than cold; it brings a season that can feel isolating, limiting, and heavy. And at this time of year, as holiday decorations start to appear and traditions pull at the heart, we often hear a familiar worry from future residents: “I’ll miss the holidays at home.” We understand. The holidays are filled with meaning—memories made in kitchens, living rooms, and dining tables that have seen decades of family stories unfold. But choosing a retirement community doesn’t mean leaving those memories behind. At St. Angela’s Meadow Retirement Lodge, it

might actually mean enjoying the season more fully than you have in years. Here, winter looks and feels entirely different. Instead of closing you in, it opens up possibilities. Residents still celebrate the holidays the way they always have, hosting family for cherished gatherings in their suites or welcoming loved ones into our beautifully appointed private dining room. Many still head out to spend time with children and grandchildren, knowing they can return home to a warm, safe space without worrying about icy roads or snow-covered driveways. Inside the Lodge, the season comes alive in its own way. Festive meals are shared with friends and staff who feel like extended family. Holiday activities fill the calendar. Décor brings that unmistakable warmth of the season into every corner. The atmosphere

Winter Closes In Quickly...

Snow piles at the door. Icy sidewalks

But at St. Angela’s Meadow Retirement Lodge, the season opens up—shared meals,

and friends who make life

Don’t spend winter closed off. Open the door to something better.

is lively, comforting, and full of connection. And the only thing missing? The coordinating. The cooking. The cleaning. And the constant worry about winter weather. Imagine a holiday that feels lighter, warmer, and more joyful, not because traditions disappear, but because they are supported. Everything you love about the season is still here, just without the stress of managing it all alone. For many of our residents, this is the first winter in years where they’ve been able to truly enjoy the season. Instead of planning around the weather, they plan around friendships. Instead of feeling closed in, they feel part of something with people who laugh with them at dinner, join them for activities, or simply stop by to say hello. This is what winter can look like at St. Angela’s Meadow: safe, social, meaningful,

and filled with small moments that make life feel brighter. If the months ahead feel daunting or simply too quiet, you’re not alone. Many older adults reach a point where they begin to wonder if there’s a better way to experience winter. A way to stay independent without being isolated. A way to feel connected, supported, and part of a community that genuinely cares. There is. Don’t spend another winter closed off. Open the door to something better, a place where the holidays feel joyful again, where winter feels manageable, and where every day brings the comfort of knowing you belong.

At St. Angela’s Meadow Retirement Lodge, winter isn’t something to fear. It’s something to look forward to. Call us at (519) 352-5225 or visit us today at 20 Merici Way, Chatham, ON.

Make a will: Leaving your own legacy

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

November is Make a Will Month, and the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) said Canadians need to step up to plan for when they’re gone –to help the loved ones they’ll leave behind.

According to a 2023 RBC Royal Trust/National Institute on Ageing report, fewer than half of Canadians (48 per cent) have a will. The numbers are even lower for people aged 35-54, where only about a third do.

On top of that, the study showed that about 35 per cent have appointed a power of attorney.

Local lawyer Brad Langford said the numbers are staggering, adding 43 per cent of couples with children don’t have a will.

“That’s disturbing. It’s really, really important,” he said.

A will gives direction to your wishes after you pass, and can help prevent those you love from having challenging, and potentially expensive, hurdles to leap.

“Unless you have a will, no one is in charge of your property and your estate after you die,” Langford explained. “You end up with this great big gap. No one has the legal authority to deal with any of it.”

Assets, such as vehicles, can just sit and deteriorate. Funds languish in bank accounts, accounts that the banks might just one day take over. That all changes if you have a will and have assigned power of attorney.

“If you have a will, the executor of the will can talk to people. They can talk to the bank, they can talk to the government,” Langford said. “If you don’t have one, no one is legally able to talk to anybody. You need that someone in charge.”

With no will, someone would have to bring a court application forward to get appointed executor, he added.

“With smaller estates, no one may want to step forward to do that,” Langford said. “You could very well have situations where you have money or assets sitting there and no one to do anything about it.”

He called them “zombie assets.” It’s not like the government will

step forward to handle things, Langford said. It’s not their job.

“If there are assets, they just sit there. No one does the tax return,” he said. “What sometimes happens is, for instance, someone has a $10,000 bank account; it just sits there. Eventually, the bank will just take it.”

Langford said the cost of not having a will far outweighs the cost to sit down with a lawyer and get one completed. The first step is to ask about a particular lawyer’s fee to create your will.

“Most lawyers will give you an idea (of cost) for a relatively simple will – leaving everything to your spouse or kids. If you want to do more, it does end up being more ex-

pensive,” he said.

For those with outdated wills – a major change has occurred in your life, such as having children or getting a divorce – Langford recommended updating the document.

“It can get kind of weird. If there’s been a major life change, such as a divorce or a spouse passing away, it’s time to really look at what you have,” he said. “With a divorce, the wills don’t make much sense at all.”

According to the OBA, when there’s a common-law partner, step-children or open-ended family structures, the default rules may not reflect someone’s wishes. Langford said things can get tricky.

Continued on page 16

Creating wills

November is Make a Will Month

Putting wishes down on paper helps avoid unnecessary work and sometimes heartache upon the death of a loved one. Wills allow heirs to act with the decedent’s wishes in mind, and can ensure that assets and possessions will end up in the right hands. Estate planning can be tricky, which is why many people turn to attorneys to get the job done right. Attorneys who specialize in estate planning will no doubt discuss the following topics with their clients.

• Assets owned: Make a list of known assets and figure out which assets are covered by the will and which will have to be passed on according to other estate laws, such as through joint tenancy on a deed or a living trust. For example, life insurance policies or retirement plan proceeds will be distributed to your named beneficiaries. A will also can cover other assets, such as photographs, clothing, cars, and jewelry.

• Guardianship: Parents’ wills should include a declaration of who they want

to become guardians their underage children or dependents.

• Pets: Some people prefer to use their will to also dictate guardianship for their pets and to leave money or property to help care for those pets. However, pets do not have the legal capacity to own property, so one shouldn’t gift money directly to pets in a will.

• Funeral instructions: Settling probate will not happen until after the funeral. Therefore, funeral wishes in a will often go unnoticed, states the legal advisement resource

Law.

• Executor: An executor is a trusted person who will carry out the terms of the will. This person should be willing to serve and be capable of executing the will. People who die without a valid will become intestate. This means the estate will be settled based on the laws of where that person lived, and a court-appointed administrator will serve in the capacity to transfer property. This administrator will be bound by laws and may make decisions that go against the decedent’s wishes. To avoid this out come, a will and other estate planning documents are crucial.

The Angus Reid Institute conducted a survey in 2018 and found that half of Cana dians (51%) have no last will and testament in place, while only one-third (35%) have one that is up to date. A significant number stated the reason they do not have a will is because they consider themselves “too young” to have to concern themselves with making a will (25%), and almost the same number said they do not have sufficient assets to make a will worthwhile (23%) or they do not know how to get started. Not having a will or not having a proper will in place can be problematic.

November is Make a Will Month

What Happens If I Die Without A Will?

If you die without a will, you’re considered to have died ‘intestate’. There is a common misconception that this means

When Should I Make A Will? Adults should make a will as soon as possible. While all adults should have one, here are some key factors that drive people to create their Will: You recently got married or remarried, you are currently in a common-law marriage, you recently

(or divorced), having a child, adopting a pet, or buying a new home, you need to update your will. An outdated will may result in leaving assets to someone you’re no longer associated with such as a former spouse or partner. It’s a good idea to do a yearly check-in to make sure

issue. Sometimes the realization that a will is a necessity comes too late and only after an unfortunate or unforeseen circumstance, such as when an unexpected death or disability occurs.

To avoid the added stress on families during an already emo

Notice of Public Meeting under the Planning Act

Take Notice that the Council of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent will consider amendments to the Chatham-Kent Official Plan and Zoning By-law, under Sections 21 and 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O.1990, c.P.13, concerning the entire Municipality of Chatham-Kent

And Take Further Notice that the proposed amendments will be considered on the date, and at the time and place shown below:

Date: Monday, December 15, 2025

Bowling for Bucks raises $35K

The Chatham Voice

Date: Monday, December 15, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Municipality of Chatham-Kent Council Chambers

The Bowling Stones continue to throw strikes in support of aid organizations.

tion will provide nutritious meals for many here in Chatham Kent,” LeClair, executive director of Outreach for Hunger, said in a media release.

Location: Municipality of Chatham-Kent Council Chambers

Address: 315 King Street West, Chatham ON

Proposed Official Plan Amendment

Policies for Cultural Heritage – Heritage Properties

An Official Plan Amendment to Section 5.3 – Heritage Resources Policies is proposed. The amendments would update Chatham-Kent’s goals and objectives related to built heritage conservation; fulfil a strategic direction of Municipal Council; and, establish policies to guide future decision-making related to heritage conservation.

The proposed policy includes: General heritage policies; Municipally owned heritage buildings; Municipal Heritage Committee; Municipal Heritage Register; Identification and protection of significant heritage buildings; Development and redevelopment of heritage buildings; Heritage Conservation Districts; archaeological resources; and, Implementation.

The proposed policy aligns with the Ontario Heritage Act and outlines specific processes for: Assessing the value of candidate heritage buildings; Protecting heritage buildings; Evaluating proposals to redevelop protected heritage buildings; Evaluating proposals to alter the protected features of heritage buildings.

In addition, the policy confirms roles and responsibilities of Municipal Council, the Municipal Heritage Committee, the Public, and Owners of heritage properties in conformity with the Ontario Heritage Act.

Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment

Increasing permission from Three, to Four Storey Mixed

Buildings in Commercial Zones

Use Commercial/Residential

Increasing permission from Three, to Four Storey Mixed Use Commercial/Residential Buildings in Commercial Zones

On April 12, 2024, the Government of Canada released a new housing plan, called, “Solving the housing crisis: Canada’s Housing Plan”. Certain elements of the plan include incentivizing municipal zoning reform to increase housing density in urban areas. As a part of this plan, the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), was implemented through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). This program, through the federal government, provides funding directly to municipalities who have submitted successful applications to the program. Chatham-Kent has been approved to receive $10,057,602.90 through the HAF, for which receipt of grant payments is subject to the terms of a contribution agreement with the CMHC.

Chatham-Kent has committed to establish as-of-right permissions for mixed use commercial/residential developments to four or more stories high along key corridors in Urban Areas. Chatham-Kent already permits a mixed-use commercial/residential use in several Urban Commercial zones, and defines the use as the following:

“MIXED USE COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL BUILDING” means a building containing on the ground or first floor a non-residential use permitted in the zone and a dwelling unit(s) above the non-residential use or behind the non-residential use. However, the residential use on the ground or first floor, may not be more than 50% of the gross floor area.

Proposed Zoning Amendments include:

• Change the maximum permitted building height in the Urban Commercial (Office and Service) (UC(OS)) from 10.67 m to 15.24 m.

• Change the maximum permitted building height in the Urban Commercial (Office and Service) (UC(OS)) from 10.67 m to 15.24 m

• Change the maximum permitted building height in the Urban Commercial (Highway Commercial First Density) (UC(HC1)) from 11 m to 15.24 m.

• Change the maximum permitted building height in the Urban Commercial (Highway Commercial First Density) (UC(HC1)) from 11 m to 15.24 m

• Change the maximum permitted building height in the Urban Commercial (Highway Commercial Second Density) (UC(HC2)) from 7.92 m to 15.24 m.

• Change the maximum permitted building height in the Urban Commercial (Highway Commercial Second Density) (UC(HC2)) from 7.92 m to 15.24 m

• Change the maximum permitted building height in the Urban Commercial (Community Commercial) (UC(CC)) from 12.19 m to 15.24 m.

• Change the maximum permitted building height in the Urban Commercial (Community Commercial) (UC(CC)) from 12.19 m to 15.24 m

General Zoning By-law Amendments are also proposed. These amendments include:

• Adding clarifying language in Section 4.2(7) – Accessory Uses in Residential High Density Zones, to address Commercial floor area regulations for mixed use commercial/residential buildings.

• Adding “Laundromat” as a permitted use in the Urban Commercial (Central Business District Zone).

Information and Providing Comment

For more information about these matters, including information about appeal rights, contact Jeremy Lefaive, Planner I, Planning Services at 519.360.1998 or ckplanning@chatham-kent.ca. A full copy of the proposed amendments are available at www.chatham-kent.ca Mail should be directed to Municipality of Chatham-Kent Planning Services, 315 King Street West, Box 640, Chatham ON N7M 5K8.

The Bowling Stones, comprised of Jeff Burrows, Paul Laprise, Bruce Cockburn and Brenda LeClair, recently held the 10th annual Bowling for Bucks event at Chatham Bowlerama, raising more than $35,000.

This year’s beneficiaries are Chatham Outreach for Hunger, Community Living Chatham-Kent and R.O.C.K missions.

“This support is critical to our continuing to meet the growing need for support. Food insecurity is a growing issue and this dona-

“We are deeply grateful to the Bowling Stones for supporting CLC-K again this year and to everyone who helps make this event a success. Congratulations to the Bowling Stones on 10 years of meaningful community impact,” Jenny McGregor from Community Living Chatham-Kent added. R.O.C.K Missions officials also said they were “grateful for the generous support from the Bowling Stones and those who participated in this annual event.”

Achieving peace of mind

Continued from page 13

“It’s really important that you have a properly drafted will. You could end up with some very unfortunate situations otherwise,” he said.

Langford also recommended steering clear of make-a-will kits, online or in hard copy format.

“I don’t recommend you do those kits because people often try to change them. They may not be happy with the easy answer and may try to do something with the software. If you mess with them, that’s when things can go wrong,” Langford said.

That could lead to the use of phrasing that is subject to multiple ways to be interpreted, including in court.

“That’s a risk. If it is ambiguous,

you could end up having to go to court. That’s a disaster,” he said. This month, the OBA is having lawyers lead estate-planning seminars across the province.

“Every year Make A Will Month mobilizes OBA members provincewide in a shared mission to help Ontarians understand how important having an up-to-date will, prepared with the personalized attention of a lawyer, is to preserving their wishes and preventing unnecessary complications,” said OBA President Katy Commisso in a media release. “These free sessions are about more than providing practical legal information — they’re about community engagement that empowers people to take steps that will truly protect their family, their legacy, and their peace of mind.”

place an order please visit our website or call

For more information about these matters, including information about appeal rights, contact Jeremy Lefaive, Planner I, Planning Services at 519.360.1998 or ckplanning@chatham-kent.ca A full copy of the proposed amendments are available at www.chatham-kent.ca Mail should be directed to Municipality of Chatham-Kent Planning Services, 315 King Street West, Box 640, Chatham ON N7M 5K8.

Dated at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent this 19th day of November, 2025

A Beattie boost!

The Chatham Voice

The Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent (CTCF-CK) recently received a six-figure boost.

The James A. Beattie Foundation pledged $110,000 in support of the newly established Endowment Fund.

This “transformational gift” will help ensure the long-term sustainability of essential programs and services at the Children’s Treatment Centre that are not covered by government funding, officials said.

Areas not covered include social work, which provides families with guidance and support to navigate complex systems and access needed programs and services; music therapy, where music is utilized as a therapeutic tool and creative outlet; and recreational therapy, which offers inclusive programs such as sledge

hockey, dance, baseball, and sailing to promote skills, social connections, and quality of life.

Each year, the Foundation funds these services. The creation of the Endowment Fund will allow these programs to continue in perpetuity, with investment income providing ongoing annual support.

“We are deeply grateful to the James A. Beattie Foundation for this remarkable gift,” said Mike Genge, president & CEO of the CTCF-CK. “This contribution represents more than financial support - it’s an investment in the future of children and families in Chatham-Kent. It ensures that vital programs like music therapy, recreational therapy and social work will continue to make a difference for generations to come.”

The Endowment Fund marks the next chapter for the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation following the successful

completion of its Build for the Kids capital campaign and the current construction of the new Children’s Treatment Centre facility.

Contributed image

From left, Greg Davenport, member of the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent Foundation board; Mike Genge, foundation president & CEO; and Doug Kennedy of the James A. Beattie Foundation celebrate the latter group’s $110,000 gift to the former.

Handbags effort raises $38K

Chatham Voice

A sold-out crowd of 300 guests helped make this year’s Handbags for Hospice fundraiser the most successful yet, raising a record $38,150 to support people receiving care from the Chatham-Kent Hospice.

Hosted recently by a dedicated group of volunteers, the evening featured a dozen games

of bingo, with designer handbags as prizes; a raffle table with prizes donated by local businesses and community members; and a Platinum Purse Draw for a Michael Kors weekender bag and accessories.

“We are so thankful to the planning committee and the community for their support of Handbags for Hospice,” said Brock McGregor, execu-

tive director of the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation, in a media release.

“A special thank you to those who sponsored handbags in memory of loved ones.”

Over the past seven years, Handbags for Hospice has raised more than $233,000 to support families facing end of life.

The next Handbags for Hospice event to take place will be the spring.

The fall event raised more than

Contributed image

From left, Jessica Smith, executive director of Chatham-Kent Hospice, is pictured here with Fall Handbags for Hospice committee members Brenda Anderson, Dianne Millard, Barb Anderson, Karn Graham, Deb Vitek, Carol Hendricks, Barb McEwan, and Chantelle Matthew.

$38,000 for the hospice.

Coats for Kids underway

The Chatham Voice

Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids is underway, as more than 400 new winter coats were distributed in our area recently.

In total, Knights of Columbus members expect to distribute more than 40,000 coats throughout the country by the end of the winter season, thanks to its network of more than 180,000 members and 2,000 councils in Canada.

“Each year, we see firsthand how something that appears so simple can make a big difference in the life of a young child,” said David Gelinas, state deputy for the Knights of Columbus in Ontario, in a release. “Thanks to the generosity of our brother Knights across Canada, we’re proud to continue ensuring that no child has to face the coldest months of the year without a warm coat.”

To purchase the new coats, Knights of Columbus councils have raised funds through community fundraisers held throughout the year. Based on its 2025 campaign objectives, the organization is on track to exceed more than 1.8 million

winter coats distributed to children in Canada and the United States since the program was founded in 2009.

Dresden student gets $3K boost

Local nursing student Abby McGee recently received a boost.

Thanks to Municipal Retirees Organization Ontario (MROO), McGee is getting a $3,000 scholarship to help with her post-secondary expenses.

McGee, of Dresden, is at school at Lambton College.

She is one of 40 students across the province to benefit from the MROO program.

MROO is a not-for-profit corporation who speaks on behalf of all Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) pensioners and provides services and benefits to more than 36,000 members.

QUeen Milling advances

Local firm QUeen Million is still in the Ontario Made Awards.

The business is up for the Consumer Awareness Award. The winner will be announce

by the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) group in early December.

From Aug, 25 until Oct. 5, online voting took place for each category for the awards.

For the past two decades QUeen Milling has produced various types of gluten-free flour.

RONA gives to Habitat C-K

The RONA Foundation’s Home Sweet Home effort has led to multiple donations from RONA stores to Habitat for Humanity Chatham-Kent.

The campaign raised more than $530,000 across the country, including $17,000 here in southwestern Ontario.

Of those funds, Habitat C-K will receive more than $1,000 from RONA Chatham and in excess of $900 from RONA Wallaceburg.

“We would like to sin-

cerely thank our employees and customers for their generosity and commitment. Thanks to their mobilization and spirit of solidarity, we are able to support hundreds of vulnerable families and individuals by helping to revitalize their living environments or facilitate access to housing,” said Josée Lafitte, director of the RONA

Foundation, in a media release.

• 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.

Contribute image

Knights of Columbus members from Southwestern Ontario gathered in Tilbury recently to distribute more than 400 new winter coats as part of the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program.

Community Events

Thursday, November 20, 2025:

• Join us every Thursday Afternoon for a Jam Session at the Merlin Legion. Everyone welcome between 1–4pm and consider staying for an early dinner! Donations are welcome. Bring your singing voice or musical instrument.

• Frost Fest at the Wallaceburg and District Museum, 505 King Street, Wallaceburg. 4pm-8pm. Made By Hand Market. Snowflake Sleuth Scavenger Hunt. Museum Open Late ’til 8! Free admission to Market and Museum.

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am-9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am-1:30pm. Come check out our daily specials. Senior Euchre starts at 1:00pm. Members & non-members welcome.

• The Chatham-Kent Quilters’ Guild meeting at St. Paul’s Congregational Church, 450 Park Ave W, Chatham. Doors open at 6:00. Meeting 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome, the fee for non-members is $10. Enjoy all of the other fun at our meeting. You are welcome to contact us through our Facebook page or our website at www. ckquiltguild.com for more information.

• Euchre at the Tilbury Legion at 1:00pm. 4 Stewart St., Tilbury. Everyone welcome, no need to be a member.

• Trans Day of Remembrance will be observed with a candlelight vigil under the Trans flag at the Municipal Centre, 315 King Street, Chatham. A time to remember those lost to anti-trans violence, to honour their lives, and to recommit ourselves to creating safer, more affirming communities. 5:30pm.

• Lunch at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St. from 11am1:30pm. Daily specials and menu items available. Everyone welcome.

Friday, November 21, 2025:

• Chatham-Kent Public Library’s Wallaceburg Branch announces a special ‘Learn to Curl’ storytime. 2:00-3:00pm directed toward children ages five-eight at the Sydenham Community Curling Club, 7379 N River Line in Wallaceburg. For more information or to register, call 519-627-5292 or contact your local library branch.

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am-9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am-1:30pm. Supper served 4:00-6:00pm. No orders after 5:30pm. Tonight’s specials: smoked sausage or fish & chips, $15.00(HST included). Take out available by calling 519-351-8733 or 519-351-5639. Fun Darts at 7:00pm. Members & non-members welcome.

• All you can eat sliders, 2 pieces of chicken, salad and dessert for $20 at the Tilbury Legion. 4 Stewart St., Tilbury. Everyone welcome, no need to be a member!

• Lunch at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St from 11am-1:30pm. Fish & Chips and other daily specials and menu items available. Friday night supper is BBQ Chicken thighs with potatoes, vegetable, coleslaw and a bun. Dine ins $14 and pickups $15. All meals are served at 6pm. Please call 519-3528291 to order.

Saturday, November 22, 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.

• South Detroit – The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band is playing at the Kiwanis Theatre, Chatham at 8pm. A portion of the proceeds helps support Childcan. Tickets: $38.50 (incl. fees). Available through www.cktickets.com or call the Box Office at 519-354-8338.

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 9:00am-9:30pm. LA Bazaar 9:00am1:00pm. Meat draws 3:30, 4:30 & 5:30pm. Kitchen open 3:00pm-5:30pm. Entertainment by Exit 31 band from 4:30-9:30pm. Members & non-members welcome.

• Sam Polley and the Old Tomorrows at 8:00pm at the Mary Webb Centre for the Arts in Highgate. Drawing their sound from 50”s and 60’s rockability, old country twang and Motown swing they blended genres to create an upbeat boogie with groovy hook. Tickets advance $40/$45 at the door. More info for re tickets at marywebbcentre.ca.

• Meat draw at the Tilbury Legion, 3:00pm. 4 Stewart St., Tilbury. Everyone welcome, no need to be a member.

• Active Christians with a Mission [International and local outreaches] are holding their Annual Meeting and Roast Beef Dinner at 5 pm at Knox Presbyterian Church, Wallaceburg. Adults $20 children under 12 $10. Join us for good food, fun, draws and auctions. For tickets contact E. Lewis at 519-627-6325 or elaine_r_lewis@yahoo.ca.

• Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe at the Blenheim Senior Centre. Free admission, 9am-2pm. Santa’s Gift Shoppe with 20+ vendors, jingle jangle jewelery, reindeer bake shoppe, vintage home decor, Mrs. Claus’s Lunch room & more! 55 Jane St., Blenheim.

• Guest speaker Mary Frost at Running Creek Ministry @ 6pm. 29292 Running Creek Rd. Wallaceburg, ON. Contact: 519-328-5672. Email: runningcreekministry@gmail.com.

Sunday, November 23, 2025:

• All you can eat brunch at the Tilbury Legion. 10:00am-1:00pm. $15.00 Three and under free. 4 Stewart St., Tilbury. Everyone welcome, no need to be a member!

• Brunch at the Chatham Granite Club, 41 William Street. N. Served 10:30am12.30pm. All you can eat. Adults $15; children 4 -10 $6; under 4 are free. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy our first brunch of the curling season. We accept cash, debit or credit cards.

• Guest speaker Mary Frost at Running Creek Ministry @ 10:30am. 29292 Running Creek Rd. Wallaceburg, ON. Contact: 519-328-5672. Email: runningcreekministry@gmail.com.

• Breakfast at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St from 9amNoon. All meals are cooked to order. Everyone welcome.

Tuesday, November 25, 2025:

• Chatham Legion Branch 642 will be closed for the day for internal maintenance. See you tomorrow!

• The Chatham Camera Club will feature Keith Blackwell, who will be presenting an architectural photography tutorial at Grace Christian Reformed Church, 255 Tweedsmuir Ave West, Chatham. In addition, it’s club print night: bring in a print of any size, or any subject for display and discussion. Doors open at 6:45pm, meeting at 7:00pm. All photographers are welcome to attend! Call (519) 350-1672 for further information.

Wednesday, November 26, 2025:

• Kent County Stamp Club meeting at the Active Lifestyle Center, 20 Merritt Ave. Chatham. 7:30pm-9:00pm. New Members and guests are welcome. Our members collect Canadian, USA, and World Stamps, Covers & Postcards. For more information contact President Dennis Marek (drsam2945@gmail.com) (519-627-1429).

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am-9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am-1:30pm. Daily special is meatloaf dinner. Come check out our other daily specials. Fun darts 7:00pm. Members & non-members welcome.

• Chili and garlic toast at the Tilbury Legion. 4 Stewart St., Tilbury. Free delivery in Tilbury. Everyone welcome, no need to be a member!

Fun Stuff

59. Division of a group into opposing factions

60. Vietnamese offensive

CLUES DOWN 1. Horse-drawn carriage

2. Prejudices

3. Peacefully 4. University athletic official

5. Soldiers

6. Large mollusk

7. Take out again

CLUES ACROSS

1. Popular broadcast network

4. Train line

10. Go quickly

11. Straightforward

12. Canadian province

14. Swiss river

15. It can be straight or curved

16. Edit

18. Utter repeatedly

22. Gotten up 23. Sea vessel

24. Agents of one’s demise

26. Not out

27. Something to scratch

28. A round water pot

30. Slang for cylindrical green fruit

31. Promotions

34. Masses of matter

36. Soviet Socialist Republic

37. Nightstand item

39. The content of cognition

40. Arab ruler

41. Northern U.S. state

42. Chewed in small bites

48. Hawaiian island

50. More thin

51. Of one

52. Rigid bracelet or anklet

53. Barbary sheep

54. Not even

55. Atomic #106

56. Haggle

58. Boxing’s GOAT

8. Sour or bitter in taste

9. Songwriter Tunstall

12. Husk of wheat

13. Flexible covering in some birds

17. Energy

19. Night monkey genus

20. Small nails

21. Colorless volatile liquid

25. In a way, changes integrity

29. Mark Wahlberg’s stuffed animal

31. Remember it

32. “Good Will Hunting” lead man

33. Pleasant facial expression

35. Sea vessel

38. Lacking poetic beauty

41. Tall, swift and slender dog

43. Sports personality Michelle

44. Robber

45. Liquefied natural gas

46. Snakelike fish

47. Sediment at bottom of a liquid

49. Crimean seaport

56. Bad grades

57. Popular S. Korean rapper

Top tree chosen in C-K

The Chatham Voice

Oak trees earned top marks in the recent Nature CK Best Tree in CK contest.

Taking top spot was a swamp white oak, nominated by Larry Garside. The massive tree is located on Clear Creek Road on Scouts Canada property at Camp Cataraqui south of Ridgetown.

Nature CK officials say the tree is thought to be at least 200 years old.

Second place goes to a Shumard oak nominated by Ross Simpson. This tree is located in Tecumseh Park.

A black walnut took third place. Nominated by Satish and Marilyn Menon, and by Connie Badour, this venerable tree is

located in Maple Leaf Cemetery in Old ML Ward F.

Judges for the event included Mike Smith, president of Nature CK; Larry Cornelis, past president of Nature CK; Greg VanEvery, conservation services co-ordinator for the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Area; and Brock McGregor, a C-K councillor and executive director of the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation.

Nature CK officials said they received submissions from across Chatham-Kent, accompanied by “wonderful heartfelt stories of family memories, history and personal connections.

“Choosing a winner was not an easy task – every tree had its own qualities and attributes which made it a contender. The

judges considered several attributes before coming to their decision – the tree’s age, size, historical value, species importance, esthetic appeal, commu-

nity connection, and personal significance were all factors,”

Nature CK officials said in a media release.

Contributed image

This huge oak tree, located on Clear Creek Road, took top spot in Nature CK’s Best Tree in CK contest. Mayor Darrin Canniff, left, is seen here with judges Greg VanEvery, Brock McGregor, Mike Smith and Larry Cornellis.

Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice

Members of the Branch 642 Royal Canadian Legion Pipe Band are seen during the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Chatham cenotaph on Nov. 11.

Mandatory addiction treatment?

If mandatory treatment comes to be in Ontario, Chatham-Kent is interested

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

If Ontario opts to create a pilot program to force the mentally ill and addicted to get help, Chatham-Kent could be on

Deborah Marie Carnegie

68, Sunday, November 9, 2025 Life Transitions

James Henry Sowinski

board.

That’s the hope of North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville, who was expected to introduce a notice of motion at Monday’s council meeting to see if the municipality can take part if such a pro-

90, Monday, November 10, 2025 Life Transitions

Professor Dr. Akshai Aggarwal

82, Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Life Transitions

Ethne Erleen Reed

87, Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Life Transitions

Ida Marie Vsetula

85, Thursday November 13, 2025 Life Transitions

Buddy Robert Butler

86, Friday, October 17, 2025 Life Transitions

Joan Delida Gustin

73, Sunday, November 9, 2025 Nicholls Funeral Home

Patricia "Pat" Burk

96, Saturday, November 8, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home

Victoria Ave, Chatham (519) 352-2390

Kingsville, Wheatley & Chatham kendrickfuneralhome.com

gram comes to fruition.

“What’s going on right now isn’t working,” said Jubenville, who, along with councillors Michael Bondy and Ryan Doyle, has been exploring local addiction services. “For those who suffer from ad-

OBITUARIES

Cardie Teetzel

95, Friday, November 7, 2025

McKinlay Funeral Home

Shirley Jeanne Kitzul

85, Wednesday, November 5, 2025

McKinlay Funeral Home

Eric James Simpson

86, Thursday, November 6, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home

Peter Joseph Keller

74, Thursday, November 6, 2025

McKinlay Funeral Home

William Martin Lankhof

72, Thursday, November 6, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home

Henry Blommers Friday, November 7, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home

Murray Brooks Friday, November 7, 2025

McKinlay Funeral Home

Ewan Reid

75, Sunday, November 9, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home

badderfuneralhome.com

Bothwell - 519-695-2716

diction and mental health, there is no way out of it other than treatment.”

Jubenville pointed out that society doesn’t “cast out” people who suffer from dementia or who have a brain injury.

“We look after them. It’s

worth it if you can save a life.”

Joan Normandin

88, Wednesday, November 12, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home

Susan Sherwood O'Brien

75, Saturday, November 8, 2025 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Mike Toth

84, Tuesday, November 4, 2025 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Mike "Snoman" Yakubowich 65, Saturday, November 8, 2025 Badder Funeral Home

Bryce Baker

91, Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Blenheim Community Funeral Home

Karen McKay

64, Monday November 10th, 2025 Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

Audrey Derbyshire 99, Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

Douglas Maynard

81, Wednesday November 12th, 2025 Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

See full obituaries at chathamvoice.com/ obituaries

their faculties.

Late last month, Windsor city council directed staff to write a letter to the province asking if Windsor can be considered for a mandatory treatment program. This follows on the heels of the City of Brampton requesting the province allow for involuntary treatment.

“What’s

going on right now isn’t working.”

As well, in October, Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) Group passed a comprehensive motion calling on the province to probe solutions to Ontario’s homelessness crisis and to investigate the possibility of establishing mandatory treatment for the addicted and mentally ill.

“So, it behooves us as a society to say, you need help,” he added. “We want to help and we’ll help you. So, to me it makes sense. Is that for everyone? No. But there’s certainly some people that would make sense for. I’m not an expert but I agree with the concept of looking at it.”

- Coun. Rhonda Jubenville

Involuntary treatment for mental health and addicted people has become a hot topic in Canada as municipalities grapple with the fallout of homeless encampments and social disorder resulting from drug and alcohol addiction.

Mayor Darrin Canniff, who is part of the OBCM, said he agrees with involuntary treatment for extreme cases, but is unsure if Ontario has the faculties to handle it.

“We want to help and we’ll help you. So, to me it makes sense. Is that for everyone? No.”

- Mayor Darrin Canniff

British Columbia is already allowing mentally ill and addicted people to be detained in psychiatric facilities, and Alberta and Manitoba are all looking at implementing similar measures.

Canniff compared the plight of the severely mentally ill and addicted to people suffering with dementia and Alzheimer’s who are housed against their will in specialized facilities.

“We don’t ask them if we can do this,” the mayor said. “We put them in... they are going to hurt themselves or harm themselves or others. It’s the same thing here. They’re in a state of mind where they don’t have control of

Last month, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown called on the province to consider launching a pilot project that would allow first responders to place people with mental health disorders, addictions issues and brain injuries into treatment facilities against their will, if found to be necessary by a doctor.

However, this type of care raises legal questions.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, a registered charity that advocates for people’s civil liberties and human rights, has said this strategy is “unconstitutional” and “unlawful,” according to previously published reports.

Classifieds

Obituary

In Memoriam

For Sale Help Wanted Help Wanted

It is with great regret that we share the sad news that Audrey Isobel Derbyshire passed away in her 100th year. After almost 80 years in Brantford, she moved to Chatham in 2023 to be closer to her family, first to Village on the Thames and most recently to St Andrews Residence. Remembrance Day will forever have an even more special meaning to our family. Audrey is survived by daughter Cathy and husband Bob Telfer, granddaughter Cory and her husband Mark Woodrow, great-granddaughter Amanda Woodrow and her fiancé Taylor Broad and great-grandson Jamie Woodrow. She is also remembered by the families of nieces and nephews Larry and Barb MacGirr, Maureen MacGirr and Margo and Doug McKnight. Born to the late Herbert and Frances Godden, Audrey was predeceased in 2019 by her husband of 71 years, William (Bill) Henry Derbyshire and by her daughter Sandra (Sandy) Lynn Parker in 2023. She was also predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and Bert MacGirr, and brother-in-law Frederick Lynn Derbyshire. Audrey was very proud of her nurse’s training completed in Brantford in 1948 and loved to tell the story of meeting Bill, her first hospital admission as a new graduate shortly after he returned from his war service. The family would like to express appreciation to our Chatham friends, especially Marsha, Gayle and Mary Alice whose frequent visits always brightened her day. We’d also like to thank the staff at St Andrew’s Residence for their kindness and compassionate care. We will say a final good-bye to our Audie as she is laid to rest with her beloved Bill and Sandy in Mount Hope Cemetery, Brantford. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Alexander & Houle Funeral Home, 245 Wellington St. West, Chatham, 519-352-2710. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Diabetes Canada or the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation would be greatly appreciated. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.alexanderandhoulefuneralhome.ca

Happy 60th Anniversary

(November 20, 2025) in Heaven, Morley (June 22, 1942 - July 7, 2025)

I loved you then, I love you now, I will always love you, Rosie

WANTED FARM HELP

2 Farm Labourers wanted, Hand Planting and Hand Harvesting of vegetable crops. Work is in Chatham area. 1 - 2 years experience needed. Hiring for April 2026 season. $17.60/ hour. Full time seasonal. Apply in person at either Sarah’s Farm Market Stores. 31 Sandys Street or 413 Queen Street, Chatham, ON or email koning.enterprises@bell.net.

Christmas Trees

Chatham Baptist Chapel

New Children’s Sunday School Has Opened! 11am each Sunday.

Christmas trees

Wanted

**Free ride pick up available if needed. Call 519-354-1999. chathambaptistchapel.com

SNOW REMOVAL WANTED: someone to remove snow from a concrete driveway and sidewalk when called. A snow blower and/ or hand shovel may be used. We will supply hand shovels if needed. We live in the North East off McNaughton. 519-351-4290. No Sunday Calls. Thank You Kindly.

Miller Christmas Trees! New Location: corner of Richmond and West St., Chatham. 11:00am-6:00pm. Call 519-437-1008 for more info. Christmas pots also available.

Have non-restricted firearms? Fully licensed collector will pick-uppreserve history, don’t destroy it! Estates/private transactions welcome. Call 519-359-8705. SNOW BLOWER - 357 cc / 28 HP. 28-inch. Manual or electric start. Steering control. 26 operating hours. $950. 519437-8214. Silk Cemetery Saddle Arrangements. Everyday/ Holidays. Readyto-go. Many colours available. $40. 519-3543411

MORTGAGES / LOANS

NEED GROUT CLEANING??

Call Alec! Over 25 years experience. We are local. Carpet & Area Rugs. Call now for Holiday Entertaining. 226-229-0451. email greenand spotless@gmail. com.

Needed Immediately. Part-Time Cook, approximately 25hrs per week. Experience required. Also, needed, Casual Part-Time Cook Tuesdays to Saturday. email resume to: legionbranch642@ gmail.com. Phone 519-3518733.

Carriers Wanted: The Chatham Voice is looking for carriers in the following areas: 1 - Henry O’Way, 2 - Craven/Coastworth,3 - Lansdown, Sparks, 4- Adelaide, Ellwood, Stanley. email: michelle@ chathamvoice. com!

CONSIGNMENT OR BUY: Wanted: Coin collections and silver coins. Call Paul 289228-2817.

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 519-397-2020.

Black Friday Special

Showcasing local military history

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Two new storyboards are paying homage to Chatham-Kent’s military history.

Located at the cenotaph on King Street in downtown Chatham, one tells the tale of how the monument came to be. The other details a battle that took place at the location as part of the War of 1812. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 642 president Len Maynard said the Chatham cenotaph is one of a kind – the only Canadian cenotaph located on a

battlefield.

“I don’t know of any others,” said the 30-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran. “Chief Tecumseh was wounded here,” he added, noting the esteemed Indigenous warrior who fought alongside the British, perished at the Battle of the Thames the following day.

The other storyboard offers a brief history of how local residents came together to create the 190ton granite memorial to honour veterans after the First World War. It was officially unveiled on Nov. 8, 1923.

The plaques are part of the improvements undertaken at the Chatham cenotaph in the last couple of years following a bout of vandalism. A wrought-iron fence has been installed, a vibrant mural graces a nearby wall, poppies adorn the utility box and state-ofthe-art camera surveillance is on site.

According to Maynard, he and Mayor Darrin Canniff have worked together on the upgrades.

“The mayor and I have had many discussions on that and the way forward, we thought, is to educate the public,” May-

nard said. “There’s so much history in this area. A lot of people don’t realize how important Chatham-Kent (then Upper Canada) was in the War of 1812.”

Mayor Darrin Canniff said the improvements, notably the storyboards, are being made to honour and to educate.

“We want to make it so people want to come and visit them,” the mayor said of the cenotaph plaques. “When people learn about our military history, it’s a powerful tool.”

Canniff said the upgrades in Chatham have

boosted security and made the monument more attractive.

“It certainly improves the site a lot,” the mayor explained. “That was our objective.” The two Chatham plaques are the first to be installed in C-K and more are on the way, telling the many stories of local heroes all the way from the War of 1812 to present day. Five storyboards will take shape in Chatham, and other C-K communities will be getting them as well.

Following approval by council in 2023, Chatham-Kent has spent

$200,000 improving cenotaphs across the municipality. On top of that in Chatham, a vibrant mural has been created on the west side of the cenotaph thanks to Hydro One Community Fund donations made on behalf of the mayor and Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor. Crosswalks paying tribute to Canada’s veterans have also been installed in Chatham, Wallaceburg, Tilbury, Erieau and Dresden, Canniff said the municipality is looking to work with all of C-K’s 11 legions on the storyboard project.