Farmers young and old were making a splash during the 50th Anniversary of the Thamesville
tors vie to log the fastest time in the relay which features pulling a tractor, a mini bed race, stacking wood, a bag race,
with water for the grand finale. For more on the event see pages 13 to 16.
HEATHER WRIGHT/The Herald
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority says the aquifer which feeds private wells in the Dresden and Dawn-Euphemia areas is “highly vulnerable to any contamination” and it’s calling on the province to ensure there is water monitoring at the old Dresden dump.
That comes as two provincial leaders came to Dresden urging the community to continue the fight to force the provincial government to repeal the law which allows the Mississauga company to move ahead without a full Environmental Assessment.
(See Aquifer on page 2)
The authority submitted its concerns to the Environmental Registry of Ontario in May. At the time, the province was introducing Bill 5 which, in part, reneged on a promise to the communities to force York1 Environmental to complete all the steps of a full Environmental Assessment before setting up its construction recycling centre and installing a 20-acre landfill.
The conservation authority submission was one of 2,162 received about the York1 EA in the 30day public review. Only four submissions were in support of the project. The Herald asked for copies of those submissions. At press time, we had not received them.
The ERO says there were a number of concerns
voiced including the need to look at alternatives for waste management in Ontario, concerns about York1’s plan to bring material in from all of Ontario instead of just Chatham-Kent as the original Environmental Compliance Approval states, how close the operation is to Dresden and “the proximity to the floodplain and the impact of severe weather” and “the potential impacts to water quality, specifically the underlying aquifer, Molly’s Creek and the Sydenham River.”
Ken Phillips, the general manager of the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, says there is legislation which protects aquifers feeding municipal water systems. And the authority also watches the affects on private wells. Phillips says the former Dresden dump is in the area of a local aquifer.
“There is a potential for an aquifer in the area to be highly vulnerable to any contamination. So we would hope that the province would acknowledge this and make sure that when they’re planning the site, measures are taken to do a lot of monitoring, to do whatever mitigation measures they could do in the area,” Phillips says. That would include drilling specific wells with specific monitoring equipment, he says. He adds there are monitoring systems like this in the watershed and the company “wouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
HEATHER WRIGHT/The Herald
A Dresden Kings Number 10 jersey is wrapped around the leg of the Ken Houston statue. At its feet, pucks, flowers and hand written notes all bearing the number of Decker Beatty. The 12 year-old known for his kind heart and being a role model died after
being injured in a July 3 ATV accident. July 6, family, friends, the sporting community and his classmates poured into the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre to say goodbye to the young man who had been hailed as a “humble...natural born leader.”
SEE REMEMBERING PG 3
CON’T FROM PG 1
The Ministry of the Environment has voiced the same concern in the past. Documents show in March 2021, the ministry asked York1 to do a detailed hydrological study.
Bruce Harman, an engineer with the ministry voiced concerns about naturally occurring methane which could pose problems for up to 24 homeowners with wells in the region.
One couple, Dave and Shari Willson, have already dealt with methane issues at their home across the street from the site.
“The owner/operator should also ensure that future planned activity for the expanding landfill site will not alter the accumulation or flow migration of the naturally occurring gases at depth that may become a concern for the neighbour properties (water wells) located at least 500 meters from the property,” wrote Harman in 2021.
“The sampling and analysis of water from the domestic water wells located on residential properties, as a minimum, immediately adjacent to the southwestern landfill property boundary should occur as permit-
ted by the water well owners, given the reported flow direction of the contact aquifer is from beneath the landfill property in a southwest direction toward these properties.”
Phillips told The Herald that neighbours of the site should be doing water well testing now so they will have a baseline if there is a problem in the future. Dresden CARED, a community group fighting the York1 plans, was busy collecting water samples in the area July 7.
The conservation authority is also concerned about the potential for runoff entering Molly’s Creek,
a local drain and eventually the Sydenham River. Phillips says the company’s plans should include plantings and buffer zones to stop runoff going into the natural water courses.
“We would hope they take those steps in this case, because there would be impacts if there’s a major flood in the area because a portion of the York1 site does lie within the Flood Hazard Area,” said Phillips.
“You’re talking about something flowing directly into, ultimately, the Sydenham River. So, we would hope that they work with us and
other agencies and municipalities, Chatham-Kent specifically, to make sure that steps are taken to ensure that any potential hazards are dealt with at the source rather than dealing with further downstream.”
Phillips added it would be unlikely a new landfill project or even a private home would be built in a flood plan in the area.
The conservation authority’s concerns, like the other 2,157, were read by ERO officials. It still approved the province request to develop the York1 project without a full assessment.
HEATHER WRIGHT/The Herald
Both the Ontario’s NDP and the Green Party are promising to put pressure on Ford government to repeal Bill 5.
Marit Stiles and Mike Schreiner visited Dresden in early July as they tried to ramp up pressure on the Ford government to repeal the bill which removes the promised Environmental Assessment of York1 Environmental’s project at the former Dresden dump.
The NDP Leader told the crowd at a rally July 3, Dresden is the canary in the coal mine – a warning to other Ontario communities about what will happen because of Bill 5.
The province introduced and passed Bill 5, the Unleashing the Economy Act in the spring sitting of the Ontario Legislature. In it, the Conservative government reneges on a promise to require York1 Environmental to complete a full Environmental Assessment of its project at the former Dresden dump.
The company says a small crew is at work doing grounds clean-up, grading, removing legacy debris and installation of basic environmental controls. It plans to use the site this year, under the same Environmental Compliance Approvals rules the former owner had.
But the company also is moving ahead with its regenerative recycling project which could bring as many as 700 trucks of construction and soil waste to the old dump tucked between houses on Irish School Road.
Stiles told the crowd of about 150 people, the rest of the province should take note of what’s going on in Dresden, calling it ‘the canary in the coal mine’ on environmental issues in the province.
Stiles says over the summer
the NDP is going to work to put pressure on the Ford Government to repeal Bill 5.
“This is (Ford’s) playbook. He says one thing like he did on the Greenbelt. He promised us he wasn’t to do anything there, turned around and introduced legislation to carve up the Greenbelt. This is no
different.
“And the reason I want to mention that to you is because you know what happened with the Greenbelt? We got him to reverse course. We won that one,” Stiles said as the crowd applauded.
“How did we do it? Just like this. People who care about the environment, parents who care about the future with their kids, farmers who feed our families, First Nations, who deserve first prior and informed consent on any project on this land; we came together, and we organized and we pushed back.
“And that is what Doug Ford and his government responded to; extreme public pressure.”
Schreiner, the Green Party chief, gave about 30 members of Dresden CARED and the community the same message July 11 at the Dresden Legion.
“We’re all committed to working together, to stand up for what’s right, to stand up and say that if you’re a deep-pocketed donor, you shouldn’t get special treatment,” Schreiner said.
“The fact that there are over 800 landfill sites in the province of Ontario and somehow this one got singled out to not have an Environmental Assessment apply to it? And then we learned that there’s been at least $200,000, if not more of donations flowing in to the Conservative Party tells you all you need to know.
“I think Ontario’s better than this...I believe in democracy. I believe in local voices, and I know we have councillors here – I believe those local voices matter, and that you should have a say, and you have a right to have a say, and not to have your voice dismissed, and quite frankly, I’ll say it, in a way, lied to,”Schreiner said.
“We going to fight for you. There are a lot of
people around this province that are going to fight for you and we’re going kill Bill Five.”
And Schreiner added there is momentum across the province to protect Dresden from this legislation.
“What people have told me to tell you that not only are they fighting for their own community, they’re fighting for your community as well, asking the premier to keep his promise to have an Environmental Assessment.
The Green leader added it is crucial the entire bill is repealed. “Let’s say we convince the Premier to remove the schedule that doesn’t subject the Dresden Dump to an Environmental Assessment, there’s nothing that would prevent the Premier from declaring this area a special economic zone and allow the dump to proceed, regardless of what local or provincial laws say.”
Both Stiles and Schreiner plant to travelling the province this summer talking about the Unleashing the Economy Act talking about Dresden’s fight pointing out under the new legislation, this could happen in any Ontario community.
Meantime, ChathamKent Councillor Rhonda Jubenville told the crowd
at the July 3 rally municipal bylaw enforcement officers have been visiting the property since York1 moved equipment and a small building onto the site.
Officers, she said, are doing periodic checks to make sure the company is following local bylaws and not doing more than then current license on the property allows.
York1 officials say they’ll be applying to expand how much material and what kind of items they can bring onto the site later
this year. For the time being, officials said, they’ll continue to use the property as the former owner did with in the rules set out in the property’s current Environmental Compliance Approval.
“The property is already zoned for the waste-management uses under the existing ECAs,” said spokesperson Laryssa Waler.
“If future phases require municipal approvals, York1 will engage the Municipality of Chatham-Kent well in advance and follow the normal public-notice and consultation.”
Chatham-Kent Police, Dresden firefighters and paramedics were called to a Dresden property just after 8 pm July 3 after three boys crashed.
One was “injured and not responsive.” Police say officers on the scene, Kyle Merrit and Joel Rehill, immediately initiated life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. The boy was taken to hospital and later airlifted to London Health Science Centre.
The boy, identified by family as Decker Beatty, died of his injuries.
In his obituary, the family wrote, “His greatest joy was the togetherness of his beloved family. He poured his absolute best into everything he did and admired the same dedication from others.”
Decker loved hockey and recently had been named to the roster of the Lambton Jr. Sting AAA Under 13 team. “A great hockey player and wonderful person gone far too soon but never forgotten,” wrote the organization offering support to family, friends and teammates struggling right now. It was a sentiment echoed by other organizations, including the Chatham-Kent Girls’ Hockey Association.
“Decker brought joy, energy, and sportsmanship to the ice and to everyone who knew him. To Decker’s family, teammates, and friends — please know that you are not alone. The entire hockey community stands with you in this time of sorrow. We share in your grief and send our deepest condolences and unwavering support.”
Colin Roeszler, a trainer at Athletes Fuel in Chatham who had worked with the young man added: “He was the best youth player I have in my program, and he was going to be a staple and leader of my program as he grew older.
“He stood exactly for what I want in athletes that train here. He was a humble, high character kid with an exceptional worth ethic; a work ethic that I rarely see - from anyone, let alone an adolescent. He was so conscientious and focused in his preparation.
“He was a natural-born leader, and he was comfortable being that leader. Kids gravitated
HEATHER WRIGHT/THE HERALD
The statue at the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre in Dresden was draped with tributes to Decker Beatty.
towards him and respected him for what he was.”
Decker’s parents, Jamie and Michelle, also invited his classmates to be involved in the ceremony. Many brought small tributes which were left at the foot of the Ken Houston statue. There were also multiple teams at the funeral sporting jerseys.
Jamie Beatty paid tribute to his son but also inspired those at the funeral to live fully with intention as his son had and to always be humble and kind. He also spoke of the importance of the community which surrounded them.
Decker leaves behind his parents, Jamie and Michelle, siblings Berkeley and Blake, and his grandparents Jeff and Jackie Beatty and Cathy and the late Tim McFadden.
The Herald Friends and family are remember a 29 year-old Murkirk woman who died in a car accident near Bothwell as someone who never hesitated to help people around her. Brooke Beenackers died July 3. ChathamKent Police were called to a two-car collision on Longwoods Road between Wallace Street and Pitt Road.
A 29-year-old male from Thamesville was transported to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance with minor injuries. A 29-year-old woman, later identified by family as Beenackers was taken to Four Counties Hospital with serious injuries and later succumbed to her injuries.
Beenackers left behind her husband Steven and their son, Wells, who turned one just days after Beenackers died.
“Over her short, but full, 29 years, Brooke
loved playing sports, spending time with friends, helping her dad on the farm, and loving/caring for her family,” her family wrote in her obituary.
“Brooke cared deeply for everyone around her.
“She never hesitated to reach out and help in whatever capacity needed.”
They asked to honour her memory, “please pay it forward. Make a donation to something close to your heart, or simply help someone in need every chance you get.”
Heather Erickson knew Beenackers from hockey and admired her skill.
“She was an amazing player. However she was a fierce contender on the boys team and they looked after her like she was their sister.
“Everyone has so many wonderful stories of Brooke. She touched so many lives and was loved by many,” wrote Erickson online.
Wallaceburg’s drinking water could eventually flow from Lake Erie instead of the Snye River, if Chatham-Kent council moves forward with a recommendation to close Wallaceburg’s water treatment plant.
Municipal VU consultant Jim Harnum outlined the idea at the June 23 council meeting. His report included a number of recommendations on C-K’s water supply, future including building a pipeline to carry water from the Chatham water treatment plant to Wallaceburg instead of building a new
$150 million plant which he said may be a better use of taxpayer dollars
Wallaceburg’s Councillors Carmen McGregor and Aaron Hall wanted more information before a decision can be made, saying there were a lot of unanswered questions and there had not been any consultation with the water users. McGregor said before anything happens, taxpayers have to be consulted.
Council discussed the idea for nearly two hours before approving a motion from McGregor to defer to July 14.
The pages of this month’s edition are filled with photo and stories of community.
There are plenty of photos of the 50th Anniversary of the Thamesville Threshing Festival with smiling faces everywhere enjoying a fantastic celebration of community.
There are photos of the Bothwell streetscape during the Jan. 17 fire and on July 5, after local firefighters and friends cleaned up much of the debris which littered the sight for months.
There are stories and photos of the community of Dresden banding together in the long battle to hold a large company accountable for
the environment as it tries to open a landfill along a creek. And there are photos and stories of Indigenous neighbours joining with them to proclaim the land is too important to take that chance.
And there are photos and stories of two young lives tragically lost; a young mom in a car accident and a budding young athlete in an ATV accident.
Through all these stories we see community.
In Thamesville, we see the hours of dedication of long-time volunteers who put on a spectacular event. And those fireworks! How does Thamesville manage such an elaborate
display? Community. People working hard to find the money, who put in the hours of work to get the job done for the people in their neighbours.
Why would people spend hours in a heat wave to clean up a mess which should have been cleared by others months ago? They love their community and the rubble of a fire was ugly. So, they got to work.
How do volunteers from both Dresden and Wallaceburg continue to fight what to many seems to be an unwinnable fight; community. They cannot bear the idea of their community dealing with the effects of a landfill for a lifetime.
We most clearly see community in tragedy. We see people reaching out to their grieving neighbours – a father, a mother, a sibling, a grandparent – and say, we’re with you. We loved them, too.
It can never lift the entire burden we know, but it lets them know they’re not alone. Their community is with them.
It’s powerful when you live in a community that lifts people up in need, brings people together with joy and rolls up its sleeves to make their little corner of the world a better place.
We’re so glad we get to witness it and share it all with you.
The Herald welcomes Letters to the Editor. Our preferred methods to receive letters are via email to heraldeditor@outlook. com with “Letter” in the subject line). You can also deliver letters to The Herald at London Road, Thamesville or drop them in the mail at The Herald, Box 580, Thamesville, ON N0P 2K0. The Herald reserves the right to edit letters for brevity and clarity. All letters need to be signed and must have a phone number for verification.
EDITOR: Here we go again. No sooner has the Ford government lifted the moratorium on the building of new wind farms than a foreign corporation, IKKON, through its Canadian facade, Capstone, set the wheels in motion to shatter our peace of mind and further blight the incomparable rural beauty of Chatham-Kent with a proposal to erect 25 to 40 noisy, inefficient and monstrous industrial windmills.
The hypocritically-titled information sessions held in Blenheim July 3 were nothing more than a cynical ploy by Capstone to identify as many landowners as possible willing to lease land in return for a modest yearly stipend from the British parent corporation looking to rake in government subsidized millions.
In case anyone has any doubts that the so-called information sessions were anything more than a charade, they need only ask themselves why the first question from any of the
Capstone operatives was:
“So, do you own property in the area?” The fact that Capstone has already entered into secret lease agreements with some landowners should their project go ahead proves beyond refute to even to most jaded among us Capstone staged the pageant in Blenheim with the singular goal of securing as many potential lease agreements as possible ahead of approaching Chatham-Kent Council for its rubber stamp of approval. It falsely implies there is broad, enthusiastic public support for its proposed assault on our bucolic country life. How much more informed are we after that ridiculous excuse for public consultation? There was no general presentation to the assembled room by the project promoter, no group question and answer period, and no public discussion of the plan’s merits and pitfalls afterwards. The most we learned came from a colourcoded map on an easel which
outlined the exact parameters and details of the target area if you were willing to take the time to study it for yourself. Capstone operatives were hovering nearby, keenly interested in identifying property owners they could pressure into signing on the dotted line by intimating that they may as well enter into lease agreements now because their nebulous neighbours just might have already done so; did they want to take the chance of missing out on a windfall?
Information session? My foot!
All is not lost yet. In two months, when IKKON/Capstone convenes us to its next bogus information session, really to gleefully announce it has secured the 25 to 40 lease agreements it so desperately desires to fulfill its business case, let’s take the opportunity to tell these snake oil salesmen to take a hike. We don’t need the animosity their project will engender between neighbours,
the disruption they will cause to our physical and mental well-being, and their industry’s legacy of broken promises, shoddy maintenance of infrastructure, careless disregard for property, and abandonment of responsibility for land remediation once these abominable windmills have reached the end of their useful life.
To all the property owners who have already signed tentative lease agreements, it’s not too late to tear them up before Chatham-Kent’s rural landscape is further scarred by another ill-conceived industrial project that will permanently destroy yet more of the most rare, precious and productive arable land on the planet. What good will it do us to achieve a meagre, insignificant increase in electricity supply if, in the process, we lose the ability to feed ourselves? You can’t eat electricity.
The prospect of financial gain is always seductive, and a potent motivator. But at
The federal government subsidizes the big railroads in Canada, namely CPKC (formerly CP Rail) and CN Rail, in an expansive way. A good example are programs ostensibly to promote rail safety and climate change adaptation but are, in reality, simply infrastructure funding for necessary upgrades and maintenance.
Just one example is the more than $44 million for safety announced last October by Anita Anand, the federal Minister of Transport at the time.
Here’s what she had to say, “Canada’s railways play a crucial role in connecting our communities and driving our economy. That’s why we’re investing in enhanced safety measures around rail corridors and improving education to prevent tragic accidents. When we work together and stay vigilant, we can prevent rail incidents and keep Canadians safe.”
At the same time, the railroads have decided they no longer should support drainage projects through the Ontario Drainage Act, a process which involves hiring a third-party engineer to determine how the costs of those projects should be shared, including costs assessed to the railroads for benefits received.
The rail companies, however, insist that as federally-regulated corporations they have no obligation to contribute. This is important to rural communities in Ontario for two reasons. A growing number of municipalities have assessed the railroads for drainage work but are not being paid. For smaller municipalities especially, this represents a burden on taxpayers and in some cases the amount owed is a significant portion of the overall budget.
Mayor Todd Case with the Township of
Warwick and Mayor Gary Atkinson with Plympton-Wyoming both weighed in.
“I said to them just settle up on our bill and then we can come up with something else to resolve this…There is a precedent because they paid these before…We have not taken our foot off the gas on this issue but we do need federal help to resolve this,” Case said.
According to Atkinson, “We think they are dragging their feet…We need that money in our municipality in order to operate, and it’s the same thing in other municipalities.”
Impacted to an even greater extent are members of the farming community with lands abutting rail right-of-ways. In the past, working through the Drainage Act process, railroads would pick up a portion of the cost determined by the level of benefit as determined by a thirdparty engineer.
Among those impacted is Alex Miller who served for many years as a Zone Township councilor prior to the creation of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. Miller wants to improve drainage on a 35-acre parcel of arable ground next to the CPKC line running through the former township. CPKC refuses to pay. Miller might have picked up the entire bill and moved forward – the railroad’s share of the costs would have been much smaller than his own – but refused. He is standing firm in his position and is now part of a complicated judicial process involving the Attorney General of Ontario, Attorney General of Canada, Ontario Drainage Referee, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, a coalition of rural Ontario municipalities, the Canadian Transportation Agency, Rural Ontario Municipal Association, and others.
For Miller, the question is not so much
about federal or provincial jurisdiction as the aging railroad infrastructure and the desire by railroad companies to download the cost of maintenance and upgrades to others. Unless the controversy is addressed, he suggests the burden on farmers and municipalities in Ontario could extend far beyond the cost of maintaining drainage along rail right-of-ways. If, for example, future drainage projects interfere with rail service, proponents of those projects could be liable for both the cost of the projects and any loss of revenue by rail companies associated with track downtime.
what cost? To the landowners with multiple properties in the target area, I ask you to do unto others as you would have them do unto you: if you’re not willing to put up an industrial windmill in your own front yard, then you shouldn’t be willing to put one up in someone else’s. Better yet, don’t put any up at all.
I implore everyone who lives in or near IKKON/Capstone’s target area to mobilize against this proposal and attend the next information session to unequivocally tell IKKON/Capstone’s operatives to take their plan, and shove it.
ON
I implore everyone who lives
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I am encouraged to a certain extent. Their interests dismissed by the higher levels of government, community is being rediscovered in such rural jurisdictions as Chatham-Kent. The railroad situation is one example. Another revolves around the controversial landfill and recycling center proposal just north of Dresden. Chief Leela Thomas with the Walpole Island First Nation has pledged her opposition to the project and her support for Dresden. Municipal councilors have come on board as well, and citizens’ groups – among which Dresden CARED figures prominently – have emerged to play a leading role.
It is a remarkable development, the power of which should not be underestimated.
“Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4:6-7 (New Living translation) A damaged building can be restored. Christ can do the same with our lives.
St. Andrew’s Dresden, we’re here to know Christ and make him known. We gather in person at 265 St. George Street, Dresden and livestream via YouTube Sundays 10:30am
519-683-2442 • standrewsdresden.ca It’s a messed-up world. For some, it’s been a summer of tragedy and terrible loss. While God can’t turn back the hands of time, He can meet us in our place of despair.
With the Night Market phenomenon again slated to double Dresden’s population for a brief magical night in July, its interesting to look back at past efforts of Dresden residents and merchants to generate interest in our little town through summer marketing events. In the 1960s, Dresden merchants were far more plentiful than today, and all banded together to create events like “Gala Days” and its successor, “Circus Days,” that featured sidewalk sales of goods from regular businesses.
In our ongoing scanning project with student Sydney Goodreau, we are discovering just what an important time capsule the photos of the North Kent Leader, taken at these events are.
All of the photos give glimpses of business people and their establishments in Downtown Dresden that are no longer part of our streetscape. Here are just a couple from Gala Days 1966 that are sure to stir nostalgia in all of us who grew up in that time.
Before MacTavish Pharmacy expanded in the late 20th century, Rich Hill occupied a section of the main Street. It also later moved to the corner, where the Lucky Dollar Grocery Store of Orn Simpson is seen in this shot by Gordon Clauws of the North-Kent Leader.
Bothwell residents are now able to get mental health and health care services closer to home.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Lambton Kent is expanding its Chatham-Kent MobileCare service, increasing operations to four days a week serving Bothwell, Ridgetown and Wheatley.
“Expansion of services across ChathamKent underscores our commitment to meeting individuals where they are, providing timely support, and improving access to care for people in our communities,” said Rhonny
Doxtator, CEO of CMHA Lambton Kent.
The MobileCare clinic is staffed by a nurse practitioner, a mental health first response worker, and a community paramedic. They provide on-the-spot support for mental health, addictions, primary care, and community paramedicine, along with referrals to other local resources.
It will be at the Bothwell Arena the first Friday of each month from 9:30 am to 3 pm.
It also stops in Dresden at the arena the third Friday of each month and the Delaware Nation the third Thursday of the month.
Bothwell is losing another retail store.
The Beer Store has announced the location there and nine others will be closing Aug. 24.
“Closing a retail store is never an easy decision – our stores and employees contribute to communities in many ways and provide easy access to empty returns throughout Ontario,” said Ozzie Ahmed, Vice President Retail of The Beer Store in a news release. Ahmed says the move is part of the modernization of the giant which has 13,000 customers across the province. The chain has 6,500 full and part-time workers.
“The Beer Store recognizes the contributions our employees make to the business. All efforts will be made to support employees through this process in alignment with commitments and agreements,” Ahmed said.
The closure is the latest blow for the community south of Dawn-Euphemia.
Bothwell lost its LCBO store in 2021 after the roof of the building collapsed. Three buildings housing two businesses caught fire Jan. 17 leaving a pile of rubble on the town’s main street.
The owners of 100 King Street may be getting a tax break.
Chatham-Kent Council approved the company’s application for a Community Improvement Program June 23.
Chatham-Kent’s CIP program was adopted in 2020. Major projects can get a 100 per cent tax credit for a year. A major project
is defined as one carrying more than $10 million worth of investment in order to be eligible and be completed in two years. The owners are working on the commercial development of the Downtown Chatham Centre. It involves revamping the facade and installing a new escalator and elevator.
and the “Slapchop”. You have big personalities on park benches pushing back against Funeral Homes with their “unnecessary buildings, staff, and dignified holding areas.”
Immediate cremation has always been an option at the Funeral Home. There is nothing new or ‘progressive’ about it. At the Funeral Home it is one of many of the low pressure options a family may select. We can keep this as simple or elaborate as you wish – one of the many benefits of a building, staff and a dignified holding area. Cremation storefronts often work under the “get them in the door and charge them more” mindset. They will give you a price for immediate cremation and you will prearrange for it. Then, when you die, the extras tend to come out. Here are a few ‘extras’ you might find on a cremation storefront’s price list.
Surcharge Sheltering beyond 48 hours
Surcharge person over 250 pounds
Surcharge “Hazardous transfers”
Surcharge “Priority Assistance”
Surcharge “Holiday Assistance”
Surcharge Delivery of Cremated remains to family
Surcharge - Filling keepsakes not purchased at FH
- 300
- 300
By law, every funeral home and cremation storefront must have their pricing available on their website. Be sure to research online before entering into any immediate cremation arrangement. If you are pre-arranged elsewhere and want us to look over your arrangements with you, we are always happy to help.
‘They’re
SYDNEY GOODREAU/The Herald
For four days, firekeepers from the Aanishinaabe Nation maintained a sacred fire set up beside Molly’s Creek, just north of Dresden. The purpose was not to protest York One’s plans to set up a dump in Dresden. It was to unite peacefully in prayer with those in the surrounding community. It was one of two events by citizens of Walpole Island First Nation to bring attention to the importance of the water bodies around the proposed York1 dump.
And Dresden citizens took notice and welcomed them.
“Our First Nations community has joined hands with the community of Dresden because we have a common goal: the conservation of the lands we all love,” said Possum, one of the main firekeepers who stayed on the site. “The Sydenham watershed is, by far, one of our greatest treasures within our territory.”
Zowaanagnini, another volunteer, says, “We have a responsibility to take care of this land. And when we share this land with newcomers, they have to share their responsibility as well.”
Many in the Three Fires Confederacy worry the proposed dump will damage and pollute the Sydenham and other important ecosystems. Possum says, “When you get 200 trucks out in a rainstorm like we had earlier today, hundreds of gallons come out of the back of these trucks, fully contaminated, directly into the ditches.”
Additionally, Possum urges Chatham-Kent council to have Croton Line and other nearby roads undergo proper engineering assessments to ensure the roads can accommodate the hundreds of trucks working out of the dump.
“This road is pretty small,” said Zowaanagnini, pointing to Croton Line. “Who has to pay for the damage when the roads around the dump fall apart? The Chatham-Kent taxpayers. But they don’t get a say in this.”
The roads should be assessed if the dump is to be opened, but Possum said that “with Doug Ford’s Bill Five, they don’t have to go that route anymore.” He says this will allow the provincial government to bypass important ecological and safety assessments to pass projects
they deem beneficial. “They’re writing laws to break their own laws,” said Zowaanagnini. Possum said, “Chatham-Kent is using the word ‘expropriate’ when they talk about taking the land from the people of Dresden. What we need to do as a community is to turn that word around. We’re gonna expropriate the land from York1 to stop this. The council and the mayor have absolute authority to do the expropriation. They have an obligation to the constituents, the people of Chatham-Kent, to fight as hard as they can. We have to have a greater need for that land than the ... government does.”
Zaanaagmisinkew, Zowaanagnini’s wife, said, “Molly’s Creek is a big focal point to the dump site, and when we think in terms of culture and ceremony, we’re thinking in terms of balance. With the sun rising, the moon also rises. With water, there is also fire. We want to maintain that balance, especially with the dump coming. That will disrupt the balance. The sacred fire is about those reminders and to let us know that Creator is there. We offer our tobacco, we offer our cedar, and it takes our prayers up
Members of the Walpole First Nation and Dresden CARED participated in a relay July 13 to affirm their treaty rights and call for environmental protections of the Sydenham River near the proposed York1 dump site.
right away.”
“We have had nationalities from all over the world that have come here to visit,” said Possum. ”From Japan, Turkey, and Poland. We have had people from British Columbia. Anybody can be an ally to anything
if the cause is right, and it is.” The sacred fire was tended by the volunteers at the same time as members of the Walpole First Nations paddled from Dresden to Walpole Island to draw attention to the important ecosystem.
North Kent residents continue the fight to see if their well water is toxic
PAM WRIGHT/Local Journalism Initiative
The push to find out if metals found in North Kent’s water wells are toxic to humans continues to grind forward.
That after extensive testing, paid by the homeowners, has proven heavy metal is in the silt coming into their homes.
A 1,400-signature petition asking the Ministry of Health (MOH) to test the bio-accessibility of metals discovered in the fine sediment of fouled wells was submitted to the Ontario Legislature earlier this month.
It was brought to the floor of the legislature by Independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady rather than Lambton-Kent-Middlesex PC MPP Steve Pinsonneault.
According to Wallaceburg Area Wind Concerns (WAWC) board member Denise Shephard, the group advocating for residents with dirty well water, they opted to ask Brady, rather than Pinsonneault,
to make sure the document was presented to the entire legislature.
As it stands, the government must provide an answer to the petition within 21 sitting days of when the legislature returns Oct. 20 following summer break.
“We wanted it read out on the floor,” Shephard said, adding the group was worried Pinsonneault would have simply tabled the petition.
“We’re very thankful to MPP Brady for doing that,” Shephard stated.
“Now we need the Ministry of Health to do their job.”
Pinsonneault’s assistant Michelle Dwyer, said the MPP was unavailable at the time due to a health concern, noting Brady “kindly offered to present the petition” on his behalf.
“MPP Pinsonneault wanted to ensure the petition was tabled without delay, and we’re grateful to MPP Brady for her assistance,” Dwyer said.
“We look forward to hearing back from the Ministry of Health on this important issue.”
The petition is part of a quest to address the issue of black water found in private wells in the former townships of Chatham and Dover.
Mitchell’s Bay area resident Christine Burke is one of the affected property owners. She has grown weary of the inaction of government to fix the problem, noting her health and quality of life continue to suffer.
“I wake up with headaches, and some mornings I feel like I’ve just gone up in a plane where you’ve got to unblock your ears,” Burke said.
Burke simply wants the MOH to find out if what’s contained in the sediment – including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and nickel –negatively impacts human health.
Studies show some of the turbines have been built on the Kettle Point black shale aquifer.
Pile driving during construction
is said to have disturbed the aquifer, and ongoing operation of the turbines continues to have an impact.
As part of a campaign promise in 2018, Doug Ford vowed to undertake a health hazard study on the wells, but that was changed to an all-hazard study.
Critics say the government probe didn’t go far enough.
Local geologist Keith Benn, who has been working hand in hand with property owners and WAWC, sat on the expert panel for the Ministry of Health’s well water probe.
Benn stressed the study fell short by not testing the fine sediment in the wells, which he considers to be the investigation’s key piece.
That led Burke, with the help of WAWC in 2023, to crowd funded to raise money to have wells tested independently by a Michigan laboratory.
They raised more than $12,000 – enough money to test sediment
in nine wells, documenting the presence of heavy metals.
“We’ve proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that heavy metals exist in the fine sediment,” Benn said. “Now it’s time for government to finish what they started.”
The geologist said residents must continue to fight.
“The next step is just for us to raise public awareness about the action that we’ve taken and let people know that this ball is now in the court of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario,” Benn said. “We’re like flyover country here in Southwestern Ontario. It’s hard for us to fight back because we have a relatively small population.”
In 2023, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent also asked the province to test the sediment for bio-accessibility.
But municipal officials said they have never received an answer to the request.
• THE CHATHAM VOICE
‘Farmers are supposed to be stewards of the land’ says farmer opposed to Blenheim wind project
PAM WRIGHT/Local Journalism Initiative
Valerie Schmitchen doesn’t want to see the Crossfield Wind Farm in East Kent.
The first-time activist has launched a petition to stop Capstone Infrastructure from building as many as 40 turbines in a new green energy development.
Wearing a ballcap emblazoned with Schmitchen Farms, the Ridgetown-area resident braved the heat to collect 36 signatures from folks attending two open houses at Blenheim’s Willow Ridge Golf and Country Club. They stopped to sign the petition on the tailgate of her truck.
The mom of two said she was taking action not only for herself, but for her kids.
“I owe it to them,” said Schmitchen. “Most people think it is fruitless, but you have to do something. A lot of people are saying it’s not a great idea.”
Schmitchen is the third generation on the former potato and tobacco operation turned cash crop farm. She’s worried about the potential impacts a large-scale wind farm could have on the land.
Water well quality, the negative impact on bird migration paths, the large turbines, noise, and the fact that prime agricultural land will be taken out of use forever are some of Schmitchen’s concerns.
“It’s right across the road from me,” she said of the Capstone project. “Farmers are supposed to be stewards of the land, but I
am afraid they are not thinking a generation into the future and they should think several generations ahead.”
Inside the venue, Capstone staffers were kept busy as curious residents checked out information storyboards and asked questions. With 35 renewable energy projects already operating, the Canadianbased company is looking at building a 200 megawatt wind farm in the area is bordered on the west by Communication Road, the east by Duart Road, the north by Magnavilla Line and the south by Reeders Line.
The wind towers could be as high as 120 metres or 400 feet.
Andrea Kausel, Capstone’s vicepresident of development was one
of the staffers answering inquiries from the public.
When asked about the purpose of the open house she said it was being held to glean information.
“It’s really early to be seeking consultation, before even having a contract,” said Kausel.
“We don’t even have the project size yet; we’re here to listen. We’re coming in early to have these conversations.”
According to Kausel, Capstone has already signed 10,000 acres of land involving contracts with 70 landowners.
Building a new wind farm is a competitive process and approval must be sought from the Independent Electricity System Operator before projects can proceed.
Chatham-Kent council would have to sign off on the project as well. Ontario is looking at expanding the electricity grid in order to meet Southwestern Ontario’s power needs expected to surge in the next 20 years.
The municipality receives $2 million annually from taxes on wind turbines and opted to not sign on with 155 other Ontario communities who decided they are not “willing hosts” for turbine farms. Farmers who allow turbines on their property are compensated directly.
Capstone will be holding another open house later this summer.
• THE CHATHAM VOICE
the Bothwell 2025 Opti-fest and other summer events in the community! RIDGETOWN 519-674-3141
519-351-2040
Let us put you back in the driver’s seat.
After six months of waiting for clean up after a massive fire in downtown Bothwell, members of the local fire department and some of their children got to work and cleaned away most of the debris July 5. Jan 17, three building in the downtown burned down in a massive fire which changed the face of the town. It is up to the owners of the building to clean the lots after a fire, however time dragged on and the debris remained. The firefighters removed much of the debris which was left on a hot morning. The Canada Post building still remains partially intact.
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority and local cattlemen have reached an agreement for 187 acres of land to create a community pasture.
About 30 members of the Lambton Cattlemens’ Association expressed an interest in the idea of a large pasture area managed by an association with a feed per head of cattle.
There are 11 community pastures in Ontario. Last year, the Beef Farmers of Ontario reached out to conservation authorities across the province to see if there is land available that could be developed into pasture land.
St. Clair Region Conservation Authority responded saying it had available land in southern St, Clair Township, formerly Sombra Township. The parcel is part of the McKeough upstream land on the McKeough floodway, 12 kilometres north of Wallaceburg. The cattlemen initially talked about using up to 600 acres of
space.
The conservation authority has rented its vacant land in the past, but normally it is to farmers to grow cash crops.
The community pasture is a first and required the conservation authority to take a close look at some of the issues which might come up.
June 26, the conservation authority approved an agreement with the Cattlemen for 187 acres for a fiveyear lease which will be automatically renewed for another five years. The association will pay $125 per acre for rental of the land. And it will erect about 11 km of five-strand wire perimeter fencing for about $170,000. If the cattlemens’ association ends the project, the conservation authority will own the fencing.
Chad Anderson is a member of the Lambton Cattlemens’ Association and has been working on the project. He’s pleased the project is moving forward
with the approval of the land. And he says the cattlemens’ association is working to secure financing and plan for the pastureland. Anderson says it will cost over $200,000 in capital costs to prepare the land, including the cost of the fencing, a water system and to seed acres.
“After the wheat harvest, we can start getting the land ready for pasture. We’re not going to graze anything until 2027,” he said noting some of the area needs to be seeded and that would happen in 2026.
“We’ve decided we’re going to sell hay in 2026 and then start grazing in 2027,” Anderson said.
He hopes to be selling memberships into the community pasture soon to help generate more revenue to cover the $200,000 start-up costs.
“It’s an investment in the future. We intend for the community pass to be around a long, long time,” says
BLAKE ELLIS/The Herald
Lambton-Kent District School Board passed a $383 million balanced budget for the 2025-26 school year but local Indigenous leaders are concerned.
While Trustee Roberta Northmore called it a wonderful budget during the June 24 meeting, she did not support it saying there was no consultation with the four First Nations within the Lambton-Kent boundaries.
Northmore called the lack of consultation a neglect of the education service agreements the First Nations have signed with the school board and not adhering to truth and reconciliation efforts.
Lambton-Kent District School Board Director of Education Gary Girardi acknowledged there was not consultation with First Nations on the budget. He says the school board wasn’t given much time, as the core funding received from the provincial government was not announced until May 23.
One of the big issues, First Nations may be concerned about is a cut in funding for Indigenous services.
Over 50 equivalent full-time education assistant positions are being cut in the next school year. It is due to a loss in funding of $2.8 million from Jordan’s Principle, a federal program which helps to ensure First Nations children have access to public services and supports without experiencing service gaps or denials due to their Indigenous identity.
The funding cut amounts to a loss of 37 equivalent full-time education assistants in the elementary schools and 19 equivalent full time education assistants in the high schools.
Girardi explained this loss in funding is due to changes to the Jordan’s Principle program at the federal level.
Northmore asked if the school board has reached out to the four First Nations chiefs within the district to discuss the change in funding to Jordan’s Principle. Girardi said he would reach out and have
that conversation with the First Nations leadership.
McKay said while the funding as changed for the coming school year, the school board is still owed $2.3 million from Jordan’s Principle for the past 18 to 20 months.
Core education funding received from the province amounts to $310 million with capital funding coming in at $35 million and $5.5 million coming from tuition fees from Indigenous and VISA students.
Discretionary funding is really down to zero percent, said Associate Director of Corporate Services Brian McKay. It used to be that the school board had one percent of funding where trustees had room to make decisions. That has now been cut to half a percent.
At this point, if trustees wanted to fund a new program, it would have to cut an existing program to make that happen, said McKay.
After six months of waiting for clean up after a massive fire in downtown Bothwell, members of the local fire department and some of their children got to work and cleaned away most of the debris July 5. Jan 17, three building in the downtown burned down in a massive fire which changed the face of the town. It is up to the owners of the building to clean the lots after a fire, however time dragged on and the debris remained. The firefighters removed much of the debris which was left on a hot morning. The Canada Post building still remains partially intact.
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority and local cattlemen have reached an agreement for 187 acres of land to create a community pasture.
About 30 members of the Lambton Cattlemens’ Association expressed an interest in the idea of a large pasture area managed by an association with a feed per head of cattle.
There are 11 community pastures in Ontario. Last year, the Beef Farmers of Ontario reached out to conservation authorities across the province to see if there is land available that could be developed into pasture land.
St. Clair Region Conservation Authority responded saying it had available land in southern St, Clair Township, formerly Sombra Township. The parcel is part of the McKeough upstream land on the McKeough floodway, 12 kilometres north of Wallaceburg. The cattlemen initially talked about using up to 600 acres of
space.
The conservation authority has rented its vacant land in the past, but normally it is to farmers to grow cash crops.
The community pasture is a first and required the conservation authority to take a close look at some of the issues which might come up.
June 26, the conservation authority approved an agreement with the Cattlemen for 187 acres for a fiveyear lease which will be automatically renewed for another five years. The association will pay $125 per acre for rental of the land. And it will erect about 11 km of five-strand wire perimeter fencing for about $170,000. If the cattlemens’ association ends the project, the conservation authority will own the fencing.
Chad Anderson is a member of the Lambton Cattlemens’ Association and has been working on the project. He’s pleased the project is moving forward
with the approval of the land. And he says the cattlemens’ association is working to secure financing and plan for the pastureland. Anderson says it will cost over $200,000 in capital costs to prepare the land, including the cost of the fencing, a water system and to seed acres.
“After the wheat harvest, we can start getting the land ready for pasture. We’re not going to graze anything until 2027,” he said noting some of the area needs to be seeded and that would happen in 2026.
“We’ve decided we’re going to sell hay in 2026 and then start grazing in 2027,” Anderson said.
He hopes to be selling memberships into the community pasture soon to help generate more revenue to cover the $200,000 start-up costs.
“It’s an investment in the future. We intend for the community pass to be around a long, long time,” says
BLAKE ELLIS/The Herald
Lambton-Kent District School Board passed a $383 million balanced budget for the 2025-26 school year but local Indigenous leaders are concerned.
While Trustee Roberta Northmore called it a wonderful budget during the June 24 meeting, she did not support it saying there was no consultation with the four First Nations within the Lambton-Kent boundaries.
Northmore called the lack of consultation a neglect of the education service agreements the First Nations have signed with the school board and not adhering to truth and reconciliation efforts.
Lambton-Kent District School Board Director of Education Gary Girardi acknowledged there was not consultation with First Nations on the budget. He says the school board wasn’t given much time, as the core funding received from the provincial government was not announced until May 23.
One of the big issues, First Nations may be concerned about is a cut in funding for Indigenous services.
Over 50 equivalent full-time education assistant positions are being cut in the next school year. It is due to a loss in funding of $2.8 million from Jordan’s Principle, a federal program which helps to ensure First Nations children have access to public services and supports without experiencing service gaps or denials due to their Indigenous identity.
The funding cut amounts to a loss of 37 equivalent full-time education assistants in the elementary schools and 19 equivalent full time education assistants in the high schools.
Girardi explained this loss in funding is due to changes to the Jordan’s Principle program at the federal level.
Northmore asked if the school board has reached out to the four First Nations chiefs within the district to discuss the change in funding to Jordan’s Principle. Girardi said he would reach out and have
that conversation with the First Nations leadership.
McKay said while the funding as changed for the coming school year, the school board is still owed $2.3 million from Jordan’s Principle for the past 18 to 20 months.
Core education funding received from the province amounts to $310 million with capital funding coming in at $35 million and $5.5 million coming from tuition fees from Indigenous and VISA students.
Discretionary funding is really down to zero percent, said Associate Director of Corporate Services Brian McKay. It used to be that the school board had one percent of funding where trustees had room to make decisions. That has now been cut to half a percent.
At this point, if trustees wanted to fund a new program, it would have to cut an existing program to make that happen, said McKay.
The Dresden Exhibition has been a pillar of the community for 150 years, and the 2025 edition promises to be its most exciting yet. With a perfect mix of agricultural showcases, motorsports action, family-friendly activities, and historical exhibits, this year’s fair is a tribute to the past while celebrating the future of farming, creativity, and community spirit.
FRIDAY JULY 25, 2025
• 4:30pm - Exhibit Building Opens (Old Dresden Slot Building)
• 6pm - Tractor Pull - $20/person, Kids 10 & under - Free
SATURDAY JULY 26, 2025
• 9am - Exhibit Building Opens (Old Dresden Slots Building)
• 9am-2:30pm - Soap Box Derby
• 10am - TBA
• 10am - 4H Cattle Show with Breeding and Market Cattle show to follow
• 12pm - TBA
There were big crowds for big events as the Thamesville Threshing Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary. All around the community, tents, campers and extra vehicles could be seen in yards as people came home and brought friends for the event. Here are some of the scenes The Herald captured during the 50th Anniversary Weekend.
Lemuel Street was filled with families as the Chatham Legion Pipe and Drum Corp made its way through the parade route. There were plenty of tractors on display including the Oliver Row Crop 66 (right). There were a lot of throwbacks to the 1970s, when the festival started, during the weekend. These teens, below, in the parade were rock’n their 70s vibe. Many businesses, including the Butlers of J&E Meats made the parade a family affair while being part of the parade.
Friday
was, in
Friends gathered at the Midway for some high flying fun, left, holding hands on the swing ride. Jayce Cronier and Logan Rodrigues were having a blast on the tea cup ride. At 2, Sadie Strain of Chatham was just barely tall enough to ride the mini roller coaster. Alaiiya Taylor, 6, of Leamington and Olivia Phommathep, 4, of London were waving to family and friends around the circle. The Farmer Olympics drew a large crowd to cheer on the teams who raced through an obstacle course, including pulling a tractor, and maneaovering a bed through the course before one lucky teammate jumped in a barrel to brave the cold water. The night was topped off with Dragon Breath Entertainment team members juggling flaming batons before the main event - a massive fireworkshow that lit up the sky for nearlly a half hour and led to cheers of approval from the huge crowd afterwards.
A native son preserves the history of his community; ChathamKent uses research to tell the story of the community
HEATHER WRIGHT/The Herald
Harold Snary stands under a tree in the postal village of Croton. Those standing with him see a new, siding-clad school and church, a few homes and the traffic whizzing down Oakdale Road. At the corner of Oakdale and Croton Road, they might notice the building which used to be the general store.
For most, this 39-person hamlet is a blink-andyou-miss it sort of place.
But not Snary.
He doesn’t even have to close his eyes to see the old Croton Methodist – later United – Church. It, Snary says, was the centre of the community when he grew up here.
Croton was originally across the river but at the time it was called Johnston’s Corners, after the family that settled there.
The Tiffins, Youngs and Butlers were also among the first families, Snary says.
When the post master arrived, he decided to change the community’s name, since Johnston’s Corners was already in use.
Snary has no idea how the name Croton was picked.
Snary’s great-grandfather was just two when the family arrived in the area in 1834.
The Snarys stayed in the area with the church being the centre point of the community. Everyone would attend on Sunday; during the week it was a social hub.
Snary recalls baseball games with the community divided into north and south of the Sydenham River. The loser would have to wash the dishes from whatever community event had taken place before the game.
The church is also tied to Snary’s memories of natural disasters.
In 1947, he said, there was a large flood which spilled over a four-to-five foot ditch and into the driveway of the church.
Snary recalls Luth McCabe put his motor boat in and headed to the south side of the bridge to bring back bread and milk from delivery trucks waiting on the other side to serve the community.
Snary looks down the road as he talks and
recalls some of the businesses that lined the roads including his grandfather’s general store. The building is still standing but the post office moved from the building in the last decade.
The general store wasn’t the only business. There was a halfway hotel for the stagecoach in the early years. A log school was built on the river bank. A sawmill was one of the first businesses as settlers cleared out the bush for homesteads. The post office arrived in 1853.
Croton moved to its present location a decade later. It hosted three blacksmith shops, two churches, an apple orchard which made cider, four grist sawmills, a shoemaker, carpenters, a farm elevator, a buck rake and buzzsaw, along with two RV trailer manufacturers, Snary recalls.
There were also music teachers, auctioneers, and missionaries who were part of the community. Today, Croton’s main features are a butcher shop –J&E Meats – and the Mennonite school and church which Snary visits occassionally adding, they are wonderful people.
Snary is nostalgic about growing up in Croton.
“The things that I miss about the country now (are) the neighbours; they worked together – they couldn’t survive if they hadn’t,” Snary told about 75 people who gathered under the tree near the former church yard. That’s where a plaque with Snary’s photos and stories about the community now stands.
Lisa Gilbert is the head of the Chatham-Kent Heritage Network which so far has erected 14 plaques marking the history of the community. She singled out Snary for his work.
“Harold has been spending many, many years trying to bring the history, the heritage of this area to other people, and I know that this plaque has been a dream of his,” she said noting many of the details of the history have come from Snary’s greatgrandfather’s “remarkable” diary.
“He lived here basically all his life and he kept that faithful diary right through before Croton was even around, basically, and then through Croton’s early days and even when it was starting to decline,” she said.
“We keep the memory (of Croton) alive like this.”
Although we’ve had bouts of extreme heat this summer, the cool of the rink will soon be the norm again.
The Dresden Jr. Kings will open training camp in about a month on August 17 at the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre.
The Kings’ first pre-season contest will be Friday, August 22 vs. Lucan.
As usual, the primary home date for Dresden will be Friday night. The PJHL regular season typically begins in mid-September.
•••
As of press time, TJ Brodie was still looking for work for the coming season.
The Dresden defenceman had the second year of his two-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks bought out late last month.
Brodie is just 38 games shy of reaching a select group of players who have played 1,000 regular season games in the NHL.
•••
Brennan Feasey has been promoted to head coach of the Sutherland Cup champion Chatham Maroons of the GOJHL. The new job came about after Richard Santos left the Maroons to become the new head of the under-16 boys prep team with Biosteel Sports Academy in Windsor and an assistant coach with the OJHL’s Leamington Flyers.
Feasey, a Maroons grad and Glencoe native, had been an assistant coach with the Maroons and the CK Cyclones under-15 AAA teams last season.
The 31-year-old also plays senior hockey with the Alvinston Killer Bees.
Kassandra Rombouts of Florence was a co-winner at the most recent stop on the Unico Primo Junior Golf Tour. She carded a 77 for a share of the championship at Willow Ridge in Blenheim last weekend.
Rombouts is coming off a tie of 36th place at the Ontario Junior Women’s Golf Championship near Kingston. She had rounds of 82, 79, 82 and 81.
Lambton-Kent Composite School Graduate and student athlete Mitchell Pegg has been honoured by his municipality. Pegg won the Dawn-Euphemia Township student scholarship. “Mitchell has demonstrated a deep commitment to excellence in the classroom and beyond. He is an active volunteer within the community including volunteering as a firefighter on the Dawn-Euphemia Fire Department.”
Municipal Act, 2001, c 25, s. 379 (2) O. Reg. 181/03, s. 5(1), Form 6
The MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT
Take Notice that tenders are invited for the purchase of the land(s) described below and will be received until 3:00 p.m. local time on August 21, 2025, at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent Civic Centre, located at 315 King Street West, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8.
The tenders will then be opened in public on the same day as soon as possible beginning at 3:15 p.m. at the Council Chambers of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, located at 315 King Street West, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8. Tune into our Municipal Facebook page or the Chatham-Kent YouTube channel for a virtual event where the tenders will be opened live beginning as soon as possible at 3:15pm.
Description of Land(s) All lands are in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, the following are the geographic descriptions and municipal addresses. Minimum Tender Amount
1. ROLL #3650-320-001-01300 - LT 184 PL 141; CHATHAM-KENT
Being 125 Oak St. W., Bothwell P.I.N.: 00642-0103 (LT)
According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $32,000.00. $27,256.49
2. ROLL #3650-410-012-02900 - PT LT 24 CON 2 CHATHAM GORE AS IN 658457; DESIGNATED AS PART 2, PLAN24R9372; S/T INTEREST IN 658457; CHATHAM-KENT
Being 8409 North River Line, Chatham P.I.N.: 00592-0062 (LT)
According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $232,000.00.
3. Roll #3650-420-054-03800 - LT 8 PL 595; CHATHAM-KENT
Being 123 Coverdale Street, Chatham P.I.N.: 00549-0201 (LT)
$56,250.30
According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $146,000.00. $20,095.78
Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit in the form of a money order, bank draft, or cheque certified by a bank or trust corporation payable to the municipality (or board) and representing at least 20 per cent of the tender amount. Except as follows, the municipality makes no representation regarding the title to or any other matters relating to the land to be sold. Responsibility for ascertaining these matters rests with the potential purchasers.
This sale is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Tax Sales Rules made under that Act. The successful purchaser will be required to pay the amount tendered plus accumulated property taxes and any taxes that may be applicable such as the land transfer tax and HST. The lands do not include mobile homes situate on the lands. The municipality has no obligation to provide vacant possession to the successful purchaser. Purchasers must retain a lawyer to complete the purchase of any property for which their tender is accepted.
Pursuant to the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, S.C. 2022, c. 10, s 235 (the “Act”), effective January 1, 2023, it is prohibited for a non-Canadian to purchase, directly or indirectly, any residential property, as those terms are defined in the legislation. Contraventions of the Act are punishable by a fine, and offending purchasers may be ordered to sell the residential property. The municipality assumes no responsibility whatsoever for ensuring bidders/tenderers comply with the Act; and makes no representations regarding same. Prospective bidders/tenderers are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act and are advised to seek legal advice before participating in this sale.
A copy of the prescribed form of tender is on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent website, www.chatham-kent.ca and on the website of the Government of Ontario Central Forms Repository under the listing for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
For further information regarding this sale and a copy of the prescribed form of tender contact:
Title Name of Municipality or Board
Amy McLellan, Manager Revenue or Matthew Torrance, Deputy Treasurer
Address of Municipality or Board
Municipality of Chatham-Kent
315 King Street West, P O Box 640, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8 www.chatham-kent.ca
Personal information contained on this form, collected pursuant to the Municipal Act will be used for the purposes of that Act. Questions should be directed to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Co-ordinator at the institution responsible for the procedures under that Act.