According to MoneySense’s 2018 list of Canada’s Best Places to Live, Chatham-Kent ranks 165th, rising from 324th in 2017.
Canadian cities were ranked based on wealth and the economy, affordability, population growth, taxes, commute, crime, weather, access to health care, amenities and culture.
Municipal officials say the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and Council have been focused on resident attraction and retention (RAR) in the community since 2011 when the census indicated a -4.2% population decline.
Efforts have targeted young people (aged 15-39), immigrant newcomers, and active retiree populations to address the decline, and will continue through the CK Plan 2035. The latest census, from 2016, reports a significant reduction in the total population decline (to -2%) and shows improvements in all of the target population groups.
“The census data, and national recognition on lists like MoneySense’s, shows that we are continuing in a positive direction and Chatham-Kent is an increasingly attractive place to live,” stated Mayor Randy Hope.
“These improvements highlight the importance of continuing community-wide initiatives to secure Chatham-Kent’s future for upcoming generations.”
In addition to an affordable housing market and declining unemployment rate, Chatham-Kent provides a high quality of life, great climate, short commute times, safe communities, and access to amenities that people are looking for when deciding where to live.
The That’s LivingCK initiative was launched in 2017 to promote the great quality of life and opportunities that exist in Chatham-Kent.
The campaign celebrates what local residents are doing in Chatham-Kent and highlights opportunities for others to get involved. Whether it’s the history and culture, being involved in the community, time for friends and family, being active and exploring the outdoors, “or starting a business with the whole community behind you,” there are many reasons that people are calling Chatham-Kent home.
“CK has been featured in the Globe & Mail as a retirement hotspot, on the Point2Homes’ list of Millennial Hotspots, and now has increased drastically on MoneySense’s Best Places to Live in Canada list,” stated Victoria Bodnar, Resident Attraction and Retention Coordinator, with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
“It’s great to see that the effort of many community groups, to make Chatham-Kent attractive for residents of all ages and backgrounds, is being recognized and our story is getting out there.”
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is increasing efforts to attract and retain residents by focusing on talent attraction to meet local labour market needs.
Targeted attraction efforts have begun which support employers that have had difficulty filling labour market needs locally.
These efforts will help to not only fill workforce needs but will contribute to addressing population decline.
