Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Monday, January 15, 2018

Today – Cloudy. Periods of snow beginning early this morning. Amount 2 to 4 cm. Wind southeast 20 km/h. High minus 4.

Tonight – Periods of snow ending late this evening then cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. Risk of freezing drizzle late this evening and overnight. Amount 2 cm. Low minus 9.

Show your love for Chatham-Kent

What’s not to love about Chatham-Kent? There are so many reasons why you love your community, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent… the parks, nature, amenities, family friendly and age friendly environment, trails, waterfront.

The Municipality can think of no better experts and spokespeople for the community than the residents, business owners, families, seniors and youth, so they are asking you this question: What do you love about Chatham-Kent?

Tell the Municipality what you love about Chatham-Kent and your name will be place into a draw for a Valentine’s Day gift basket full of local products.

To enter the contest, click on this link https://www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/ register, and tell us what you love about the community in 200 words or less.

Last day to submit what you love about Chatham-Kent will be Thursday, February 8, 2018.

The Municipality will draw the winner on Friday, February 9, 2018 and the winner will be able to pick up their prize pack any day starting Monday, February 12, 2018 at the Civic Centre, 315 King Street, Chatham during normal business hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

The winner will have their photo taken and appear on the municipal web site.

Chatham-Kent moves up to 11th spot in U-Haul Migration Trends in 2017

According to just-released U-Haul data for 2017 (U-Haul Canadian Growth Cities 2017), Chatham is listed as Canada’s No. 11 Growth City. This 11th place ranking is up two spots from last year’s ranking of 13.

U-Haul reports that migration trends are based on data compiled from over 1.7 million one-way U-Haul truck rental transactions, and Growth Cities are calculated by the net gain of arriving one-way U-Haul trucks over departing one-way U-Haul trucks for a calendar year. With more than 21,000 U-Haul locations across the U.S. and Canada, the data collected provides a comprehensive overview of where people are moving to.

Municipal officials say while the U-Haul migration trends are not a direct reflection of population growth, they certainly provide a good indicator of how well cities are attracting and retaining residents.

“Based on house price data, record levels of houses changing hands, and new building permits issued for 2017, it is clear that our community is on the map,” stated Audrey Ansell, Manager of Community Attraction and Promotion.

“Chatham-Kent’s inclusion in the top 25 Growth Cities list for the second consecutive year is a positive sign that the community is an attractive place in which to live,” added Victoria Bodnar, Resident Attraction and Retention Coordinator with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

Municipal officials say as more people identify Chatham-Kent as a place in which to live and invest, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s CK Plan 2035 firmly underscores the importance of community-wide initiatives that aim to attract and retain residents and help secure Chatham-Kent’s future for upcoming generations.

C-K budget opening night on Facebook Live

Once again this year, the opening night of Chatham-Kent council’s budget presentation will be available for live viewing by all residents of the municipality.

The Wednesday,January 17 presentation will be available via Facebook Live by visiting Chatham-Kent’s Facebook Page beginning at 6 p.m. The draft budget will be presented, followed by any submissions from residents.

Last year’s presentation had 2,600 views and reached nearly 18,000 people through their newsfeeds. Thirty-four online comments were shared.

Budget Chair Councillor Derek Robertson said he welcomes participation in the budget process through whatever means citizens choose.

“The more people who are involved, the better direction council receives and in theory the better our result will be,” he said.

“The level of service set by the council must be directly reflective of the needs in our community and what better way than receiving input from all corners of Chatham-Kent.”

Gord Quinton, Chatham-Kent’s Director, Budget & Performance Services, said the use of Facebook Live and the recent online budget survey which attracted hundreds of views, help bring the budget process to citizens in ways which weren’t possible years ago.

The budget presentation will also be available on YourTV Chatham-Kent beginning at 6 p.m. on standard definition channel 11 (ch. 6 in Wallaceburg), and HD channel 700.

In addition to Wednesday’s session which will be held in council chambers, community open house sessions will be held on the following dates.

Tuesday, January 23 – 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Brief presentation made at 5 p.m.
Ridgetown Municipal Office, 45 Main Street E., Ridgetown
Tilbury Arena, Ryder Hall, 55 Bond Ave.,Tilbury

Wednesday, January 24 –4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Brief presentation made at 5 p.m.
Blenheim High School Cafeteria, 163 Chatham St. S., Blenheim
Wallaceburg Municipal Office, 786 Dufferin Ave., Wallaceburg

Thursday, January 25 – 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Brief presentation made at 5 p.m.
Active Lifestyle Centre, 20 Merritt Ave., Chatham

Budget Committee deliberations are schedules for January 30, 31 and February 1 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in council chambers.

Written and verbal presentations of up to five minutes are welcome each evening – please sign up at the door. Please check the schedule posted on our 2018 budget website for updates on the timing for deputations.

Staff recommenda that you contact ckfps@chatham-kent.ca in advance if you have a presentation.

Deputations on specific topics generating significant community interest will be scheduled and announced prior to the Budget Committee’s deliberations.

If you require a specific accommodation, please contact us at 519.360.1998, 48 hours in advance so we can work with you to make these arrangements.

If you are unable to attend any of the sessions, your comment can also be made through

– By email to ckfps@chatham-kent.ca

– By mail to Budget & Performance Services, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, 315 King St. W, P.O. Box 640, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8

– Or by telephoning Budget & Performance Services at 519-360-1998

Canadian Armed Forces Members deploy to continue deterrence mission in Latvia

Following months of training and preparation, approximately 450 Canadian Armed Forces members are now on their way to Latvia to provide relief for Canadian soldiers taking part in Operation REASSURANCE.

The new Canadian personnel, led by the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2 RCR) will replace the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup Latvia. Lieutenant-Colonel Sean French, Commanding Officer of 2 RCR, will assume command of the multinational battlegroup shortly after his arrival.

“The men and women of 2 RCR, along with the many soldiers, sailors, airmen and air women who have joined us from other units across the Canadian Armed Forces, are honoured to represent Canada in Latvia,” stated Lieutenant-Colonel French, in a press release.

“We are prepared and ready to fulfill the commitment of which we have been asked.”

As articulated in Canada’s defence policy – Strong, Secure, Engaged – the deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces members as part of Operation REASSURANCE reaffirms Canada’s commitment to leading and contributing to NATO’s efforts to deter and defend against potential adversaries in order to support global stability.

The eFP Battlegroup Latvia comprises military contingents from Albania, Canada, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Spain.

NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence is part of a defensive and proportionate response to the evolving security environment in the region. The Battlegroup is training with the Latvian Land Forces Infantry Brigade, with which it will work hand-in-hand to deter, and if necessary help defend, the people of Latvia from aggression.

The majority of soldiers deploying are from 4th Canadian Division in Ontario and approximately 40 soldiers are from 5th Canadian Division in Eastern Canada.

The Canadian Armed Forces is contributing about 450 troops to the enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Latvia, including headquarters staff, an infantry company with Light Armoured Vehicles, military police, and logistical and communications support.

Since 2014, Canada has actively participated alongside our NATO Allies in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe in measures to maintain security and stability through training, exercises, and other operational tasks.

Ontario making schools healthier and more energy-efficient

Ontario students are benefitting from healthier, modern and more comfortable learning environments with new energy-efficient upgrades in nearly 600 schools across the province.

Provincial officials say this investment is part of Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan and is funded by proceeds from the province’s cap on pollution and carbon market.

Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education, was at Kensington Community School in Toronto last week to announce funding for school improvement projects including new solar panels, hot water boilers and LED lighting systems in schools across the province.

“Ontario is taking action in the fight against climate change, and the province’s publicly funded schools are doing their part,” Hunter stated in a press release.

“These energy-efficient upgrades will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to create a greener school environment for students and staff, and a healthier future for the province.”

Ontario is investing proceeds from its carbon market to help schools install and upgrade energy-efficient building components and create safer, healthier schools. These projects will also help fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas pollution from school buildings.

“Ontario’s actions to help schools fight climate change and improve energy efficiency will reduce greenhouse gas pollution and ensure greener, more inspiring learning environments for our children,” stated Chris Ballard, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, in a press release.

“This is an example of how our Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market are working together to save energy costs while moving us towards a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous low-carbon future for everyone in Ontario.”

Ontario is investing $200 million of proceeds from its carbon market to upgrade energy-efficient school building components in 2017 and 2018.

The Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market form the backbone of Ontario’s strategy to cut greenhouse gas pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.