A wave of red and white is now flowing through downtown Chatham, where 60 new Canadian flags have been installed as part of a patriotic beautification initiative led by the Downtown Chatham Business Improvement Association (BIA).
The idea was brought forward by Lucinda Harp, a BIA board member, who drew inspiration from her hometown of Cobourg and the nearby community of Port Hope. She said both places are known for their displays of Canadian flags by businesses and residents, and she felt it was time for Chatham to adopt a similar show of pride.
“With everything happening in the world, I thought it would be a nice idea for our downtown to do something uplifting,” said Harp. “When I brought the idea to the board, there was unanimous support.”
Installation of the flags was carried out by JP Contractors, a local company proud to be involved in the project. Martin Horneman, speaking on behalf of the company, said the job had personal meaning.
“We do a lot of different jobs, but this one is definitely near and dear to our hearts as a proud Canadian company,” said Horneman.
The project was supported through grant funding made available by Hydro One. Chatham-Kent Councillor and BIA board member Conor Allin played a key role in securing those funds, noting that it was an easy decision to get behind.
“A project like this can really unite a downtown,” said Allin. “When I was asked to help with funding, it was a real no-brainer.”
According to BIA co-chair Andrew Thiel, the flag installation is only the beginning of a broader downtown revitalization effort. He said more projects are on the horizon, including the replacement of the River Rock mural in June and continued momentum through events and announcements set to carry through the end of the year.
“The flags are just the first of many great things happening in downtown Chatham,” said Thiel. “We have a fantastic board in place, with an incredibly enthusiastic executive director — the sky is the limit for the next few years.”
Businesses that were unable to take part in the first phase of flag installations will have another opportunity soon. A second round is planned for late June to early July, giving more storefronts a chance to participate in the growing display. The Historic Downtown Chatham BIA is encouraging interested business owners in the core to reach out by email to downtownchathambia@gmail.com.
For commercial installations beyond the BIA boundaries, JP Contractors is offering assistance and permit support, and can be contacted through their website at jpcontractors.ca.
