The community of Wheatley will come together this Saturday for Wheatley Waves Forward, a full-day celebration marking progress, resilience, and renewal following the 2021 explosion.
The event will run from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. along Talbot Street and will include live music, dignitary addresses, family-friendly activities, a vendor marketplace, a beer tent, and a community plant sale. Organizers say the day is meant to celebrate how far the town has come and to look ahead with hope.
“This event is more than just a celebration—it’s a milestone,” said Councillor Lauren Anderson, who will emcee the opening ceremony. “We’re not only honouring the past—we’re proudly stepping into the future with gratitude, strength, and vision.”
Remarks will be delivered by municipal, provincial, and federal representatives, as well as Indigenous partners and members of the Wheatley Recovery Task Force.
Howard Gabert, chair of the task force, said the community’s response to the explosion has shown extraordinary leadership and perseverance. “The people of Wheatley didn’t just rebuild—they led,” he said. “Wheatley Waves Forward is about honouring that leadership, that persistence, and that sense of community that has carried us through.”
A key moment in the day’s program will be the official unveiling of the new downtown concept design. The project, developed in partnership with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, the Province of Ontario, and the Wheatley Task Force, outlines a bold vision for the downtown core that prioritizes public gathering spaces, accessibility, and long-term community use.
Organizers say Wheatley Waves Forward is a free and inclusive event open to all—residents, visitors, former community members, and anyone inspired by Wheatley’s story of resilience.
“We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and this event is a chance to share that pride together,” Gabert said.
More details, here.
