The Municipality of Chatham-Kent says the first year of CK Cools has been a success, providing relief to low-income households during this summer’s extreme heat.
The initiative, developed as part of the Leadership Chatham-Kent program, distributed 125 air conditioning units through a partnership with NeighbourLink, Grand Avenue Home Hardware and Chatham-Kent Employment and Social Services. While demand exceeded supply, officials say the program has already made a significant difference for families who took part.
“With Chatham-Kent experiencing longer periods of extreme heat, the CK Cools initiative was created to provide important support for people to safely shelter at home,” said Steve Brown, a program participant and the municipality’s director of budget and performance. “The CK Cools team would like to extend a sincere thanks to our community partners NeighbourLink and Grand Avenue Home Hardware for their support. This initiative will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our community for years to come.”
Residents who did not qualify this year will be notified by community partners when the next intake opens in 2026.
The CK Cools project was led by Brown, Tiffany Irwin of the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent, and Christina Bonneau of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
CK Cools is one of several “legacy projects” developed by Leadership Chatham-Kent, a nine-month leadership program launched in 2024 that brings together participants from across education, health care, non-profits, construction, post-secondary institutions and municipal services. The program aims to inspire and equip emerging leaders to make a lasting impact in the community.
