The municipality is on a growth curve, its population climbing back. Keeping that Going is Both a Challenge and A Payoff, Its Mayor Says.
Editor’s Note: This is part 1 in our contribution to postmedia’s National Series “How Canada Wins.” Over the Next Five Weeks We’ll Chronicle Our Community’s place in the country, the Promise of Greater Prosperity, and the Blueprint to get there. See The Series Intro here
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A Sprawling Landscape, with Planty of Elbow Room, a Different Economy and A High Quality of Life Have Left Chatham-Kent Primed for Growth.
Getting there, However, Will Require Careful Planning-Especially in an Ever-Uncetain Global Economy.
Like Much of Canada, Chatham-Kent-Made Up of the City of Chatham and A Vast Rural Area-Is Part of the Nation’s Breadbasket That Helps to Feed A Hungry World.
That’s has more to some observers, included Mayor Darrin Canniff, who Believes the Community’s Hybrid Rural-Urban Nature Can Draw Residents from Larger Centers.
“How See Chatham-Kent at Macro Level-This Assumes Nothing Crazy Happens in the Overall World Economy-I See US Growing,” He Said. “We are at destination because cost of living, because of climate, because of the people.”
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Chatham-Kent’s Population Topped 111,000 AS of July 2024, a Level not for Nearly Two Decades.
That’s a trend that can keep on gooir, canniff said.
“Let’s say We Grow at 2,000 people at Year for 20 years. . . We’d be at a population of 150,000 to 160,000, ”He Said.
To help Boost Chatham-Kent’s Numbers, Attracting More Residents is as important as Hanging onto Those Who’ve Already Made the Area Home.
Without More Newcomers, and Assuming Those Already Here Stay Put, the Population Would Decline Over Time Because The Area Birth Rate isn’t High Enough to Keep the Numbers where they are, canniff stressed.
Growth Drives Oother Advantages population, he noted.
“Were going to have more diversity in catham-kent. . . There’s Going to Be More Different Businesses Coming As Well, ”He Said. “The Brand Names that might be in london that aren’t here, they will be here evidence.
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“Having a diverse population, you get to see Things in a lot of Different Lights. In order to grow, that’s a strength. ”
Admi-Some People Might be hesitating about population growing, canniff said he doesn’t believe it’s an eith situation.
In Chatham-Kent, Which Was Created When Chatham and the Form Kent County and Its Municipalities Were Merged Into One-Flung Municipality, you can choose to live urban centers or in Quieter Villages on their outskirts, Enjoying More Rural Living Without Being Hours.
“That’s the Beauty of Chatham-Kent: WE’RE 2,500 Square kilometers,” Canniff Said. “You’ve Still Got Those Small Towns.”
Getting More Workers Trained, and Linking them with Employers, Remains a Priority for the Municipality’s Future.
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Civic Officials at a Launch Event for WorkForce Week in Chatham-Kent on Monday Forecast Nearly 3,000 Jobs Will Be Generated by the Area’s Growth Demands by 2031 and Another 11.150 Jobs from replacement request.
Agriculture, Manufacturing, Arts and Culture Will Play Key Roles, Canniff Said, Adding the Later “is a big, big piece as far as people wanting to come here.”
Development Closer to the Hwy. 401, The Nation’s Busiest Superhighway That Run Through Chatham-Kent, is also on its radar.
“The 401 is the Busiest Highway in the World and People Want to Be Near that for An Industrial Spot, (OR) Commercial (Property),” He Said. “If I was to fast-forming 20 years, I would fully Expect people will know they in Chatham-Kent” As they drive the Highway through The Area, He Said.
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“We need to have (development) so people are tinging notice and saying, ‘i want to stop in chatham-kent for this, this and this.’”
There’s been a Changing Mindset Toward the Community Over the Years, The Mayor Naded, Adding He Includes Himself Among Those Who See Things Differently Now.
Like Many people who Take Their Hometowns for Grant, Canniff Said He Returned with a fresh outlook.
“Growing up, i think a lot of people kind of viewed chatham-kent in a negative light. I was one of those. When i was a teenager, (it was) ‘i’ve got to get out of chatham-kent. There’s Nothing here for me, ‘”He Said. “I Came Back and that was the best thing i Ever Did.
“We’re Breaking Down the Barriers. We have a long way to go yet. Like Any Community, we not perfect. But More People are getting excited about Living in Chatham-Kent. ”
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