By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News
Darrin Canniff is looking forward to continuing to build on the growth and momentum that Chatham-Kent has experienced over the last eight years.
The Chatham native recently announced his bid for a third term in the Oct. 26, 2026, Municipal Election.
Canniff will face at least four challengers, as the deadline to apply for any elected position is Aug. 21. Current councillors Lauren Anderson from Wheatley and Michael Bondy from Chatham, along with Nelson Burm, a farmer/businessman from Wallaceburg, and Ryan Gow, a supply chain professional from Chatham, have all entered the mayor’s race.
Canniff says he will continue to focus on responsible growth throughout Chatham-Kent, including increased investments in rural infrastructure, road rehabilitation, community facilities, and housing development.
“Growth doesn’t just happen in one part of Chatham-Kent,” Canniff said. “Every community deserves investment and attention. We’ve made significant progress improving infrastructure across rural Chatham-Kent, supporting our downtowns, and helping local businesses succeed, but there is still more work to do.”
Canniff said communities such as Ridgetown, Blenheim and the surrounding areas have continued to move forward and benefit from a more balanced approach to municipal investment.
“One of the priorities I brought forward as Mayor was increasing investment in our rural communities,” Canniff said. “For too long, rural infrastructure needs have often outpaced available funding.”
“That’s why I championed initiatives and budget motions that allocated $30 million to paving gravel roads,” he said.
Canniff said beyond infrastructure, these communities have benefited from the overall growth and momentum Chatham-Kent has experienced over the past several years.
“We have seen significant residential development, new business investment, increased attention from developers and growing interest from people looking to relocate to Chatham-Kent,” Canniff said. “That growth helps strengthen the municipal tax base, creating opportunities to reinvest in services and infrastructure across the entire municipality, including our smaller communities.”
“Chatham-Kent’s strong housing performance has been recognized provincially, demonstrating that our community continues to attract investment and new residents,” stated Canniff. “More people are choosing Chatham-Kent than they have in decades, and that’s something we should all be proud of,” he said, as the municipality has seen a population increase of 8.1 percent over the last eight years, the strongest period of growth in more than two decades.”
One hot topic over the past term has been the proposed Chatham-Kent Community Hub, which has been a lightning rod for criticism, especially from the outlying area, while proponents hail the new facility as a game-changer for the future.
Canniff maintains that the Hub is not just a ‘Chatham thing,’ as many have labelled it.
“The proposed Community Hub is another example of an investment that benefits all of Chatham-Kent, including residents in Blenheim, Ridgetown and our rural areas,” Canniff said. “The Hub is not simply a project for one community.”
“It is intended to create a modern, efficient and sustainable facility that brings together services, reduces duplication and positions Chatham-Kent for future growth,” he said.
By consolidating aging infrastructure and creating a central destination for services, Canniff said the Hub can help deliver better value for taxpayers across the municipality while ensuring residents have access to modern facilities for decades to come.
“As Mayor, I have always believed that success in Chatham-Kent should not be limited to one area,” Canniff said. “When Chatham-Kent grows, when we attract new residents, new businesses and new investment, every community benefits.”
“Whether it’s improved infrastructure, stronger municipal finances, expanded services or increased economic opportunity, the goal has always been to ensure that growth reaches every corner of our municipality, from our urban centres to our smallest rural communities,” said Canniff.
Canniff says his vision for the future remains focused on ensuring that Chatham-Kent continues to move in the right direction.
“Over the past eight years, we’ve worked hard to change the conversation around Chatham-Kent,” Canniff said. “We’ve focused on growth, positivity, investment, and creating opportunities for people and families to build their future right here in our community.”
“We’ve made tremendous progress together, and now it’s time to keep building on that success,” he stated.
Canniff served one term as a Ward 6 Councillor before winning his first run at the mayor’s seat in 2018, when he collected 19,316 votes.
Alysson Storey finished second with 9,255 votes while incumbent Randy Hope, who was seeking a fourth term, finished third with 4,722.
Only two candidates ran against Canniff in 2022 – neither with any political experience – as he collected 73 percent of the votes.