By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News

While some residents in Chatham-Kent may be questioning where the proceeds from the Councillor Ward Funding Program are going, you won’t find any complaints from the chair of the Ridgetown Business Improvement Association.

Jim Brown, publisher of the family-owned and operated Ridgetown Independent News, made a deputation at the June 8 Council meeting praising the municipality’s Community Support Agreement with Hydro One that provides an annual $550,000 investment in recreational and cultural assets in communities across Chatham-Kent.

“A lot has been accomplished in Ward 3, only due to these grants,” Brown told Council. “These funds have supported many projects, both small and large, that would have never occurred without this funding.”

The municipality signed a 10-year funding agreement in 2022 as part of Hydro One’s transmission infrastructure expansion in the region.

Council approved the creation of the Councillor Ward Funding Program to distribute the $550,000 allocated annually, as each Councillor receives $25,000 annually for projects in their ward, while Mayor Darrin Canniff has $125,000 to put toward projects anywhere in Chatham-Kent.

A total of $2.2 million was available for the current council term, as the commitment period ended on April 26, which is an election year.

The report from staff at the June 8 meeting indicated that since the Councillor Ward Funding Program was launched on September 14, 2022, a total of 91 completed projects were funded for $1,274,535.44, while an additional 73 projects have been committed to for a total of $849,271.71, bringing the funding commitment of $2,124,162.71 across 164 projects from 2023 to 2026.

Almost $76,000 in funds remain, which will be redistributed equally between the eight rural ward Councillors (Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) in the next term, as a result of changes to the composition of Council.Ward 3’s John Wright is one of nine Councillors who committed his entire $100,000 over the four-year term.

Wright has spent a total of $64,133.53 on completed projects, while another $35,866.47 is pending on projects still to be completed.

Ward 3’s Morena McDonald had only $71,750 available, since she was appointed to Council in May 2024 to replace Steve Pinsonneault after he was elected MPP for the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex riding.

McDonald used up all but $155.19 of her allocated funds, financing $41,394.81 in completed projects, with another $25,200 committed to other projects.

Pinsonneault used his entire $28,250 to pay for projects before trading chairs at the Civic Centre for Queen’s Park.

Brown noted the Harry O’Neill sculpture, which was unveiled during Ridgetown’s 150th celebration last summer, as an example of how the Council Ward Funding Program is a home run – even if the carving celebrates the homegrown pitcher who invented the slider.

“I want you to know, you’re getting value for your dollars,” Brown told Council about the spinoff from the O’Neill sculpture, which was designed and created by world-renowned wood carver Mike Winia of Bothwell. “We did a story through our LJI (Local Journalism Initiative) program that went national across Canada, and it has created a lot of feedback.”

Brown said the story has brought many visitors to town to view the statue, who receive a certificate of the carving when they sign the guest book at the Br. 243 Legion, and also led to coverage for the CBC and inclusion in a book being written by Bill Park, of Toronto, on the history of the slider.

“We’re getting miles and miles out of this, and it’s all due to your commitment,” Brown said of Council and the Hydro One support.

Brown added that dealing with councillors, municipal staff and carver Winia on the project “have been excellent, you could not ask for any better, it’s been a very seamless program.”

Brown said he hopes the Council Ward Funding Program continues.

“It has been successful, as I speak for my local Ward 3,” Brown said. “We are putting these funds from Hydro One and yourself, to work in East Kent with great results. It is working, and we thank you.”

“And we have more ideas,” Brown said in conclusion.

The following are the projects financially supported in Ward 3 by the Councillor Ward Funding Program (council funding source in brackets):

– Fabmaster Welding – historical plaque – $2,238.72 (Wright)

– Bothwell Legion – crosswalk – $11,500 (McDonald, Amy Finn)

– Bothwell – Woodcarving – $15,000 (Wright)

– East Kent Celebrates – kids’ event – $1,866.47 (Wright)

– Highgate District Ag Society – fairgrounds’ improvements – $5,000 (Wright, Mayor Canniff)

– Mary Webb Centre – new dome light – $5,000 (McDonald, Wright)

– Mary Webb Centre – stained glass rehabilitation – $5,000 (McDonald, Wright)

– Mary Webb Centre – general repairs – $2,500 (McDonald)

– Mary Webb Centre, Highgate – woodcarving – $47,431,74 (McDonald, Wright, Canniff)

– Ridgetown 150 – commemorative tree planting – $2,500 (McDonald)

– Ridgetown & District Horticultural Society – library garden enhancement – $2,500 (McDonald, Wright)

– Ridgetown & District Horticultural Society – planters – $4,000 (Wright)

– Ridgetown & District Horticultural Society – pool garden – $2,000 (McDonald)

– Ridgetown – Harry O’Neill woodcarving – $24,727.68 (McDonald, Wright, Canniff)

– Ridgetown BIA – downtown revitalization – $2,000 (Wright)

– Ridgetown BIA – community entrance signs – $5,000 (Wright)

– Ridgetown TREES – tree planting – $3,500 (Wright, Canniff)

– Ridgetown Area Adult Centre – Indigenous mural – $10,000 (McDonald, Wright, Marjorie Crew)

– Thamesville Improvement Association – signage – $25,000 (McDonald)

– Thamesville Sertoma – War of 1812 wood carving – $19,775.01 (McDonald, Wright, Canniff)

– University of Guelph – sculpture – $7,500 (Wright, Canniff).

Councillors also allocated funding to projects that spanned multiple wards, such as Chatham-Kent Heritage plaques and Legion crosswalks.

Other major funding from the Councillor Ward Funding Program includes:

– *Wood carvings – $303,000

– Chatham Taylor Park Chatham improvements – $145,000

– *Military Veterans crosswalks – $70,000

– *Historical heritage plaques – $63,000

– *Wheelchair-accessible swing equipment – $60,000

– Wallaceburg Legion Memorial Wall – $50,000

– Blenheim basketball court – $45,000

– North Buxton basketball – $45,000

– Wallaceburg River of Lights – $45,000

(* – denotes projects over multiple wards)

For the complete list of the grants issued from 2022-26, go to www.-chatham-kent.ca and type ‘Councillor Ward Funding Program’ in the search window.