After another challenging year, Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff says he's looking forward to the community continuing to grow in 2022.
"We got through the year and we are a growing community," said Canniff. "The perception of Chatham-Kent has changed significantly to a place where people want to live, a place where people want to open a business."
Looking back on 2021, Canniff said the community faced a few challenges. He said the situation in Wheatley, the pandemic, and inflation rates have been the biggest obstacles to work around.
"The Wheatley explosion was a real low point," said Canniff. "COVID-19, in general, has been a low point. Its impact on people's mental health, the economic impact from it. However, the high point has been how we've gotten through it as a community."
He said it was especially hard for businesses in the region that had to deal with the numerous hurdles that COVID-19 brought once again. However, he said there's still been a buzz about the community, which has been long overdue.
"When you look at our economy in Chatham-Kent, it's doing well," said Canniff. "The advice I'm going to give is to keep doing what we are doing - supporting each other, shopping local, and reaching out to people who need help. That's what makes Chatham-Kent so amazing - is how we treat each other and how we come together as a community."
Moving forward, Canniff said residents can expect to see more things happening in the community. He said there will be more things to do, more job opportunities popping up and companies relocating to the area.
"The municipality will be investing in our infrastructure like our buildings," said Caniff. "Look at the Downtown Chatham Centre, that is one thing we'll be looking at that as far as plans to redevelop that. We'll be looking right across Chatham-Kent for opportunities to develop."
With a growing need for more affordable housing, Canniff said the municipality is planning to build nearly 1000 residential units in the new year.
"I'm looking forward to getting more affordable housing built," said Canniff. "We need housing and it's been a huge issue."
According to Canniff, inflation has been significantly higher than in previous years. He said the construction rate is currently at 8 per cent.
"A big chunk of our spending in the municipality is in infrastructure," said Canniff. "That's something council will be dealing with over the next several weeks to help mitigate those costs. We are going to work as hard as we can to put out as low of an increase as we can."
Heading into the new year, Canniff said continuing to grow the community is what will make Chatham-Kent be a place where people want to work and live.
"I want to see the people of Chatham-Kent happy and we are working hard towards that."
