Chatham-Kent is one of 10 communities selected from across Canada to participate in Project UPSTREAM (Upskilling Prevention by Strengthening Readiness, Engagement, and Multisectorality).
The two-year pilot program was created and funded by Public Safety Canada, in an effort to address hate and social polarization that can lead to violence and extremism.
As one of the communities involved, Chatham-Kent will be able to tap into the expertise of seven key partners to help build a safer, more inclusive environment for residents and try to prevent extremist violence and hate at a local level.
Those partners include:
• The Canadian Centre for Safer Communities
• The Canadian Practitioners Network for the Prevention of Extremist Violence
• The Center for Trauma-Informed Practices
• Community Justice Initiatives
• Muflehun
• YouTurn
Chatham-Kent will be able to tap into those external resources for training and mentorship, while at the same time develop its own safety and violence-prevention initiatives with the hope that the shared data will eventually be used to develop community-based initiatives to mitigate risk factors, enhance safety, and address emerging issues before they become violent attacks.
The municipality believes the project directly supports Chatham-Kent's Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan, which is already in place and focuses on public safety, youth and family wellness, and building a strong sense of community belonging.
Project UPSTREAM is slated to last from September 2025 to March 2027.
Updates will be available to the public here as the project progresses.
