By Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
Chatham-Kent has officially adopted its updated Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWB) for 2025–2029, reinforcing its commitment to building a safer, healthier and more inclusive community. The move follows a provincial mandate that requires every Ontario municipality to develop such a plan under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019.
The plan, endorsed by Chatham-Kent Council on June 9, was informed by a combination of survey data, stakeholder engagement, and research from provincial and federal sources. Input from more than 350 residents and local leaders across sectors—healthcare, education, social services and emergency response—shaped the priorities and framework of the plan.
The goal of the CSWB Plan is to create a community in which residents feel safe, connected and supported, while ensuring that services are accessible and equitable. It emphasizes a proactive and integrated approach to address social issues that affect safety and well-being, rather than relying on incident-based responses alone.
Central to the plan is a planning framework that includes four areas of intervention: social development, prevention, risk intervention, and incident response. While each area plays a role, the plan calls for most resources and investments to be directed toward social development initiatives—long-term, proactive strategies that improve outcomes across the population.
The plan outlines six priority areas of focus: substance use, mental health, housing and income security, public safety, community belonging, and children, youth and family wellness.
Work in each of these priority areas will be led by dedicated action teams composed of local partners. These teams will be responsible for designing and implementing targeted strategies, engaging the public, tracking progress and adapting approaches as needed. Collaboration among agencies and improved data-sharing will be key to measuring impact and refining the plan over time.
Key commitments include reducing stigma and systemic barriers associated with substance use, improving access to mental health supports, expanding housing and financial security options, enhancing public safety, and strengthening social ties within neighbourhoods. Investments will also be made in youth programming and initiatives that support healthy family dynamics.
A major component of the plan’s development was a community survey conducted in March 2025. Over a four-week period, 350 residents responded, providing valuable insights into local needs and perceptions.
According to the survey, 70 per cent of respondents reported a sense of belonging in their communities, and more than 81 per cent said they had positive relationships with neighbours. While 65 per cent of people felt safe walking in their neighbourhoods after dark, nearly 80 per cent said they believed crime had increased over the last four years.
Other findings highlighted concerns about unsupervised outdoor play for children, particularly among parents of children aged 5 to 12. Respondents identified substance use, criminal activity, mental health, physical activity, poverty, and education and employment as top community priorities.
Municipal officials say the survey results, while informative, will be interpreted alongside broader datasets from Statistics Canada, Public Health Ontario and local partners such as the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, Linck, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, and emergency service providers.
The next steps include sharing the full CSWB Plan with the public in summer 2025 through online platforms and printed copies at local libraries. Community members will continue to be invited to participate in consultations, strategy development, and ongoing feedback sessions.
Planners also aim to establish sustainable funding sources, consult residents on specific action items, and build an evaluation strategy to monitor outcomes. The ultimate vision is a long-term reduction in systemic risk factors and improved coordination among services.
For more information or to get involved, residents can visit www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/community-sw.
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