By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Strengthening community is what the BizConneCKt Not-for-Profit Showcase is all about.
The annual Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce event, held recently at Links of Kent, brought 41 non-profit, health-care and government agencies together to bring awareness to the myriads of volunteer opportunities and services that are available.
“It’s important to have this to make the connections in the community,” Chamber president and CEO Rory Ring said of the initiative, noting Chatham-Kent has a lot to offer in both its non-profit and business sectors.
The chance to network is essential, Ring said.
“It really goes to show the importance of connecting the not-for-profit sector to the private sector,” he explained, noting that booths were set up by the non-profit organizations, the health-care sector and a handful of C-K municipal departments.
The BizConneCKt Not-for-Profit Showcase has been going for a number of years, however, Ring said the Chamber has made an effort to broaden the event. In 2025, 21 groups participated, but this year that number jumped to 41.
As society changes and boomers age out, the competition for volunteers has increased, Ring said, so getting the word out about what’s available is critical. Providing volunteer opportunities for high school students who need community hours is top of mind, he said, as well as opportunities for seniors and retirees who wish to remain active.
Going forward, Ring said volunteering will become increasingly important, as economic pressure bears down on Canadians. Financial constraints may make it difficult to make monetary donations, however people can still choose to donate their time, and business owners can encourage volunteerism within their workforce.
Ring said networking events are important for spreading awareness to newcomers in Chatham-Kent.
Individuals who want to find out more about businesses and services available locally are invited to contact the Chamber.
“If you have a particular interest, we can direct you to the agencies and non-profits that are here,” Ring said. “We are trying to build capacity.”
The BizConneCKt Not-for-Profit Showcase was sponsored in part by Postma Heating and Cooling. The Chatham company paid for the participation fee for each group.
