On behalf of the Government of Canada, I welcome you to our great region of Chatham-Kent Essex, which I represent in Ottawa.

Chatham-Kent Essex, made up of a portion of Chatham-Kent and a portion of Essex County, is nestled in the heart of one of Canada’s finest agricultural regions. Here one can find the best of vegetables, fruit and wine, dairy products, beef, pork and poultry products, plus grains and oilseeds. These are enjoyed locally and across Canada. This region is also home to one of the largest fresh-water fisheries in the world and Canada’s “Tomato Capital.”.

Chatham-Kent Essex contains the sites of major historical events. Located here are numerous battle sites from the war of 1812-14, along the shore of Lake Erie and scattered along the Thames River, including the site of the death of the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh. Numerous Black history locations such as North Buxton, Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the Chatham-Kent Black History Museum are located here. Chatham-Kent was a part of the birthplace of the North American oil industry and led the exploration and creation of the vast oilfields of the Middle East. Two of Canada’s First Nations are located here and share their culture and history at annual Powwows.

Chatham-Kent Essex has much to offer the lover of music and theatre, with a broad array of school productions, community theatre groups and touring off-Broadway troupes. Music varies from free band concerts in Tecumseh Park in the heart of downtown Chatham to annual music student competitions, secondary school musicals, and regular visits by major orchestras and well-known artists of every genre. One of the longest continually performing community bands in Canada hails from right here in Chatham-Kent Essex.

In the western portion of the riding one will find a major agricultural region of greenhouses, some growing as many as three vegetable crops yearly, immune from any inclement weather outside. Boats ranging from harbour police patrol boats, to fire fighting boats, to ferries found in virtually every major port from Los Angeles to New York to Dubai are manufactured right here in Chatham-Kent Essex. If you have traveled to Toronto Island since mid-summer of 2007 by ferry, you traveled on a vessel produced here.

For the food lover, Chatham-Kent Essex has a great collection of fine restaurants varying from gourmet to simple cuisine, with foods of numerous cultures represented. Whether you want fish caught fresh that day, organic meats and vegetables, ethnic foods second to none, or exotics like game meat, restaurants across the region will delight you.

Chatham-Kent’s greatest attraction is its citizens, who are made up of a broad array of ethnic backgrounds and cultures. Some have been here for generations, and some are relative newcomers, but all are welcoming to visitors. Together we all will endeavour to make your visit enjoyable and memorable.

Whether you have a problem with immigration, citizenship, income tax, parole issues, or simply a request for a commemorative certificate for a significant anniversary or birthday, my staff and I are ready to talk with you and help you. .

Welcome to Chatham-Kent Essex !!

Dave Van Kesteren, MP
Chatham-Kent Essex