• Too much ice on shore cancels Erieau polar dip; returning next year

    An annual New Year’s Day polar dip in Lake Erie at Erieau was cancelled this year due to wintery conditions in the area. “The ice is built up on the beach and we can’t get to the water,” said organizer Jim Vidler. Ice build-up along the shore has happened a few times in the past, cancelling the polar dip, he said. “But, not very often,” Vidler said. “We’ve had some pretty good winters in the last few years.” The polar dip is also a fundraiser
  • Freedom walkers experience past through ‘soles of souls’

    Ken Johnston is walking with a purpose through Chatham-Kent as he retraces the footsteps of freedom seekers, formerly enslaved people who found freedom in Canada. The Philadelphia man began a 120-kilometre Freedmen’s Journey from Detroit on Dec. 26, 2026 coming through Windsor and Essex County on his way to Dresden, where his journey is scheduled to end Saturday at the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History. Johnston was met by supporters when he arrived in North Buxton on Wednes
  • The most-read Daily News stories of 2025

    Here are the most-read stories of 2025 from The Chatham Daily News: 25. A plea to help the homeless: Wallaceburg man struggles for church support to set up local shelter (Dec. 12) – READ IT HERE 24. $472M Hydro One project’s towers use Turkish steel: resident (Oct. 23) – READ IT HERE 23. Legendary NHL enforcer Joe Kocur proud to protect teammates (April 18) – READ IT HERE 22. Erieau polar dip grows as dozens take New Year’s Day plunge into Lake Erie (Jan. 1) –

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