Communities of Chatham-Kent
BLENHEIM (Pop. 4,649)
Blenheim is a vibrant community located in south-central Chatham-Kent close to the shores of Lake Erie and only minutes from Rondeau Provincial Park. The quaint downtown features an excellent selection of fashion boutiques, fine stores and restaurants to satisfy the most sophisticated tastes. The community is 7 minutes south of Highway 401 at interchange 90.
Blenheim’s industrial base is located on the north end of the community. Blenheim is home to Mallory Industries, RM Classic Cars, Sinteris, Konal Engineering & Equipment Inc. Resistance Welding Products and The Woodbridge Group.
Surrounded by some of the richest farmland in Canada, Blenheim is also rich in agricultural industries including Rol-land Farms, Platinum Produce and Thompsons Limited.
The RM Classic Car Exhibit showcases one of North America’s finest collections of classic and antique cars and memorabilia. Visitors can tour 37,000 sq. ft. of showroom. A guided tour includes a close-up of more than 50 classic cars and rarities from the past century and an opportunity to see RM’s automotive restoration experts at work.
Blenheim residents enjoy several athletic fields, playgrounds, a beautiful 6-lane indoor swimming pool and recreation complex, skateboard park, arena and two distinct golf courses.
BOTHWELL (Pop. 968)
Bothwell is a charming residential community located in the north eastern limits of Chatham-Kent.
The community is home to Lambton Conveyor, Harold Marcus, GWS Tube Forming Ltd., Comptank Corp. and Bothwell Manufacturing. Bothwell is also home to Sloan’s Christmas Tree Farm and Parks Blueberries.
The region was the scene of an oil boom in the 1800’s. Many of the community’s old oil wells are still standing, marking the community’s rich history.
Bothwell’s recreational facilities include an arena, athletic fields, and a skateboard park.
CHATHAM (Pop. 45,282)
Chatham is the largest urban centre in Chatham-Kent. There are two interchanges from Highway 401 into Chatham.
With the Thames River running through the core, Chatham’s beautiful, historic downtown features a vast selection of fine boutiques, stores and services housed in beautifully restored buildings.
Chatham is also one of the stops on the African Canadian Heritage Tour.
Union Gas Limited (a Spectra Energy Company) and Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited (a DuPont Company) both have their Canadian head offices in Chatham. The community is also home to a vibrant contact centre industry including YA Canada and Transcom.
St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology-Thames Campus in Chatham offers education and training programs for students, business and industry.
The main campus of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is located in Chatham.
Chatham is also home to the Chatham Cultural Centre, a unique facility hosting a live theatre, art gallery and museum under one roof. There are four golf courses in and around Chatham ranging from a challenging private club to a 9-hole par three executive course.
Chatham is the central retail district for Chatham-Kent with 2.6 million sq. ft. of commercial businesses.
DRESDEN (Pop. 2,496)
Dresden is located in north-central Chatham-Kent.
Downtown Dresden features a selection of restaurants, quaint stores and access to the new Trillium Trail Historical Walk. The scenic trail through parks and woodland area features more than 50 historical sites.
The world-renowned Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site is located in Dresden. Dresden is also home to Chatham-Kent’s premier gaming facility, the OLG Slots at Dresden Raceway, offering live harness horse racing (May-September) and simulcast racing with 100 slots.
The vibrant community also features several athletic fields, a skateboard park and an arena.
CanGro Foods processes locally grown tomatoes. Martinrea Fabco is a tier one automotive supplier.
RIDGETOWN (Pop. 3,254)
Ridgetown is a picturesque snapshot of the elegant Victorian period complemented with modern-day amenities house in beautiful architecture and complemented with landscaped streets.
Located in the south eastern corner of Chatham-Kent, the community is 10 minutes south of Highway 401 with access at Highway 21.
The bustling downtown offers a unique mix of boutiques and specialty shops.
Ridgetown is a popular stop for tourists because of the close proximity to Lake Erie and Rondeau Provincial Park. Recreational facilities include athletic fields, an outdoor swimming pool, a skateboard park, arena and the Ridge House Museum.
Major industry in Ridgetown includes KSR International and Martinrea Fabco, a tier one automotive supplier.
The University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus offers degree and diploma programs. The institution is a centre for research and education for agriculture in Southwestern Ontario. The Ridgetown Ag Business Centre, a joint venture between Ridgetown College and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, is located on the college grounds.
Ridgetown is home to the most mature golf course in Chatham-Kent, the Ridgetown Golf and Curling Club.
THAMESVILLE (930)
Located in the eastern part of Chatham-Kent, Thamesville is 10 minutes north of Highway 401 on Highway 21. Thamesville’s small downtown offers a selection of restaurants, shops and services.
Thamesville has two unique places in history. It was the birthplace of Canadian author Robertson Davies (Davies based his Deptford Trilogy on life in Thamesville). Thamesville is also the site of the Battle of the Thames during the War of 1812. A monument to Shawnee War Chief Tecumseh is located at the battle site.
The community also has several athletic fields, an outdoor swimming pool and skateboard park.
TILBURY (Pop. 4,809)
Tilbury is a fine example of a rural Ontario town that spans the spectrum from agriculture to large industry with small business in between. This small farming community is known for its plentiful harvest of corn and soybeans but is also home to many thriving manufacturers that service the region’s prominent automotive sector.
Located on the west edge of Chatham-Kent, the community straddles Highway 401 with 2 interchanges for easy highway access and is only 25 minutes away from the Windsor/Detroit border crossing.
Major industry in Tilbury includes Autoliv Canada, Mahle Automotive, and the Woodbridge Group
Downtown Tilbury features some unique boutiques and is minutes away from two Great Lakes with boat launch access and excellent fishing. The 18-hole Tilbury Golf Course is located on the outskirts of the community. Other amenities include a large arena complex, athletic fields, skateboard park and outdoor swimming pool.
WALLACEBURG (Pop. 10,903)
Wallaceburg is located at the northern border of Chatham-Kent, 30 minutes from both Highways 401 and 402. The Sarnia/Port Huron border is 30 minutes to the north. There are two border crossings via ferry within 10 minutes of the community.
The St. Clair College-James A. Burgess Skills Centre in Wallaceburg offers secondary apprenticeships and post-secondary programs.
The Sydenham River, an ecologically significant watershed, winds through Wallaceburg providing beautiful scenery and boating opportunities. The area is particularly popular as a destination for duck hunting, fishing and antique boaters during the annual Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing in August.
Additional recreational facilities include an indoor pool, arena, athletic fields, playgrounds, tennis courts, a skateboard park, an 18-hole golf course, live theatre and a gallery/museum.
WHEATLEY (Pop. 1,943)
Wheatley is located in the southwestern corner of Chatham-Kent on the shore of Lake Erie.
Some of the best-known international food companies call the fishing village of Wheatley home. Major industry in Wallaceburg includes Cavendish Appetizers, Great Lakes Food, John O’s Food Inc., and Presteve Foods.
In addition to offering the local catch, Wheatley also features an abundance of outdoor recreational facilities. There are beautiful sandy beaches along the shorelines of Lake Erie and tent and trailer camping is available at several area campgrounds and Wheatley Provincial Park.