Chatham-Kent posts strongest population growth in more than two decades

Stats Can says Chatham-Kent is showing the fastest population growth in more than two decades. Chris Campbell reports.

New figures from Statistics Canada show Chatham-Kent is experiencing its strongest population growth since national data collection began in 2001, marking a major turnaround for a community that once faced years of decline.

According to the latest population estimates, the municipality reached 113,070 residents as of July 1, 2025 – a 1.23 per cent increase over the previous year. Local officials say that is the fastest single-year growth rate in more than 20 years.

For much of the past two decades, the trend was moving in the opposite direction. Between 2001 and 2015, Chatham-Kent’s population dropped by 6.6 per cent, losing more than 7,300 residents. Since 2016, however, the population has climbed 8.1 per cent, an increase of more than 8,400 people.

Mayor Darrin Canniff says the new data confirms years of work to attract new residents and investment are paying off.

“We’re very excited about that because for a number of years, we were declining in population. But six years ago, that trend changed,” Canniff said in an interview with CTV News. “So, we’re seeing the culmination of all the work we’re doing here to promote Chatham-Kent, but to make it an amazing place to live, work and have a business.”

The municipality says most of the recent growth is being driven by people moving from elsewhere in Ontario. Net in-province migration accounted for a 16.7 per cent increase over the previous year – the second highest level recorded since 2001.

More than a quarter of new arrivals are children and youth under the age of 15, a sign that young families are increasingly choosing to settle in the region.

“One quarter of our growth was 15 and under, so it’s young families coming here,” Canniff said. “They’re recognizing this is a great place to raise kids.”

He points to quality of life and shorter commutes as key selling points.

“When you go to work, you can be within five to 10 minutes. And it’s the people here – the people of Chatham-Kent are very welcoming,” he said.

Chatham-Kent’s growth rate also outpaced several neighbouring communities and the provincial average. Ontario’s population grew by 0.7 per cent over the same period, while Windsor grew by 0.83 per cent, London by 0.98 per cent and Sarnia by 0.17 per cent.

Canniff says the municipality is well positioned to handle continued expansion.

“The great thing here in Chatham-Kent is we have a lot of capacity for growth,” he said.

That growth is already being felt in the local housing market.

Developer Iulian Ursu, co-owner and founder of Upstruction Development Group, says his company currently has 10 projects underway across the municipality, including a mid-sized apartment building on Taylor Avenue in Chatham that is expected to be completed by August.

“For now, we’re focusing on people that are looking for one- and two-bedroom units,” Ursu said.

While the population numbers point to rising demand, Ursu says his focus remains on meeting the needs of current residents.

“Our goal is to create rental and housing for the community, for the existing population here in Chatham,” he said. “Our focus is for the locals – to create a better product, to create more affordable, attainable housing.”

Ursu, who relocated with his family to Chatham-Kent from the Toronto area five years ago, says the region offers advantages that are attracting both families and businesses.

“What I found here is actually not spending four hours in traffic,” he explained. “Just geographically, you have one hour to Sarnia, one hour to Windsor, to Leamington. So even if you run a business, imagine how much you can cover just being located in Chatham. I think we’re blessed to be in this area.”

Municipal officials also point to improving economic indicators. The most recent available figures show median personal income in Chatham-Kent rose 5.4 per cent in 2023, surpassing the national growth rate of 4.4 per cent. Between 2018 and 2023, median income in the municipality increased by 20 per cent.

Audrey Ansell, Chatham-Kent’s director of community culture and connections, says the latest population data validates local efforts to build a stronger community.

“It really vindicates all the efforts that we have made in terms of attracting people and creating a great community that people want to come and live in,” Ansell said.

She says the influx of families is particularly encouraging.

“What we’re really seeing is that population growth is being driven by people moving to Chatham-Kent from elsewhere in Ontario,” Ansell said. “Within that, over 25 per cent of folks who are coming to our community are actually children and young people. So that indicates that we’ve got a lot of families moving here.”

Ansell credits community organizations and quality-of-life investments for helping make the municipality more attractive.

“Folks in certain professions can choose to live anywhere,” she continued. “When you have a great community that offers arts and culture, recreation opportunities, and ways to connect people, it makes the choice easier as to where they want to live – and Chatham-Kent thankfully is showing up in the stats.

“Fundamentally, I think it’s about the people here in the community,” she added. ”Lots of ethno-cultural organizations and community groups that go out of their way to welcome people and make it a place people want to call home.”

The municipality says it will continue to focus on planning for sustainable growth through investments in housing, infrastructure and services aimed at supporting an expanding and more diverse population.