Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review | Municipality of Chatham-Kent

Location

Chatham-Kent, Ontario

Client

Municipality of Chatham-Kent

Dates

2024

Services

GIS Services

Geospatial Analysis

Statistical Analysis

Population Modeling

Mapping

Team

StrategyCorp

In July 2024, Sajecki Planning Inc. was retained along with StrategyCorp by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to conduct a Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review ahead of the 2026 municipal election. The municipality spans approximately 2,500 km2 across Southwestern Ontario. The purpose of the review was to ensure the ward boundaries and Council structure provide a system of effective and equitable representation through 2030.

Sajecki Planning undertook geospatial and statistical analysis to support the creation of the new ward boundary options. The review began with an in-depth analysis of the current population’s distribution across the municipality. Sajecki Planning and StrategyCorp then worked with the municipality to accurately project population growth through 2030. The projected growth of permanent and seasonal residents, temporary foreign workers, and out of town students was modeled.

Based on these projections and considerations for community interests and the extent of natural features, new ward boundary options will be prepared and presented to the public for feedback before being considered by Council. A key challenge of the project is balancing urban and rural interests and ensuring fair representation within each ward.

Council decided to reduce their size from 18 to 14 Councillors and a Mayor and increase the number of wards from six to eight. This project marked the first time Chatham-Kent updated their ward boundaries since amalgamation in 1998.