Sir: Thank you, Chatham!
Though I’ve never lived in Chatham-Kent, it’s always felt like home to me. It’s where my family grew up and where much of both sides of my family, the Kranenburgs and the Blackburns, still live.
My father joined the military and I grew up all over Canada. But almost every summer we would make the trek back to Chatham to visit family, and so Chatham is permanently linked in my brain with the bounty of region … the tastes of corn and of cherries.
This made sharing my ideas for a sustainable food system, one that creates jobs and supports local economies, at TEDx Chatham-Kent all the more special. Thank you to the organizers – John Lyons, Fannie Vavoulis, Pete Martin and Alysson Storey – for co-ordinating a thought-provoking day.
In my travels across Canada and in my work with the Centre for Social Innovation, I’ve thought a lot about what makes a strong community and even how to measure it. I’ve come to the realization that the most important measure is the number of connections. It’s the only true measure of a strong and healthy community, and it’s clear to me that with events such as TEDx, the Timeraiser and the non-profit conference that Chatham-Kent is a thriving community.
Thank you for your hospitality and see you this summer!
Dave Kranenburg
Speaker, TEDx Chatham-Kent
Chatham-Kent expat
