Two Black historical sites from Chatham-Kent teamed up and represented Chatham-Kent at a recent event for the Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA).
The Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum, alongside the Buxton National Historic Site, sent their top people to the OMCA’s Marketplace gathering recently in Windsor.
Doug Robbins, executive director of the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society, and Michelle Robbins, curator of the Buxton National Historic Site, attended the event, with the support of C-K Tourism.
The aim was to showcase the rich and vibrant history of Chatham-Kent and encourage increased tourism to C-K’s historical sites.
The Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society, Josiah Henson Museum of African Canadian History and the Buxton National Historic Site are dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage of the Black community in Chatham-Kent, highlighting the contributions of Black Canadians to local and national narratives.
Doug Robbins said Chatham-Kent’s history is “rich and inspiring.
“We believe that by sharing our stories, we can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of our community. Together with our partners, we hope to attract more visitors who will experience the unique heritage of Chatham-Kent,” he said in a media release.
Michelle Robbins said attending the Marketplace was a great chance to show what C-K has to offer.
“This event is a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with tour operators and showcase the beauty of Buxton and the broader Chatham-Kent area. We believe that our shared history is a powerful tool for economic growth, and we are excited to welcome new visitors to our sites,” she said.
The OMCA Marketplace is an annual industry event supporting travel-trade group travel businesses across North America.
Toy time at The Voice
For anyone looking to donate to the Chatham Goodfellows, we’ve got a toy bin at The Chatham Voice awaiting your donation.
Just stop in anytime between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and plunk your contribution into the bin.
We’ll make sure it gets into the hands of the good folks at the Goodfellows.
The Chatham Voice is located at 71 Sass Rd., Unit 4 in Chatham.
New cozy coffee shop opens in Chatham
The days of ice cream cones and shakes may be over for now, but the owners of the Cone & Shake Shop have another endeavour underway.
Caitlin McCauley and Aidyn Lamb opened Cozy Cups, a new pickup coffee shop, located at 4 Sandys St. in Chatham.
On the menu are regular and specialty coffees, teas, refreshers, desserts and more.
“Now that the ice cream store is closed for the fall, our energy is focused on this coffee shop,” Lamb and McCauley said in a media release.
Cozy Cups is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
Fill that grill
Crossroads Pellets in Blenheim is once again running its Fill the Grill effort.
From now until the end of November, people can pop in and drop off a non-perishable food, personal care, or pet food/litter items in support of Word of Life Church food bank.
Participants also get 10 per cent off store wide.
Truffle dinner fundraiser
It’s truffle time at Gentry Manor.
The Park Street business is hosting a multi-course, truffle-themed dinner on Nov. 22 and 23. Dining time is 6 p.m. each night.
“Join us for an unforgettable culinary evening that celebrates the exquisite allure of the world’s finest truffles. In the intimate, elegant setting of Gentry Manor, you’ll be treated to an extraordinary multi-course dinner crafted by celebrated Chef Kyle Wagner and renowned truffle expert Wanda Srdoc,” event organizers said in a media release. “Experience the depth and decadence of both white and black truffles, freshly flown from lush truffle forests directly to your plate, for a flavor journey that’s as rare as it is remarkable.”
Tickets are $275, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation’s fundraising efforts.
- Business Voice is a bi-monthly column in The Chatham Voice that highlights some of the achievements made and efforts underway in Chatham-Kent’s business community. Send your information to bruce@chathamvoice.com.