There’s a metamorphosis underway in Lighthouse Cove.
Cove’s Landing restaurant will soon be under new ownership. Incoming owners Kyle and Stephanie Wagner plan to rebrand it as the Dock & Vine
Stephanie has local ties. Born and raised in Tilbury, she attended culinary school at Fanshawe College and focused on baking and pastries.
She has worked in bakeries, restaurants, event centres and catering in both London and Toronto.
Stephanie spent lots of time out at Lighthouse Cove and frequently went to the restaurants out there. The minute she knew about the opportunity to open a restaurant out there she knew it was the best spot, the Wagners said.
Kyle was born and raised in Calgary, calling Chatham home for the past decade. He is a Red Seal Chef and Junior Sommelier.
His culinary path has led him through Calgary, Toronto and London, with each city shaping his creativity and fueling his drive to master the craft.
Kyle said Lighthouse Cove has a strong connection to local farms and suppliers, and that allows him to highlight the exceptional bounty of Southwestern Ontario.
When Dock & Vine opens, patrons can expect to experience and taste local.
“We are all about local; we feel absolutely blessed to be in a region full of farmers. Fresh ingredients are so important to us,” the Wagners said in a media release. “We plan on showcasing local ingredients and utilize the bounty of Windsor-Essex, Lakeshore and Chatham-Kent. We have already connected with lots of local suppliers and hopefully more to come.”
The menu is both fresh and healthy, with a few indulgences of course, they said.
“We are looking to bring something new to the region. We are excited to show our patrons what incredible food we can create with the local ingredients,” the Wagners said. “We are also going to be offering breakfast which currently has not been available in the cove. And we also plan on being open all year round.”
C-K realtors refresh leadership, help others
Local realtors had a busy time of it recently, installing their 2026 board of directors and raising funds and food for a local food bank.
The Chatham-Kent Association of Realtors raised more than $4,500 at its recent annual general meeting, and collected 49 bags of food, all for Chatham Outreach for Hunger.
On top of that, outgoing CKAR president Barbara McCaughrin handed over a cheque for $3,770 to Habitat for Humanity Chatham-Kent, an organization selected as the Realtors Care grant recipient for 2025.
The AGM, held Dec. 10 at the Links of Kent Event Centre, saw the new board chosen. Included in the 2026 iteration are president Carrie Patrick, president-elect Ashley Amato, Carson Warrener, Bethanie Compton, Jackie Patterson, Mike Stull, Barbara McCaughrin, Michelle Hetherington, and Danielle Simard.
The association also extended heartfelt thanks to outgoing directors Matthieu Bechard, and Laurie DeHaw for their dedication and service.
As the year comes to a close, 2025 President Barbara McCaughrin reflected on the achievements of the past year and shared optimism for the opportunities ahead in 2026.
National home prices slip
According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey and Market Forecast, the aggregate price of a home in Canada recorded virtually no change in the third quarter of 2025, increasing just 0.1 per cent year over year to $816,500.
However, on a quarter-over-quarter basis, the national aggregate home price posted a decline of 1.2 per cent, driven by depreciation in many major markets across the country over the summer.
When broken out by housing type, the national median price of a single-family detached home increased 1.2 per cent year over year to $860,600, while the median price of a condominium decreased 1.6 per cent to $580,700.
“Canada’s housing market is shifting toward balance, as easing prices, rising listings and renewed rate cuts improve affordability across most regions,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage, in a media release. “For the first time in years, buyers – especially in previously supply-strapped markets – have real choice and negotiating power. With confidence returning and further rate reductions expected into early 2026, we anticipate noticeably stronger activity by the spring.”
Here in Chatham-Kent, the average price of homes sold in November was $422,880, down by 5.4 per cent from November 2024.
- 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 [email protected].
