Ellwood Shreve

The Bhutanese Nepali Community of Chatham-Kent is hosting an eight-day Shrimad Bhagwat Saptaha Gyan Mahayagya at Chatham’s Everest Convention Centre. Beyond worship and religious teaching, the free event is helping residents and visitors build social connections, support mental well-being, involve younger volunteers, and preserve Bhutanese Nepali culture. Organizers expect about 10,000 attendees, including people from across Canada and the United States, and are raising funds to establish a Hindu temple in Southwestern Ontario.

A week-long Shrimad Bhagwat Saptaha Gyan Mahayagya in Chatham, organized by the Bhutanese Nepali Community of Chatham-Kent, combines Hindu worship, music, dancing, shared meals and teachings on peace and unity. Participants describe the free event as an opportunity to build social connections, support mental health, preserve culture and involve younger community members. Organizers hope to attract up to 10,000 devotees and raise funds to establish a temple in Southwestern Ontario.

York1 Environmental Waste Solutions is seeking provincial approval to modernize a landfill near Dresden and establish a waste transfer and processing facility. Under the proposed receiving rate, the landfill’s 1.62-million-cubic-metre capacity could be reached as early as 2035, while the processing facility could handle up to 3,000 tonnes daily. The project would operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and includes measures addressing traffic, noise, dust and leachate concerns. Despite York1’s claim that amendments to an existing environmental compliance approval are appropriate, residents and Chatham-Kent governments continue to oppose the project. Property owners have 15 days to submit comments to the Ontario government.

Ricco Cash & Carry opened its third regional grocery store at 496 Riverview Drive in Chatham after a July 18 soft opening, with a grand opening planned for August 22. The store, operated by Strathroy-based Ricco Food Distributor, serves restaurants, service clubs and individual shoppers, and has hired eight local employees. It emphasizes bulk and regular-size groceries, frozen meats, roasted chickens, breads, produce, and locally made products, while offering businesses a nearby supply hub and consumers an alternative to major grocery chains.

The Bhutanese Nepali Community of Chatham-Kent is organizing what it describes as Canada’s first grand Shrimad Bhagwat Saptaha Gyan Mahayagya, a free week-long Hindu spiritual and cultural event at the Everest Convention Centre in Chatham-Kent. Organizers expect up to 10,000 devotees and visitors, with daily religious teachings, singing, chanting, dancing and a cultural procession. The event is open to the public and volunteers, including high school students seeking service hours. The community, which includes 56 Bhutanese and Nepali families who began settling in the area around 2016–17, hopes the event will raise funds toward establishing a temple or community hall in Southwestern Ontario.