Chatham-Kent’s Population Decline Not Echoed In Sports Registration

Chatham-Kent is a shrinking Municipality. That fact became clear when Statistics Canada released their 2016 Census results last week.

While Canada’s population grew at a rate of 5% since 2011, Chatham-Kent decreased by 2%, dropping from a total population of 103,671 in 2011, to 101,647 in 2016. In 2006, Chatham-Kent’s population was 108,177.

Despite falling population across Chatham-Kent, it appears registration for most minor sports organizations is holding strong, or in some cases, even increasing. Although CKSN did not poll every Chatham-Kent organization, the trend across each organization contacted seems to be they are maintaining, or in some cases, even growing.

Headlining that group is the Chatham Minor Baseball Association, who has seen their youth registration increase steadily over the last decade.

“We have not seen a decrease,” said Chatham Minor Baseball Association president Jason Chickowski. “In fact last year was the highest registration numbers we have had in 15 years or so.”

In 2016, Chatham Minor Baseball had a registration of 584 in 2016, up from 536 in 2015, and 484 in 2011, the year of Canada’s last Census results. In 2006, they had 438 players registered.

According to Chickowski, he believes success of the Toronto Blue Jays has sparked an interest locally.

“I believe the success of the Blue Jays in recent years has helped the growth of baseball in our community. We hope kids continue to come out and play baseball and see it as a worthwhile activity.”

The stability in registration numbers seems to be a trend across communities and sports within Chatham-Kent.

“WMHA is in a very envious position, our registration numbers have been very constant averaging 300-320 participants per season,” said Wallaceburg Minor Hockey Association President Chris Young.

Although Young did state he believes the lack of industry, and shrinking tax base is hurting organizations due to rising costs, including the cost of ice time.

“The biggest issue we face is the lack of support from the Municipality,” said Young. “Ice costs are subsidized but not as much as other centres – I believe this is in direct proportion to the lack of industry and business tax generation. When you compare the ice costs in Chatham-Kent when compared to our bordering communities in Lambton, Middlesex, and Essex counties we are being hammered.

Another hurdle some organizations are facing, is finding coaches. Although the Chatham-Kent Cougars registration numbers have remained strong, the organization is undergoing changes, including dropping their Varsity program. According to president Sel Jordan, it’s not these changes, but the loss of coaches which have been a noticed difference over the past few seasons.

“The decline has affected our coaching pool as some of our coaches have moved out of town,” said Jordan.

Other changes, including the merger of Kent and Lambton high school leagues into the new LKSSAA in the past two years have also been necessitated, not due to the overall declining population, but due to declining school enrolment in the region.

Although numbers across Chatham-Kent sports organizations seem to be holding steady, it is unknown how long that trend can continue if Chatham-Kent’s population base continues to shrink. Coupled with rising costs, and aging facilities, resiliency on the court, field, and ice seems to be the glue holding the Chatham-Kent sports community together.