5 Things You Need To Know For March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026 5:55 am Published by Chris McLeod

_{March 11th is the 70th day of the year. There are 295 days remaining until the end of the year.}

Looking for something to do over the March Break?

CKRecreation is offering some free swim sessions in Wallaceburg and Blenheim.

At the Blenheim Gable Rees Rotary Pool there’s a free swim on Sunday, March 10 from 1:30-3 p.m. Monday-Friday 2:30-4 p.m. and on Saturday 2-3:30 p.m.

Next week there are free swim sessions at the Wallaceburg Sydenham Pool Sunday to Saturday 2:30-4 p.m. There’s also some bonus times on Friday and Saturday (March 15-16) 6-8 p.m.

Another March Break option is the Chatham-Kent Public Library.

All branches across C-K have family programming next week at no cost.

Check out the Program Calendar at CKPL.ca to get more info.

The Chatham Maroons first round schedule has been released. Chatham finished with the best record in the GOHL, and will have home ice advantage during the playoffs.

The defending Sutherland Cup champions will take on the St. Thomas Stars in the best-of-7 round one series, beginning Sunday at Memorial Arena.

GAME 1 – Sunday, March 15 at Chatham – 7:00 p.m.
GAME 2 – Tuesday, March 17 at St. Thomas – 7:30 p.m.
GAME 3 – Thursday, March 19 at Chatham – 7:00 p.m.
GAME 4 – Friday, March 20 at St. Thomas – 7:30 p.m.
GAME 5 – Sunday, March 22 at Chatham – 7:00 p.m.*
GAME 6 – Tuesday, March 24 at St. Thomas – 7:30 p.m.*
GAME 7 – Thursday, March 26 at Chatham – 7:00 p.m.*
*if necessary

Six years ago today, on this date in 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

Shortly after schools, businesses and borders closed. Sports leagues shut down and we all learned how to use Zoom. We learned a bunch of new terms, like PPE, social distancing, essential workers, flatten the curve, shelter in place and N95.

The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The World Health Organization finally declared COVID was no longer a “global health emergency” three years later on May 5th, 2023. According to their official stats, over 7 million people died worldwide, including over 55,000 in the Canada.

COVID is still around today, but most experts consider it to be “endemic” now. Meaning, it circulates but it’s much more predictable.

Wiarton Willie, the iconic albino groundhog has died.

Caretakers found him unresponsive in his burrow Tuesday morning.

Willie took over prediction duties in 2023 and most recently called for an early spring on Groundhog Day. Albino groundhogs are extremely rare, but officials say the search is already on for a new weather prognosticator to carry on the tradition next year.

The annual Wiarton Willie Festival has been a winter tradition for about 70 years.