Leamington, Ontario

Leamington is a town in Essex County, Ontario, Canada. It is the second largest town in Windsor-Essex County after Windsor, Ontario.

One of its most famous features is Point Pelee National Park, the southernmost point of mainland Canada. Leamington is also well known for its tomato industry and is called the "Tomato Capital of Canada". A big tomato processing plant there was started in 1908 and was owned by the H. J. Heinz Company until 2014.

Communities

Besides the town of Leamington, the area has many smaller villages and places. These include Albuna, Blytheswood, Cherry Lane Estates, Elmdale, Goldsmith, Marentette Beach, Mount Carmel, Oakland, Seacliffe, Wigle, Windfall, Chalmers, Erie Curve, Hillman, Point Pelee, and Sturgeon Woods.

History

Leamington became a village in 1874. It had around 350 people in 1869. It was named after a place called Royal Leamington Spa in England. Before that, it had other names.

Leamington was known for its lumber and fishing. Fish like sturgeon were caught in Lake Erie.

On January 1, 1999, Leamington joined with the Township of Mersea to become a larger town.

In June 2010, a small tornado moved through Leamington. It caused damage to some important places, but no one was hurt.

Climate

Leamington is located on the 42nd Parallel, which is the same latitude as cities like Chicago, Boston, the northern edge of California, Rome, and Zaragoza. The city is along the north shore of Lake Erie, and the lake helps control the area's weather.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population by Statistics Canada, Leamington had a population of 29,680 people. They lived in 10,547 of the 11,219 homes available. The town covers 261.24 km² (100.87 sq mi), with a population density of 113.6 people per km² (294.3 per sq mi) in 2021.

Language

Most people in Leamington speak English. From the 2016 census, 24,070 people speak only English, while 1,655 speak both English and French, and 1,330 speak neither.

Age

The average age of people in Leamington is 41.3 years. Men average 39.7 years, and women average 42.9 years.

Immigration

A 2006 survey found 7,485 immigrants, with 19,365 being native to Canada. Many immigrants come from Mexico and Jamaica and work seasonally on farms through the Temporary foreign worker program in Canada. Leamington has the highest percentage of Latin Americans in Canada, at 4.9%.

Transportation

The city has a bus system called Leamington Transit to help people get around. There is a small private airport a little way east of the town. Leamington is linked to bigger roads by Highway 3 which goes to Windsor, and Highway 77 which connects to Highway 401.

An old rail line built by Heinz for its plant is now a nice bike path from the center of town to the Marina. Two ferries, named MV Jiiman and MV Pelee Islander II, run regularly in the summer from Leamington to Pelee Island and then on to Sandusky, Ohio. These are operated by the Owen Sound Transportation Company.

Economy

The H. J. Heinz company opened a factory in Leamington in 1908. It made ketchup and baby food for places like the United States. In 2013, Heinz said it would close the factory in 2014, which would affect many workers.

Local business people worked to keep the factory open. They started a campaign on Facebook to get support. A company called Highbury Canco took over the factory in 2014 and now makes tomato juice and other foods for Heinz. Today, about 250 workers still help make food there.

Leamington is famous for its many greenhouses, more than anywhere else in North America. These greenhouses grow tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, roses, and other flowers. Many greenhouses use a special way of growing called hydroponic farming. In the past, tobacco was also a big crop, but it is rarely grown there now.

Each year, workers from Mexico and the Caribbean come to help in the greenhouses and farms. There are also shops and a consulate for people from Mexico and Jamaica.

Leamington also grew plants for medical and fun use. In 2020, the company Aphria joined with a company from Nanaimo, British Columbia called Tilray. This led to closing an older site in Leamington. Now, all of that work happens at the Aphria site, which is now called Tilray.

Healthcare

Erie Shores Healthcare helps people in Leamington, Essex, and Chatham Kent stay healthy. It began in 1950 as Leamington District Memorial Hospital. In late 2016, the hospital changed its name to Erie Shores Healthcare. For other health needs, people can visit nearby Windsor, Ontario.

Education

Leamington has schools for children from kindergarten to high school. The public schools are run by the Greater Essex County District School Board, and the Catholic schools are run by the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board. There are also French-language schools managed by the Conseil scolaire Viamonde and the Conseil scolaire catholique Providence.

Leamington has five public elementary schools, including Mount Carmel - Blytheswood Public School, and two Catholic elementary schools. There is also a private elementary school called South Shore Christian School. For high school, Leamington has three schools: Leamington District Secondary School (public), Cardinal Carter Catholic High School, and U.M.E.I. (United Mennonite Education Institute).

Parks

Leamington has several parks including Seacliff Park, the Marina Park, Mersea Park, Garrison Gardens, Henry Park, and Chestnut Park.

One special park is Point Pelee National Park, the southernmost point on mainland Canada. Many visitors come here each year. It is a place where many migrating birds stop, and it is also one of the best places to see the large yearly migration of monarch butterflies.

Tourism

Tourism helps the local economy. Leamington has many places to visit. Visitors can enjoy cycle paths along the lake and explore Point Pelee National Park. This park is a special spot for birds, especially in the fall. Many birdwatchers visit from Canada, the United States, and other places. The area is also famous for monarch butterflies that gather at Point Pelee before flying to Mexico. Another natural area nearby is Hillman Marsh, a wetland located about six kilometres east of the town.

Leamington has a large marina where people enjoy sailing and other water activities. The marina has a promenade that stretches to the Historical Leamington Dock, where ferries like the Jiiman and Pelee Islander II travel to Pelee Island.

Annual events and festivals

• Festival of Birds – Each May, many visitors come to Point Pelee National Park for the Festival of Birds. Many kinds of birds pass through the park each year.
• Leamington Fair – For over 170 years, the Leamington District Agricultural Society has held this fair in mid-June. It includes a Midway with rides and games, and contests for arts, crafts, animals, and food.
• Music Onthe42 Summer Concert Series – From late June to August, free concerts happen every Saturday evening at Seacliff Park Amphitheatre, featuring many different kinds of music.
• Arts @ The Marina – In late June, the South Essex Arts Association/Leamington Arts Centre holds an outdoor arts and crafts show at the Leamington Municipal Marina.
• Hogs For Hospice – Every August, a motorcycle rally takes place at Seacliff Park with concerts, crafts, and vendor shows. Money raised supports the Leamington Hospice.

The town's water tower looks like a giant tomato.

Sports

Leamington has many fun sports teams for kids! The Leamington Flyers play hockey in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League at the Highbury Canco Arena. Other hockey teams include the Wheatley Sharks and the Southpoint Capitals.

There are also baseball, soccer, and lacrosse teams for children. The Sun County Crows play lacrosse at Highbury Canco Arena, and many kids enjoy playing volleyball, baseball, and soccer in local leagues.

Media

Print

Leamington has a weekly newspaper called the Southpoint Sun-Journal. Another newspaper, called the Leamington Post, stopped publishing in 2012 after being around for many years.

Radio

Leamington has two local commercial radio stations.

The town is also served by Weatheradio Canada station VAZ533, which broadcasts at 162.475 MHz on the weather band.

Television

Notable people

Leamington has been home to many interesting people. Margaret Birch was the first woman to serve in Ontario’s government. Kirk Bowman and several others grew up to play hockey in the NHL. Bob Hooper and Danny Klassen both played baseball in the MLB. Stephen Eustáquio is a professional soccer player, and Nino Ricci and Bill Sherk are well-known authors. Lana Gay works as a radio personality, and Rosalie Trombley was a famous music director for a popular radio station.

In popular culture

The book Splat! by Eric Walters takes place in Leamington during its tomato festival.