Leamington, Ontario
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Town of Leamington, Ontario | |||
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| Nickname(s): The St. Tropez of Lake Erie, The Sun Parlour of Canada, The Tomato Capital of Canada. | |||
| Motto: Southern Latitude... Friendly Attitude | |||
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| Country | Canada | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Province | Ontario | ||
| County | Essex | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | John Adams | ||
| - Governing body | Leamington Town Council | ||
| - Member of Parliament | Dave Van Kesteren (CONS) | ||
| - Provincial Representative | Pat Hoy (LIB) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 262.5 km2 (101.4 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 31,113 | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
Leamington is a municipality in Essex County, Ontario and has a population of 31,113. It is located near Point Pelee. In 2006, Leamington was named Canada's best place to live by MoneySense magazine. (Standing in 14th place, as of Dec. 2007.) It has a large H. J. Heinz Company factory and is known as the "Tomato Capital of Canada", with 4 km² of this crop in the vicinity. It also lays claim to being the "Sun Parlour" of Canada due to its southern location.
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[edit] History
Leamington was incorporated as a village in 1876, it was a crossroads hamlet with about 300 residents and was known for its lumber products rather than its tomatoes. There were several docks, and fish were plentiful in Lake Erie, so much so that sturgeon could be speared from the shore and fish was the cheapest food available. Leamington once had many tobacco farms but now they are virtually nonexistent. In 1908 the HJ Heinz company came to Leamington which brought many jobs to the area and helped expand Leamington's growth.
[edit] Climate
Leamington enjoys the second warmest climate in Canada, after the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Leamington lies on the 42nd Parallel, the same latitude as Chicago, Illinois, Rome, Italy, the northern border of California, and Madrid, Spain. Leamington is situated on the beautiful north shore of Lake Erie and is in close affinity with Point Pelee National Park, a major site for migrating birds especially in spring. As such, it plays host to many birdwatchers from Canada, the United States and further afield from all around the world, especially in the peak month of May. The region is also known for the migration of Monarch butterflies, which congregate in the fall at Point Pelee before making their way across Lake Erie on their route to winter quarters in central Mexico.
Another important natural area near Leamington is the wetland at Hillman Marsh, located 4 miles east of the town.
[edit] Demographics
According to the Canada 2006 Census there were 31,113 people living in Leamington, Leamington was also rated the 80th largest urban area in Canada by population, according to the census.
[edit] Language
The majority of people from Leamington speak English. According to the census, 16,915 only speak English, 8460 male and 8460 female. 470 people spoke French, 10,840 spoke other languages such as Latin, German and Spanish, and 45 spoke English and French.
[edit] Age
According to the census, the median age of people living in Leamington is 37.1 years - for men the age was 36 and for women the age was 38.4 years of age.
[edit] Immigration
According to a 2006 survey 19,365 people are not immigrants while 7,485 are immigrants. The majority of immigrants come from Mexico and Jamaica and are seasonal laborers. According to the census, Leamington had the highest percentage of Latin Americans in Canada with a percentage of 4.9%.
[edit] Tourism
Leamington has been known for its tourism and attractions and is known as the tomato capital of Canada. In 2006 Money Sense magazine rated Leamington the #1 place to live in Canada. Leamington's attractions include a large fiberglass tomato, bicycle paths and Point Pelee National Park. Leamington also has a large and modern marina. The town's water tower, visible for miles in the flat southern Ontario landscape, is also in the shape and color of a giant tomato. Celebrating its position as an agricultural powerhouse and its heritage as the H.J. Heinz Company's center for processing "red goods," the city hosts a "Tomato Festival" each August, as a kickoff of the tomato harvesting season. Car shows, beauty pageants, parades, and a fair are features of the Festival.
Leamington's position on the north shore of Lake Erie makes it an important recreational center. The tourist information booth in the center of town is a large fiberglass tomato.
[edit] Parks
Leamington has several great parks including Seacliff Park, The Marina Park, Mersea Park, Point Pelee National Park and Garrisson Gardens.
[edit] Transportation
Leamington has a variety of transportation , it has a bicycle path going from the middle of town to the Marina, previously the rail line for Heinz Leamington has two ferrys , the (M/V Jiimaan and M/V Pelee Islander) owned by the Owen Sound Transportation Company run on a regularly-scheduled seasonal basis from Leamington to Pelee Island and to Sandusky, Ohio. Transportation around Leamington is offered by the Leamington Transit. Leamington has a small private airport located 2 1/2 miles to the east of town. The town is also connected to the provincial highway network by Highway 3 (to Windsor), and Highway 77 (to Highway 401).
[edit] Economy
Known as the tomato capital of Canada, the H. J. Heinz company was established in Leamington in 1908. The Heinz products are shipped from Leamington with English and French labels mostly to the United States. Ketchup is one of the main products there along with baby food.
Along with the H. J. Heinz Company factory, Leamington has also been known for its greenhouses, and now has the largest number of commercial greenhouses in all of North America. Major products of the greenhouse industry, in addition to tomatoes, are peppers, cucumbers, roses, and other flowers. Hydroponic farming has been very successfully adopted by many greenhouse operators in Leamington. Historically, tobacco was an important crop in the area, but tobacco production declined in the 1960's and today is virtually nonexistent as an agricultural product. Leamington's agribusiness success comes from a fortuitous combination of excellent soil, knowledgeable and energetic owners, and a favorable climate.
Migrant workers, mostly Mexican and Caribbean seasonal labourers, annually arrive in the region to work in Leamington's greenhouses and farms. Because of the influx of legal seasonal workers, Leamington has opened up several Mexican and Jamaican shops, and even has a Mexican Consulate.
Leamington is home to a small community hospital, Leamingion District Memorial Hospital (LDMH), at 194 Talbot Road West.
[edit] Sports
The Leamington Flyers play in the Western Division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. The Wheatley-Southpoint Sharks play in the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League. The Southpoint Capitals play in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA).
[edit] Media
[edit] Media
Leamington's weekly newspaper is the Leamington Post (formerly called the Post and News). Leamington is home to two regional commercial radio stations. CHYR at 96.7 FM, was originally known as CJSP and was on 710 on the AM dial, having signed on the air on February 17, 1955. In 2008, a second radio station with the call-sign of CJSP signed on at 92.7 FM as a country music station. A community television station, CFTV channel 34, launched in 2006. CFTV-TV is on channel 79 on Cogeco cable.
[edit] Leamington In Media
- The book Splat! By Eric Walters takes place in Leamington at the tomato festival.
- Stompin' Tom Connors mentions Leamington in his tune The Ketchup Song
[edit] Education
[edit] Elementary
Leamington has six public elementary schools, Margaret D. Bennie, Mill Street, Queen Elizabeth, Gore Hill, Mount Carmel Blytheswood, and East Mersea. Leamington has two Catholic elementary schools: Queen of Peace and Saint Louis. Leamington also has one french speaking Catholic School, St. Michael. South Shore Christian School is a private elementary school located in Leamington.
[edit] Secondary
Leamington has three secondary schools: L.D.S.S (Leamington District Secondary School); Cardinal Carter Catholic High School (Leamington), and U.M.E.I (United Mennonite Education Institute).
[edit] Notable people
- Major league pitcher Bob Hooper and infielder Danny Klassen.
- NHLers Brad Selwood, Pat Ribble, Randy Manery, Darren McCarty, Kirk Bowman,
- Environmentalist David Suzuki
- Authors Bill Sherk Nino Ricci, Jean Brown, Lynsay Sands
- Miss Dominion of Canada Sandra Campbell, representing Canada in Miss Universe (El Salvador), Miss World (London, England), Miss International (Sydney), and Queen of the Pacific (Tokyo) Beauty Pageants.
- Musician Jody Raffoul
- Wally Tatomir the equipment manager for the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL
- Kevin Kosempel
- CBC Radio 3 personality Lana Gay
