View source for Leamington, Ontario

{{Short description|Town in Ontario, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Leamington
| official_name      = Municipality of Leamington
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in Ontario|Municipality]] ([[List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities|lower-tier]])
| image_skyline      = Lake Erie Leamington.jpg
| image_caption      = Lake Erie and Seacliff Park
| image_flag         = Leamington,_Ontario_Flag.svg
| image_blank_emblem = Municipality of Leamington, Ontario, Canada.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 200px
| nicknames           = The Sun Parlour of Canada, The Tomato Capital of Canada.
| motto              = Live {{!}} Play {{!}} Work
| image_map          = 
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = CAN ON Essex#Canada Southern Ontario
| coordinates        = {{coord|42|4|N|82|35|W|region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Canada
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Ontario]]
| subdivision_type2  = County
| subdivision_name2  = [[Essex County, Ontario|Essex]]
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Hilda MacDonald
| leader_title1      = [[House of Commons of Canada|MP]]
| leader_name1       = [[Dave Epp]] ([[Conservative Party of Canada|CPC]])
| leader_title2      = [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|MPP]]
| leader_name2       = [[Trevor Jones (Canadian politician)|Trevor Jones]] ([[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|PC]])
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="cp2021"/><ref name="cp2021-PC"/>
| area_total_km2     = 
| area_land_km2      = 261.24
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_urban_km2     = 31.77
| area_metro_km2     = 
| elevation_m        = <!-- at the airport -->
| population_footnotes = <ref name="cp2021">{{cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=leamington&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A00053537003&HEADERlist=0|title=Leamington (Census Subdivision) census profile|publisher=Statistics Canada|work=[[Canada 2021 Census|2021 Census of Population]]|date=February 9, 2022 |access-date=April 22, 2025}}</ref><ref name="cp2021-PC">{{cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=leamington&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021S05100463&HEADERlist=0|title=Leamington (Population Centre) census profile|publisher=Statistics Canada|work=[[Canada 2021 Census|2021 Census of Population]]|date=February 9, 2022 |access-date=April 22, 2025}}</ref>
| population_total   = 29680
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_density_km2 = 113.6
| population_urban   = 35730
| population_density_urban_km2 = 1124.7
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| postal_code_type   = [[Canadian postal code#Forward sortation areas|Forward sortation area]]
| postal_code        = [[List of N postal codes of Canada|N8H]]
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| area_codes          = [[Area codes 519, 226, and 548|519, 226, 548]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Leamington, Ontario Area Code|website= areacodehelp.com |url=http://www.areacodehelp.com/oncode/leamington_area_code.shtml |access-date=December 27, 2018 }}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.leamington.ca/}}
}}
{{Wikivoyage}} 
'''Leamington''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|iː|m|ɪ|ŋ|t|ə|n}} {{respell|LEEM|ing|tən}}) is a municipality in [[Essex County, Ontario]], Canada.  With a population of 29,680 in the [[Canada 2021 Census]], it forms the second largest urban centre in Windsor-Essex County after [[Windsor, Ontario]]. It includes [[Point Pelee National Park]], the southernmost point of mainland Canada.

Known since the 20th century as the "Tomato Capital of Canada", it is the location of a tomato processing plant owned by Highbury-Canco; founded in 1908, the plant was owned until 2014 by the [[Heinz|H. J. Heinz Company]]. Due to its location in the southernmost part of Canada, Leamington uses the motto "Sun Parlour of Canada".

==Communities==
Besides the town of Leamington itself, the municipality of Leamington comprises a number of villages and hamlets, including  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 was incorporated as a village in 1874, but by 1869, the European-Canadian settlement already had a population of 350.<ref>{{cite web | title = Leamington's History | date = September 10, 2018 | publisher = Municipality of Leamington | url = https://www.leamington.ca/en/discover/history.aspx | access-date = March 6, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory|date=1869|publisher=Robertson & Cook|location=Toronto|page=[https://archive.org/details/provinceontario00mcevgoog/page/n303 261]|isbn=9780665094125 |url=https://archive.org/details/provinceontario00mcevgoog|quote=ontario gazetteer leamington.}}</ref> The community was named after [[Royal Leamington Spa]] in [[England]], after having originally been called "Gainesville" or "Gainesborough"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bradt|first1=Earline Hines|title=COG Local History - "The Tomato Capital of Canada", Leamington, Ontario|url=http://ancestralnotes.ebradt.org/2009/04/cog-local-history-tomato-capital-of.html|website=Ancestral Notes|access-date=November 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607084124/http://ancestralnotes.ebradt.org/2009/04/cog-local-history-tomato-capital-of.html|archive-date=June 7, 2013|date=April 22, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> for local mill owner William Gaines, and before that, Wilkinson Corners.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leamington|url=http://www.ruralroutes.com/896.html|website=Ontario Rural Routes|publisher=Rural Routes Ontario|access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref>  It has had a post office since June 1854.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hamilton|first=William|title=The Macmillan Book of Canadian Place Names|url=https://archive.org/details/macmillanbookofc0000hami|url-access=registration|publisher=Macmillan|year=1978|isbn=0-7715-9754-1|location=Toronto|pages=[https://archive.org/details/macmillanbookofc0000hami/page/155 155]}}</ref>

It was a crossroads hamlet with about 300 residents and was first known for its lumber products rather than tomatoes. There was extensive lumbering in western Ontario, as across the river in [[Michigan]] and also upper Michigan. 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 was a "[[sundown town]]," a place where Black people would face violence or harassment if they were in public after dark.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mayor of Leamington, Ontario, says sexual harassment from migrant workers a 'cancer' on the town|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/mayor-of-leamington-ontario-says-sexual-harassment-from-migrant-workers-a-cancer-on-the-town|access-date=August 17, 2020|website=National Post|language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The story of Ontario's last segregated Black school|url=https://www.tvo.org/article/the-story-of-ontarios-last-segregated-black-school|access-date=August 17, 2020|website=TVO.org|language=en}}</ref> In 1930, a group of Black parishioners on a visit to Seacliff Park were ordered to leave Leamington by several town administrators.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Racial Segregation of Black People in Canada {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/racial-segregation-of-black-people-in-canada|access-date=August 17, 2020|website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}</ref> [[David Suzuki]] attests that he was told, upon arrival in Leamington in 1946, that “no colored person has ever stayed here beyond sunset.”<ref>{{Cite book|last=Suzuki|first=David|title=David Suzuki: The autobiography.|publisher=Greystone Books|year=2006|isbn=1553652819|location=Vancouver, BC|pages=23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis|title=Bunkhouse Drama: An Examination of Control and Agency among Migrant Farm Workers in Ontario, Canada|url=https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/69455|date=2015|language=en|first=Joseph Adam|last=Perry}}</ref>

Leamington was also one of the few Canadian municipalities included in the [[The Negro Motorist Green Book|''Negro Motorist Green Book'']], the American publication listing safe businesses for travelling black people.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1959|title=Negro Travelers' Green Book: 1959 - NYPL Digital Collections|url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/89ed7cc0-8486-0132-e7b6-58d385a7bbd0/book#page/77/mode/2up|access-date=August 17, 2020|website=digitalcollections.nypl.org}}</ref>

On 1 January 1999, the town was amalgamated with the surrounding Township of Mersea to form an expanded Town of Leamington. Similar municipal restructuring took place throughout Essex County.

In the early hours of [[Tornado outbreak of June 5–6, 2010|June 6, 2010]], an [[Fujita scale|F1]] tornado ripped through portions of southern Essex County, stretching from Harrow, through Kingsville, to southern Leamington before dissipating near [[Point Pelee National Park]], creating considerable damage, but no loss of life or any direct injuries.<ref name=cbcjune>{{cite web |title=Leamington tornado damage in the millions |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/leamington-tornado-damage-in-the-millions-1.910894 |access-date=October 31, 2019 |work=[[CBC News]] |date=June 7, 2010}}</ref> The tornado passed through Leamington, damaging various important landmarks and facilities in town, including the marina.<ref name=cbcjune/>

== Climate ==
Leamington lies on the 42nd Parallel, the same latitude as [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[Boston]],  the northern border of [[California]], [[Rome]], and [[Zaragoza]]. It is located on the north shore of [[Lake Erie]], which acts to moderate its climate.

{{Weather box
|location = Leamington, Ontario (1951–1980, extremes 1906–present{{refn|group=note|name=Records|Long term records have been recorded at various climate stations in or nearby Leamington since 1906}})
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 16.7
|Feb record high C = 18.3
|Mar record high C = 26.7
|Apr record high C = 29.4
|May record high C = 35.0
|Jun record high C = 37.5
|Jul record high C = 40.0
|Aug record high C = 37.8
|Sep record high C = 36.1
|Oct record high C = 29.4
|Nov record high C = 23.3
|Dec record high C = 18.0
|year record high C = 40.0
|Jan high C = -1.4
|Feb high C = -0.2
|Mar high C = 4.4
|Apr high C = 12.0
|May high C = 18.5
|Jun high C = 24.0
|Jul high C = 26.4
|Aug high C = 25.5
|Sep high C = 22.0
|Oct high C = 15.5
|Nov high C = 7.6
|Dec high C = 1.1
|year high C = 13.0
|Jan mean C = -4.4
|Feb mean C = -3.3
|Mar mean C = 1.0
|Apr mean C = 7.7
|May mean C = 13.9
|Jun mean C = 19.7
|Jul mean C = 22.3
|Aug mean C = 21.5
|Sep mean C = 17.9
|Oct mean C = 11.8
|Nov mean C = 4.7
|Dec mean C = -1.6
|year mean C = 9.3
|Jan low C = -7.4
|Feb low C = -6.5
|Mar low C = -2.4
|Apr low C = 3.4
|May low C = 9.3
|Jun low C = 15.3
|Jul low C = 18.0
|Aug low C = 17.4
|Sep low C = 13.8
|Oct low C = 8.0
|Nov low C = 1.8
|Dec low C = -4.3
|year low C = 5.5
|Jan record low C = −29.0
|Feb record low C = −31.7
|Mar record low C = −22.2
|Apr record low C = −13.0
|May record low C = −7.8
|Jun record low C = -1.1
|Jul record low C = 2.2
|Aug record low C = 1.7
|Sep record low C = -2.2
|Oct record low C = −12.2
|Nov record low C = −16.1
|Dec record low C = −27.2
|year record low C = −31.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 57.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 53.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 69.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 80.1
|May precipitation mm = 67.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 83.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 77.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 71.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 64.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 52.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 67.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 73.1
|year precipitation mm = 816.3
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 32.9
|Feb rain mm = 29.9
|Mar rain mm = 49.7
|Apr rain mm = 76.4
|May rain mm = 67.8
|Jun rain mm = 83.4
|Jul rain mm = 77.5
|Aug rain mm = 71.0
|Sep rain mm = 64.4
|Oct rain mm = 52.1
|Nov rain mm = 59.2
|Dec rain mm = 47.4
|year rain mm = 711.7
|Jan snow cm = 24.7
|Feb snow cm = 23.0
|Mar snow cm = 19.4
|Apr snow cm = 3.6
|May snow cm = 0.0
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 0.1
|Nov snow cm = 7.9
|Dec snow cm = 25.7
|year snow cm = 104.4
|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 12
|Feb precipitation days = 10
|Mar precipitation days = 13
|Apr precipitation days = 12
|May precipitation days = 11
|Jun precipitation days = 10
|Jul precipitation days = 9
|Aug precipitation days = 9
|Sep precipitation days = 9
|Oct precipitation days = 9
|Nov precipitation days = 11
|Dec precipitation days = 13
|year precipitation days = 128
|unit rain days = 0.2 mm
|Jan rain days = 5
|Feb rain days = 4
|Mar rain days = 8
|Apr rain days = 11
|May rain days = 11
|Jun rain days = 10
|Jul rain days = 9
|Aug rain days = 9
|Sep rain days = 9
|Oct rain days = 9
|Nov rain days = 9
|Dec rain days = 7
|year rain days = 101
|unit snow days = 0.2 cm
|Jan snow days = 9
|Feb snow days = 7
|Mar snow days = 7
|Apr snow days = 1
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 3
|Dec snow days = 8
|year snow days = 35
|source 1 = [[Environment Canada]]<ref name=tempnormals>
{{cite web
| publisher = Environment Canada
| url = https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OLqRySaAdJSpajkEGmOAHd7zKR2FW72s/view
| title = Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 2: Temperature
| access-date = October 21, 2020}}</ref><ref name=precipnormals>
{{cite web
| publisher = Environment Canada
| url = https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nujco00lfiT0aBZHfW1Gs2P4MLFguxHR/view
| title = Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 3: Precipitation
| access-date = October 21, 2020}}</ref><ref name=extremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211111162820/https://api.weather.gc.ca/collections/ltce-temperature/items?VIRTUAL_CLIMATE_ID=VSON23V&sortby=VIRTUAL_CLIMATE_ID%2CLOCAL_MONTH%2CLOCAL_DAY&f=csv&limit=150000&startindex=0
| archive-date = November 11, 2021
| url = https://api.weather.gc.ca/collections/ltce-temperature/items?VIRTUAL_CLIMATE_ID=VSON23V&sortby=VIRTUAL_CLIMATE_ID,LOCAL_MONTH,LOCAL_DAY&f=csv&limit=150000&startindex=0
| title = Long Term Climate Extremes for Leamington Area (Virtual Station ID: VSON23V)
| work = Daily climate records (LTCE)
| publisher = Environment Canada
| access-date = November 11, 2021}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
| title = Historical populations
| type  = Canada
|align       = right
| width       = 17em
| state       = 
| shading     = 
| percentages = 
| footnote    = 1996 population reflects boundary changes made between the 1996 census and the 2001 census.
|1871|200
|1881|1910
|1901|2451
|[[Canada 1911 Census|1911]]|2652
|1921|3675
|1931|4902
|1941|5799
|1951|6950
|1961|9030
|1971|10435
|1981|12528
|1991|14182
|[[Canada 1996 Census|1996]]|25389
|[[Canada 2001 Census|2001]]|27138
|[[Canada 2006 Census|2006]]|28833
|[[Canada 2011 Census|2011]]|28403
|[[Canada 2016 Census|2016]]|27595
|[[Canada 2021 Census|2021]]|29680
}}

In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Leamington had a population of {{val|29680|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|10547|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|11219|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:29680-27595}}|27595|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|27595|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|261.24|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|29680|261.24|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021census>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000235 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=March 31, 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 | Canada 2006 Census!! Population !! % of Total Population
|-
| rowspan=12 | [[Visible minority]] group<br><small>Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3537003&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Leamington&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |title= Community Profiles from the 2006 Census|date= March 13, 2007|publisher=Statistics Canada}}</ref></small> || [[Arab Canadians|Arab]] || 580 || {{Percentage | 580 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Black Canadians|Black]] || 245 || {{Percentage | 245 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Chinese Canadian|Chinese]] || 145 || {{Percentage | 145 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Filipino Canadian|Filipino]] || 25 || {{Percentage | 25 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Japanese Canadians|Japanese]] || 40 || {{Percentage | 40 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Korean Canadian|Korean]] || 0 || {{Percentage | 0 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Latin American Canadian|Latin American]] || 1,390 || {{Percentage | 1390 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[South Asia]]n || 80 || {{Percentage | 80 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Southeast Asia]]n || 275 || {{Percentage | 275 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Western Asia|West Asian]] || 25 || {{Percentage | 25 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| Other visible minority || 80 || {{Percentage | 80 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Multiracial|Mixed]] visible minority || 25 || {{Percentage | 25 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| colspan=2 | '''Total visible minority population'''|| '''2,915''' || '''{{Percentage | 2915 | 28275 | 1 }}'''
|-
| rowspan=3 | [[Aboriginal peoples in Canada|Aboriginal]] group<br><small>Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-558/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=CSD&Code=35&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=1&Age=1&StartRec=226&Sort=2&Display=Page&CSDFilter=5000|title=Aboriginal Peoples - Data table|publisher=Statistics Canada|access-date=November 8, 2012|archive-date=February 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203143917/http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-558/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=CSD&Code=35&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=1&Age=1&StartRec=226&Sort=2&Display=Page&CSDFilter=5000|url-status=dead}}</ref></small> || [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] || 160 || {{Percentage | 160 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Inuit]] || 0 || {{Percentage | 0 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| [[Métis people (Canada)|Métis]] || 115 || {{Percentage | 115 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| colspan=2 | '''Total Aboriginal population''' || '''305''' || '''{{Percentage | 305 | 28275 | 1 }}'''
|-
| colspan=2 | [[European Canadian|White]] || 25,055 || {{Percentage | 25055 | 28275 | 1 }}
|-
| colspan=2 | '''''Total population''''' || '''''28,275''''' || '''''100%'''''
|}

=== Language ===

The majority of people from Leamington speak English. According to the 2016 census, 24,070 speak English only, 12,100 male and 11,970 female, 1,655 people speak both English and French, 735 male and 920 female, and 1,330 people speak neither English nor French.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3537003&Geo2=CD&Code2=3537&SearchText=leamington&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0|title=Census Profile, 2016 Census - Leamington, Municipality [Census subdivision], Ontario and Essex, County [Census division], Ontario|first=Statistics Canada|last=Government of Canada|date=February 8, 2017|website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>

Residents of Leamington include a population of Lebanese, Portuguese and Italian. Mennonite settlers, whose ancestors immigrated from Russia, have also added to the population.

=== Age ===

According to the 2016 census, the average age of people living in Leamington is 41.3 years - for men the age was 39.7 and for women the age was 42.9 years of age.<ref name=":0" />

=== Immigration ===

According to a 2006 survey, 7,485 are immigrants or migrants, and 19,365 people are natives of Canada. The majority of migrants come from Mexico and Jamaica, and are employed as seasonal farm workers through the [[Temporary foreign worker program in Canada]]. According to the census, Leamington had the highest percentage of Latin Americans in Canada, with 4.9%.<ref name=SC06>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3537003&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=leamington&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |title=Leamington (Municipality) community profile |publisher=Statistics Canada |work=[[Canada 2006 Census|2006 Census data]] |date=March 13, 2007 |access-date=April 1, 2011}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
Transportation around the city is offered by the [[Leamington Transit]] bus system. The city has a small [[Leamington Airport|private airport]] located {{convert|4|km|spell=in}} to the east of town. The town is also connected to the [[Provincial highways of Ontario|provincial highway network]] by [[Highway 3 (Ontario)|Highway 3]] (to [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]]), and [[Highway 77 (Ontario)|Highway 77]] (to [[Highway 401 (Ontario)|Highway 401]]).

A rail line that Heinz built from its plant to the harbour has been converted to a bicycle path going from the middle of town to the Marina. Two [[Ferry|ferries]], (MV ''Jiiman'' and MV ''Pelee Islander II'') owned by the [[Owen Sound Transportation Company]], run on a regularly scheduled seasonal basis from Leamington to [[Pelee Island]] with continuing service on to Sandusky, Ohio.<ref name=ctvnewsapril>{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/windsor/article/new-pelee-island-ferry-makes-debut-in-leamington/ |title=New Pelee Island ferry makes debut in Leamington |work=CTV News Windsor |date=April 5, 2019 |access-date=March 8, 2021 }}</ref>

== Economy ==
[[File:Tomatoes being transported in Leamington, Ontario.jpg|thumb|right|Tomatoes being transported in Leamington.  The smoke stack of the former Heinz processing factory can be seen in the distance on the left.]]
The [[H. J. Heinz]] company established a factory in 1908 in Leamington. The Heinz products are shipped from the city with both English and French labels, mostly to the United States. Ketchup and baby food are the main products. In November 2013 Heinz announced that it would close the Leamington plant in 2014, meaning job losses for 740 employees at the plant and hundreds more support workers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/heinz-to-close-leamington-ont-plant-hundreds-of-jobs-lost/ |publisher=CTV News |date=November 14, 2013 |title=Heinz to close Leamington, Ont. plant; hundreds of jobs lost|access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref>

Regional and local businessmen worked to save the plant. A campaign was conducted on Facebook to raise support and funds. As a 54-year-old law in Canada bans the use of tomato paste in tomato juice, thus requiring fresh tomatoes, they arranged a deal whereby Highbury Canco took over the plant in 2014.{{Clarification needed|reason=who arranged? what does the law have to do with the ownership agreement?|date=August 2023}} It produces tomato juice and other products for Heinz. Around 250 workers still process canned products at the over 100-year-old factory.<ref name="Austen">{{cite web|last1=Austen|first1=Ian|title=How Leamington, Ont. — where the tomato is king — rallied to save its Heinz plant|url=http://business.financialpost.com/executive/how-leamington-ont-where-the-tomato-is-king-rallied-to-save-its-heinz-plant|website=Financialpost.com|publisher=National Post|access-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref>{{As of?|date=August 2023}}<!-- Needs more explanation of what prompted the headline - How did it? -->

Leamington has also been known for its [[greenhouse]]s. It now has the largest concentration of commercial greenhouses in all of North America, with {{convert|1969|acres|ha}} of greenhouse vegetable production in the general area.<ref>[http://ontariogreenhouse.generatordesign.com/default/assets/File/2013%20January%20Fact%20Sheet(1).pdf Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers 2013 Fact Sheet]{{dead link|date=November 2018}}</ref> Major products of the greenhouse industry, in addition to tomatoes, are [[Capsicum|peppers]], cannabis, [[cucumber]]s, [[rose]]s, and other [[flower]]s. [[Hydroponic]] farming has been very successfully adopted by many greenhouse operators in Leamington. Historically, [[tobacco]] was an important crop in the area. Tobacco production declined in the 1960s and today is virtually nonexistent.

Migrant workers, mostly [[Mexican people|Mexican]] and [[Caribbean]] [[Seasonal workforce|seasonal labourers]], annually arrive in the region to work in Leamington's greenhouses and farms. Several Mexican and [[Jamaica]]n shops and a Mexican [[consulate]] have opened to serve the migrants.

Leamington became a production site of [[Aphria (company)|Aphria]], one of Canada's largest medicinal and recreational [[marijuana]] greenhouse operators. A [[Mergers and acquisitions|merger]] in December 2020 with [[Nanaimo, British Columbia]]-based [[Tilray]], led to the closure of Tilray's production site in Leamington and operations were consolidated at the former Aphria site under the name Tilray.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/leamingtons-pot-giant-aphria-loses-name-in-blockbuster-company-merger |title=Leamington's pot giant Aphria loses name in blockbuster company merger |last=Schmidt |first=Doug |date=December 17, 2020 |access-date=March 8, 2021}}</ref>

==Healthcare==

Erie Shores Healthcare serves the city of Leamington, as well as Essex and Chatham Kent. Opened in 1950, Leamington District Memorial Hospital succeeded two smaller healthcare facilities: Hopewell Hospital (c. 1933) and Cottage Hospital (c. 1920). In mid-December 2016, the hospital formally submitted notice to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, it wished to change its name to Erie Shores Healthcare, and subsequently has been approved.<ref>{{cite news |title=LHIN approves Leamington Hospital name change |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/leamington-hospital-name-change-1.4002405 |access-date=November 26, 2018 |publisher=CBC News Windsor |date=February 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Erie Shores Healthcare |url=http://www.erieshoreshealthcare.ca/ |publisher=Erie Shores Healthcare |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref>  Other major healthcare needs can be undertaken in nearby [[Windsor, Ontario]].

== Education ==
English-language public education for kindergarten through secondary school grades in Essex County is administered by the [[Greater Essex County District School Board]], along with the [[Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board]] which oversees English-language Catholic education.

French-language public and Catholic education are overseen by the [[Conseil scolaire Viamonde]] and the [[Conseil scolaire catholique Providence]], respectively.  The scope of all of these organizations includes both the County and the City of Windsor.

Prior to 1998, the [[Essex County Board of Education]] operated Anglophone secular public schools.

=== Elementary ===

Leamington has five public elementary schools, Margaret D. Bennie, Queen Elizabeth, Gore Hill, [[Mount Carmel - Blytheswood Public School]] and East Mersea.  Leamington has two Catholic elementary schools: Cardinal Carter Middle School and Saint Louis. Leamington also has one French speaking Catholic School, St. Michel. South Shore Christian School is a private elementary school located in Leamington.
Leamington has two main school boards, the Greater Essex County District School Board and the Windsor-Essex Catholic School Board.

Queen of Peace Catholic Elementary School faced closure in February 2016, but was since converted to Cardinal Carter Catholic Middle School.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Veneza |first1=Ricardo |title=Queen Of Peace Now Facing Closure |url=http://blackburnnews.com/windsor/windsor-news/2016/02/09/queen-of-peace-now-facing-closure/ |access-date=November 26, 2018 |publisher=Blackburn News |date=February 9, 2016}}</ref>

Mill Street Public School was permanently closed at the conclusion of the 2016–2017 school year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mill Street Public School will close despite emotional pleas from students |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/mill-street-public-school-will-close-despite-emotional-pleas-from-students-1.4153035 |access-date=November 26, 2018 |publisher=CBC News Windsor |date=June 9, 2017}}</ref>

=== Secondary ===

Leamington has three secondary schools: [[Leamington District Secondary School]] (public), [[Cardinal Carter Catholic High School (Leamington)|Cardinal Carter Catholic High School]], and U.M.E.I. (United Mennonite Education Institute).

== Parks ==
[[File:seacliffpark.jpg|thumb|Seacliff Park]]
[[File:Point Pelee National Park- The Tip of Canada- Ontario.jpg|220px|thumb|The southernmost point of mainland Canada, Point Pelee National Park]]
Leamington has several parks including Seacliff Park, the Marina Park, Mersea Park and Garrison Gardens, Henry Park, and Chestnut Park.

As noted, [[Point Pelee National Park]] contains the southernmost point on mainland Canada and draws thousands of visitors annually. It is on a flyway of [[Bird migration|migrating birds]] and one of the largest annual migrations of [[monarch butterflies]].

== Tourism ==
[[File:Leamington Marina Damage from 2010 tornado.jpg|thumb|Leamington Marina damage after the tornado of June 6, 2010]]

Tourism contributes significantly to the economy{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}, and the city has many attractions. Its attractions include cycle paths along the lake and the nearby Point Pelee National Park. It is a major site for migrating birds, especially in the autumn. As such, it plays host to many [[birdwatching|birdwatchers]] from Canada, the United States, and around the world.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} 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 [[Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve|winter quarters]] in central Mexico. Another important natural area near Leamington is the wetland at Hillman Marsh, located {{convert|6|km|spell=in}} east of the town.

Leamington has a large [[marina]], as many people engage in sailing and other water sports. The marina also features a promenade that extends from the Marina to the Historical Leamington Dock, a port for ferry services to Pelee Island using the ''Jiiman'' and ''Pelee Islander II''.<ref name=ctvnewsapril/>

===Annual events and festivals===
* Festival of Birds – Every year over 40,000 visitors head to Point Pelee National Park for the Festival of Birds at the beginning of May. Over 300 species of birds migrate through the park every year, providing close up views of birds not seen anywhere else in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://friendsofpointpelee.com/festivalofbirds-home |title=Festival of Birds |publisher=Point Pelee National Park |access-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-date=July 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719042534/http://friendsofpointpelee.com/festivalofbirds-home |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Leamington Fair – For over 170 years, the Leamington District Agricultural Society holds the Fair, typically during the third week in June. The Fair features a Midway full of rides and games, a Demolition Derby, and a variety of contests for arts, crafts, livestock, and food in a classic county fair.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ldasfair.weebly.com/fair-information.html |title=Fair Information |publisher=The Leamington District Agricultural Society |access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref>
* Music Onthe42 Summer Concert Series – The Music Onthe42 Summer Concert Series that runs from late June to the end of August at the Seacliff Park Amphitheatre. Seven free concerts feature national and local bands of all genres performing Saturday evenings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.onthe42.com/events/season/fall |title=Calendar of Events |publisher=Municipality of Leamington |access-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425061324/https://www.onthe42.com/events/season/fall |url-status=dead }} (Section: Music Onthe42 Summer Concert Series)</ref>
* Arts @ The Marina – The South Essex Arts Association/Leamington Arts Centre presents an Annual Outdoor Arts and Crafts Show towards the end of June at the Leamington Municipal Marina.<ref>{{cite web |title=arts @ the marina |url=http://leamingtonartscentre.com/?page_id=79 |publisher=Leamington Arts Centre |access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref>
* Hogs For Hospice – An annual motorcycle rally usually held at the beginning of August. It is centered around Seacliff Park and includes concerts featuring music, and a weekend long craft and vendor show. Proceeds from the weekend are donated to the Leamington Hospice.

The town's water tower, visible for kilometres in the flat southern Ontario landscape, is in the shape and colour of a giant [[tomato]]. The former tourist information booth in the centre of town is shaped like a large [[fibreglass]] tomato.

== Sports ==
*[[Leamington Flyers]] play in the Western Division of the [[Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Leamington Flyers |url=http://www.leamingtonflyers.pointstreaksites.com/view/leamingtonflyers |publisher=Greater Ontario Hockey League |access-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710123158/http://www.leamingtonflyers.pointstreaksites.com/view/leamingtonflyers |url-status=dead }}</ref> at [[Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex|Highbury Canco Arena]]
*[[Wheatley Sharks]] play in the [[Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Wheatley Sharks |url=http://wheatleyomsteadsharks.pointstreaksites.com/view/wosharks/ |access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref>
*Southpoint Capitals play in the [[Ontario Minor Hockey Association]] (OMHA)
*Leamington Barons Baseball
*Leamington District Minor Baseball Association - t-ball / baseball / softball for over 500 kids
*Leamington Minor Soccer Association has over 800 players every year
*Leamington S.C. United Soccer Club, formed in Dec. 2008, has become a major sports club with 10 competitive travelling teams from under-11 to Senior Men's
*[[Sun County Crows]] play in the Zone 7 of the [[Ontario Lacrosse Association]] at [[Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex|Highbury Canco Arena]]
*Velocity Volleyball

== Media ==

===Print===
Leamington's weekly newspaper is the ''Southpoint Sun-Journal''.  The weekly newspaper that was ''[[The Leamington Post|Leamington Post]]'' ceased operations in 2012 after 138 years in publication.

===Radio===
Leamington is home to two regional commercial radio stations.
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Frequency
!Call sign
!Branding
!Format
!Owner
!Notes
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 91.9
|[[CBEW-FM|CBEW-FM-1]]
|[[CBC Radio One]]
|[[Talk radio]], [[Public broadcasting|public radio]]
|[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
|Rebroadcaster of [[CBEW-FM]] ([[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]])
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 92.7
|[[CJSP-FM]]
|Country 95.9 & 92-7
|[[Country music]]
|[[Blackburn Radio]]
|Simulcasts [[CJWF-FM]] ([[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]])
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 96.7
|[[CHYR-FM]]
|Mix 96.7
|[[Hot adult contemporary]]
|[[Blackburn Radio]]
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 103.1
|[[CBEF|CBEF-1-FM]]
|[[Ici Radio-Canada Première]]
|[[Talk radio]], [[Public broadcasting|public radio]]
|[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
|Rebroadcaster of [[CBEF]] ([[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]])
|}

Leamington is also served by [[Weatheradio Canada]] station VAZ533, transmitting at 162.475&nbsp;MHz in the [[Weather radio|weather band]].

===Television===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
![[Terrestrial television|OTA]] [[virtual channel]] ([[Program and System Information Protocol|PSIP]])
!OTA channel
![[Cogeco]]
!Call Sign
!Network
!Notes
|-
|22.1
|33 ([[Ultra high frequency|UHF]])
|3, 706
|[[CIII-DT|CIII-DT-22]]
|[[Global Television Network|Global]]
|Rebroadcaster of [[CIII-DT|CIII-DT-41]] ([[Toronto]])
|-
|34.1
| rowspan=4 | 30 ([[Ultra high frequency|UHF]])
| 100
| rowspan=4 | [[CFTV-DT]]
| rowspan=4 | Independent
| [[Community television]]
|-
|34.2
| &ndash;
| French- and Spanish- language [[community television]]
|-
|34.3
| &ndash;
|[[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] [[community television]] and [[special needs]]/[[described video]] programming
|-
|34.4
|&ndash;
|Leamington and [[Essex County, Ontario|Essex County]] council meetings
|}

== Notable people ==
* [[Margaret Birch]] (1921-2020), first female cabinet minister in the Government of Ontario
* [[Kirk Bowman]], former [[National Hockey League|NHL]] player
* [[Al Bruner]] (1923–1987), co-founder of Global Television network
* [[Stephen Eustáquio]], pro soccer player<ref>{{cite web |title=Former Portugal midfielder Stephen Eustaquio commits to play for Canada |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/former-portugal-midfielder-stephen-eustaquio-commits-play-canada/ |website=Sportsnet |access-date=February 22, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Lana Gay]], radio personality on [[CIND-FM]], and formerly [[CBC Radio 3]]
* [[Hayden Hodgson]], [[National Hockey League|NHL]] player
* [[Bob Hooper]] (1922-1980), [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] pitcher
* [[Danny Klassen]], former [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] infielder
* [[Randy Manery]], former [[National Hockey League|NHL]] player
* [[Darren McCarty]], former [[National Hockey League|NHL]] player
* [[Maud Leonora Menten]] (1879–1960), physician and chemist.
* [[Billy Raffoul]], rock singer-songwriter
* [[Pat Ribble]], former [[National Hockey League|NHL]] player
* [[Nino Ricci]], author
* [[Brad Selwood]], former [[National Hockey League|NHL]] player and coach
* [[Bill Sherk]], author
* [[Lynsay Sands]], author
* [[Wally Tatomir]] (d. 2022), former equipment manager for the NHL's [[Carolina Hurricanes]]
* [[Rosalie Trombley]] (1939-2021), [[music director]] of [[AM broadcasting|AM]] [[Top 40]] radio station [[CKLW]]

== In popular culture ==
*The book ''Splat!'' by [[Eric Walters]] takes place in Leamington at the tomato festival.

== See also ==
*[[List of townships in Ontario]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|Leamington (Ontario)|Leamington, Ontario}}
*{{official website|http://www.leamington.ca}}

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = Leamington
| North     = [[Lakeshore, Ontario|Lakeshore]]
| Northeast = [[Chatham-Kent]]
| East      = ''[[Lake Erie]]''
| Southeast = 
| South     = ''[[Lake Erie]]''<br>[[Pelee, Ontario|Pelee Island]]
| Southwest = 
| West      = [[Kingsville, Ontario|Kingsville]]
| Northwest = 
}}
{{Essex County, Ontario}}

[[Category:Leamington, Ontario| ]]
[[Category:Lower-tier municipalities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Erie in Canada]]