Leamington (Ontario)

Leamington lies on the 42nd northern parallel, the same latitude as Chicago, Boston, the northern border of California, Rome, and Zaragoza. It borders Point Pelee National Park and Lake Erie. The climate is milder than cities further north, like Toronto.
It is billed as the "Tomato Capital of Canada". In 1908, the H. J. Heinz company came to Leamington, bringing many jobs to the area and contributing to Leamington's growth. The factory operated until 2014 and employed 740 people. Tomato juice and tomato paste maker Highbury Canco still employs a few hundred at the former Heinz facility, which still processes much of Leamington's local tomato crop.

History

The community was named after Royal Leamington Spa in England, after having been called "Gainesville" or "Gainesborough" for local mill owner William Gaines, and before that, Wilkinson Corners.
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.

By boat

• The MV Jiimaan. The largest passenger ferry along the Lake Erie route to Pelee Island, to the foot of Jackson St., Sandusky, Ohio. From Leamington, Canada, Kingsville Govt. Dock and Pelee Island.

Marinas

• Leamington Marina 249 Sherk St. Loran Coordinates: North 420 100/West 823 600, +1 519-326-0834

By car

• Leamington is 50 km southeast of Windsor (Ontario) along Highway 3.

By plane

• Leamington Airport (TC-LID: CLM2) is an general aviation airstrip with no scheduled flights, 2.5 nautical miles (5 km) east of Leamington. The closest scheduled service is in Windsor.

If arriving by ferry, some rental agencies will pick you up and deliver you to the dock. Ask first.

Car rentals

• Enterprise Rent a Car

  phone: +1 519-322-2600
  address: 215 Talbot St. W

By bus

• Leamington TransitOne regular route with accessible vehicles M-Sa 9AM–5PM that passes the Leamington District Memorial Hospital, Leamington Library, high schools, cultural wedding halls, police/fire station, public information booth, Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex and the town hall. The "Erie Summer Route" runs up and down Erie Street between Wilkinson Drive and the Marina/Waterfront area F-Su and holidays mid-May to early Sep.

• Leamington Arts Centre

  phone: +1 519-326-2711
  address: 72 Talbot St W
  A hub for the arts in Leamington and Windsor-Essex Region offering up to 40 exhibitions each year, artist markets, arts and crafts shows, film nights, and educational arts programs.

• Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Society

  phone: +1 519-322-0456
  address: 31 Pickwick Dr
  The Heritage Centre contains many artifacts which include photographs, documents, books, magazines, journals, and many personal and household items related to the Mennonites in Essex and Kent Counties.

• Thiessen Orchards

  phone: +1 519-326-5282
  address: 400 Talbot Rd E
  Fun acre, corn maze, mini golf, haunted barn. Weekends offer a bouncy castle, barrel train, and face painting.

• The Leamington Fair

  phone: +1 519 326-8082
  address: 194 Erie St N, N8H 3A4

Parks

• Point Pelee National Park

  phone: +1 519-322-2365
  address: 1118 Pointe Pelee Dr
  Canada's smallest national park (15 km²), extending into Lake Erie, it is known for its many species of butterflies, some of which are found nowhere else in Canada. It is also well known as a birdwatching location. The word pelée is French for 'bald'.

• Hillman Marsh Conservation Area

  phone: +1 519-776-5209
  address: 1826 Mersea 2 Road
  With 5 km of trails around marshland habitat, Hillman Marsh is adjacent to Lake Erie and features walking trails, a nature centre, washrooms and viewing towers. A birding trail borders of unique Shorebird Habitat where water levels are actively managed to create mudflats, providing outstanding viewing opportunities.

Birding

Leamington is on the north shore of Lake Erie and is home to Point Pelee National Park, a major site for migrating birds especially in the autumn. As such, it plays host to many birdwatchers from Canada, the United States, and all around the world. 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, 6 km east of the town.

Diving

• Pelee Passage AreaThe area has the highest density of shipwrecks in all the Great Lakes due to treacherous reefs, sudden storms and heavy ship traffic. Shipwrecks of the Pelee Passage are unique time capsules. 40-75 feet under water are many remarkable archaeological treasures, that are largely undiscovered.

• Pelee Wings Nature Store and Kayak Shop

  phone: +1 519-326-5193
  address: 636 Point Pelee Dr
  A must-see and visit for birders and naturalists, kayakers and canoeists.

• Jose’s Bar & Grill

  phone: +1 519-322-0182
  address: 221 Talbot St. W
  Fun place. One of the few places where you can have a drink and something to eat also on a Monday night off season.

• Thirteen at the Inn restaurant

  phone: +1 519-324-9266
  address: 388 Erie St. S
  Fresh Lake Erie Perch offered, fresh local vegetables always on menu. Good basic steaks & seafood, with in-house desserts and appetizers.

• Sherman’s Station

  phone: +1 519-326-6745
  address: 119 Erie St. N
  Family restaurant with all-day breakfast.

• Joey’s Only

  phone: +1 519-322-2660
  address: 245 Talbot St. W
  Fish and seafood.

• Paula's Fish Place

  phone: +1 519-326-1292
  address: 857 Point Pelee Drive
  Specializes in fresh Lake Erie Yellow Perch & Pickerel, battered or you can have it grilled in lemon & herbs.

• Family Kitchen

  phone: +1 519-324-0660
  address: 73 Erie Street South
  All day Mennonite, Mexican, Canadian breakfast.

Hotels

• Quality Inn Leamington

  phone: +1 519-326-9071
  address: 279 Erie Street South
  100% smoke-free and pet-free. Standard rooms offer a 32" LCD flat screen television while the King Business class rooms feature a 42” LED flat screen television. All rooms feature workspace, outlets, ergonomic desk chair, refrigerator, microwave, single-cup coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board.

• Best Western Plus

  phone: +1 519-326-8646
  address: 566 Bevel Line Rd
  Pet-friendly rooms available. Renovated rooms with 42-inch LED TVs, a bistro, a children's play area, a rock climbing wall and a water park. CAA/AAA discount.

• Days Inn

  phone: +1 519-325-0260
  address: 201 Erie Street North
  Free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, indoor pool, sauna and hot tub. Accessible and non-smoking rooms are available.

• Seacliffe Inn

  phone: +1 519-324-9266
  address: 388 Erie Street South

Bed & Breakfast

• By The Marina B&B

  phone: +1 519-326-8908
  address: 19 Cheyene Court
  Handmade quilts, air-conditioned, Wireless Internet, no smoking, no pets.

Camping

• Campers Cove Campground

  phone: +1 519-825-4732
  address: 21097 Campers Cove Rd, Wheatley
  1200 ft of clean sandy beach. Laundromat, playground, horsehide pitch, volleyball, basketball, badminton, soccer, croquet.

• Sturgeon Woods Campground and Marina

  phone: +1 519-326-1156
  address: 1129 Mersea Road C, Point Pelee
  Indoor interactive spray pool and outdoor swimming pool included in price.

• Leamington District Memorial Hospital

  phone: +1 519-326-2373
  address: 194 Talbot Street West

Wireless Internet at the Marina. Free.

• Kingsville 13 km west.
• Pelee Island
• Visit Ohio, Sandusky and Cedar Point, by ferry.
• Windsor 53 km/33 mi NW