Wheatley, Ontario
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wheatley is a community in Southwestern Ontario, within the municipality of Chatham-Kent. It lies about 12 kilometres (7 miles) east of Leamington. Nearby parks include Two Creeks Conservation Area, which has 15 km of hiking and bicycling paths, Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area, Hillman Marsh Conservation Area and Point Pelee National Park. As well, Rondeau Provincial Park is only a half-hour's drive to the east. It also boasts Wheatley Provincial Park, home to the endangered Blue Racer snake, which can only be found in the park as well as the Point Pelee National Park and on Pelee Island.
The town has a few beaches, and the Camper's Cove Campsite and beach, as well as Holiday Harbour. It lies on former Highway 3. The town's population before merging with Chatham-Kent in 1998 was roughly 1,500. It is now about 1,700.
Wheatley is the primary community of licence for CHWI, a television station more popularly associated with the city of Windsor.
Wheatley's sign proudly proclaims it as the "Freshwater Fish Capital of the World" and as a large fishing port located on Lake Erie. It is home to the famous Omstead's fishery, a Canadian company founded in the town that still harbours its family. It has also been named, on many occasions, 'most millionaires per capita' in Canada.
Hike Metal Products, a boat repair/fabricating company based at the harbour, is the maker of the Maid of the Mist, the ferry boat used at Niagara Falls for the tours under the great Canadian waterfall. It also built the 141-foot Copasetic, a multimillion dollar research vessel, as well as a ferry for Toronto's City Centre Airport, to take passengers and vehicles a few hundred feet from the mainland to Toronto Island.
The small town celebrates the annual Fish Festival during the summer, St. John the Baptist celebration, a Santa Claus Parade, outdoor summer concerts, Two Creeks Conservation Area events, and other community events. It is on the flight path for migratory birds and monarch butterflies and annually attracts birders from around the world.
Wheatley has one elementary public school, which hosts many different activities and sports. Wheatley has minor and senior soccer, sponsored by the Chatham-Kent Police. Wheatley's arena, home to the Sharks hockey team, lies directly behind the public school and is NHL-approved. Wheatley's skating lessons are highly acclaimed by nearby towns such as Leamington.
Wheatley's downtown is home to its most famous restaurant, The Lucky Wok, and to The Car Barn. Other buildings include Royal Canadian Legion Branch 324, with its collection of militaria, Guardian pharmacy, post office, library, bank, Mac's Milk, Martan's store and Mercer's auto service centre. At the harbour, Liddles provides outstanding perch dinners between Easter and Thanksgiving. The delightful Penny's Sense of Cents Gift Store is a favorite with locals and tourists year round. Wheatley's Remembrance Day events take place on the library grounds, as do other ceremonies.
