Council votes to save the Big Tomato; work starts soon

The much-anticipated decision on Leamington’s Big Tomato was made at the Tuesday, January 30 regular meeting of council.

After months of uncertainty, Leamington’s most famous landmark will bypass the wrecking ball for a much-needed refurbishing and continue to occupy the corner of Mill, Fox and Talbot Streets.

Council had budgeted $50,000 in the 2024 budget for the landmark to be restored, plus another $2,060 was donated in the memory of former councillor Bill Chaplin, who passed away in 2022. Bill’s final wishes were that donations be made to the save-the-tomato fund at town hall, and friends, families and acquaintances responded with overwhelming support.

The Big Tomato was designed in 1960 and opened in 1961 as a collaboration between the Town of Leamington and the H.J. Heinz Company of Canada.

The Big Tomato was constructed of concrete formed around a wood frame, with interior wood shelving built into the frame, a green metal ‘stem’ on the roof supported by interior bracing, and electrical servicing.

It acted as Leamington’s official tourist information booth for about 60 years, but was closed in 2019 due to deterioration of the structure and concerns for the volunteers working inside.

Since 2019, it has been a hot topic of debate around coffee meetings and dinner tables, with many reminiscing about the days of thousands of visitors logging in and many who remembered going to the tomato for an ice-cold cup of tomato juice.

In November of 2023, administration met with Tony Barraco from Barrineti Construction to review the state of the Big Tomato structure. 

The review concluded that it is surprisingly still very structurally sound, and that the Big Tomato can be rehabilitated.

Leamington’s Director of Infrastructure Services, Rob Sharon, made a presentation to council outlining what work needed to be done to bring the tomato up to today’s standards.

They will be sandblasting the exterior and repainting it, along with removing many of the older shrubs surrounding the landmark.

They will also remove the green metal stem, refurbish it and re-attach it. 

The interior will be have a spray-foam insulation applied, as well as a new electrical panel, wiring and lights. They will also refurbish the existing doors and shutters and rebuild the interior to make the tomato viable for various purposes.

When asked by Deputy Mayor Larry Verbeke to clarify if the Big Tomato was staying where it is, Sharon confirmed that it will not be moving.

Councillor Tim Wilkinson asked about a timeline for the tomato to become ‘ripe’ again and Sharon indicated that they are targeting early June for the work to be complete.

Mayor Hilda MacDonald was pleased with the vote and even wore her “tomato socks” to the meeting.

 “The Big Tomato is not just an architectural piece, it’s a cherished emblem of Leamington’s heritage and community identity,” she said. “This restoration is a step toward preserving our history while adapting it to serve our current and future generations. We’re excited to see the Big Tomato flourish once again as a vibrant hub for events and community engagement.”

Councillor Heather Latam and her sister Darlene — speaking on behalf of the Chaplin family — said that this warms their hearts.

“Bill was a true ambassador for Leamington, handing out sticky tomatoes wherever he went and representing our town with pride,” they said. “We know that Bill would be thrilled that the Big Tomato will be preserved for generations to come.”