Tilbury, Ontario, a community within the municipality of Chatham-Kent, is a charming town with a rich history and a vibrant community spirit. With a population of 4,768 as of 2016, Tilbury is located 26.5 kilometres southwest of Chatham-Kent and 57.3 kilometres east of Windsor on Highway 401.
The nearby townships of Tilbury West and Tilbury East were named after the port of Tilbury in the English county of Essex. The community, originally called Henderson after the local postmaster, was established with the construction of the Canada Southern Railway in 1875. The post office's name was changed to Tilbury Centre in 1887 when the community was incorporated as a village. The name changed again to Tilbury in 1895 and was incorporated as a town in 1910.
Tilbury, Ontario, is home to the largest antique mall in Southern Ontario and is famous for its murals depicting its history. In 1998, Tilbury was amalgamated with several other towns and townships to form the municipality of Chatham-Kent. The former town hall at 17 Superior Street now serves as the Tilbury Municipal Centre and Chatham-Kent Police station.
Tilbury is served by Highway 401 and Ontario Highway 2. Public transit is provided by CK Transit's interurban Route D Chatham-Tilbury-Merlin. The closest airports are Chatham-Kent Airport and Windsor International Airport. While there are no trains servicing Tilbury directly, the closest station is VIA Rail's Chatham station.
Tilbury District High School, home of the Titans, has an attendance of around 300 students. The community also boasts a French elementary school (École élémentaire Saint-Francis), a public elementary school (Tilbury Area Public School), and a Catholic elementary school (St. Joseph Catholic School with 120 students).
Tilbury, along with the former townships of Tilbury East and Dover, is a designated French language service area under Ontario's French Language Services Act. The community offers a range of recreational facilities, including an arena that provides free skating in the wintertime, a splash pad near Tilbury Arena, and Memorial Park, which features a skateboard park, a tennis court, an outdoor swimming pool, and a baseball field.
Tilbury's hockey alumni include Nolan Gardiner, who played for the Ottawa 67's in the OHL. The community hosts a Canada Day fireworks event and the Tilbury Santa Claus Parade. It also boasts many pizza places, adding to its vibrant community life.
In 2014, Tilbury underwent a significant transformation with the replacement of sidewalks and the installation of new streetlights. In 2017, the streetlights were upgraded with LED bulbs for night illumination, further enhancing the charm and appeal of this historic community.
