Essex County Tartan
The Essex County Tartan was designed to recognize the beauty and wealth of this part of Canada by Mrs. Edythe Bakes of Leamington Ontario in 1983.

Mrs. Bakes, born in 1902, spent her early years near Orillia, Ontario.  As a yong woman she designed and made her own clothing. Mrs. Bakes and her husband, Arthur Bakes, moved to Essex County when Mr. Bakes took a position as Branch Manager at the H.J. Heinz Co. in Leamington.

Mrs. Bakes was keenly interested in the history of Canadian Tartans and decided to design a Tartan for Essex County.  Once completed, she offered it to Essex County Council as the official Tartan of Essex County.  She had it officially registered with the Canadian government and Museum of Tartans in Scotland.

The responsibility for the marketing of the Essex County Tartan was given to the Women's Institute in 1985.

It was Mrs. Bakes wish that the proceeds from sales of the Tartan go to  local charities. The Women's Institute honoured that wish and annually make donations from the sale of tartan to local charities including the Leamington District Memorial Hospital, Salvation Army of Leamington and Essex and the Essex Food Bank.

The Tartan cloth now resides at the Essex County Civic Centre and can be purchased by advance arrangement through the County Administration Office.

The meaning of the colours are as follows: