Acton’s nickname was “Leather Town.” It was home to The Beardmore Tannery, which employed approximately 2,000 workers in its sprawling one-million-square-foot complex and The Olde Hide House, which became Canada’s largest leather store thanks to a clever ad campaign. The tannery closed in 1986, but the store held on until January 2025. Now that its leather era is officially over, Acton is pivoting to a new identity built around wildlife, innovative businesses and agricultural fairs.
