Toronto Beaches Open Wednesday
Posted June 10, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s not quite bathing suit weather – we’ll only see a high of 20C on Wednesday – but that didn’t stop city officials from opening up our public waterfront.
Beach season in Toronto officially began at 9am, ushering in what’s hoped will be a summer of sun and sand.
Many families are choosing to forgo the big vacation this year, opting instead for a “staycation” close to home.
The city’s tourism board is promoting the lifeguard-staffed beaches as a great alternative to an expensive getaway.
And that led to the somewhat surprising scene of Councillor Paula Fletcher standing at Centre Island Beach clad in a swimsuit on Wednesday, taking a dip in the still chilly waters of Lake Ontario.
“Come on, Toronto!” she intoned for the cameras. “Let’s go swimming.” She then plunged into the waves, noting it wasn’t that cold.
It’s not likely a lot of people will follow her in with June a much cooler than normal month so far. But the city thinks its beaches are some of the most underappreciated attractions that the locals often don’t take advantage of, and officials want that to change.
“Our beach activities in the hot summer days refresh and restore us, and they are needed more than ever during these stressful economic times,” she suggests. “And being on the island … I think we can all see … what a terrific staycation Torontonians can have in the city this summer.”
This year, seven Toronto beaches were awarded a Blue Flag. The international program hands out the coveted status for swim spots that maintain high standards around water quality, environmental education, environmental management, and safety and services.
They are:
- Woodbine Beaches
- Cherry Beach
- Hanlan’s Point Beach
- Ward’s Island Beach
- Centre Island Beach
- Gibraltar Point Beach
- Kew Balmy Beach
To see which beaches are open for swimming all season long, check the constantly updated list here or call the Beach Water Quality Hotline at (416)-392-7161.
