TORONTO LIVING The Beach Neighbourhood

The Beach

BY LESLEY KENNY

This family-friendly neighbourhood’s waterfront lifestyle, extensive green spaces and vibrant commercial streets offer a beach-town vibe just minutes from downtown Toronto. The beloved neighbourhood is bounded by Dundas Street and Coxwell Avenue on the west, Victoria Park Avenue on the east, Kingston Road to the north, and, to the south, Lake Ontario’s sandy shores.

Laid-back yet buzzing, this much-loved east end neighbourhood is named after the 2km of Lake Ontario shoreline that mark its southern border. Whether you call this neighbourhood The Beach, as many locals do, or The Beaches, everyone knows where you mean.

What started as a waterfront cottage getaway location in the 1800s and grew to include Coney-Island-inspired amusement parks, began residential development in the early 1900s. Well-maintained Arts and Craft style cottages and turn of the century Edwardian brick homes are set back on treelined streets. Back to the stud renovations and striking new builds reflect contemporary tastes while honouring the neighbourhood’s history.

Ashbridges Bay anchors the western waterfront of The Beach neighbourhood. A popular place to watch Canada Day fireworks and sunsets on the spit, Ashbridges Bay is home to marinas, a yacht club and a skateboard park, and is a good spot for fishing and bird watching. The Martin Goodman Trail, a 56km multi-use path that winds along the city’s waterfront, cuts through the north end of Ashbridges Bay.

The R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, which plays a starring role in Michael Ondaatje’s novel, In the Skin of a Lion, marks the south-eastern border of this neighbourhood, at the foot of Victoria Park Avenue. Open to the public during Door’s Open TO, the architecturally stunning buildings were deemed a national historic civil engineering site in 1992. The fortress-like setting overlooks Lake Ontario and views from inside are among the most impressive in the city.

In the warmer months, white sandy beaches offer swimming, picnicking, beach volleyball, canoe and kayak rentals, boating, fishing and paddle boarding. Year round, a wide, 3km boardwalk winds alongside the beaches for daytime strolls, beautiful sunset views, and winter walks. Dogs are welcome on the boardwalk, on leash, with a water-side off-leash area for pooches to take a dip and run off their zoomies. >>

Piper McMillan, a 7-month-old Zuchon, enjoyed her first swim this summer at the off-leash waterfront dog park on Kew Beach.

Leuty Lifeguard Station, an iconic Beach image, celebrated its centennial last year. Still an active station, it’s been credited with saving 6,000 lives since it was built in 1920.

Shops along Queen Street East allow locals to complete errands on foot. The Beach is walkable and bicycle friendly. Back to the stud renovations and striking new builds reflect contemporary tastes while honouring the neighbourhood’s history.

Leuty Lifeguard Station, an iconic Beach image, celebrated its centennial last year. Still an active station, it’s been credited with saving 6,000 lives

Back to the stud renovations and striking new builds reflect contemporary tastes while honouring the neighbourhood’s history. While the accessible beaches define this neighbourhood, the green spaces here are remarkable, particularly the 11-hectare Glen Stewart Park and Ravine which more-or-less bisects the neighbourhood at Glen Manor Road. This forest of rare red oak and red maple trees is home to more than 100 species of migrating birds, native plants including wildflowers, and is fed by Ames Creek. The elevated boardwalk inside winds past a number of staircases and lookouts and is a beautiful and accessible walk in all seasons. Two suspended wooden pedestrian bridges were part of a 2021 revitalization project for Glen Stewart Ravine.

Kew Gardens’ 6.5 hectares, starting at Queen Street and extending to the lake, include a playground and splash pad, basketball court, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, and a skating rink in winter. It’s a popular spot for live concerts, yoga classes, picnics and sitting quietly, enjoying the scenery.

Shops along Queen Street East allow locals to complete errands on foot and include a variety of boutique shops. Cafes and ice cream parlours are plentiful. Popular restaurants, many of which have been in business for decades, fill up with neighbours and guests. Kingston Road to the north is home to a bustling commercial strip with more restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, cafes and retail staples.

The Beaches International Jazz Festival, an annual, month-long celebration and street festival throughout the neighbourhood, began in 1989 and is next scheduled for July, 2022. There are plenty of everyday entertainment opportunities here as well, including the Fox Theatre (in operation since 1914), where you can enjoy a craft beer or glass of wine with your popcorn and big-screen flick.

Just 15 minutes east of downtown Toronto, this family-oriented neighbourhood offers a handful of renowned schools including public, catholic, independent and even outdoor. The Beach is a walkable and bicycle friendly neighbourhood that is served by TTC streetcar and buses. Minutes from the Don Valley Parkway, Lakeshore Boulevard, and the Gardiner Expressway, The Beach neighbourhood is accessible yet feels tucked away.

A testament to its stunning natural beauty and diverse commercial resources are the many people who grew up here, moved away – then returned, to raise their own families in The Beach.