August 19 at 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Bask in the sunshine at The Beach, once the city’s cottage country where Torontonians escaped for summer fun.
With toes in the sand, join us as we stroll along the lakefront of this trendy Toronto neighbourhood defined by four beaches.
Before the 1950s,Torontonians took steamers and streetcars to escape the city to this once marshy cottage area in the east end. On this walk, we’ll dive into its history, from the shoreline engineering that created the sandy beach today, to former amusement parks like Scarboro Beach Park known for its star attractions – the Tickler, Tunnel of Love, and Chute-the-Chutes – and as the location of the first public exhibition flights of airplanes in Canada.
A playground for city residents, this leisure area featured public parks like Kew Gardens which offered camping, picnicking, and amusements for tourists, and the Balmy Beach Club, a hub for sports like rugby and canoeing which spurred a legacy of athletic excellence.
Hidden beneath the water’s surface, we’ll also expose the dark history of the formation of the Swastika Club in the summer of 1933, when a group of Anglo-Canadian Nazi sympathizers harassed and attempted to drive “undesirables” – recent immigrants but mainly Jewish bathers – away from local beaches.
A roller coaster ride awaits you on this tour.
This tour was developed and will be led by Heritage Toronto volunteer, Adam Waiser, co-host of the Muddy York Toronto history podcast. He’s just old enough to remember the ban on Sunday shopping and he likes to tell stories about the old Toronto when the Glorious Twelfth was the biggest event of the year and people were appalled by the idea of children using swings on the Lord’s Day.
Registration
This tour is provided for $8.00/person. The total cost is $10.05 (includes a $2.05 transaction fee). Please note that space is limited on our tours. You may not be able to join a tour group if you have not registered ahead of time through our website. Cash cannot be accepted onsite.
Accessibility
This tour is approximately 2.2 kilometres in distance and takes place predominantly on wooden boardwalks, with some paved city sidewalks and streets.
Public washrooms are located at Woodbine Beach Park, Kew Gardens, and Balmy Beach Park.
FAQs
Our staff and volunteers will be at the tour’s starting location 30 minutes prior to each tour. Please arrive at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the tour to allow time for check-in. Feel free to call us at (647) 542-3450 if you are having trouble finding the start location.
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