Historic Guided Walking Tour of The Beach (Woodbine Beach)

Note: You will also need to obtain your ticket in advance, using the link in the Signing up section, as this new tour may sell out.

On Wednesday, August 19th, join Making Waves at The Beach, a historical guided tour from Heritage Toronto. 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. Purchase your ticket for Making Waves at The Beach on August 19th.

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, which 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.

Prepare for the walk:

• Walking shoes
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Water

Public washrooms are located at Woodbine Beach Park, Kew Gardens, and Balmy Beach Park.
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COST:
Tour ticket: $8 + transaction fee

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SIGNING-UP

• RSVP Yes to confirm if you will join for food/ drinks after
• Purchase your ticket and post you have your ticket (scroll to the end of the page)
• A reminder will be sent the day before with my cell and reminder details where to meet and when.

RSVPs close 1 day prior and cancellations may result in a No Show and impact future attendance

MEETUP DETAILS:
Meet at: 6:15pm at the TT Bus stop at Woodbine Beach. I can only wait 5 mins.

Tour location: We will then join the rest of the tour group at Donald D Summerville Olympic Pool (1867 Lake Shore Blvd East)

Tour starts: at 6:30pm

Tour ends: at 8pm at Fox Theatre (2236 Queen Street East)

Walk length: 2.2km

After: Head over to a local restaurant

Enjoy and please post your Comments in the event after