Making Waves at The Beach
About this Event
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.
About the Tour Leader
Adam Waiser is the co-host of the Muddy York Toronto history podcast. He has no significant media experience outside of this podcast. He's just a history buff who heard a podcast about NYC history while he was visiting his sister and thought that he could do the same thing for Toronto. 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.
Start Point: Donald D Summerville Olympic Pool, near playground (1867 Lake Shore Blvd E)
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.
End Point: Fox Theatre (2236 Queen St E)
Length of Tour: Approximately 90 minutes
Distance and Terrain: This tour is approximately 2.2 kilometres in distance and takes place predominantly on paved city sidewalks and streets.
Ticket Price and 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. Cash cannot be accepted onsite.
This tour uses individual audio headsets. All registered participants will be provided with an individual headset that will allow you to hear the tour guide throughout the tour.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 0.00 to CAD 11.04
