Toronto Islands

The Toronto Islands are a chain of 15 small islands in Lake Ontario, south of mainland Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are the only group of islands in the western part of Lake Ontario and sit just offshore from the city's downtown area. These islands provide shelter for Toronto Harbour and separate the city from the rest of Lake Ontario.

The islands are home to many interesting places, including the Toronto Island Park, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, several private yacht clubs, and restaurants. There is also a public marina, Centreville Amusement Park, a residential neighbourhood that is open to everyone, and several public beaches. The island community is the largest urban car-free community in North America.

People can travel to the islands using public ferries that run all year from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, as well as private water taxis from May to September. There is also a pedestrian tunnel that connects the mainland to the airport, though the airport is a secure area separate from the parks and other parts of the islands.

The Toronto Islands are a popular place for tourists and people to enjoy outdoor activities. Bicycles can be brought on the ferries for free and can be rented on Centre Island and Ward's Island. Since 2025, Bike Share Toronto has placed bike stands on the islands. From May to September, people can rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, and stand-up paddle boards. There is also a disc golf course on the islands. The main beach is on the south shore of Centre Island, and there is another beach on the west shore of Centre at Hanlan's Point, which is a place where people can go without clothes if they choose. The islands have plenty of parkland for picnics, playgrounds, water play areas, and gardens. In the winter, when conditions are right, people can ice skate on the lagoons and near Toronto Harbour from the islands.

List of islands

The Toronto Islands are a group of 15 small islands in Lake Ontario, just south of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are the only islands in the western part of Lake Ontario.

History

The Toronto Islands started as sandbars pushed into Lake Ontario by currents from the Scarborough Bluffs. Long before European settlers arrived, Indigenous peoples, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, used the area for healing and relaxation. They called it "Menecing," meaning "On the Island" in Ojibwe.

In the late 1700s, the British built early structures like the Gibraltar Point Blockhouse. A major storm in 1858 finally turned the sandbars into permanent islands. Over time, families settled there, building cottages and enjoying the peaceful setting. Today, some families still live on the islands year-round, thanks to laws protecting their homes.

Geography

The Toronto Islands are a group of 15 small islands covering about 820 acres in Lake Ontario, just south of downtown Toronto. The biggest island, Centre Island, is shaped like a crescent wrench and helps protect the city's harbour. Other important islands include Algonquin Island, mostly homes, and Olympic Island, a public park. Smaller islands have special uses like yacht clubs and beaches.

Originally, the islands were part of a long sand spit that stretched from the mainland. Over time, storms and natural processes separated them into islands. Human activities like building and adding land have also changed the islands. Several waterways wind through the islands, allowing boats to travel between them.

Culture

Community

About 300 homes are located on the Toronto Islands, mostly on Ward's Island and Algonquin Island. There are special rules for buying and selling these homes. The islands have two daycare centres, one school, and one church. The Toronto Island Public School offers classes for students up to grade 6 and has special programs for visiting students. There is also a preschool on Algonquin Island and a church on Centre Island that was built in 1884.

Recreation

The Toronto Islands have many places to swim, such as Centre Island Beach, Manitou Beach, Gibraltar Point Beach, Hanlan's Point Beach, and Ward's Island Beach. Recreational boating is popular, and the Toronto Island Sailing Club offers sailing lessons and races. The islands are home to several yacht clubs and a public marina. You can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards.

Centreville Amusement Park is a fun place for kids with a miniature railway and an antique carousel. There is also a farm area with animals, a garden for children, a splash pad, a maze, and a playground. You can play flying disc golf on Ward's Island and tennis at the Ward's Island Tennis Club. The islands have hosted many festivals and events over the years.

Education

The Toronto District School Board looks after schooling for the Toronto Islands. Right now, they run one elementary school on the islands called Island Public/Natural Science School on Centre Island. As of 2013, the school had 179 students. About 15% of these students come from Algonquin and Ward islands, while most students live in the city and take a ferry to get to school.

Students living on the Toronto Islands can also go to other schools on the mainland, such as The Waterfront School, Jarvis Collegiate Institute, Central Technical School, Central Commerce Collegiate Institute, and Northern Secondary School. Three other school boards also help provide education for island residents: Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and Toronto Catholic District School Board.

Politics

The Toronto Islands are part of the Spadina—Fort York area for federal, provincial, and city government. They are represented by Chi Nguyen from the Liberal Party of Canada at the federal level, Chris Glover from the NDP at the provincial level, and councillor Ausma Malik at the city level.

In the past, the islands were part of different government areas, such as Trinity—Spadina and Toronto Centre—Rosedale. These areas have changed over time.

Transportation

The Toronto Islands are special because you can reach them by water instead of roads. The main way to get there is by ferry, which are boats that take people back and forth. There are three main ferry routes that go from the Toronto waterfront to three different parts of the islands. There is also a special ferry just for vehicles and passengers that goes to the airport on the islands.

On the islands, most roads are paved, but there is one long wooden boardwalk. Most people use bicycles to get around, and you can even rent them on the islands. Cars are mostly only used by city workers, except at the airport where there is a special parking area. There are also some bridges that let people, bikes, and small vehicles cross between the islands.

In popular culture

The Toronto Islands have been featured in many Canadian books and films. For example, writer Margaret Atwood used the islands in his book The Robber Bride, and Robert Rotenberg set parts of Old City Hall there.

Other stories such as Heyday by Marnie Woodrow and Stunt by Claudia Dey also take place on the islands. The film Take This Waltz by Sarah Polley shows a character enjoying the rides at the Centreville Amusement Park. The TV show Sensitive Skin has a season where the main character lives on a houseboat there. Singer Jordan Paul even wrote a song called "Ward's Island" after visiting the area. The movie The F Word features a wedding happening on one of the islands.

Timeline

• 1787 – Toronto Purchase. The British and the Mississaugas made an agreement about land near Toronto Harbour.
• 1793 – A blockhouse was built at Gibraltar Point.
• 1805 – The Toronto Purchase was renegotiated.
• 1809 – Lighthouse built at Gibraltar Point.
• 1833 – The first hotel, "The Retreat on the Peninsula," opened.
• 1834 – Some of the first European families and workers settled on the island.
• 1850 – A water filtration plant on the island began supplying water to Toronto.
• 1858 – A big storm separated the Toronto Islands from the mainland.
• 1867 – The islands became property of the City of Toronto.
• 1874 – Hanlan's Hotel opened.
• 1879–1912 – The islands grew in size through landfilling.
• 1880 – The Royal Canadian Yacht Club was established.
• 1884 – Two churches were built.
• 1888 – The first elementary school opened near the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse.
• 1894 – A swimming area was created at Hanlan's Point Beach.
• 1897 – The first amusements and sports fields were set up.
• 1910 – The ferry Trillium started service.
• 1914 – A famous baseball player hit his first professional home run at Hanlan's Point Stadium.
• 1937 – Construction began on the island airport.
• 1939 – The Sam McBride ferry entered service.
• 1947 – Year-round living was allowed due to housing needs after World War II.
• 1951 – An island yacht club was established.
• 1956 – A new government took over the island.
• 1959 – Far Enough Farm opened.
• 1967 – Centreville Amusement Park opened and a public marina was established.
• 1984 – Small regional airlines began flying from the island airport.
• 1991 – Rules were changed to let residents stay longer.
• 1993 – A law was passed to help residents keep their homes.
• 1999 – A swimming area was again allowed at Hanlan’s Point Beach.
• 2010 – An agreement was made about the Toronto Purchase.
• 2015 – A pedestrian tunnel opened at the island airport.
• 2017 – High water levels caused some closures on the islands.
• 2019 – Even higher water levels threatened the islands.
• 2020 – The islands closed to most visitors due to health concerns.
• 2021 – A new plan was started to improve the park and teach about Indigenous history.
• 2023 – Hanlan's Point Beach was recognized for its important history.

Notable people

Here are some well-known people who have connections to the Toronto Islands:

• Milton Acorn – Poet
• Elizabeth Amer – Toronto City Councillor^{[circular reference]}
• Peter Gzowski – broadcaster
• Ned Hanlan – Olympic rower
• Paul Henderson – Olympic sailor
• W. A. Hewitt – sports executive and journalist
• Foster Hewitt – sports radio broadcaster
• Patrick Loubert – Producer
• Gwendolyn MacEwen – Poet
• Sam McBride – Toronto mayor
• Terry McLaughlin – Olympic sailor
• John Millen – Olympic sailor
• Mariah Millen – Olympic sailor
• Allan Sparrow – Toronto City Councillor