Feel the cool Lake Ontario breeze on your face. Welcome to Balmy Beach.
Balmy Beach isn’t just sand and water. It’s a piece of Toronto’s history. Kew and Balmy Beaches opened in the 1930s. Torontonians flocked to the shore. Amusement parks lined the beaches. The beaches kept some of that old charm. The Kew Beach lawn bowling club remains. The Kew Gardens Bandstand stands on a lost river’s remains. It hosts bands and a jazz festival. A beach club nearby dates back to 1905. Its members won Olympic medals. Their football team won the Grey Cup twice. At the east end stands the Robert Harris Water Filtration Plant. This art deco beauty is in Michael Ondaatje’s *In the Skin of a Lion*. The city merged Kew and Balmy Beaches in 2006.
Balmy Beach Club is a non-profit. It’s served Toronto for a century. Sir Adam Wilson deeded the land. The club incorporated in 1903. The clubhouse opened in 1905. Fires destroyed it in 1936 and 1963. Members rebuilt it each time. The current clubhouse opened in 1965. The club included lawn bowling and paddling. It expanded to include rugby hockey squash and more. Its canoe club grew. The club’s constitution changed in 1972. The board became an elected body.
Balmy Beach has been a Blue Flag beach since 2009. It meets strict water quality and safety standards. It’s certified annually. It’s clean accessible and eco-friendly. The water is excellent. Balmy Beach is more than a place to relax. It’s a vibrant community hub with a rich history. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of Toronto. Come and discover its unique charm.