Citizendia

Not to be confused with The Beaches, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Beaches is a village located southwest of Baie Verte Newfoundland and Labrador.
A gazebo in Kew Gardens, a park in The Beaches
A gazebo in Kew Gardens, a park in The Beaches

The Beaches is a neighbourhood and popular tourist destination located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Kew Gardens is a large park in The Beaches neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page It is located on the east side of the "Old" City of Toronto, from Victoria Park on the east to Kingston Road on the north, Eastern Avenue to Leslie on the west, south to the lakeshore of Lake Ontario. The Beaches is part of the east-central district of Toronto. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario

Contents

Character

The commercial district of Queen Street East lie at the heart of The Beaches community. Queen Street East is a major thoroughfare in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, running through neighbourhoods such as Corktown, Moss Park, It is characterized by a large number of independent speciality stores. The side streets are mostly lined with semis and large-scale Victorian, Edwardian and new-style houses. Semi-Detached (1998 was Therapy? 's last album for A&M Records. There are also low-rise apartment buildings and a few row-houses. There are several parks just a few steps south. Kingston Road is a four-lane road along the northern section of the neighbourhood travelling with residences on either side. Woodbine Avenue is a four-lane road originating from Lakeshore Boulevard at the Lake Ontario shoreline, running north. It is primarily residential.

The beach itself is a single uninterrupted stretch of sandy shoreline bounded by the R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant (locally known as the water works) to the east and Woodbine park (a small peninsula in Lake Ontario) to the west. The R C Harris Water Treatment Plant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is both a crucial piece of infrastructure and an architecturally acclaimed historic Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. A long boardwalk runs along most of its length. Although it is continuous, there are four names which correspond each to approximately one quarter of the length of the beach (from east to west): Balmy Beach, Scarboro Beach, Kew Beach and Woodbine Beach.

"The Beach" or "The Beaches"

This example of the use of "Beaches" is from the now demolished local quarters of the Royal Canadian Legion
This example of the use of "Beaches" is from the now demolished local quarters of the Royal Canadian Legion

The name of the community is the subject of a long-standing dispute. Some long-time local residents believe that The Beach is the proper historical name for the area, whereas others are of the view that "The Beaches" is the more universally recognized neighbourhood name, particularly by non-residents. All government levels refer to the riding, or the ward in the case of the municipal government, as Beaches-East York. An electoral district (also known as a Constituency or a riding in the Canadian English political Jargon) is a geographically-based For the provincial electoral district see Beaches—East York (provincial electoral district. [1]

The dispute over the area's name reached a fever pitch in 1985, when the City of Toronto installed 14 street signs designating the neighbourhood as "The Beaches". The resulting controversy resulted in the eventual removal of the signs, although the municipal government continues to officially designate the area as "The Beaches". [2] In early 2006 the local Beaches Business Improvement Area voted to place "The Beach" on signs slated to appear on new lampposts over the summer, but local outcry caused them to rescind that decision. [3] The Beaches Business Improvement Area board subsequently held a poll (online, in person and by ballot) in April 2006 to determine whether the new street signs would be designated "The Beach" or "The Beaches", and 58% of participants selected "The Beach" as the name to appear on the signs.

Ironically, the two names have been used to refer to the area since the first homes were built in the 19th century. In his book, Accidental City: The Transformation of Toronto, Robert Fulford, himself a former resident, wrote: "the historical argument for 'the Beaches' as a name turns out to be at least as strong as the historical argument for 'the Beach'". Alternate use see Robert Fulford (croquet player for the English croquet player "Pluralists" hold that since the area had four distinct beach areas, using the singular term is illogical. Those preferring the singular term "Beach" hold that the term has historically referred to the area as the four distinct beach areas merged. [3]

Historically, there are or were a number of institutions that used the term "Beach" in the singular, including the original Beach telephone exchange (1903 - 1920s), the Beach Hebrew Institute (1920), the Beach Theatre (1919 to the 1960s), and the Beach Streetcar (1923 - 1948). The singular form has also been adopted by the local historical society, which is called The Beach and East York Historical Society (from 1974). [4] There are also numerous examples of early local institutions that use the plural form "Beaches", such as the Beaches Library (1915), the Beaches Presbyterian Church (1926), the Beaches Branch of the Canadian Legion and a local war monument in Kew Beach erected post WWII by the "Beaches Business Men's Association". [5]

Despite the naming controversy, most Torontonians recognize either name as referring to this particular neighbourhood, even though there are numerous beaches located elsewhere in the city.

Location

Crowds at Scarboro Beach Park in 1907, which was a popular amusement park in Toronto between 1907 and 1925. The park, located between Kew and Balmy beaches, was eventually demolished and subdivided into residential lots, and one of the new streets was named "Scarboro Beach Boulevard".
Crowds at Scarboro Beach Park in 1907, which was a popular amusement park in Toronto between 1907 and 1925. The park, located between Kew and Balmy beaches, was eventually demolished and subdivided into residential lots, and one of the new streets was named "Scarboro Beach Boulevard".

The neighbourhood is located to the East of Toronto's downtown, from Coxwell east to Victoria Park. The lakefront is divided into two sections; Woodbine Beach to the west, Kew Beach in the centre, and Balmy Beach to the east. It is these beaches which give the neighbourhood its name and defining principal characteristic. Until Lakeshore Boulevard was extended to Woodbine Avenue in the 1930s, Woodbine Beach was not a bathing beach, but rather a desolate wooded area known as The Cut. And Woodbine Avenue was the western boundary of the neighbourhood. While the official City northern boundary ends at Kingston Road, the area to the north has become known as the Upper Beaches. The area bounded by Queen Street, Woodbine and Kingston Road is nicknamed the Beach Triangle.

Origin of the beach sand

The beach is diminishing as the sand continuously migrates from east to west. Although sand is replaced by new sand generated by the erosion of the Scarborough Bluffs to the east, this source of sand is itself diminished due to municipal efforts to reduce erosion of the bluffs in an effort to preserve homes at the crest of the bluffs.

Local News Media, Community Websites

The Beaches community is served by several locally distributed newspapers including Beach Metro Community News and the Beach-Riverdale Mirror.

There are several websites dedicated to the Beaches community, including Beaches Toronto.com and Beaches Living Magazine.

Public Transportation

Streetcars heading to and from downtown Toronto run east-west along Queen Street East (route 501) as well as along Kingston Road (routes 502 and 503) and Gerrard Street East (route 506), and a bus line runs north-south along Woodbine Avenue to Woodbine subway station (route 92). The Toronto streetcar system comprises eleven streetcar ( Tram) routes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada operated by the Toronto Transit Commission The 501 Queen is an east-west streetcar route in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC The 502 Downtowner is a Streetcar line operated by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto Ontario Canada. The 503 Kingston Road is a Streetcar route in Toronto Ontario. Gerrard Street is a street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It consists of two separate parts one running east from University Avenue for 6 km The 506 Carlton is a streetcar line run by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Canada. Woodbine is a station on the Bloor-Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. Another north-south bus line snakes its way along several side streets before making its way to the Main Street subway station (route 64). Main Street is a station on the Bloor-Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. A third bus line runs north-south down Coxwell Avenue from Coxwell subway station and then turns east travelling the entire length of Kingston Road as far as Victoria Park Avenue (only from 7PM-5AM on weekday evenings, and 24hrs on weekends) (route 22A). Coxwell is a station on the Bloor-Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada.

Politics

The area is in the political riding of Beaches—East York, and is currently represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by Michael Prue of the provincial New Democratic Party. For the provincial electoral district see Beaches—East York (provincial electoral district. See also Politics of Ontario The Legislative Assembly of Ontario (also known as Ontario Legislative Assembly or OntLA) is the Legislature Michael D Prue (born July 14, 1948 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian politician who represents the riding of Beaches—East The Ontario New Democratic Party, formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a Social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada Historically, the riding has sent only NDP representatives to Queen's Park since 1975, and is considered one of the safest NDP seats in the province. Federally, the riding has voted for the Liberal party for the last few years and is currently represented by MP Maria Minna. The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Maria Minna, PC, MP (born March 14, 1948, Pofi, Italy) is a Canadian Politician who represents the Toronto

The area's city councillor is Sandra Bussin who is currently also The Speaker for Toronto City Council. A councillor or councilor ( Cllr, Coun, Clr or Cr for short is a member of a Local government council such as a Sandra Bussin is a city councillor and Speaker of Toronto City Council in Toronto Ontario for Ward 32 Beaches-East York (represents the ward

Attractions

A notable site in the area is the R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, which has been featured in several television programs, as well as in the films "Half Baked", "In the Mouth of Madness" and "Undercover Brother", and in Michael Ondaatje's novel In the Skin of a Lion. The R C Harris Water Treatment Plant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is both a crucial piece of infrastructure and an architecturally acclaimed historic Philip Michael Ondaatje, OC (ɒnˈdɑːtʃiː (born 12 September 1943 is a Sri Lankan Canadian In the Skin of a Lion is a novel by Canadian / Sri Lankan writer Michael Ondaatje. In the 1920s, the neighbourhood was the site of an amusement park, located at the end of today's Scarboro Beach Boulevard. Kew Gardens is a medium-sized park in the neighbourhood running from Queen Street to Lake Ontario, and includes a bandstand for concerts. Every July, the neighbourhood celebrates the Beaches International Jazz Festival, drawing thousands of tourists to the area. The Beaches International Jazz Festival is an annual outdoor music event in the Beaches neighbourhood, in Toronto.

Historic Buildings in the Beaches

Leuty Lifeguard Station on Kew Beach
Leuty Lifeguard Station on Kew Beach

The Beaches contains a number of historic buildings that are either designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, or listed in the City of Toronto's inventory of heritage buildings, including:

Notable people

Academy-award winning director Norman Jewison,[6] sports magnate Jack Kent Cooke,[7] world-renowned concert pianist Glenn Gould,[8] and author Robert Fulford[9] grew up in the neighbourhood. Norman Frederick Jewison CC, BA, LLD (born July 21, 1926) is an Academy Award -winning Canadian Film Jack Kent Cooke ( October 25, 1912 – April 6, 1997) was a Canadian - American entrepreneur who became one of the most widely-known Glenn Herbert Gould At a young age he reportedly behaved differently from typical children at the piano he would strike single notes and listen to their long decay Alternate use see Robert Fulford (croquet player for the English croquet player Author Peter Robinson,[10] actor Jamie Johnston,[11] songwriter Dan Hill,[12] and columnist Margaret Wente[13] currently reside in the Beaches. Dr Peter Robinson (born 1950) is an English -born Canadian -based crime writer James Michael Johnston (born July 7 1989) is a Canadian actor Dan Hill (born Daniel Grafton Hill IV with whom he wrote the songs "Can't We Try" and "(Can This Be Real Love" Margaret Wente (born 1950 is a columnist for Canada 's largest national daily newspaper The Globe and Mail. Comedian John Candy,[14] actor Keanu Reeves,[15] actors Kiefer Sutherland[15] and Donald Sutherland,[16] television host Alex Trebek,[15] and soprano Teresa Stratas[15] all attended area high schools. John Franklin Candy (October 31 1950 &ndash March 4 1994 was a Canadian Comedian and Actor. Keanu Charles Reeves (kiːˈɑːnuː born September 2, 1964) is a Canadian Actor. Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland He has Scottish ancestry from both parents and is the grandson of Canadian politician Tommy Douglas. Donald McNicol Sutherland OC (born July 17, 1935) is a Canadian Actor with a film career spanning over 50 years George Alexander "Alex" Trebek (born July 22 1940 is an Emmy Award -winning Canadian - American Teresa Stratas OC (born May 26 1938 Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Soprano opera singer

References

  1. ^ Rush, Curtis. Is it Beaches or The Beach? Passions run deep in neighbourhood. Vote will decide how signs will read. , The Toronto Star, April 5, 2006. The Toronto Star is Canada 's highest-circulation newspaper though its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario. B4.
  2. ^ Beaches Neighbourhood Profile, City of Toronto Official Site. Retrieved 2007-11-29. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe
  3. ^ a b Wickens, Stephen. Once and for all, is it Beach or Beaches? The Globe and Mail, February 4, 2006. The Globe and Mail is a Canadian English language nationally distributed Newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities M1.
  4. ^ Campbell, Mary. Are you a Beacher or a Beacheser? Beach Metro News, April 4th 2006. p4.
  5. ^ Spenser, Steven. Carved in Stone: The Beaches. Beach Metro News, April 4th 2006. p5.
  6. ^ The birth of a storyteller, February 19, 1997. CBC Archives. Retrieved 2007-11-29. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe
  7. ^ Chapter 1: "I'll Be a Millionaire!"Career Biography, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Retrieved 2007-11-29. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe
  8. ^ Varga, Darrell. Locating the Artist in Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould. Canadian Journal of Film Studies, Fall 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-29. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe
  9. ^ Fulford, Robert. Culture, Heritage, Recreation. Government of Canada Official Site. Retrieved 2007-11-29. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe
  10. ^ Peter Robinson MA ’75, MEd ‘86, Alumni Achievements. University of Windsor. The University of Windsor is a Non-denominational, provincially-supported Coeducational, public comprehensive university in Windsor, Ontario Retrieved 2007-11-29
  11. ^ Grewal, San. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe Class act: Meet Jamie Johnston, soon to make you swoon on Degrassi. Acting resume ensures new kid won't be getting picked on. Toronto Star. The Toronto Star is Canada 's highest-circulation newspaper though its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario. July 12, 2005.
  12. ^ Getting Reacquainted with Dan Hill. MacLean's. Maclean's is a Canadian weekly News magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics pop culture and current events February 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-25
  13. ^ Wente, Margaret. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor Just make the whole thing go away. The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail is a Canadian English language nationally distributed Newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities November 24, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats
  14. ^ Neil McNeil High School (Catholic Secondary School) Official Site. Retrieved 2007-11-30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats
  15. ^ a b c d Malvern Collegiate. Glenn Gould Foundation. Retrieved 2007-11-30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats
  16. ^ WIER School Profiles - M-Z. Writers in Electronic Residence. Retrieved 2007-11-30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats

Bibliography

External links

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic