City of Toronto lifeguards set to return to Toronto beaches this weekend

Lifeguard

The City of Toronto’s supervised beach program begins tomorrow at nine City beaches. Toronto boasts some of the best swimming beaches—perfect places to cool down and enjoy the outdoors on hot summer days.

Lifeguards will be on duty and will supervise designated swim areas seven days a week, from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Bluffer’s Park, Cherry, Centre Island, Kew-Balmy, Marie Curtis, Sunnyside and Woodbine Beaches. From Saturday, June 4 to Sunday, June 19, Ward’s Island and Hanlan’s Point Beaches will be supervised exclusively on weekends, with weekday supervision starting on Monday, June 20. Gibraltar Point, a less used beach on the island, will not be supervised until later in the season. Beaches will continue to be supervised daily, all summer long, until Monday, September 5.

Residents and visitors are reminded to enjoy City beaches safely by:
• Only swimming in designated areas with lifeguard supervision
• Staying within arm’s reach of children who are in or near the water
• Drinking water, wearing sunscreen and not swimming while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Swim zone boundaries are marked at Toronto’s swimming beaches by red and yellow flags. Floating swim markers show the swim zone boundaries in the water. Swimming past or outside of these markers is not permitted. Each lifesaving stand across the waterfront will be marked with a Parks Locate Point (PLP) and 911 signs to further support public safety this beach season, in addition to having lifesaving equipment. Residents should contact 311 if lifesaving equipment is missing or damaged.


If no flags are flying at a Toronto beach, lifeguards are not on duty and people should not swim. Residents should stay within the clearly marked swim zones to avoid the dangers of being struck by vessels. Undesignated areas can have dangerous water conditions, such as undertows and rip currents.

The City’s beach water quality testing program, which includes daily water sample analysis by Toronto Public Health, and lifeguard supervision, helps ensure people can swim safely at Toronto beaches. City beaches that meet high standards for water quality, safety, environmental management and education fly The Blue Flag. Learn more about beach water quality testing: www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-inspections-monitoring/swimsafe/beach-water-quality/

City-designated swimming beaches are:
• Bluffer’s Park Beach (Blue Flag)
• Centre Island Beach (Blue Flag)
• Cherry/Clarke (Blue Flag)
• Gibraltar Point Beach (Blue Flag)
• Hanlan’s Point Beach (Blue Flag)
• Kew-Balmy Beach (Blue Flag)
• Marie Curtis Park East Beach
• Sunnyside Beach
• Ward’s Island Beach (Blue Flag)
• Woodbine Beach (Blue Flag)

More information about the City’s swimming beaches is available at www.toronto.ca/beaches or by calling 311.

Quotes:
“Thank you to City staff for ensuring we can safely open our swimming beaches this summer. Torontonians and visitors can soak up the lakeside atmosphere, safely enjoy beach season, swimming and other water activities, while knowing we regularly test beach water quality and we ensure swimming beaches are supervised by lifeguards.”
– Mayor John Tory

“Toronto has some of the best beaches in the province that are ideal for swimming or just getting your toes wet! Our beaches are Blue Flag certified and meet high standards for water quality. I hope everyone has a chance to safely enjoy the water.”
– Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rough Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee

SOURCE City of Toronto

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