Toronto Islands
toronto island chain island lake ontario south mainland toronto ontario canada comprising group island western part lake ontario toronto island located offshore city downtown area provide shelter toronto harbour separate toronto rest lake ontario island home toronto island park billy bishop toronto city airport several private yacht club public marina centreville amusement park yearround residential neighbourhood several public beach island community largest urban carfree community north america public ferry operate yearround jack layton ferry terminal privately operated water taxi operate may september pedestrian tunnel connects mainland airport connected airport park toronto island popular tourist recreational destination bicycle accommodated ferry charge rented centre island canoe kayak paddle boat standup paddle board also available rental may september disc golf course exists island main beach along south shore centre island beach west shore centre hanlans point clothingoptional ample parkland suitable picnicking several playground water play area several garden winter month people reach lagoon toronto harbour island ice skating condition permit toronto island originally island rather series sandbar originating deposition sand scarborough bluff pushed lake ontario current prior european colonization group island peninsula sandbar considered place healing leisure relaxation indigenous people peninsula called island hiawatha menecing meaning island ojibwe descendant ojibwa mississaugas credit first nation toronto island sacred land according british crown record treaty often referred toronto purchase included island compensated mississaugas good including rifle flint brass kettle mirror laced hat gallon rum valued £ sale toronto mississaugas land claim settlement process started claimed island along land never included agreement compensation inadequate settlement reached resulted ca million payment mississaugas government canada return mississaugas relinquished claim island land area peninsula surrounding sand bar form toronto island surveyed lieutenant joseph bouchette royal navy dw smith gazetteer recorded long beach peninsula affords delightful ride considered healthy indian resort whenever indisposed many indigenous community located peninsula base river british built first building island gibraltar point blockhouse storage structure built gibraltar point garrison known blockhouse bay garrison supported garrison mainland another blockhouse guard house built destroyed battle york another garrison built abandoned demolished gibraltar point lighthouse constructed gibraltar point southwestern extremity peninsula perhaps best known demise first keeper germanborn john paul radelmüller whose alleged murder soldier fort york form basis toronto enduring ghost story although precise circumstance death remain mystery recent research verified many aspect popular legend two soldier charged ultimately acquitted radelmüllers murder john henry john blueman glengarry light infantry peninsula first cut mainland east storm breakwater built channel filled silt however april peninsula became island permanently violent storm cut foot wide channel storm destroyed two hotel island peninsula became island hanlan family among first yearround inhabitant settling gibraltar point city toronto acquired island federal government land divided lot allowing seasonal cottage outdoor amusement area summer resort hotel built west side island became destination people toronto first summer cottage community built hotel built john hanlan northwest tip island soon area became known hanlans point family built hanlans point amusement park john son edward ned hanlan earned international recognition rower taking father business notable family island included durnans james durnan gibraltar point lighthouse keeper ward david ward settled eastern end time hanlans point developing summer suburb toronto development going elsewhere island along lakefront centre island large victorian summer home built toronto leading family looking refuge summer heat drawn prestigious royal canadian yacht club moved location harbour side rcyc island contrast ward island community began tent community william e ward built ward hotel house rented tent visitor record school board indicate oneroom school existed donated land near gibraltar lighthouse approximately necessarily open every day particularly winter school became permanent though still single teacher burned new school built student island publicnatural science school operates class junior kindergarten grade residential natural science program began visiting grade student day care centre child age – colony eight summer tenant ward island paying rent season number tent pitched increased point city felt necessary organize community street tent eventually evolved seasonal cottage community land reclamation project toronto ferry company created space expand hanlans point amusement park hanlans point hanlans point stadium built alongside amusement park toronto maple leaf baseball team stadium rebuilt several time year babe ruth hit first professional home run water lake ontario stadium maple leaf team moved new stadium mainland temporary wooden hangar built beach curtis flying school floatplane aerodrome used flight training world war construction started new airport site park stadium construction airport infill led demolition stadium amusement park also meant cottage community hanlans point needed relocated resident given choice either moving cottage south hanlans point resettling algonquin island originally algonquin island simply sandbar known sunfish island expanded land reclamation operation street laid accommodate cottage moved barge hanlans point airport opened formally named port george vi island airport reigning monarch time first year second world war expatriate norwegian rnaf pilotsintraining used toronto island airport training field fighter bomber pilot several accident including one pilot instruction clipped funnel mast island ferry boat sam mcbride crashed led training school moved north muskoka ontario park mainland called little norway park commemorates period toronto city council approved yearround occupancy island help cope housing shortage world war two emergency measure meant expire peak island residential community extended ward island hanlans point made cottage home addition amenity including movie theatre bowling alley store hotel dance hall long creation metropolitan toronto council undertook remove community replace public parkland construction gardiner expressway removed many acre recreational land along toronto waterfront island land replace acreage city transferred land metropolitan toronto metro new metro park department started demolish home cottage whose lease expired whose leaseholder surrendered metro park department opened far enough farm opened centreville amusement park along new public marina metro park opened new ferry terminal foot bay street unlike previous terminal waiting room provided islander willing leave island departed remaining resident started fight plan metro council remove home demolition proceeded community alderman david rotenberg pushed islander cause number demolition dwindled toronto island resident association tira formed home ward algonquin island escaped bulldozer saw demolition metro park plan delayed yeartoyear lease election toronto city councillor sympathetic islander situation city council voted – preserve community transfer island land back city however metro council remained opposed islander started legal challenge metro plan delay plan expropriation metro council several legal battle obtained writ possession remaining home time minority provincial progressive conservative government place liberal ndp opposition party favour islander islander appealed provincial government winning time province agreed act mediator city islander metro matter came head july sheriff sent serve eviction notice remaining resident met algonquin island bridge crowd community member whose leader persuaded sheriff withdraw july community right challenge eviction islander lost challenge supreme court ruled city right evict province started formal inquiry toronto island headed barry swadron december province ontario passed law legalizing islander stay kept land metro ownership leased city would lease islander wrangling term lease payment metro took several year premier ontario bob rae helped get toronto island residential community stewardship act c legislation passed granted islander continued deed house year lease land land trust established handle transfer sale property island residential property ward island algonquin island late act deed house may transferred current owner child spouse house must sold personal reason child spouse new owner process handled toronto island residential community trust corporation house land lease sold owner benefit buyer must individual person waiting list established lottery firm price set trust bid negotiation allowed process intended eliminate risk home sold open market driving price preventing windfall owner area island acre ha largest outermost island called centre island crescentshaped form shoreline eastern western channel algonquin island formerly known sunfish island olympic island two major island former mostly residential area latter public parkland commonly called ward island actually eastern end centre island like algonquin mostly residential area centre island dock centreville amusement park located middle island consequence often mistaken centre island centre island sometimes referred toronto island note singular form prevent type confusion smaller island include muggs island – home island yacht club forestry island – heavily forested fixed link island snake island – heavily forested beach facing toronto harbour snake island park access pedestrian bridge south side centre island north chippewa island – partially forested used royal canadian yacht club store ship mini clubhouse south chippewa island – heavily forested located snake island south island south island – used mooring onland storage boat royal canadian yacht club east end island cut chippewa avenue covered tree tennis court located west end island rcyc island – occupied royal canadian yacht club clubhouse mooring club facility private pier rcyc launch kwasind hiawatha mainland hanlans island – heavily forested located centre island located hanlans bay near lighthouse pond three unnamed island occupy block house bay long pond island sometimes called senator frank patrick oconnor island – located chippewa island snake island small island sometimes called doughnut island long pond former water intake city toronto – located across muggs island another small island sometimes called duckling island long pond completely covered shrubbery – located near middle island island originally kilometrelong mi peninsula sand spit extending mainland island composed alluvial deposit erosion scarborough bluff flow niagara river south across lake ontario cause counterclockwise easttowest current time deposited sediment south end harbour form sand spit storm flooded sand pit peninsula creating channel east ward island channel widened made permanent violent storm april channel became known eastern gap peninsula west became known toronto island east gap area today cherry beach known fisherman island sediment deposition island halted leslie street spit extended beyond southern edge island left nature island would diminish time limited due hard shoreline built limit erosion year land reclamation contributed increase size island harbour shallow sandy bottom sand moved dredging suction method ward island expanded dredging today algonquin island formerly known sunfish island created harbour bottom sand area occupied airport subject several landfill sandy shoal initially accommodate amusement park preceded airport accommodate airport western channel north airport part original western channel south today fort york opened part program improve boat navigation harbour airport land created harbour sand late series waterway allow boat traffic navigate island allan lamport regatta course – located centre island middle island long pond east end far enough farm block house bay – located east side hanlans point deep pike cut – located east side muggs island hanlans bay – located centre island hanlans island lighthouse pond – located next gibraltar point lighthouse long pond – located allan lamport regatta course block house bay also referred kennedy pond snake pond – located snug harbour algonquin island snug harbour – located snake island olympic island sunfish cut located snake island algonquin island trout pond – located west lighthouse bay south end hanlans point hanlans bay waterway since buried toronto island airport runway jim crow pond filled south island ward pond located roughly along south side olympic island south island toronto island humid continental climate dfb köppen climate classification system climate differs mainland cooler lake water surrounding island cool spring summer early fall daytime temperature – °c average winter unfrozen lake water sometimes warmer air temperature roughly equivalent downtown area warmer area away lake fog low cloud frequent island mainland nearshore area lake freeze consistent period belowfreezing weather highest temperature ever recorded toronto island °c °f june coldest temperature ever recorded − °c − °f january community home located toronto island concentrated eastern end island chain ward island algonquin island term toronto island residential community stewardship act strict rule provincial law governing buying selling home two daycare centre one school one church island toronto island public school located gibraltar point operates day program island resident resident toronto waterfront student apply enrollment grade also residential natural science program visiting grade student mainland preschool nursery waterfront montessori childrens centre nonprofit parentrun cooperative preschool algonquin island st andrew bythelake anglican church located centre island serf island resident visitor semigothicmedievalstick style building built moved later current location ward island residential community encompasses acre ha entire acre ha toronto island park approximately residence occupied yearly basis centrally located ward island association club house built – layout street remains since street named sequentially first second third fourth fifth sixth street well bayview willow channel lenore lakeshore avenue withrow street artscape gibraltar point occupies building previously used toronto island public school comprises artist work studio occupied mix painter ceramist sculptor musician theatre company recording studio several swimming beach island including centre island beach manitou beach gibraltar point beach hanlans point beach ward island beach hanlans point beach officially recognized clothingoptional beach one two canada ward island beach located island east end near eastern gap island beach located south side island face lake ontario beach actually two beach portion west lookout pier called manitou beach eastern boundary near western end boardwalk ward island hanlans point beach located west side toronto island lake ontario south airport hanlans point ferry dock recreational boating popular island century toronto island sailing club founded algonquin island former algonquin island schoolhouse club moved northwest peninsula centre island newly opened toronto island marina club offer member certified cansail course competitive racing event dinghy club also member good standing sail canada ontario sailing canadian albacore association island home four yacht club harbour city yacht club island yacht club queen city yacht club royal canadian yacht club public marina toronto island marina several smaller club including sunfish cut boat club toronto island canoe club also dragon boat regatta course grandstand toronto international dragon boat race festival held annually canoe kayak paddle boat stand paddle board available rental centreville amusement park childrens amusement park built sstyle turnofthecentury theme park includes miniature railway antique carousel open daily summer far enough farm nearby display common farm livestock bird franklin garden childrens garden created located west avenue island splash pad hedge maze playground also located nearby western side ward island flying disc golf course public tennis court located hanlans point community tennis club ward island tennis club caribana held annual art festival olympic island august long weekend island event include olympic island festival annual rock concert held initiated sloans jay ferguson wakestock festival also held island starting canadian open frisbee championship held olympic ward island toronto district school board tdsb english first language secular public school board serf city toronto including toronto island currently school board operates one elementary school island island publicnatural science school centre island school student student population originates algonquin ward island student live city take ferry transportation school tdsb school attended student live island include waterfront school jarvis collegiate institute central technical school central commerce collegiate institute northern secondary school however school located mainland addition tdsb three public school board also provide schooling resident toronto island conseil scolaire catholique monavenir cscm conseil scolaire viamonde csv toronto catholic district school board tcdsb csv public french first language secular school board cscm tcdsb public separate school board former french first language school board latter english first language school board island within spadina—fort york federal riding spadina—fort york provincial riding spadina–fort york ward municipal district island represented federally independent mp kevin vuong provincially ndp mpp chris glover municipally councillor ausma malik island part federal riding trinity—spadina area part toronto centre—rosedale part rosedale part spadina part toronto south island provincial riding trinity—spadina area part toronto centre—rosedale part fort york northwestern tip toronto island home billy bishop toronto city airport often known toronto island airport airport used civil aviation including airline flight training medevac flight private aviation since used regional airline using approved stoltype aircraft recent year airport become centre controversy wish close want expand usage plan construct road bridge airport became major issue election mayor cancelled david miller elected pedestrian tunnel airport opened july connect rest island park proposal allow jet airport turned government canada fixed road link mainland toronto island therefore rely ferry water taxi boat transport need three public ferry route provide link visitor island resident service vehicle jack layton ferry terminal central toronto waterfront dock hanlans point centre island park ward island yearround ferry service ward island fourth public ferry service provides vehicle passenger connection dock foot bathurst street airport public access airport rest island chain addition public ferry service several yacht club marina located island provide privatetender service member guest june centreville purchased used ferry boat dartmouth iii halifax transit nova scotia planned operate service toronto island transit service supplement public ferry ferry arrived toronto due flooding pandemic never used bring passenger across harbour road island paved exception long wooden boardwalk south end ward island use motor vehicle limited city toronto government service vehicle park recreation paramedic etc exception parking roadway airport bicycle welcome ferry island rental bicycle quadricyles available island lakeshore avenue main road handling vehicular traffic singlelane paved road traverse east south west side park six bridge island pedestrian traffic bicycle allterrain vehicle bridge carrying traffic avenue island support large vehicle car heavy truck bridge include two bridge connecting centre island olympic island bridge along chippewa avenue south island bridge snake island algonquin road bridge algonquin island island bus run toronto island ferry downtime ferry cannot operate due high wind unfavourable weather condition frozen harbour maintenance occasional basis usually winter month use visitor may cross island airport via tunnel ferry take bus outside main terminal bus cross live airport runway crossing accompanied escort two toronto transit commission ttc gm tcn bus provided service toronto park department use island since withdrawn become usual ttc assign island bus series coming end service life gm new look operated island spring regular service ended orion v based toronto island replaced orion vii og fewer restriction motor vehicle airport land vehicular ferry providing access parking lot service access airport however public road access airport land rest island toronto island appeared significant setting canadian literature example include margaret atwoods robber bride robert rotenbergs old city hall novel heyday marnie woodrow two narrative one set ward island present day set hanlans claudia deys novel stunt also set ward island take waltz film canadian director sarah polley main character margot michelle williams ride scrambler centreville amusement park second season sensitive skin set predominantly island main character davina move houseboat located island canadian singersongwriter jordan paul composed song ward island inspired visit island song subsequently recorded jon anderson producer aidan knight said whale film f word character allan nicole get married island – toronto purchase british mississaugas negotiate purchase acre ha land north toronto harbour – blockhouse built queen ranger gibraltar point – british mississaugas renegotiate toronto purchase – lighthouse constructed gibraltar point – first hotel retreat peninsula opened – fisherman david ward family along shipbuilder john hanlan eventual lighthouse keeper james durnan first european settler island – first island hotel built ferry service started – filtration plant island start supplying water toronto – rower ned hanlan born – storm separate toronto island mainland quinns hotel parkinson hotel destroyed – island become property city toronto lot lease established – summer home established island cottage hanlans point centre island – john hanlan father ned hanlan open hanlans hotel – size island increased acre ha landfilling included creation algonquin island – royal canadian yacht club established island – william ward son david ward open ward hotel closed – st ritas roman catholic church st andrew bythelake anglican church built – first elementary school established near gibraltar point lighthouse – first amusement hanlans point established john hanlan – baseball lacrosse stadium hanlans point – first summer colony established ward – baseball stadium destroyed fire rebuilt – hanlan hotel destroyed fire – baseball stadium destroyed fire rebuilt – ferry trillium enters service island – first tent city ward island – first professional home run babe ruth career hit hanlans point stadium – area ward island doubled dredging harbour – tower top floor ward hotel removed – baseball stadium vacated toronto maple leaf baseball team new stadium foot bathurst fleet street – ward hotel close becomes grocery store ice cream parlour – william inglis ferry enters service – construction island airport begin cottage moved east algonquin island – sam mcbride ferry enters service – city approves yearround residency cope housing shortage brought world war ii expire – island yacht club established muggs island thomas rennie ferry enters service – new metro toronto government take island lease start demolishing cottage – far enough farm open – st ritas close move ward island – toronto island sailing club open algonquin island old schoolhouse – ward hotel demolished – centreville amusement park open – toronto island marina open – toronto island sailing club move centre island nw peninsula toronto island marina – st ritas demolished – canadian open frisbee championship held olympic ward island first ultimate game disc golf competition canada – supreme court approves cancellation lease metro remaining resident fight remain – start scheduled regional airline island airport – transfer cottage land lease city allowing resident stay – passing toronto island residential community stewardship act c gave homeowner year lease property established process transfer sale ownership – council approves clothing optional hanlans point beach – canadian government mississaugas settle disagreement toronto purchase – opening island airport pedestrian tunnel – water level reach record high sea level may surpassing record toronto island public school centreville amusement park public access park west ward island suspended notice island park reopened july centreville amusement park reopen following may july mosquito carrying west nile virus found island toronto public health department said certain precaution visitor concerned – water level lake ontario reach level higher devastated island sandbag industrial pump prevent part island flooding ferry service hanlans point suspended home algonquin island faced risk flooding – island closed visitor starting early may due covid pandemic ontario ferry service available island resident service resumed june capacity per boat maximum visitor per day island – city toronto launched new master plan initiative revitalize public toronto island park area improve education commemoration indigenous history source sward milton acorn poet elizabeth amer toronto city councillor peter gzowski – broadcaster ned hanlan – olympic rower paul henderson – olympic sailor w hewitt – sport executive journalist foster hewitt – sport 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 gibson sally island toronto irwin publishing isbn rosenbaum linda dean peter essential toronto island guide toronto island adventure isbn archived original july retrieved october swadron barry b pressure island report commission inquiry toronto island government ontario sward robert toronto island toronto ontario dreadnought isbn toronto harbour commission public affair department toronto harbour – passing year toronto ontario toronto harbour commissioner wickson ted reflection toronto harbour toronto ontario toronto port authority isbn toronto island school vital letter toronto star june letter section jones frank toronto island school revisited toronto star may life p e city toronto website island toronto island history project