The Beaches

Situated along the lakeshore in Toronto’s far east end, the Beaches is named for its proximity to a collection of sandy beaches along Lake Ontario.

The Beaches is bordered by the lake to the south, and it contains extensive public parks and green spaces—all of which makes it a very outdoor-oriented community. Locals and visitors from across Toronto love to visit in the warmer months, when the area’s natural beauty is out in full force.

The friendly, laid-back vibes provided by the Beaches make it a very alluring place for many. With little crime and lots of fantastic public schools, it’s also a great neighbourhood for families.

Here you’ll find plenty of older detached and semi-detached Victorian and Edwardian homes, which usually contain a generous amount of square footage. More unique to the community is the large number of original frame cottage-style beach houses, which were constructed around the early 20th century.

Naturally, the Beaches is a neighbourhood that appeals to many, which is why there’s a great diversity of residents here. Between young professionals who enjoy the appealing Queen Street East community to large families who value the quieter residential streets, you can find just about everyone in this charming east-end neighbourhood.

Without a doubt, one of the most appealing things about living in the area is how close it is to four public beaches. These include Balmy Beach, Scarboro Beach, Kew Beach, and Woodbine Beach—all of which are connected to form one large continuous beachfront featuring a 3-kilometre long boardwalk.

There’s also a fabulous strip of independent stores, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes along Queen Street East. These conveniences give the quaint little beach-side community a distinctly small-town feel in the big city.

The expansive park system within the Beaches is also very appealing. Green spaces like Woodbine Park, Ashbridges Bay, Woodbine Beach Park, Beaches Park, Balmy Beach Park, and Glen Stewart Park all have their own unique features and feel.

Some of the area’s most popular elementary schools include:

• Williamson Road Junior School
• Kew Beach Montessori School
• Kew Beach Junior Public School
• Avalon Children’s Montessori School

For older kids, Glen Ames Senior Public School, Neil McNeil Catholic Secondary School, and Malvern Collegiate Institute are all popular choices.