These hot and humid days of summer are inviting you to kick off your shoes and head to the beaches in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
However, not all 11 beaches in Toronto are suitable for swimming due to high amounts of E. Coli bacteria.
So swimmers, head to a beach with a Blue Flag which is an internationally recognized designation for high standards in water quality, cleanliness, safety and services.
And only the following eight Toronto beaches are flying Blue Flags this year (on the Blue Flag Canada map, please click on the Blue Flag of Toronto to see the location of each beach):
- Bluffer’s Beach,
- Kew-Balmy Beach,
- Ward’s Island Beach,
- Hanlan’s Point Beach,
- Woodbine Beach,
- Gibraltar Point Beach,
- Cherry Beach (to see this location, please click on the darker Blue Flag of Ward’s Island Beach)
- Centre Island Beach
Toronto takes samples each day from the 11 supervised beaches across the city from June to the end of August.
Testing the samples usually takes 24 hours.
When water tests show high amounts of E. Coli bacteria, Toronto Public Health posts signs warning against swimming.
Blue Flags are flying at 16 beaches and 3 marinas in Canada.
For your swimming safety at the beach, please remember:
- Don’t swim or dive in unknown waters
- Always check for rocks and an undertow (an underlying current)
- Swim with a buddy
- City lifeguards are a great resource for information about beach safety and water quality
Please click here for more information, or call the City’s Beach Water Quality Hotline at 416-392-7161.
Enjoy!
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
News Release
July 8, 2011
Toronto’s beaches are the coolest spot when it’s hot
Weather forecasters are calling for a hot and humid weekend in the city. If you’re looking for a great spot to enjoy a swim and cool down, head to one of Toronto’s beaches, which are among the best in the world. Joining the Blue Flag standard in Toronto for the first time is Bluffer’s Beach, which is flying a Blue Flag this year.
Eight of Toronto’s 11 beaches (Bluffer’s Beach, Kew-Balmy Beach, Ward’s Island, Hanlan’s Point Beach, Woodbine Beach, Gibraltar Point Beach, Cherry Beach and Centre Island Beach) carry the internationally recognized designation of Blue Flag for high standards in water quality, cleanliness, safety and services.
Toronto’s beaches are:
• Bluffer’s Beach (Blue Flag)
• Centre Island Beach (Blue Flag)
• Cherry Beach (Blue Flag)
• Gibraltar Point Beach (Blue Flag)
• Hanlan’s Point Beach (Blue Flag)
• Kew-Balmy Beach (Blue Flag)
• Marie Curtis Park Beach
• Rouge Beach
• Sunnyside Beach
• Ward’s Island Beach (Blue Flag)
• Woodbine Beaches (Blue Flag)
From June to the end of August, the City of Toronto takes samples each day from the 11 supervised beaches across the city. Water samples are tested for E. Coli levels and must not exceed the provincial guidelines of 100 E. Coli per 100 ml of water. When water tests show high amounts of E. Coli bacteria, Toronto Public Health posts signs warning against swimming. Testing the samples usually takes 24 hours.
When enjoying a day at the beach, don’t swim or dive in unknown waters. Always check for rocks and an undertow, and swim with a buddy. City lifeguards are a great resource for information about beach safety and water quality.
For more information, call the City’s Beach Water Quality Hotline at 416-392-7161 or visit http://www.toronto.ca/beach .
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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