Spending some time on the Toronto Islands (during week 28)

The Toronto Islands are a chain of 15 small islands in Lake Ontario, just offshore from Toronto’s downtown.  The Toronto Islands were formerly known as ‘Island of Hiawatha‘ and also known as ‘Menecing‘, meaning “On the Island” in the Ojibwa language.  The islands are home to parklands, an airport, four yacht clubs, a children’s amusement park, a residential area, a public school, and several beaches (with clothing optional on one of the beaches!).  The island residential community is considered to be the largest, urban, car-free community in North America (although some service vehicles are permitted), with access to the islands by ferry which operates year-round from Toronto’s harbourfront.  The total area of the Islands is about 820 acres and they stretch for approximately 6 kms.

The Toronto Islands are beautiful - a wonderful place to disconnect from the city!  And you can’t beat the view, either on the ferry ride or just walking around the islands.

A water taxi, and in the background one of the ferries from the mainland

The Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is located on the Toronto Islands - built in 1808 it is the oldest existing lighthouse on the Great Lakes and one of Toronto’s oldest buildings.  The lighthouse is perhaps best known for the demise of its first keeper, whose 1815 murder forms the basis of Toronto’s most enduring ghost story!

There are 262 residential properties on two of the islands, Wards Island and Algonquin Island, and the terms of the Toronto Islands Residential Community Stewardship Act outline strict rules under provincial law governing the buying and selling of these homes.  Under the Act, the deed to a house may be transferred only to the current owner’s child or spouse.  If a house must be sold for personal reasons, the process is handled by the Toronto Islands Residential Community Trust Corporation.  The house and the land lease are sold for the owner’s benefit but the buyer must be an individual on the 500 person waiting list which was established through a lottery.  A firm price is set by the Trust; no bids or negotiation are allowed.

A ‘street’ (above) and the view from the houses (below)

A couple of other ‘streets’ in the residential neighbourhood

Ward’s Island Beach

In some places, you can see the foundations of the original homes on the Islands...some of which date back to the mid-1800s

Centre Island is the largest, and most popular, of all the islands with formal gardens, fountains, a pier that extends out into Lake Ontario, picnic areas, and a long, sandy beach which, despite beautiful weather in late September, was almost empty!

As you walk along the paths of the islands, boats can always been seen on the many waterways which wind their way between all the islands.

And even a few houseboats here too

Without a doubt though, my most favourite thing to do when I go to Toronto Islands is to walk the boardwalk.

Bamboo growing alongside

And to finish - just a few more photos from my day on the Islands...

???...I guess this is what you can find in a very ‘artistic’ community