Bloordale Beach

Last updated
Bloordale Beach
Bloordale Beach
TypeInformally created
Location Brockton High School grounds
Coordinates 43°39′29″N79°26′17″W / 43.658129°N 79.437958°W / 43.658129; -79.437958

Bloordale Beach was an informal community hub in Bloordale Village, a community in the west end of Toronto. [1] [2] Since it was landlocked, the beach was once described as "Toronto's only waterless beach". [3]

Contents

Bloordale Beach was located north of the Dufferin Mall between Croatia Street and Brock Crescent, on a vacant 118,400 square foot sand and gravel lot that previously was the site of Brockton High School. In January 2020, after the demolition of the school was completed, fence panels surrounding the site were removed by an anonymous person to allow access to and passage through the site. On May 25, 2020 signs appeared naming the site "Bloordale Beach". The site became a popular neighbourhood destination.

The beach was located on property owned by the Toronto District School Board. [3] [4]

The beach closed in September 2021 to make way for the new Bloor Collegiate Institute.

Usage

A sign from Bloordale Beach Bloordale Beach Tsunami Sign.jpg
A sign from Bloordale Beach

Bloordale Beach opened on 25 May 2020. [5] [6]

Public facilities included a dog gymnasium (officially called the Barkour Area), [7] a "sea turtle nesting area," [7] Bloordale Lagoon (essentially a large puddle that would form after heavy rainfall), [3] a community garden, [4] and occasional temporary art installations. [3]

Bloordale Beach was used as a community hub, a gathering place, an open air art gallery, a destination for sunbathers, and a throughway shortcut to nearby Dufferin Mall. [7] [4]

"The thing about Bloordale Beach is that it is totally a real beach" The thing about Bloordale Beach is that it is totally a real beach.jpg
"The thing about Bloordale Beach is that it is totally a real beach"

The beach finally closed on Sept 23, 2021, and construction of the new Bloor Collegiate building commenced. Construction of the new high school was completed in 2025.

Critical reception

Bloordale Beach was described in The Toronto Star as Toronto's "newest hot summer destination." [1]

A sign from Bloordale Beach. The Beach was not actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bloordale Beach a Unesco World Heritage Site.jpg
A sign from Bloordale Beach. The Beach was not actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bloordale Beach was featured in the short documentary Bloordale Beach by Beth Warrian where it was described as a vision for reclaiming public space. [8] [2]

AUS!Funkt, Canadian art-rock band, paid homage to the beach in the video for their song "Set Yourself Free". [9]

References

  1. 1 2 Micallef, Shawn (2020-08-09). "Watch for sharks: Toronto's newest beach at Bloor and Dufferin has everything — except water". The Toronto Star. ISSN   0319-0781 . Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  2. 1 2 Ulrich, Tania (December 14, 2021). "Thought-provoking 'Bloordale Beach' short doc opens possibilities for city building". Ryerson University. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Mok, Tanya (18 July 2020). "Bloordale Beach is Toronto's only beach without a body of water attached". www.blogto.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  4. 1 2 3 DeClerq, Katherine (2021-07-16). "Organizers of community garden in Toronto west-end hope to postpone its destruction until after harvest". Toronto. Archived from the original on 2021-07-16. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  5. ↑ Creek, Taddle (28 November 2020). "Muscled Beach - Taddle Creek" . Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  6. ↑ Xavier-Carter, Breanna (2021-09-20). "Bloordale Beach in Toronto is closing and it's being replaced by a new high school". www.blogto.com. Archived from the original on 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  7. 1 2 3 Ariel (Oct 31, 2020). "Can a waterless beach survive the pandemic?". news.unculture.ca. Archived from the original on 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  8. ↑ "Bloordale Beach: A Film by Beth Warrian". Hillside Festival. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  9. ↑ "AUS!Funkt Want You to "Set yourself free" with the Release of their Latest Single | Cashbox Canada". cashboxcanada.ca. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
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