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 described as "Toronto's only waterless beach". [3]

Contents

In January 2020, the demolition of Brockton High School resulted in a 118,400 sq ft lot of sand and gravel. Neighbours removed sections of the fence in order to open up the Toronto District School Board's property for use as a public space. Though no body of water existed on the site, visitors put up humorous signs naming it Bloordale Beach, promoting rip current and shark safety, and welcoming beachgoers.

The beach came to a close in September 2021 when construction of the new Bloor Collegiate Institute began on the site. [3] [4]

Usage

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

Bloordale Beach opened on 25 May 2020, located north of the Dufferin Mall between Croatia Street and Brock Crescent. [5] [6]

A sign from Bloordale Beach falsely claimed it was a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bloordale Beach a Unesco World Heritage Site.jpg
A sign from Bloordale Beach falsely claimed it was a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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]

Another sign from Bloordale Beach. The thing about Bloordale Beach is that it is totally a real beach.jpg
Another sign from Bloordale Beach.

The beach finally closed on Sept 23, 2021, and construction of the new Bloor Collegiate building commenced. [6] Construction of the new high school was completed in 2025. [8]

Critical reception

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

Bloordale Beach was featured in the documentary More than a Beach by Elizabeth Littlejohn, documenting how countless people contributed signage, furniture, sculpture, artworks, and performance pieces to this beach during the pandemic. The documentary has been nominated for the Heritage Toronto Public Space Award in 2025. [9]

Bloordale Beach was featured in the short documentary Bloordale Beach by Beth Warrian where it was described as a vision for reclaiming public space. [10] [2]

AUS!Funkt, Canadian art-rock band, paid homage to the beach in the video for their song "Set Yourself Free". [11]

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. 1 2 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. ↑ Hurley, Janet. "Inside the sweeping transformation of the TDSB's first new high school in six years". Thestar.com. Toronto Star. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "More than a Beach"".
  10. ↑ "Bloordale Beach: A Film by Beth Warrian". Hillside Festival. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  11. ↑ "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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