Beach culture ain't what it used to be in Toronto. With the advent of air conditioning, the rise of cottage country and the private swimming pool (not to mention the steady degradation of Lake Ontario), it hasn't been necessary to jump in the harbour to cool off in quite some time. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, however, Toronto's beaches were immensely popular destinations when the city was blanketed in heat (as it is right now).

Anchored at various times by Hanlan's Point, Scarboro Beach, and Sunnyside (all of which also served as amusement parks), Toronto's beaches offered residents both a reprieve from the heat and some much-needed entertainment during a time when the city was, well, let's just say, not as vibrant as it is today. Of these, Sunnyside was the most popular, until waning attendance and the birth of the Gardiner Expressway spelled its doom (the Bathing Pavilion still stands, though).

Although almost all of Toronto past beaches remain in some capacity â with the notable exception of Leslie Beach, which was lost to the construction of the spit â few are major draws for locals and tourists nowadays. Once in a while, however, the area around Kew Beach offers a glimpse at just how busy the city's swimming areas used to be.

I'm not sure if it'll make today's heat any more bearable, but here's what Toronto's beach culture used to look like.

1900s

Scarboro Beach bathers





Sunnyside





Hanlan's Point





Scarboro Beach Water chute





Scarboro Beach Park





1910s

Kew Beach





Beachwear at Kew Bathing Station





Hanlan's Point





Sunnyside





The former layout of Sunnyside Beach (the intersection you see is Queen, King, and Roncesvalles)





1920s

Bathing at Centre Island





Ditto





Sunnyside





Sunnyside Pool





More Sunnyside





Dudes showed off their cars at the beach back then, too (Sunnyside)





1930s

Cherry Beach





Ditto





Leslie Beach





1940s

Sunnyside pool from the roof of the Bathing Pavilion





1950s

Swimming in Toronto Harbour





1960s (late)

Toronto Island beach





1970s

1980s

Olympic Island beach





See also our Nostalgia Tripping series, which takes longer looks at the following:

All images from the Toronto Archives