toronto beaches

Three Toronto beaches are still unsafe to swim because of E. coli

If your long-weekend plans include hitting up one of Toronto's beaches then listen up, because three beaches are currently considered unsafe for swimming. 

Centre Island Beach, Ward's Island Beach and Kew-Balmy Beach are all unsafe to swim in, due to higher-than-normal E.coli levels, according to the city's SwimSafe app.

Between June and Labour Day, the City of Toronto takes daily water samples from beaches across the city and tests for E. coli bacteria.

Extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain, can impact E.coli levels, and the site currently has a warning that says "heavy rains and high water levels in Lake Ontario may have created beach conditions which are unsafe for swimming."

It also says Lake Ontario water levels are at a record high. 

The three beaches deemed unsafe for swimming may not be open or may have limited lifeguard supervision, so it's probably best to avoid them and head over to one of Toronto's other beautiful beaches instead.

Lead photo by

Tanya Monk


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Latest in City

Ontario fares worse than most U.S. states on living standards

New rebate program could get Canadians up to $10,000 from government

Ontario just lost 20K jobs but it's not as bad as it sounds

Toronto temperatures are going to swing by 18 C next week

Toronto could soon get trash vacuum tunnels and garbage trains

Ontario's winter could be 'mildest in years' thanks to record-breaking El Niño

Someone from Toronto just won a Nobel Prize

How to beat the long lines to vote in Toronto's election