Toronto Shorelines is led by a group of concerned citizens. We connected out of our common interest in wanting to see the sand beach of Guildwood, Grey Abbey and East Point Park preserved. The impending threat of shoreline hardening is set to destroy this pristine natural area.

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Shoreline hardening is the practice that reinforces the edge of waterways with heavy construction, revetments and armour rocks. While shoreline hardening is a common practice in developed urban areas, it is almost unheard of to destroy a natural sand beach in favour of artificial surfaces.

 

Guildwood, Grey Abbey and East Point Park are the location of a 3 km sand beach on the most eastern shoreline of the City of Toronto. The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is a thriving urban metropolis on the northern shores of Lake Ontario. It is a city of over 3 million people that continues to benefit from its close proximity to water. The ability of Toronto to expand has been possible because of the shifting boundary afforded by a large body of fresh water such as Lake Ontario. 

 

Landfill projects have altered the majority of Toronto's waterfront over the years and very few natural shorelines remain. It is important to preserve this last remaining natural beach. This 3 km stretch of continuous sand runs adjacent to the most eastern and lowest part of the iconic Scarborough Bluffs. This beach is a heritage shoreline that should be recognized for its rarity and natural beauty. The value of preserving this natural shoreline is worth the effort it takes in working towards its preservation.

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