Hanlan's Point Beach facing critical erosion as advocates push for action
The historic Pride site has lost roughly 15 metres of shoreline over a decade. The city blocked off a large southern section as water levels and erosion worsen.
Advocates for Hanlan's Point Beach say years of inaction on severe shoreline erosion are putting one of Canada's most historically significant 2SLGBTQ+ spaces at risk.
The beach, where Canada's first Pride gathering took place in 1971, has been "decimated" according to Travis Myers, co-founder of Friends of Hanlan's. Roughly 15 to 20 metres of shoreline that once existed is completely gone. The city recently blocked off a large southern section of the beach over concerns about high water levels and rough conditions.
Heritage trees up to 80 years old have already fallen into the water as dunes fail. "If there's no sand added to this space, the dunes will fail," Myers said. The lack of visible progress over the past three years has frustrated advocates who fear losing a critical come-as-you-are space for the queer community. "There are very few spaces like this in Canada and around the world where people can come find their community," Myers said.
The site's historical and cultural significance — hosting the Lez Beach event and countless queer gatherings — makes the erosion crisis more than an environmental issue.