Toronto beaches officially open for summer swimming
Lifeguards return to 10 supervised beaches through Labour Day with increased staffing and safety zones.
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Summer swimming season is officially here. Ten of Toronto's beaches opened Saturday with lifeguards on daily duty, marking the start of supervised swimming that runs through September 7.
The city hired 4,080 staff and lifeguards this year — 25 percent more than previous years. Mayor Olivia Chow announced the opening at a news conference Saturday, urging beachgoers to follow colour-coded flag warnings: green means safe to swim, yellow means be cautious, red means dangerous, and no flag means no lifeguards on duty.
Designated swimming zones are marked with buoys and flags. Residents are asked to stay within marked zones to avoid contact with boats and other watercraft. The city also advised swimmers to keep children within arm's reach and never swim alone.
Beaches opening Saturday are Bluffer's Park, Centre Island, Cherry/Clarke, Gibraltar Point, Hanlan's Point, Kew-Balmy, Marie Curtis Park East, Sunnyside, Ward's Island, and Woodbine.
Chow warned beachgoers to mind the heat and sun. "The lifeguards are here to protect you, but you also need some sun protection," she said. Summer's here — time to get wet.