The Beautiful Beaches of Toronto’s East End
Having recently returned to Toronto after spending over two years living in Vancouver, one of the first things I felt compelled to do was reconnect with the beauty of the sunrises over Lake Ontario. There’s something familiar and grounding about watching the city slowly light up, and nothing quite matches the quiet magic of those early morning walks along the shoreline.
Getting up early isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. Living in the Beaches neighbourhood, the reward for an early rise is a front-row seat to an ever-changing natural show. The walk from our place to the beach takes only five minutes, but from there, the possibilities open up. Some mornings we head east along the boardwalk, walking into the golden light of the rising sun. Our usual turnaround point is the striking RC Harris Water Treatment Plant—what we’ve always called the Water Works. Other days, we head west, following the curve of the boardwalk until it ends, then continuing through the winding path of what we affectionately refer to as “the Peanut,” a stretch of green that hugs the shore and eventually leads to Ashbridges Bay.
Each route offers something unique, depending on the season, the light, and the mood of the lake. Sometimes it’s the warm glow of first light reflecting off glassy water. Other times, it’s the dramatic contrast of clouds rolling in or the quiet solitude of mist clinging to the sand. If I’m lucky enough to get out well before the sun peeks over the horizon, I’m often rewarded with subtle, moody shots that only exist for a few fleeting moments.
