Doly Begum MPP for Scarborough Southwest
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Volume 48 No. 9
BEACHMETRO.COM
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June 25, 2019
Parties, parade, fireworks planned for Canada Day
PHOTO: DONNA BRAYBROOK
Bells on Danforth celebrates cycling Local riders took part in the Bells on Danforth event recently to help celebrate cycling and to call attention to the need for safe cycling options along Danforth Avenue.
City pumping out ‘pond’ on Woodbine Beach THE CITY of Toronto’s waterfront parks department started pumping operations last week at Woodbine Beach to get rid of the massive amount of water that has formed a huge pond between the Woodbine Bathing Station and Ashbridges Bay Park. The pumping operations which started on Wednesday, June 19, are seeing approximately 2,600 gallons-a-minute of water being pumped out of the pond that developed due to high lake levels, heavy rains and windy conditions earlier this year. James Dann, manager of waterfront parks, told Beach Metro News that the goal is to have the vast majority of the water pumped out in time for the Canada Day fireworks display at
Ashbridges Bay this Monday, July 1, night. However, that all depends on the weather, he said. Heavy rain and high winds will make the task more challenging. A similar situation occurred in 2017 when high water levels in Lake Ontario caused the formation of a pond on the beach by the volleyball courts. That summer also saw severe flooding on Toronto islands which led to closures for a good part of the season. “We will be beyond what the lake levels were in 2017,” said Dann. “Lake Erie is also very high and there’s no offswitch between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario so we know the levels are going to still get higher.” The other reality is that the lake water doesn’t
just blow over the sandbar on the shore into the pond, it also seeps up from below. “The lake is under the sand so the lake water comes up from underneath as well,” said Dann. As of now one pump is working full time to move the water and it seems to be going well so far. “It’s moving a lot of water,” said Dann. “Those pumps are very powerful.” One of the challenges though is to make sure only water, not sand, is being pushed through the pumps. To that end, a cistern or well with concrete piping was being installed (much like a sump pump in a house) which can draw water into the pumps from a deeper pool.
CANADA’S 152ND birthday this Monday, July 1, will be celebrated in style with parties, fireworks displays and a parade all planned. In the Beach, Woodbine Park will be the site for the Q107 Canada Day Picnic which runs from noon until dusk. Admission is free to the event which will feature tribute bands, a beer garden, food vendors and more. The Q107 Rock & Roll Tributes will honour Neil Young, Santana, Radiohead, U2, Foo Fighters, Chicago and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The night will be capped off with the annual Canada Day fireworks display set for Ashbridges Bay beginning at approximately 9:45 p.m. As always, those planning on attending the Ashbridges Bay fireworks are reminded that the event draws huge crowds and its best to stake a viewing spot early. The Canada Day celebrations continue north of Danforth Avenue with the annual East York parade, party and fireworks display in Stan Wadlow Park. Grand Marshals of this year’s East York Canada Day parade will be “Charlie-the-Husky” and Sophia Ballis Cottrell. Charlie, a 10-year-old Siberian Husky of the East York and Beaches community, was stolen from in front of a store on May 14, leaving his owners heartbroken. Two days later Cottrell spotted Charlie and returned him to his owners. Cottrell and Charlie, accompanied by Charlie’s owner Carol Bouley, will have a place of honour in the July 1 East York parade, Continued on Page 25
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