Suzanne Senst

Toronto The Beaches
The Beaches (also known as "The Beach") is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is so named because of its four beaches situated on Lake Ontario. It is located east of downtown within the "Old" City of Toronto. The correct name of this neighbourhood is debated for a long time. The Beach is more historically accurate, better known to the long-term residents, but The Beaches is just more used nowadays and is recognized more by the non-residents. 

The Beaches area with its large parks has become one of Toronto's playgrounds by the lake, attracting many summer cottagers to the area. Over the years The Beach has emerged as one of Toronto's most popular neighbourhoods. On most weekends, the sidewalks are so packed with strollers and dog-walkers that it can be hard to navigate through this beautiful, tightly knit community!

Queen Street is the major shopping district, with many of the stores and restaurants having a beach motif. The restaurants and dining on the Queen St. East stretch is plentiful! Have brunch, a beer or dinner in any of these places or have a treat in any cafes.

The neighbourhood boasts a great deal of colour: Colourful signs, store fronts, homes and people. And they are not just on Queen Street East, there is also plenty to do up on Kingston Road, including pubs, stores and coffee shops.

The Real Estate Scoop
The Beach has the greatest variety of architectural house styles of any Toronto neighbourhood. The charm of these homes, mostly built during the 20's and 30's, is accentuated by the tree-lined streets that wind their way down to the lake. Many of the original frame Beach cottages built in the latter half of the 1800's and the early 1900's have been modernized and are still standing today, often with elaborate floral displays in the summer created by the house-proud residents.

Schools
Local schools are excellent and include:
Public high school

• Malvern Collegiate Institute, located on Malvern Avenue, one block north of Kingston Road.

• Neil McNeil Catholic Secondary School, located on Victoria Park Avenue, just south of Kingston Road in Scarborough.
• Notre Dame High School, located on Malvern Avenue, just north of Kingston Road.

• Glen Ames Senior Public School is a public middle school (grades 7 and 8) located on Williamson Road at Hambley Ave, north of Queen St.
• Note that Bowmore Road PS (listed below) serves the Beaches neighbourhood, as both a junior (grades 1-6) and senior (grades 7-8) public school.

• Adam Beck Junior Public School, located on Scarborough Road, one block north of Kingston Road.
• Balmy Beach Community School, located at corner of Pine Avenue and Beech Avenue. The school dates from 1906; the current building was erected in 1975.
• Beaches Alternative School, located entirely within Kimberley Jr. PS, in the "Upper Beaches".
• Kew Beach Junior Public School, located on Queen Street East at Kippendavie, one block east of Woodbine Avenue.
• Kimberley Junior Public School, located at Main Street and Swanwick Avenue in the "Upper Beaches".
• Norway Junior Public School, located on Kingston Road, one block east of Woodbine in the "Upper Beaches".
• Williamson Road Junior Public School, located on Williamson Road at Hambley Ave and Wineva Ave, north of Queen St., attached to Glen Ames Sr PS.

• St. Denis CS, located on Balsam Avenue, just north of Queen Street East.
• St. John's CS, located on Kingston Road, just west of Malvern Avenue.