Toronto Shorelines

East Point Park Photo credit: Jen Falvy Your Environmental Rights at a Glance - Good to Know! This information is from the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario website. If you live in Ontario, you’re really lucky. Why? Because you have environmental rights! For example, under Ontario’s  Environmental Bill of Rights  ( EBR ), for instance, you have: a right to know about – and have a say in – government decisions that affect the environment; a right to ask the government to change or create environmental laws or policies; and a right to ask the government to investigate if you think someone is breaking an environmental law. Read the  Environmental Bill of Rights  itself, and its regulations, which describe how it applies to different  ministries and laws , and  approvals and permits . The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario is charged with monitoring and reporting on how well the government complies with the  Environ...

I would like to express my strong opposition to any plan of waterfront development that involves destroying the last remaining shorelines in Scarborough with armour rocks, revetments and roads. If the TRCA continues with the planned development, the last two remaining beaches will be permanently destroyed.  East Point Beach is a natural shore of about 4 km with a true coastal feel between Grey Abbey Ravine and Highland Creek, and Bluffer's Beach is a sandy beach with dune grass and diverse plants in a tranquil bay at the foot of the historic Cathedral Bluffs. Both of these beaches and their natural habitat will be lost forever if they are altered with your planned development. It is absolutely unacceptable in this day and age for this to be happening, especially when the trend is to be moving towards respect for nature.  We are living in a large metropolis that is becoming increasingly busy and if we pave over ...

Two beautiful beaches in Scarborough are at threat of being permanently destroyed! East Point   Beach  is a natural sandy beach of about 4 km with a true coastal feel between the Grey Abbey Ravine and Highland Creek. Bluffer's Beach  is a sandy beach with dune grass and diverse plants in a tranquil bay with a remarkable view from the base of the historic Cathedral Bluffs. Both of these beaches, their natural habitat and all of the remaining natural shoreline in Scarborough are about to be destroyed with 'concrete paths'.   It's hard to believe in this day and age that we are having a conversation of whether a beach should be kept natural or 'paved with concrete'. I believe we should be supporting low-impact access to the water which allows people to enjoy the benefits of being at the water's edge. We all know from first-hand experience, the joy of being near water and how rejuvenating it...

Here is a direct link to the TRCA - please let them know that you believe in the value of a natural shoreline and include your comments in their workbook.  Page 9 offers the very best alternative for the East Segment: Grey Abbey to East Point Park. The TRCA should  keep the trail at the top of the bluffs, where it currently is and choose the 'Do Nothing Alternative'. They need to hear from you before February 11, 2016 - h ere is the workbook for you to submit your comments: http://www.trca.on.ca/dotAsset/217818.pdf

The image below is the Rouge Waterfront Trail from a picture online. This treatment of rocks is one of the various ways that a shoreline is altered by development. A rock-lined and hardened shoreline does not invite you into the water, in fact it does the opposite. It cuts you off from the lake and it reduces the experience to a purely visual one. A natural sandy shoreline, as shown below in my picture from East Point this past December offers quite a different experience - it actually connects you to the healing benefits of water. A natural sandy shoreline is nature's way of inviting you into the water.... perhaps  nature is saying, 'walk along this beautiful shoreline, connect with this body of water'.  The natural beauty of the East Point Shoreline is a rare gem and it's currently at risk of being developed for recreational purposes.  We need to let the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority know that we value the shoreline just as it is.  Let's preser...

Blue of Blues - East Point Shoreline from top of the bluffs Living Lake - East Point waves on a windy evening Expansive Summer - East Point Shoreline on a summer day Sand, Water, Sky - East Point Shoreline is a sanctuary for the soul and spirit East Point Evening - the last rays of the setting sun Ancient Bluffs - East Point Shoreline connects us to our geological heritage