The City of Toronto is welcoming residents and visitors back to its 10 supervised swimming beaches with lifeguards on duty daily today through Monday, Sept. 7.
City lifeguards wear red-and-yellow uniforms and are stationed either in white rowboats along the shoreline or in lifeguard stands. Designated swim areas are marked by two red-over-yellow flags on the beach and white buoys labelled “swim zone” in the water.
Lifeguards are stationed at the following beaches:
More information about dates, times and locations can be found on the City’s Beaches webpage.
Beach flags
Toronto beaches use a flag system based on the International Lifesaving Federation standards to indicate swimming conditions and designated swimming areas. These include:
Residents should stay within the clearly marked swim zones to avoid the risk of contact with boats and other watercraft.
Beach water quality
The City monitors beach water quality daily, weather permitting, from June through September. Toronto Public Health conducts water sampling and analysis to assist the public in making an informed decision about beach water quality before swimming at designated beaches.
More information is available on the City’s Beach Water Quality webpage.
Water safety
The City reminds everyone to stay safe and enjoy Toronto’s beaches by:
Residents should be aware of potential dangers and learn how to be safe in cold water, as it can severely impact a person’s ability to swim or stay afloat. All swimmers should wear a lifejacket, regardless of swimming ability.
Each supervised beach has dedicated lifesaving stations equipped with ring buoys and reaching poles. Stations are marked with a “Parks Locate Point,” an identification point to share with emergency services, so they know where on the beach to respond.
Missing or damaged equipment should be reported to 311 immediately.
Boating and watercraft safety
The Toronto Police Service Marine Unit reminds residents that personal watercraft are not permitted in designated swim areas at Toronto beaches. These shared spaces must remain safe for swimmers, lifeguards, paddlers and other recreational users. Posted swim zones and restricted areas are in place for safety and must be respected.
Renting personal watercraft on City beaches, parks or waterfront trails is illegal. Operating a personal watercraft rental business from City property is not permitted and may result in enforcement action, including fines or criminal charges. Residents are strongly encouraged to not rent personal watercrafts from unlicensed or unauthorized operators.
All watercrafts must be operated safely and in accordance with boating regulations, including obeying the 10 km/h near-shore speed limit, staying clear of swim zones, and carrying required safety equipment. Approved boat launch locations are clearly marked with signage.
Boaters are also reminded that drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited. Impaired operation is illegal, compromises safety on the water and can result in penalties that include impacts to a driver’s licence.
Sun safety
The City is once again partnering with the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund and the Douglas Wright Foundation to provide free sunscreen at select parks, beaches and golf courses.
The Be Sun Safe program helps prevent skin cancer by increasing access to sunscreen and raising awareness about sun protection. Sunscreen available at dispensers is SPF 30, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB), PABA-free, paraben-free, scent-free and mineral-based.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to:
More information and a map of the dispenser locations are available on the Be Sun Safe website.
Quote:
“As summer arrives, Toronto residents and visitors are looking forward to spending time at our beautiful beaches. Our lifeguards play an important role in keeping people safe in and around the water, and I’m pleased to welcome them back for another season of supervised swimming across the city.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As an Official Host City for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City's website or follow us on X, Instagram or Facebook.