OK. I’ll start by admitting that I stole the following info from today’s issue of the Toronto Star. (Canada’s largest and well respected newspaper).
Then I spent some time surfing the internet for corroborating information. (Being faithful to the old adage that you shouldn’t believe everything you read from any single source.)
You can take a little time to surf and confirm what you read here; in fact, I encourage you to so so.
As all of our backpackers/travelers to Toronto have discovered, we are in the midst of an oppressive heat-wave.
Toronto is infamous for it’s summer humidity and dirty beaches.
The humidity is a fact. Dirty beaches are a very bad rap. In fact, seven of Toronto’s beaches are rated among the cleanest in the world.
That assessment was bestowed by the International Blue Flag Program. The blue flag is an eco-label awarded to beaches that conform to strict environmental and safety standards.
“It’s not easy to get a blue flag,” says Toronto Water spokesperson Cheryl San Juan. “These are world-class beaches.”
Ontario has the strictest recreational water quality standards in North America. If a beach measures above 100 parts E. coli in 100 ml of water it is classified not safe for swimming. The national standard is set at 200 and the U.S. standard is 235.
There are eleven beaches in Toronto. Seven have earned the coveted Blue Flag Certification.
The city’s goal is to score blue flags for all 11 beaches. Next year they hope to add Scarborough’s Bluffer’s Beach Park to the list.
BLUE FLAG BEACHES IN TORONTO
- Ward’s Island Beach
- Hanlan’s Point Beach
- Kew Balmy Beach
- Gibraltar Point Beach
- Centre Island Beach
- Cherry Beach
- Woodbine Beaches
Go on in. The water’s fine!
For the full list of standards: http://www.blueflag.org/
