Recap: Lots of Fun and Excitement Along the Waterfront this Summer!

Activities along the waterfront kept the crowds coming back to the water’s edge throughout the summer. 

POSTED: SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 I PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES
BY: HEATHER GLICKSMAN

Despite the cool weather, tourists and residents alike enjoyed some great summer activities along the water’s edge. Check out a few of the highlights that kept the crowds busy this summer at the waterfront. Food, entertainment, live music, movies and activities provided something for everyone to enjoy.

Top image, a Jane's Walk of the West Don Lands. Above, is a Jane's Walk of the Lower Don Lands.

The season kicked off in early May with a Jane’s Walk of the emerging West Don Lands, led by Waterfront Toronto’s Andrew Tenyenhuis, Project Manager for Parks and Public Realm and Scott Loudon, Development Manager. At Underpass Park, participants learned about one of the area’s new developments, River City and saw how this community is rapidly developing. Participants toured the historic Dominion Foundry building to learn more about the new development sites that are nearing completion for the Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes’ Village. The walk also included a stop at the beautiful new Corktown Common to enjoy amazing views of the city skyline and the new community being built around it. Another Jane's Walk was held on the Lower Don Lands, led by Waterfront Toronto’s Chair, Mark Wilson and others from City Planning and Toronto & Region Conservation. Participants got a look at the Port Lands Acceleration Initiative (PLAI) and despite the rain the walking tour helped participants walk, explore, share and contribute ideas on the future development plans for the Port Lands.

Pirates invade the waterfront as part of the Waterfront BIA's "Gangways Open".  Firesound giving a musical performance at the water's edge, part of Doors Open Toronto. (Image courtesy of The Waterfront BIA and image credits Light Monkey Photography). 

Family fun was in full swing at the Waterfront BIA's "Gangways Open" on Toronto’s Waterfront, part of the 15th annual Doors Open Toronto on May 24 and 25. Visitors got the opportunity to explore the waterfront area including a tour of 14 unique ships and learned about the rich history of Toronto’s oldest running ferry the Trillium built in 1910. Participants also enjoyed the high energy and hidden musical talent of Firesound, a 9-piece band comprised of Toronto firefighters. 

Top image, the EMERGE Artists perform at Sugar Beach, part of the annual Redpath Waterfront Festival. Above, man's best friend competes in the DockDogs World Qualifying Championships at Sherbourne Common. (Image courtesy of Redpath Waterfront Festival and image credits Sean).

The Redpath Waterfront Festival returned, taking over two kilometres of Toronto’s waterfront – from Spadina to Sherbourne – with action packed activities that had something for everyone. The annual festival took place from June 20-22 and allowed visitors to enjoy live music and entertainment, cuisines and cultural celebrations at various waterfront locations. Canada’s Sugar Beach played host to the Toronto Wine and Spirits Festival with the EMERGE Artists Showcase entertaining the crowd on the Saturday and WorldPride having fun in the sand at the Sweetness Pride Beach Party on the Sunday. At Sherbourne Common, visitors enjoyed watching dogs of all sizes and breeds jump, dive, soar and splash while competing in the 2014 DockDogs World Qualifying Championships.

Harbourfront Centre hosts the biggest party on the waterfront in celebration of Canada's 147th birthday. Crowds flock to the water's edge to enjoy the beautiful weather, scenic views and all the Canada Day activities. 

Thousands of people once again enjoyed beautiful views of the lake and city skyline while celebrating Canada’s birthday along the central waterfront. Visitors to the annual festival enjoyed live performances, food and other family-friendly activities that lasted from June 27-July 1. Harbourfront Centre’s Canada Day Extravaganza brought one of the city’s biggest fireworks displays along the water’s edge. The 20-minute 2-barge fireworks display set to music on Toronto's central waterfront was best watched at Canada Square.

Top photo, our government partners helped us cut the ribbon and officially open our newest waterfront park, Corktown Common. Above, community members enjoyed food, music and the park's amenities at our community picnic celebration. 

Waterfront Toronto officially opened Corktown Common on July 10th with two memorable events: an official ribbon cutting in the morning and a community picnic in the afternoon. Community members, media, stakeholders and an esteemed group of government representatives came out for the official ribbon cutting ceremony. In addition to official remarks, we also presented Tedd Konya, with a commemorative artist’s rendering of the park as a thank you for submitting the winning name to Name That Park contest. In the afternoon, we celebrated this spectacular new park by hosting a community picnic with our development partners, Dundee Kilmer and Urban Capital, who generously provided the food and entertainment. Adults and kids alike enjoyed a complimentary BBQ, cotton candy, snow cones, live music by Electric Blonde, and all the fabulous amenities our newest waterfront park has to offer.

People of all ages enjoy this annual summer outdoor film festival. (Image courtesy of Toronto Port Authority’s Sail-In Cinema and image credits Oneword Photography).

The world’s first two-sided floating movie screen returned to Canada’s Sugar Beach for three nights in August with Toronto Port Authority’s Sail-In Cinema. Families and film fans alike enjoyed watching movies in this unique setting that transformed Sugar Beach into an open movie theatre. This year`s films featured a terrifying T-Rex, a savage shark and an amiable alien. 

Check out all the photos from this past summer along the waterfront.