Hanlan’s Point Beach, Canada’s oldest nude beach and a long-standing gathering place for Toronto’s LGBTQ2S+ community, is showing signs of significant erosion and an increasing lack of shoreline space.
And the problem is not being addressed properly nor fast enough by the City of Toronto, according to one advocacy group.
Friends of Hanlan’s Point says more needs to be done to address erosion there, which has been documented for decades as part of broader shoreline changes affecting the Toronto Islands.
The group was formed in late 2022 during the Toronto Island Master Plan process, when community members raised concerns about proposed changes to the islands, including a potential outdoor amphitheatre and broader development plans.
Nearly four years later, Friends of Hanlan’s Point is still raising concerns about erosion and what they describe as a lack of timely action from the city.
“We started these discussions in 2023… we’ve been telling you for years this is going to happen," said group member David Jubb.
“They’ve had a solution from us. We met with shoreline engineers… and we brought this to the city in early 2024."
Among the options the group has raised is beach nourishment, including adding sand to rebuild portions of the shoreline, which Jubb argues should not be such a lengthy process.
Parts of Hanlan’s Point closed
Currently, parts of Hanlan’s Point Beach are closed as the City of Toronto carries out work related to shoreline conditions and rising lake levels.
In a statement to CTV News, the city said elevated water levels have contributed to temporary closures there.
“Water levels at Hanlan’s Point Beach are higher than normal, and the beach area between the lake and grassy dunes is underwater,” it said.
“For public safety and to protect the dunes, the City of Toronto, in consultation with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, decided to temporarily close portions of the south beach while staff determined how to best manage the impact of rising lake levels.”
The city says these temporary closures support the “long-term goal of keeping the beach healthy and resilient for years to come.”
It added that staff met with community working groups and continues to collaborate on restoring access while protecting dunes.
Questions around transparency: group
As a result, space for visitors has diminished, affecting members of the LGBTQ2S+ community who have historically used the area as a social and cultural gathering space.
“We saw really concerning issues with community engagement and questions around transparency in decisions that city staff were making, and the general lack of understanding of the human geography and the queer cultural heritage of the beach,” said Jubb.
Motion calls for shoreline action
Shoreline projects on the Toronto Islands are typically managed by the City of Toronto and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), and must undergo environmental assessment and engineering review processes before construction or sand replenishment can proceed.
Toronto city council recently considered a motion calling for work on shoreline stabilization and beach restoration at Hanlan’s Point.
The motion directs staff to examine options such as beach nourishment and improve coordination between City divisions and partner agencies, including the TRCA. It also requests updates on timelines and next steps.
It also calls for the implementation of an access plan beginning June 1, coinciding with the start of Pride Month, though it does not set a timeline for physical shoreline works.
Shoreline erosion a ‘priority’ for councillor
Coun. Ausma Malik said erosion at Hanlan’s Point has been a priority since the start of her term.
“Since 2023, at the start of my term, as a priority, I have worked collaboratively, including through City Council, to address the serious issue of erosion at Hanlan’s Point Beach,” she said.
“Erosion and natural ecology is an urgent issue for this well-used place for recreation and site of historic significance for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.”
