Vintage Swimming Photographs from Toronto

The warm weather is here in Toronto and this past weekend was great for getting out to cottage country or spending time near the lake in the city.

Swimming in our lake is not to be feared anymore. With Blue Flag designations across Toronto‘s beaches and constant testing by the city, the water is safe to swim.

For over 100 years, local beaches and parks along our waters’ edges have been popular for Torontonians and visitors to the city. For my latest curated gallery of old photos, I selected vintage swimming photographs from roughly 1900-1940. Enjoy!

1907 - Bathers, Sunnyside vintage swimming
1907 – Bathers, Sunnyside
1907 - Bathers, Sunnyside Beach vintage swimming
1907 – Bathers, Sunnyside Beach
1907 - Family swimming near cottage at Hanlan's Point vintage swimming
1907 – Family swimming near cottage at Hanlan’s Point
1907 - Hanlan's Point hotel and regatta vintage swimming
1907 – Hanlan’s Point hotel and regatta
1907 - Sailboat surrounded by bathers
1907 – Sailboat surrounded by bathers
1900? - Bathers, Sunnyside Beach
1900? – Bathers, Sunnyside Beach
1908 - Bathers, Hanlan's Point
1908 – Bathers, Hanlan’s Point
1908 - Group of swimmers at Kew Beach
1908 – Group of swimmers at Kew Beach
1909 - Bathers at Sunnyside Beach
1909 – Bathers at Sunnyside Beach
1910 - Swimmers on Humber River dam
1910 – Swimmers on Humber River dam
1910? - Bathers at Sunnyside
1910? – Bathers at Sunnyside
1911 - Bathers, Sunnyside
1911 – Bathers, Sunnyside
1911 - High Park Mineral Baths
1911 – High Park Mineral Baths
1912 - Bathers on the beach, Hanlan's Point
1912 – Bathers on the beach, Hanlan’s Point
1912 - Skinny dipping in the Don River near Bloor Viaduct
1912 – Skinny dipping in the Don River near Bloor Viaduct
1912 - Toronto Swimming Club
1912 – Toronto Swimming Club
1912 - Toronto Swimming Club 2
1912 – Toronto Swimming Club 2
1912? - High Park mineral baths
1912? – High Park mineral baths
1914 - Swimming race, Toronto Island
1914 – Swimming race, Toronto Island
1915 - Kew Beach Bathing Pavilion
1915 – Kew Beach Bathing Pavilion
1920 - Dufferin Islands
1920 – Dufferin Islands
1922 - Bathers and cars in Humber River
1922 – Bathers and cars in Humber River
1922 - July - Humber River, swimming scene near Old Mill
1922 – July – Humber River, swimming scene near Old Mill
1924 - July - at Sunnyside
1924 – July – at Sunnyside
1924 - Leslie Beach - bathing
1924 – Leslie Beach – bathing
1924? - Sunnyside bathing station copy
1924? – Sunnyside bathing station copy
1925 - Toronto Ladies Swimming Club, group, Harrison Baths
1925 – Toronto Ladies Swimming Club, group, Harrison Baths
1926 - Crowes Beach, Humber Bay
1926 – Crowes Beach, Humber Bay
1926 - july - Sunnyside, bathing pool from pavilion
1926 – july – Sunnyside, bathing pool from pavilion
1926 - Sunnyside - heated swimming pool
1926 – Sunnyside – heated swimming pool
1927 - athing beach, south shore, Centre Island
1927 – athing beach, south shore, Centre Island
1929 - July - Sunnyside 4 boys and a girl
1929 – July – Sunnyside 4 boys and a girl
1929 - Sunnyside swimming tank
1929 – Sunnyside swimming tank
1929? - Swimming in Lake Ontario
1929? – Swimming in Lake Ontario
1930 - Start of marathon swim, CNE
1930 – Start of marathon swim, CNE
1930 - Start of women's marathon swim, CNE
1930 – Start of women’s marathon swim, CNE
1930? - Mount Dennis - swimming hole on Black Creek
1930? – Mount Dennis – swimming hole on Black Creek
1931 - Sunnyside Beach - Bathing
1931 – Sunnyside Beach – Bathing
1933 - Sunnyside - bathing scenes - large crowds
1933 – Sunnyside – bathing scenes – large crowds
1935 - Humber River at Lambton - swimming
1935 – Humber River at Lambton – swimming
194? - A crowd at Sunnyside Beach
1940? – A crowd at Sunnyside Beach
1945 - A crowd at Sunnyside Beach
1945 – A crowd at Sunnyside Beach

 

Visit the Toronto Archives for more vintage swimming photographs from Toronto.

 

 

About Joel Levy 2623 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography