Edward Hanlan, born to an Irish hotelier, owner of Hanlan’s Point in 1855 grew up in Toronto and rowed to school. He used his rowing skills to bring freshly caught fish to the market before other fishermen. Since the age of 16, he participated in professional rowing competitions and in 1875 became the rowing champion of Ontario. Hanlan’s professional life as a sculler had just begun.
With his signature blue shirt and red headband, Hanlan went on the win the Canadian Championship in 1877, American in 1878 and the English Championship in 1879. He went on to become the Sculling World Champion in 1880 and made Canada proud. He held on to his World Championship title for another 4 years and frequently accepted challenges from other scullers. After two bouts of typhoid and losing his Championship title, Hanlan retired and set up his hotel while coaching rowers at Toronto University and Columbia University, New York. After conquering the world of sculling and successfully fighting typhoid, Hanlan succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 52.
Emanuel Hahn sculpted 9 foot bronze statue of Hanlan was unveiled in 1926 as remembrance. It was moved to the ferry dock at Hanlan’s Point in 2004 where you can visit it today. Along with naming of streets and inducting his name in the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, Canadians commemorated their sculling hero by issuing a postage stamp in his honor in 1980.

If you are eager to sunbathe or to spend some hours relaxing on a beach then Hanlan's Point Beach is definitely the place to go to. A part of the beach was declared "clothing optional", so Hanlan's Point Beach is also famous for its nudists.

The Lighthouse at Gibraltar Point is one of the oldest standing structures in Toronto. Built in 1808, the lighthouse was used as water’s edge, however due to constant sedimentation of sand; the structure today stands relatively inland. Measuring as high as 82 feet above the ground, the massive presence of the Lighthouse can be felt from quite a distance. Overpowering with a deep seated secret, that is what makes the Lighthouse at Gibraltar Point the most enthralling monument in Toronto.

The Lighthouse served as a watchful servant of the shore, working tirelessly for over 150 years, till it finally retired in 1958. It was then transferred into the custody of the city’s Park Department after which it has not operated as a lighthouse. Locked ever since 1958, this historical landmark only opens occasionally for tourist visits.

With a hauntingly beautiful surrounding, solitary presence of the massive structure and the age old story associated with the Lighthouse, a visit to the structure culminates as the perfect monument experience. The first keeper J.P. Radan Muller, met his gruesome and tragic end at this lighthouse. Speculated to be a murder, the suspects were never charged and brought to justice and till this day the incident stands as a mystery. Believed to have been buried somewhere near the Lighthouse, the ghost of Muller still roams freely moaning and crying on cold misty nights.

If you need a break from touring museums, strolling by shopping complexes and admiring monuments, the Centreville Amusement Park is the perfect get away. Not just an average amusement park, the Centreville Amusement Park offers some of the oldest rides in the book. A proud owner of a vintage carousel that dates back to 1907, antique cars and swan boats, the Park manages to transport you to the yester years.

Just a hop, skip and jump away from the Union Station, Centreville Park is the most entertaining amusement park in Toronto. Nestled on an island off the shore of the main city, the Centreville Amusement Park is the place that has something for everyone.

Built in 1967, the Centreville Amusement Park has been Toronto’s most popular family holiday spot ever since. Open from June to September, most of the city’s denizens have grown up spending some of their most memorable holidays at the Park.

Although the Park may not offer over the top, adrenaline pumping thrills, it is the best place to spend the perfect sunny day in Toronto. Spread over 600 acres, the Park boasts over 30 fun filled rides for adults and children, along with an array of food outlets where you can eat your favourite meal.

Enjoyed by over 100,000 visitors every year, the Far Enough Farm in Toronto is City-Parks-Department-run farm. This rural Ontario hobby farm established in 1959 is located on Centre Island beside Centreville and is a 30 minute walk from the Wards ferry docks. Open year around, this farm has a petting “zoo” with a variety of barnyard animals like retired police horses, pheasants, pigs, chickens, rabbits, emus, peacocks, sheep, goats , etc.
This proves to serve as a great learning resource for children and the outdoor classrooms are enjoyed by many school kids. They can learn about farm animals and agriculture here. Donkey rides and pony rides are available for children in the summer months. The farm also hosts a Fall Fair where demonstrations like goat milking, sheep shearing and wool spinning are held. The admission to the farm is free.
The farm along with Riverdale Farm and High Park Zoo may be closed soon on the proposal of the Toronto’s current City Council. Campaigns have been carried out to save the farm and a page on Facebook called “Save Toronto Island’s Far Enough Farm” has been created to do the same. The attempt to save this farm is a clear indication that this farm is enjoyed and valued by its visitors and the people of Ontario. So visit the farm today and if you enjoy your visit, be a part of the campaign.

If you want to get lost for a while and then look for the way out, then you might enjoy a walk to Center Island Hedge Maze. The Maze was given as a gift to the city by its Dutch-Canadian community back in 1967. It is open to the public and free of charge all year-round.

One of the prettiest churches in Toronto is the St. Andrews Church. It stands picturesquely by the lake with many parishioners coming from far and wide to attend service at the St. Andrew’s. Apart from that, the Church manages to attract many tourists because of its deep rooted traditional Anglican worship. The Church especially comes to life with the grand Christmas celebrations every year which are very popular amongst locals as well as visitors.
St. Andrew by the Lake was built in 1884. In the year 1959, it was sawed into two pieces and moved to Wards Island from its original location near a water filtration plant. There was no serious damage to the treasured stained glass windows of the Church during its successful shifting. Coinciding with the church’s centennial, the church was restored in 1984.
It is now a 25-minute walk from the Ward’s Island Ferry Dock and a 10 minute walk from the Centre Island Ferry Dock.
It serves the parishioners living in Toronto and surrounding areas along with the Toronto Island community. This family church celebrates Holy Eucharist every Sunday at 10 am and is open to all. It is also used for events like weddings and concerts throughout summer months. Facilities for meetings, family gatherings, retreats and many more events are available at this Church.

Stretching along the board of Toronto Islands, Lush Green Garden represents a hidden meditation spot where you can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of Lake Ontario.