Our snazzy new Swim Guide lets you locate beaches near you, figure out which ones are safe for swimming (the green ones!), and plan your next trip to the beach. It’s free, and it’s fun, and it’s available now online and for your smartphone.

Beachway North and Beachway South: Both Beachway Beaches are part of a 2-kilometre stretch of waterfront that juts out into Lake Ontario. The beach runs north and south and creates a natural barrier to Hamilton Harbour, the westernmost tip of Lake Ontario. The area is a unique natural sand-dune formation that was breathtaking in its natural state. The Beachway became a popular cottage area in 1800s, then industrialized in the 1900s. Today, Burlington is buying back the few remaining parcels of privately held land to create more public space. Beaches in Halton Region are monitored twice per week or more if conditions change.

Bronte Beach: Bronte Beach is nestled among other harbour facilities, including a marina. Back in the mid 1800s, Bronte Harbour was a bustling port with a thriving commercial fishery and “stonehooking” business. When you see old buildings in Oakville and Burlington, chances are their foundations are made of shale. This stone was carved and carted by hand from the shallow waters in the Bronte Beach area. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is grateful for support in 2011 from the Peace and Justice Club at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Oakville. Their contributions will help us continue to monitor these beaches for postings throughout the summer!

Coronation East Beach and Coronation West Beach: f it’s New Year’s Day, you are in the right place! Coronation Beach is home to Oakville’s annual Polar Bear Dip. In the warmer months, this is a popular waterfront destination. It is a long beach, so the “east” and “west” ends are sampled separately. If the area looks a little different from its surroundings, that’s because before it was a park, this site was a landfill. The smooth lawn and absence of mature trees are common signs of closed waste sites. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is grateful for support in 2011 from the Peace and Justice Club at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Oakville. Their contributions will help us continue to monitor these beaches for postings throughout the summer!

Fairy Lake at Prospect Park: Fairy Lake is a man-made lake. It’s shallow and home to a number of fish. It’s also a bird sanctuary, so if you are looking for a quiet place to swim (no motor boats), you are in the right spot. Fairy Lake is a tributary of (meaning it flows into) the Credit River, which reaches Lake Ontario at Mississauga. Beaches in Halton Region are monitored twice per week or more if conditions change.

Kelso Conservation Area: Kelso Conservation Area is a 397-hectare park located on the Niagara Escarpment. There is supervised swimming here in the summer season, so you and your family can enjoy the sandy beach on this 35-hectare lake. The dam and reservoir in this Conservation Area regulate the water flows of the Sixteen Mile Creek. The Creek starts on the Niagara Escarpment and flows out to Lake Ontario at Oakville.