Police Marine Unit

They don't wear bright red swimsuits and bounce on the beach (although their people patrol the beaches of Toronto as lifeguards) or drive flashy cigar boats, but they do drive a variety of boats along the shores of Lake Ontario keeping people safe and fighting crime in the water. Ned Hanlan II - a former police boat, sits tied up to the Queens Quay dock, above, and a smaller police boat patrols the inner harbour during the Toronto International Air Show, below.

Queens Quay has the large Toronto Police Marine Unit located at Queens Quay as well as three smaller units based out of Centre Island, Humber River and Bluffers Park.

Photo Vault: Birds and Planes

The cute pictures from the Kitten and Puppy Weekend made me think of the baby ducks and geese that will soon be eatin' and poopin' their little fannies off around lakes and ponds in your neighbourhood, later growing into adults with more poopin' babies.

And when you think of things that fly you have to think of the Canadian International Air Show which will happen near the end of Summer at the close of the CNE.

Pleasure Craft

Arrgh Billy, have you ever been to sea? Well if you do then you will need a Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC) beginning April 15, 2011. You can go to the Transport Canada website, do the online study guide, then take an online test known as the BoaterExam and become a smooth operator. On this page you see boats of all types, if one turns you on, I think it is a pleasure craft. I believe that this rule applies specifically to recreational boats that have a motor, therefore the Great Lake steam ships (above) and the paddle boats at Ontario Place (below) don't really count.

But if you are doing it in either one of the two vessels shown above, is it a pleasure craft anyways?

Pleasure craft with motors - now that's what I'm talking about.

Toronto Islands thawing out

Today was another sunny spring day and as the snow continues to melt (we are supposed to get more snow over the next day or two, damn) it's time to start thinking of picnics across the harbour on the Toronto Islands. The enjoyable ferry ride, with or without bikes, brings you across to the cozy paradise of the interlinked small chain of parkland, homes and yacht clubs. Red lifejackets of various shades are suspended above peoples heads on the ferry boats in the above picture.

The view from the ferry docks looking towards the city.

Lineups to get onto the ferry heading back to the city.

Large tires become bumpers at the docks.

An artistic woven stick fence and gate welcome people to the sandy beaches.

Ship in the inner harbour

The inner harbour of Toronto is a busy place in summer and really sleepy in winter. Lake Ontario's ice cover is almost done and precious few chunks remain so the late spring weather will see the return of pleasure boats and harbour tour ships. A large freighter remains tied at the dock off Cherry Street as the sun sets to the west of Toronto.

Night at Sunnyside Beach

I was out at night checking the sights around Sunnyside Park and the Bathing Pavilion. The edges of the beach still had hunks of ice gathered along the beach. Surprisingly there were no one in bathing suits taking a dip (you can check out some previous Polar Bear Dips on these posts - 2010, 2011). The large pool looks like it has finally been rebuilt and should be ready for this years swim season.

The dock at Sunnyside beach points out towards the concrete barrier of the inner harbour.

The beaches along the western side of the city provide some great views of downtown Toronto.

The boardwalk, normally full of joggers, pedestrians and bikes is quiet late at night - especially in winter.

Little Red Tugboat

I wanted to remember what the water looked like when it wasn't full of ice: The cute little tugboat the M.R. Kane rests on Lake Ontario at Queens Quay during summer. I was surprised to know there is a Tugboat Festival called Tugfest (no not a rub and tug fest) that happens annually in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. Across the harbour is the Cherry Street lift bridge all green and strong metal.

Ice on the Water

While taking pictures of Toronto's skyline from Burlington Beach I had a chance to walk on the buildup of ice that had been pushed toward shore, full of beach sand as it grinds along the bottom. The ice extends pretty far out into the water and seems to be shaped like frozen waves. The beach grass below is just above the beach sand which is surprisingly still visible, uncovered by snow, which then heads out onto the ice field.

Polar Bear Dip 2011

Participants jump for joy after taking part in the Chill.

Toronto has at least two Polar Bear Dips going on New Year's Day January 1, 2011 - 12 noon at Sunnyside Beach (Habitat for Humanity) and 1:30pm at Ashbridges Bay (Sears Great Canadian Chill) and the waters of Lake Ontario are ready for the plunge. Temperatures are expected above the freezing mark so we may only have to watch for rain - you don't want to get wet before the dip! Update: It was both foggy and rainy!

The plunge into Lake Ontario at Sunnyside Beach.

Bring your costumes, thongs and footwear then some warm clothes for afterwards.

The blue hair group wait for the Dip.

The Sears Great Canadian Chill had a large heated tent with a DJ and a costume contest - thermometer man was a little chilly; he had blue balls.

Costume contest including the Santas and Heidi.

See more of my pictures of the Dip and the Chill after the jump.

The Stanley Cup makes it into the water.

Heidi.

Cape Cod shrinkage.

The first group lines up at the Chill.

And in they go at Ashbridges Bay.

The mass plunge at Sunnyside Beach.

Victory.

Wet Elvis.

The Blues are ready.

Santa and his helpers.

Jump in.

Child cancer survivor Tobin Haas makes a inspiring speech at the Sears Chill.

See more lots more photos of the 2011 fun on my earlier post here.

You can also check out my 2010 photos from the Sunnyside Habitat for Humanity Polar Bear Dip.

Toronto Skyline - Where is the colour?

The City's skyline stands tall above the waters of Lake Ontario, but there is not much colour in the view. Most of the dominant colours are the blue, green and concrete grey.

 I think the skyline should be more like a Rubiks Cube mixture of colours. Here is a little more grey from the airshow (CIAS) down at the lake front.