page_title: Toronto Islands
section_title: Timeline
hierarchical_section_title: Toronto Islands / Timeline
caption_attribution_description: View of Ward's Hotel on Ward's Island, Toronto Island (Toronto, Canada)
context_page_description: The Toronto Islands are a chain of 15 small islands in Lake Ontario, south of mainland Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the only group of islands in the western part of Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands are located just offshore from the city's downtown and provide shelter for Toronto Harbour. The islands are home to parkland, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, several yacht clubs, Centreville Amusement Park, a residential area, and several beaches. The island community is considered to be the largest urban car-free community in North America, although some service vehicles are permitted. Access to the Islands is by ferry, including the City of Toronto ferries operating from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street, or by water taxis.
  The Islands is a popular recreation destination. Recreational bicyclists are accommodated on the ferries. Bicycles can be rented at Centre Island. Canoes, kayaks and paddle boats can also be rented on the island. A disc golf course exists on the island. The main beach is along the south shore and the beach on the west shore is clothing-optional.
context_section_description: 1787 – Toronto Purchase. The British and the Mississaugas negotiate the purchase of 250,800 acres (101,500 ha) of land north from Toronto Harbour.
  1793 – Blockhouse built by the Queen's Rangers at Gibraltar Point.
  1805 – The British and the Mississaugas renegotiate the Toronto Purchase.
  1809 – Lighthouse constructed at Gibraltar Point.
  1833 – First hotel "The Retreat on the Peninsula" is opened.
  1834 – Fisherman David Ward and family, along with shipbuilder John Hanlan are some of the first settlers on the island.
  1830–1840 – First island hotels built. Ferry services are started.
  1850 – Filtration plant on the island starts supplying water to Toronto.
  1855 – Rower Ned Hanlan born.
  1858 – Storm separates Toronto Islands from the mainland. Quinn's Hotel and Parkinson's Hotel are destroyed.
  1867 – Islands become the property of City of Toronto. Lot leases are established.
  1870–80 – Summer homes established on the island. Cottages from Hanlan's Point to Centre Island.
  1874 – John Hanlan, father of Ned Hanlan opens Hanlan's Hotel.
  1879–1912 – Size of islands increased to 563 acres (228 ha) by landfilling. This included the creation of Algonquin Island.
  1880 – Royal Canadian Yacht Club established on the island.
  1882 – William Ward, son of David Ward opens Ward's Hotel; closed 1966.
  1884 – St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church and St. Andrew-on-the-Lake Anglican built.
  1888 – First elementary school is established near the Gibraltar lighthouse.
  1897 – First amusements on Hanlan's Point established by John Hanlan.
  1897 – Baseball and lacrosse stadium on Hanlan's Point.
  1899 – First summer colony established on Ward's.
  1903 – Baseball stadium destroyed by fire and rebuilt.
  1909 – Hanlan Hotel destroyed by fire.
  1909 – Baseball stadium again destroyed by fire and rebuilt.
  1910 – Ferry Trillium enters service to island
  1913 – First 'tent city' on Ward's Island.
  1914 – First professional home run of Babe Ruth's career hit at Hanlan's Point Stadium.
  1916 – Area of Ward's Island doubled through dredging of the harbour.
  1922 – Tower and top floor of Ward's Hotel removed
  1926 – Baseball stadium vacated by Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team for a new stadium at foot of Bathurst and Fleet Streets.
  1930s – Ward's Hotel closes, becomes grocery store and ice cream parlour only.
  1935 - William Inglis ferry enters service.
  1937 – Construction of Island airport begins. Some cottages moved east to Algonquin Island.
  1939 – The Sam McBride ferry enters service.
  1947 – City approves year-round residency to cope with a housing shortage, to expire in 1968.
  1951 – Island Yacht Club established on Muggs Island. Thomas Rennie ferry enters service.
  1956 – New Metro Toronto government takes over Island and leases. Starts demolishing cottages.
  1959 – Far Enough Farm opens.
  1960s – St Rita's closes and moves to Wards Island
  1965 - Toronto Island Sailing Club opens on Algonquin Island (schoolhouse)
  1966 – Ward's Hotel demolished
  1967 – Centreville Amusement Park opens.
  1967 – Toronto Island Marina opens.
  1970 - Toronto Island Sailing Club moves to Centre Island, NW peninsula (Toronto Island Marina)
  1970s – St. Rita's demolished
  1975–1985 – Canadian Open Frisbee Championships, held at Olympic and Ward's Island. First ultimate games and disc golf competition in Canada.
  1977–1993 – Supreme Court approves of cancellation of leases by Metro. Remaining residents fight to remain.
  1984 – Start of scheduled regional airlines at Island airport.
  1991 – Transfer of cottage lands and lease to City allowing residents to stay.
  1993 – Passing of the Toronto Islands Residential Community Stewardship Act, 1993, S.O. 1993, c. 15 which gave homeowners a 99-year lease on their properties and established a process for the transfer or sale of ownership.
  2002 – Council approves clothing optional Hanlan's Point Beach.
  2010 – Canadian government and Mississaugas finalize the settlement of outstanding disagreements over Toronto Purchase, including Toronto Islands.
  2015 – Opening of the island airport pedestrian tunnel.
  2017 – Water levels reach a record high of 75.919m above sea level (as 
caption: Ward's Hotel, c. 1900. Opened in 1882, the hotel remained in operation until 1966.
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