| No neighbourhood portrait of Toronto's Beach | | | | football/rugby that came out of the Balmy Beach Club. |
| community could ever be complete without one of the | | | | The long lists are impressive. |
| true institutions in the area: the Balmy Beach Club, a | | | | One plaque in particular honours the Olympians that |
| private social and athletics club founded in 1905, has | | | | emerged from this club. One person that appears four |
| been a real anchor of the local sports and recreational | | | | times on this plaque is a gentleman by the name of |
| scene, and continues to thrive today as a favourite | | | | Jim Mossmann, who, as Ken explained, was the |
| gathering place for many of its members. During a | | | | Canadian Olympic Canoe Coach in four different |
| recent interview with Glenn Cochrane, he took me | | | | Olympic games. In addition to paddling sports, curling is |
| briefly into the Balmy Beach Club and stated that "this | | | | another sport offered by the Balmy Beach Club. The |
| is the best patio on Toronto's waterfront - bar none". | | | | club fields twelve teams that all play in their own |
| When I headed out on the patio and saw the | | | | league at the East York Curling Club. |
| sweeping 180 degree panorama of Lake Ontario with | | | | Lifetime club members also get honoured here, and |
| a view towards Toronto's skyline, I simply had to | | | | some active members have been with the club for 60 |
| agree. Combined with a beautiful setting inside a | | | | or more years. The Balmy Beach Club truly provides |
| historic neighbourhood, surrounded by gorgeous | | | | social and recreational opportunities for an entire |
| mature trees, one would be hard-pressed to find a | | | | lifetime, and its members have a deeply felt loyalty to |
| more perfect urban oasis in Toronto than the Balmy | | | | this institution. Many a courtship was started at the |
| Beach Club. | | | | Balmy Beach Club, and I bet that scores of Beachers |
| To find out more about this revered institution I set up | | | | were born as a result of a romantic connection that |
| an interview with Ken Bingham, long-time member of | | | | started at the Balmy Beach Club. |
| the Balmy Beach Club, and the official historian of this | | | | Just outside the multi-purpose room is an area full of |
| institution. The Balmy Beach Club, a non-profit | | | | plaques, the Balmy Beach Club Hall of Fame, honouring |
| organization, is a social and athletic club that came into | | | | some of the distinguished athletes from the club. In a |
| existence in 1905. It has about 1400 members in two | | | | hallway just to the left of the entrance hall there are a |
| membership categories: the social membership | | | | number of certificates, including original certificates |
| provides access to upstairs facilities, including the bar, | | | | from the 1920 Olympic Games in Paris, the 1936 |
| lounge, patio and banquet hall. Social members are able | | | | Olympic Games in Berlin, the 1952 Games in Helsinki as |
| to attend a wide variety of functions, for example the | | | | well as the 1960 Olympic Games in London, all donated |
| Superbowl Party, a Glen Miller Dance, Rock Star | | | | by Balmy Beach Club members who were actual |
| Karaoke, a Martini Night and many more. Members in | | | | participants in these historic competitions. |
| the social category also participate at no extra cost in | | | | Ken pointed out a picture on the opposite side of the |
| lawn bowling, volleyball and most social functions run | | | | wall showing a group of lawn bowlers on opening day |
| through the club. In addition, members are eligible to rent | | | | in 1905. A picture of hockey players dating back to |
| the banquet facility for private functions such as | | | | 1913 also illustrates the long history of this institution. |
| birthday parties, anniversaries and weddings. Many | | | | Ken explains that the original sports at the Balmy |
| local community organizations also use the club to hold | | | | Beach Club were lawn bowling and canoeing, and all |
| special events or fundraisers. | | | | the other sports were added gradually over the years. |
| The fitness membership includes the privileges of the | | | | We then headed downstairs where Ken showed me |
| social membership and additionally provides access to | | | | two squash courts as well as the well-equipped fitness |
| the fitness room, the squash courts, sauna and change | | | | room that is available to the fitness members. |
| rooms on the lower level of the building. With this level | | | | Wherever you look, walls are adorned with historical |
| of membership it is feasible to join the canoe, hockey | | | | pictures, certificates, medals and plaques; there simply |
| or rugby sections of the club. Sports such as curling, | | | | is not enough wall space at the Balmy Beach Club to |
| tennis, football and lawnbowling are offered as well | | | | display all the significant mementos that have |
| through the club. | | | | accumulated over the years. |
| For more than a century the Balmy Beach Club has | | | | Our official tour had concluded and Ken took me back |
| been noted for its athletic teams which started out | | | | upstairs. In addition to the club's history I was also |
| with canoeing and lawn bowling, and were later | | | | interested in some of the individuals that make this club |
| expanded to add other activities such as curling, | | | | run. I had already talked to the president, Chris Buckley, |
| hockey, squash and volleyball. Ken explained that the | | | | and I thought I'd find out a bit more about the historian |
| land for the Club was donated by Sir Adam Wilson, an | | | | himself. Ken Bingham was born right in the area and |
| Ontario Chief Justice in the second half of the 19th | | | | spent 25 years of his life living on Fernwood Park. He |
| century. The land for the Balmy Beach Park was | | | | joined the Balmy Beach Club in 1950 and is also one of |
| incorporated in 1903. | | | | the lifetime members. Prior to his retirement he used to |
| The first club house, a beautiful two level structure with | | | | work at Inco's head office, a company that also |
| large wooden verandas, opened in 1905, but it | | | | generously sponsored some of the trophy cases, a big |
| unfortunately burnt to the ground in 1936. Another club | | | | TV screen and several filing cabinets for the club. |
| house was built, but again fire struck in 1963. The | | | | Ken introduced me to two long-term Balmy Beach |
| current club house dates back to 1965. | | | | Club members and handed me over to his colleagues |
| While Ken was grabbing me some extra papers with | | | | as he had to go. The famous Jim Mossmann, four-time |
| historic information I took the opportunity to talk with | | | | Canadian Olympic coach, has been a member for an |
| Chris Buckley, the current president of the club, now | | | | unbelievable 72 years. Naturally he was also inducted |
| serving his second term. Chris works full time in sales, | | | | into the Sports Hall of Fame for his athletic |
| and in his spare time he oversees the club and chairs | | | | achievements. Today he says he lives in a condo |
| the board. He informed me that this is a volunteer | | | | close by and mainly comes down here to socialize. |
| position, and that a Board of Directors is responsible | | | | Another long-term member, John McCullough, was just |
| for the main athletic sections (canoeing, lawn bowling, | | | | inducted as a lifetime member last night. He has been |
| volleyball, hockey, rugby and squash). Chris further | | | | a member since 1943. His friends were joking and |
| explained that membership is actually rather | | | | referred to him as a walking encyclopedia. John says |
| reasonable for a private club: the social membership is | | | | that today he spends much of his time golfing, |
| $260 a year while the fitness or athletic membership | | | | lawn-bowling and curling. He has been retired for 23 |
| costs $420 per year. An initiation fee of $300 applies | | | | years, and the Balmy Beach Club has become an |
| to first-time members, but that fee is sometimes | | | | important anchor for his social life. |
| waived during special promotions. | | | | The friendly face behind the bar is Jamie Reynolds, |
| Chris Buckley indicated that he is very interested in | | | | also a Balmy Beach Club member and the |
| increasing the membership of the Club since a larger | | | | maintenance manager. Jamie is also responsible for |
| roster of members also helps to defray the costs of | | | | ordering the supplies, the drinks and snacks for the bar. |
| running the club. Sometimes the Balmy Beach Club | | | | The Balmy Beach Club is a licensed establishment and |
| holds open houses and invites the community at large | | | | serves quick snacks and pre-made sandwiches. Jamie |
| to get to know the club, its facilities and recreational | | | | has been a member since 1964, started off paddling, |
| opportunities. He indicated that the club is very open | | | | then played rugby from 1967 to 1987. Today Jamie is |
| and welcoming, and has members from as far away | | | | a talented lawn bowler. He explains that the natural |
| as Brampton and Mississauga, but there are also a | | | | sequence of sports at the Balmy Beach Club starts |
| number of international members who reside in the | | | | with paddling, then moves on to rugby and hockey, and |
| United Kingdom, in the United States, in Australia and | | | | finally ends with lawn bowling in people's later years. |
| New Zealand. | | | | An entire lifetime of sports and social activities is |
| The sports teams themselves run various fundraising | | | | available at the Balmy Beach Club. |
| events to cover the costs of insurance and other | | | | Another true fixture at the Balmy Beach Club is Barb |
| necessary funds for their sports activities. A very | | | | Kelly, who works part-time in the club's administration |
| popular fundraising event is a volleyball tournament, and | | | | since she retired from her long-term job with a paper |
| participants often show up outfitted in funny costumes. | | | | mill. Barb Kelly is also a life-time member and joined the |
| One time a team was dressed up as gladiators, | | | | club in the mid 1970s. She has been on the Board of |
| another time they were pretending to be waiters with | | | | Directors for the last 12 years and was the first |
| bowties from the "Goof" , the affectionately | | | | female on the board. Originally the Balmy Beach Club |
| nicknamed historic Garden Foods Chinese restaurant | | | | was closed to women as there were no lockers or |
| just up the street. | | | | showers for females, and finally opened its doors to |
| The club itself also gets involved in charitable activities | | | | females in the 1970s. |
| on behalf of the Beach community. The club sponsors | | | | Barb has been paddling since she was a child, and on |
| local high school baseball, lacrosse and hockey teams, | | | | May 4, 2007 she will be inducted in the Balmy Beach |
| and club members also provide a scholarship to one | | | | Sports Hall of Fame as an athlete (she is an |
| male and one female student at Malvern Collegiate. | | | | outstanding lawn bowler) and a major contributor of |
| During the summer the club runs a canoe/kayak day | | | | the club. Barb explained that eight times a year she |
| camp for about 300 children. The linkages to the | | | | runs a "Euchre Meat Roll" which is basically a |
| community are strong. | | | | fundraiser for her lawn-bowling team that involves a |
| I inquired into general information about the club, and | | | | vacuum-packed piece of meat as a prize giveaway. |
| Chris informed me that the opening hours are Monday | | | | Barb has participated in many dances and social |
| to Sunday from 6 am to 1 am. He chuckled and said | | | | events at the Balmy Beach Club since she was a |
| "the bar closes when the president goes home". New | | | | young girl. |
| developments are also in the works: the city wants to | | | | Last but not least I got a chance to meet the person |
| build additional volleyball courts on the sandy beach | | | | who really runs the Balmy Beach Club: Charlene |
| right in front of the club. Toronto has actually become | | | | Provan is the General Manager of the club and is in |
| known as the beach volleyball Mecca in Canada with | | | | charge of all operational matters which include staffing |
| a variety of leagues and tournaments encompassing | | | | issues, facility rentals, administration, maintenance, |
| hundreds of teams that are run out of Ashbridges | | | | volunteer coordination, security and well as set-ups and |
| Bay. The Balmy Beach Club was actually were it all | | | | tear-downs for special events. Charlene mentioned |
| started, and Canadian beach volleyball celebrities Mark | | | | that insurance costs in particular have risen incredibly |
| Heese and John Child both used to play at the Balmy | | | | over the last few years. Insurance now adds up to |
| Beach Club. Heese and Child participated in three | | | | about $130.00 per player on the competitive rugby |
| Olympic Games: the team won the bronze medal in | | | | team. Canoeing/kayaking, on the other hand, requires |
| Atlanta (1996), came in 5th in Sydney (2000) and 5th | | | | expensive marine insurance. Charlene has worked |
| again in Athens (2004). | | | | here for eight years, and since she started insurance |
| World caliber athletes have been coming out of the | | | | costs have actually tripled. |
| Balmy Beach Club for a long time. International rugby | | | | Charlene adds that the club is financially self-sufficient |
| players have been developed at the Balmy Beach | | | | and has never asked for any funds from the city, who |
| Club, and Chris adds that there are eight senior players | | | | officially owns the land that the club is built on. She |
| that played on the Canadian national rugby team, while | | | | adds that the Balmy Beach Club is an important focal |
| six Balmy Beach junior players are currently playing for | | | | point for the community, a beautiful place to get away |
| Canada. Several paddlers from the Balmy Beach Club | | | | from it all, right here in the city. Charlene herself grew |
| have won Olympic medals in kayaking and canoeing | | | | up in the Beach, attended local schools such as |
| as well. | | | | Williamson Road, Glen Ames and Malvern Collegiate |
| What Chris really enjoys about being a member at the | | | | Institute. She has raised her daughters here and for a |
| Balmy Beach Club is that the club is very inclusive and | | | | number of years she worked at "Lido's in the Beach", |
| includes members of all backgrounds and age groups. | | | | a restaurant formerly owned by Lido Chilelli, founder of |
| He enjoys being friends with 18-year old youngsters | | | | the Beaches Jazz Festival. |
| while he also appreciates the older members, many of | | | | One of the things that Charlene has instituted at the |
| whom have been part of this club for several | | | | club is a more inclusive policy. More than 30 years ago, |
| decades. He said it is very sad when some of the | | | | the club was open to men only. After shower and |
| older members pass away, and the entire club mourns | | | | locker facilities were installed for women, the club |
| the departure of long-term club members. He adds | | | | opened its doors to both genders. Things have |
| that he has football pictures from high school that | | | | changed substantially, and since Charlene arrived on |
| depict three generations of Balmy Beach Club | | | | the scene, she has introduced many family-friendly |
| members. | | | | events such as Christmas parties, Easter egg hunts |
| Chris had to go and handed me back to Ken, and we | | | | and Halloween events. Charlene has actively been |
| set off on a tour of the building. Ken first took me into | | | | working on broadening the appeal of the Balmy Beach |
| a large multi-purpose room on the Western side of the | | | | Club and on making it accessible to a wider range of |
| building which houses a variety of plaques and sports | | | | people. She has even added a wireless Internet |
| jerseys. This is where most of the social functions are | | | | connection to the club so members can come in and |
| held, and occasionally the room is also used for indoor | | | | use their laptops from the comfort of their social club. |
| lawn bowling. Ken indicated that the Balmy Beach | | | | Considering all this history and the people behind it, the |
| Football team won the Grey Cup twice in 1927 and | | | | club is definitely the 'Legend by the Lake", and in |
| 1930. Several wooden plaques highlight the Canadian | | | | Charlene's words it is the "best kept secret in Toronto". |
| champions in canoeing / kayaking, lawn bowling and | | | | |
