There are currently no Probus Walks planned in December.
Walks are scheduled for second Thursday and fourth Wednesday of the month.
Any members of the Probus Club are welcome to join. Contact James Rayner at 416-233-1909.
There are currently no Probus Walks planned in December.
Additional details about upcoming walks will be sent by emails from James Rayner. To learn more and be included on the mailing list, contact James at lebonprof@rogers.com.
Walks in November 2025
The walk in November was held on November 13th, when the group walked through the CNE grounds and along the lake shore to Harbourfront.
To see the latest posted Photographic Tour of the City that occurred in September 2025 along the shores of the Lakeshore, click below:
Walks in October 2025
No walks were held in October.
Walks in September 2025
Probus Walks were held on Thursday, September 11th with the second walk along the shore of Lake Ontario held on Wednesday September 24th despite the challenging weather.
To see the latest posted Photographic Tour of the City that occurred in August 2025 to the Toronto Island, click below:
Walks in August 2025
The only Probus Walk was on Wednesday August 27th. Eight people went on this walk to the Toronto Islands!
To see the latest posted Photographic Tour of the City that occurred in the Spring of 2025, through downtown Toronto, click below:
Walks in June 2025
The Probus Walks on Thursday, June 12th was cancelled, while the second walk on Wednesday June 25th was held.
Walks in May 2025
There was only one walk that was held in May occurred on Thursday May 8th. This walk took us through the classy neighbourhoods of Moore Park and Rosedale. We travelled to the St. Clair subway station and walked east along St. Clair to Inglewood Drive. On the way, we passed over the great bridge on St. Clair that crosses the picturesquely named Mud Creek Valley.
Click below to:
The second walk on Thursday May 22nd to Port Credit to the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens had to be cancelled due to bad weather.
Walks in April 2025
There was only one walk in April that occurred on Wednesday April 23rd. The blog for April is the walk that occurred on Wednesday March 26th. To read about this walk:
Walks in March 2025
Probus Walks started again on Wednesday March 26th with a tour of the Annex and lunch at Hemmingway in Yorkville. 13 walkers showed up despite the cold day, with a number of new members joining the walk.
Walks in October 2024
In October, there weren’t any walks. However, there is a blog on the final walk of 2024. which took place on Thursday, September 26. The group took the subway to Union Station and the Bay St. bus down to the waterfront. The aim was to walk along Queen’s Quay East as far as Cherry St., observing the huge developments that have taken place along Queen’s Quay, and to take in the enormous changes happening in what is referred to as “The Portlands”. Click Here to read more about that walk.
Walks in September 2024
In September, there were 2 walks. The post for the Walking Club occured on September 12th, as the group took a hike up Black Creek Valley. To see photos from that walk, Click Here.
Walks in August 2024
In August, there was 1 walk, on August 8th. The post for August features a walk that visited the Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens in June. Click Here to read more about that walk.
Walks in July 2024
In July, there were 2 walks. On July 11th, the walking group visited the Brickworks. On July 24th, the walk went to Etobicoke Creek. Because of the heavy rains on June 23rd, the walk had to be modified somewhat.
The blog for July 2024 features a walk that occurred in June following the Castle Frank stream. The creek rises near Yorkdale Mall and makes its way south-easterly to eventually empty into the Don River, south of Bloor St.reet. To learn more, Click Here.
Walks in June 2024
In June, there were 2 walks, on June 13th and June 26th . The blog for this month features a stroll through parts of the downtown area to see what has changed and what has remained in this constantly evolving city. This walk started at the intersection of Bloor Street and Yonge Street, heading south to Queen St. and then back up by Bay St. to Bloor and the subway. To learn more, Click Here.
Walks in May 2024
In May, there were two walks held on May 9th and May 22nd. However, the post for May featured the visit to the Sakura cherry trees in High Park that were blooming early due to the unseasonably warm weather that Toronto was experiencing. To see the photos and read about this walk held on April 24th, Click Here.
Walks in April 2024
In the month of April, there was one walk to see the Cherry Blossoms at High Park held on April 24th. This month’s blog discusses how the Walking Club travelled east to the “terra incognita” of eastern Toronto, specifically the neighbourhood known as Riverdale. Learn more about this walk by clicking on this link: April 2024 Walk.
Walks in March 2024
On March 14th, a dozen members of The Walking Club kicked off the new year with a walk through the old Town of West Toronto and West Toronto Junction. Read more about this walk by clicking on this link: March 2024 Walk.
There is no blog for February,. However, the blog for January features the walk held on November 22nd from the Old Mill subway station and parking lot down to the Lake Ontario shore, a route travelled by thousands over the years. Read more about this walk by clicking on this link: January 2024 Walk.
Walks in December 2023
For the month of December, only one walk was held on December 14th to accommodate the holiday season. This walk consisted of a tour of the Eaton Centre, and visits to City Hall, Bay Street, Bank of Montreal, CIBC and the Royal York hotel – all to view the Christmas decorations. Then the group made its way to St. Lawrence Market and, finally, to the Christmas market at the Distillery District. Read more by clicking on this link: December 2023 Walk
Walks in November 2023
For the month of November, walks followed the normal schedule. The first walk was on Thursday November 9th, while the second walk was on Wednesday November 22nd.
Photos for the month of November 2023 post were taken in June 2023. This walk was along Dundas St. from the Dundas West subway station to Gladstone Ave., a street that houses St. Anne’s Anglican Church, where a tour of the art inside of the Church had been arranged. Read more by clicking on this link: November 2023 Walk.
Overview of the Walking Club
Members of the Walking Club enjoy each other’s company as we explore Toronto and its environs twice per month. We usually walk on the second Thursday and the fourth Wednesday as some members are committed to other activities on one of those days. On our outings in good weather, we explore ravine and parkland trails, including the eastern beaches boardwalk. In winter, when the trails are risky, we walk the streets of the city, learning what different neighbourhoods have to offer in the fields of culture, architecture, history, and liveability.
The walks usually last about 2 hours as we enjoy the stimulus of a walk of reasonable length but don’t want to overdo it by walking too long. Members of the group set their own pace so there is no pressure to “keep up”. Sometimes, especially if we are far from Etobicoke, we will stop at a local pub or restaurant for lunch before heading home. Transportation to the starting point is either by car or TTC, depending on the location. So far, we have walked in about 60 different locations, as we like variety in our destinations. To see some of the previous walks, see the section below called “Monthly Walks – Photographic Tours of the City.
If you are interested in joining the group, please contact James Rayner at 416-233-1909 or lebonprof@rogers.com.
Benefits of belonging to the Walking Club
The benefit of belonging to the Walking Club is it allows participants to make new friends and maintain friendships with others who enjoy walking.
Attending one of the walks allows members to explore interesting parts of the city. Walks are planned by the Coordinator, James Rayner, to visit both urban neighbourhoods and nature. They are often very educational.
The benefits of walking are well understood: to get some exercise, to lose weight, to improve your flexibility and balance, and to improve your overall health.
Upcoming Meetings
Walks occur on the second Thursday and fourth Wednesday of the month. Walks depend on the weather, but members are updated by email.
Our Members
Participating in the Walking Club is open to everyone in Probus. Usually about a dozen or so members come out to a walk, but some popular walks (for example, to Toronto Island) might have 20 or more people attend. Contact the Coordinator of the group, James Rayner at 416-233-1909, to become a member. James leads the walk and often provides information about the part of the city being visited.
Monthly Walks
Photographic Tours of the City
May 2021 Walk
By James Rayner This month we continue our walk along the shores of Lake Ontario by visiting the CNE grounds (or Exhibition Place if you prefer.) As a bonus, I will let you know where to park for free, something that is nearly impossible now. Approaching the CNE from the west, go along Lake Shore…
June 2021 Walk
By James Rayner Last time, we visited the CNE grounds to admire the early 20th century architecture that survives there. This time, we cross Lake Shore Blvd. to Ontario Place where late 20th century architecture is featured. Beginning at the east end of the park, just west of Strachan Avenue, the visit begins by joining…
August 2021 Walk
By James Rayner At the far eastern edge of Toronto, running west from the Rouge River boundary with Pickering, we find the beautiful Rouge Beach. It is a magnificent stretch of sand and coves that stretches at least 3km west toward the Scarborough Bluffs. The Walking Club visited this park on August 12. To get…
September 2021 Walk
By James Rayner Continuing our visit to Toronto’s Great Lake, our Walking group visited Harbourfront. Taking the Bathurst streetcar south from Bathurst subway station, we got off at Fort York Blvd. From there you get a beautiful view of old Fort York which used to be on the shore of the lake but because of…
October 2021 Walk
By James Rayner This month’s walk continues from the last one where we ended up at Queen’s Quay Terminal Warehouse. This time we continued east along the waterfront. Exiting the (finally) renovated Union Station into Maple Leaf Square, you will find the entrance to the Scotia Bank Centre with its statues of notable Maple Leaf…
November 2021 Walk
By James Rayner To conclude our walks along the waterfront of beautiful Lake Ontario, we visited the Toronto Islands. These islands were once part of a large sandbar–formed by erosion from the Scarborough bluffs–that served as a protector of Toronto harbour from lake storms. That is part of the reason why John Graves Simcoe chose…
December 2021 Walk
By James Rayner For a change of pace, this month I am going to describe a walk Joan and I took through the city centre in early December to check out the seasonal lights and decorations in the vicinity of the Eaton Centre. Along the way, we met a group of friends we knew from…
January 2022 Walk
By James Rayner One part of the Toronto waterfront that is often overlooked is the area between Cherry St. and Leslie St., south of Lake Shore Blvd., popularly known as The Port Lands. This is another area of the lake shore that has been created by land fill over a century and includes such landmarks…
February 2022 Walk
By James Rayner The last few installments of this blog have featured Toronto’s fortunate location on the shores of one of the Great Lakes. Toronto is also blessed with a number of rivers and creeks that have carved valleys throughout the city. Unfortunately, in many cases, our forebears filled in many of these valleys and…
March 2022 Walk
By James Rayner Last month we began describing a series of walks along the rivers that bless Toronto with their presence, starting with the West Humber trail. This month, we turn to the main branch of the Humber River. The walk begins at Summerlea Park on the east side of Albion Road, just north of…
April 2022 Walk
By James Rayner This month we took a break from water-centric walks and enjoyed some outdoor art. The “Crossings” exhibit has been seen in London, New York City, and Washington, D.C., among other sites. This year it was Toronto’s turn to host this interpretation of the Stations of the Cross, the events on Good Friday…
May 2022 Walk
By James Rayner Every two years, Toronto hosts the Toronto Biennial of Art in various locations around the city, open this year until June 5th. Its theme is “Water knows, the Land Remembers” a theme based on the relationship between Toronto’s many streams, Lake Ontario, and the land bordering these bodies of water. Several locations…
June 2022 Walk
By James Rayner This month’s walk actually took place in May 2022 in the charming village of Port Credit. To get to the starting point, we drove west on the Queen Elizabeth Way to Hurontario Street (Hwy. 10) and took it south to Lake Shore Road, turned right (west) for 3 blocks to Stavebank Rd.…
August 2022 Walk
By James Rayner One of my favourite outings is to the Vale of Avoca. The Walking Club did this walk in June 2022. The Vale of Avoca is a ravine system that begins north of the Downsview Airport but is buried until its exit from Mount Pleasant Cemetery and runs south-east to Rosedale and the Don…
September 2022 Walk
By James Rayner One of the more interesting walks that the Walking Club took this summer was to see the Yorkville Murals. Starting at the Bathurst subway station, we made our way east through the Annex over to Yorkville. The Annex, so named because Toronto annexed the area in the late 1800s, is a treasure…
October 2022 Walk
By James Rayner Sometimes we don’t realize how lucky we are to be living in Etobicoke beside one of Canada’s designated historic rivers, the Humber. This stream and its valley have served as a transportation route for First Nations and, later, European explorers, from Lake Ontario north to the Holland River and then to Georgian…
November 2022 Walk
By James Rayner I have already mentioned in my last post, how lucky we are in Etobicoke to be living near one of Canada’s most historic rivers, the Humber. As a final autumn walk, the Walking Club visited this river once more before the snow flies. Our route was from Albion Road to Albion Road,…
December 2022 Walk
By James Rayner In early December, the Walking Club visited the Yorkville area of Toronto to view more than 30 floral installations called Fleurs de Villes, featuring the works of Toronto’s favourite florists. I had seen an ad for this event on the subway but didn’t have any details. Members of the Walking Club were…
James’ Last Walk of 2022
As our last walk of 2022, we were happy to revive our traditional walk through the downtown area to see Christmas decorations, attend a free noon-hour concert at Roy Thomson Hall, wander over to the St. Lawrence Market for the traditional back bacon on a bun, and to end up at the Christmas Market in…
February 2023 Walk
By James Rayner I recently wrote about a walk we took along Queen St. West from Roncesvalles to University Avenue; this current installment includes Queen Street from Bay to Dufferin, going west instead of east. It is amazing how the same street looks so different when going in the opposite direction! We started the walk…
March 2023 Walk
On Wednesday, March 22, the Walking Club was finally able to get back to walking. This outing started at the Keele subway station where we crossed Bloor St. and walked east to Indian Road. On the way, we noticed the new bicycle lanes that have been installed to encourage more bike riding and fewer autos…
April 2023 Walk
The most recent outing for the Walking Club was a visit to Forest Hill, an affluent part of Toronto named after a summer home that existed at the top of the hill on Eglinton (one of Toronto’s highest points) in the 1800s. It was a separate village, founded in 1928, with its own police and…
May 2023 Walk
In May, it was time to return to High Park to see the Sakura Cherry trees in bloom. The flowering of these trees is an annual event that has proven to be very popular with Torontonians, especially those of Japanese origin for whom the blossoms hold a special spiritual meaning. The trees were donated to…
September 2023 Walk
The walk being submitted for September 2023, occurred in May, when the Walking Club took a walk through west-central Toronto to see if we could find any graffiti worth admiring. Many of these works of art are found on garage doors which necessitates a tour of the back lanes of the city. These graffiti are…
October 2023 Walk
Now that we are fully into the Fall season with the dropping of leaves and gardens being readied for winter, it seems to be a good time to recall one of our Spring outings. This was a trip to Port Credit to walk along the lake shore and to visit the famous Rhododendron Gardens. We…
November 2023 Walk
On June 8, the Walking Club planned to walk along Dundas St. from the Dundas West subway station as far as Yonge-Dundas Square. The idea was to see how Dundas evolves from a rather sketchy stretch around Roncesvalles to a prosperous thoroughfare lined with steel and glass skyscrapers in the city centre. Even before we…
December 2023 Walk
On December 14th, the Walking Club took its customary Christmas Season walk in downtown Toronto. In the past, we have attended a free noon-hour concert of Christmas music at Roy Thomson Hall, but this year there was no such concert. Cutbacks? Anyway, we managed to fill that time by visiting more sites than usual. We…
January 2024 Walk
By James Rayner One of the benefits of living in Etobicoke is our proximity to the historic Humber River. Its waters have been used for thousands of years, first by indigenous tribes for transportation and food, and later, by settlers who also used it for recreational pursuits. Currently, the river is just a shadow of…
March 2024 Walk
By James Rayner On March 14th, a dozen members of The Walking Club kicked off the new year with a walk through the old Town of West Toronto and West Toronto Junction. West Toronto was an independent town until the early 1900s when it was annexed by the expanding city of Toronto. West Toronto Junction…
April 2024 Walk
By James Rayner For this walk, the Walking Club travelled east to the “terra incognita” of eastern Toronto, specifically the neighbourhood known as Riverdale. The name comes from the area’s proximity to the Don River Valley. It as an older area of the city with many semi-detached houses of 2 ½ storeys, but there are…
May 2024 Walk
In late April, we were able to pay a visit to the Sakura cherry trees in High Park that were blooming early due to the unseasonably warm weather we were experiencing. It was a beautiful day and several members of the walking group joined in the outing. We took the subway to High Park station,…
June 2024 Walk
By James Rayner I find it interesting every once in a while to take a stroll through parts of the downtown area to see what has changed and what has remained in this constantly evolving city. This walk started at the intersection of Bloor Street and Yonge Street, heading south to Queen St. and then…
July 2024 Walk
In June, we took one of our favourite walks, following the Castle Frank stream. The creek rises near Yorkdale Mall and makes its way south-easterly to eventually empty into the Don River, south of Bloor St. We started at Eglinton West station on line One where the Eglinton LRT crosses the Spadina branch of line…
August 2024 Walk
In June, the Walking Club took the subway to the Lawrence Station on Line 1. From Lawrence Ave., we walked south a couple of blocks to the Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens on the east side of Yonge Street. This park, financed by donations from an appreciative public, is a memorial to Alexander Muir, the composer…
September 2024 Walk
On September 12th, the Walking Club took a hike up the Black Creek Valley. Black Creek has been in the news lately: near Steeles Ave., there is a Black Creek Community Garden, just south of Black Creek Pioneer Village and it was featured in a recent edition of the Toronto Star; during the 100mm downpours…
October 2024 Walk
The most recent outing of the Walking Club took place on Thursday, September 26. We took the subway to Union Station and the Bay St. bus down to the waterfront. The aim was to walk along Queen’s Quay East as far as Cherry St., observing the huge developments that have taken place along Queen’s Quay,…
April 2025 Walk
The Probus Walking Club held its first outing on March 26th. We walked through the area of Toronto known as The Annex, an area of the city stretching from Avenue Road to Bathurst Street, and from Bloor Street to the CP railway line just above Dupont Street. The area was a prosperous neighbourhood that was…
May 2025 Walk
By James Rayner A recent walk on May 8th, took us through the classy neighbourhoods of Moore Park and Rosedale. We travelled to the St. Clair subway station and walked east along St. Clair to Inglewood Drive. On the way, we passed over the great bridge on St. Clair that crosses the picturesquely named Mud…
August 2025 Walk
In late Spring, the walking club took a stroll through downtown Toronto. We started at Bay and Bloor and headed south on Bay St. From the intersection we had a good view of the troubled condo tower “One” that has been taken over by a new company after the original ran out of funds. Continuing…
September Walk 2025
In August, the Probus Walking Club visited the Toronto Islands. Taking the ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry terminal at Queen’s Quay and Bay Street, we sailed to Hanlan’s Point to begin our adventure. I chose to start the walk at Hanlan’s Point because I figured that many day camps would be going to Centre…
October Walk 2025
In September, the Probus Walking Club continued its outing along the shores of Lake Ontario. This time, we met in the parking lot just to the east of Sunnyside/Gus Ryder pool, arguably the largest outdoor pool in Canada. Heading east, we came to a reminder of the much-loved, now destroyed in the name of progress,…
Gallery
Probus Club of Kingsway-Islington 