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Ward’s Island, Toronto IslandsA quiet corner of the Toronto Islands

Aerial photo of downtown Toronto and the Toronto Islands, with the Ward’s Island ferry route drawn from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal to the Ward’s Island dock Ferry terminal Ward’s Island
The Ward’s Island ferry runs from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, at the foot of Bay Street, to the quiet east end of the islands. Photo: Shawn from Airdrie, Canada (CC BY-SA 2.0), edited.

Getting here

Take the Ward’s Island ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street. The ride is about 10 minutes, and the studio is about a 2-minute walk from the dock.

Make sure you board the Ward’s Island ferry. The Centre Island and Hanlan’s Point ferries land at the other end of the islands.

Plan to catch the boat before the one you need.

Missed the boat? A water taxi from the downtown waterfront can get you to Ward’s Island.

Check the time of the last boat back to the city.

Ferry schedule

Massage on Ward’s Island

Toronto Island Wellness is a small massage therapy studio on Ward’s Island, a 2-minute walk from the ferry.

It’s quiet here. No traffic, no sirens: just the trees, the lake and the wind.

In summer, the walk takes you past islanders’ gardens, each one kept by the person who lives there. Look all you like; just stay out of the yards.

Along the paths you’ll find art boxes showing work by Toronto Island artists.

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Make a day of it

  • Toronto Island Café, a treat before or after your session.
  • The Riviera for lunch on its treed patios, with coffee from Runaway Cafe, its coffee truck.
  • Island Outpost, the island shop.
  • Paddleboards from Toronto Island SUP on the calm lagoon (June to September).
  • Ward’s Island Beach and the boardwalk along the lake.
  • Events and programs from the Ward’s Island Association, the Algonquin Island Association and others around the island.
  • Centre Island, a walk west, for more places to eat.

Ward’s Island through the year

SpringNow

Slow to wake, then spectacular: the closer it gets to summer, the prettier the island is.

SummerNow

Gardens in full flower, swimming in the lake and long evenings on the boardwalk.

AutumnNow

Changing colours that are unreal, then a quieter, greyer island as the season ends.

WinterNow

Stunning: quiet paths, snow in the trees and ice along the shore.

The Ward’s Island ferry runs all year. The Centre Island and Hanlan’s Point ferries stop from mid-October to mid-April, so in those months Ward’s Island is the way onto the islands. Weather can still change the schedule, so check on the day and leave extra time. Questions? Get in touch by email or phone or text. I also offer home visits, which can save you the trip.

Why time on the island feels so good

A break from the city

Toronto is loud and busy. Ten minutes across the harbour, Ward’s Island is quiet: a real break from city noise.

Swim in the open lake, sail, sunbathe on the beach or walk under the trees. Lake Ontario is spectacular from here, and it’s a treat.

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What the research says

Research from Japan on forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) has found that time among trees lowers stress: people walking in a forest had lower cortisol, pulse and blood pressure than on the same walk in a city.1,2

A massage on the island builds on that: you arrive already a little calmer.

  1. Park BJ, Tsunetsugu Y, Kasetani T, Kagawa T, Miyazaki Y. The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. 2010;15(1):18–26. PubMed
  2. Hansen MM, Jones R, Tocchini K. Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) and nature therapy: a state-of-the-art review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017;14(8):851. Full text