Toronto · intersection

Balsam & Beech

Balsam Ave & Beech Ave · Toronto, Ontario · The Beaches · Ward 19, Beaches-East York

Balsam & Beech, in The Beaches, is a lightly travelled intersection. Nearby is 13 TTC routes within a kilometre. Its serious-injury record over the last decade is clean.

Traffic volume
1,745
vehicles · 8-hour count, Mar 29, 2001
359 pedestrians · 12 cyclists
Collisions
11
police-reported, any severity · 2016–2025
0 with an injury · 6 property damage · #4141 of 5,508 · +1 since Jan 2026
KSI collisions
0
killed or seriously injured · 2016–2025
none in the window
Red-light camera
None
not on the City's camera list
Transit
0
TTC stops within 100 m
3 streetcar routes · 5 bus routes within 1 km
Cycling
No bikeway
nothing on the City cycling network here
Bike Share: 0 docks within 150 m

The latest City count averages about 220 vehicles an hour over its 8-hour span, 19% of the median counted intersection. There is roughly one pedestrian for every 5 vehicles, a higher share of people on foot than the typical counted intersection (one per 13). Police have logged an average of 1.1 collisions a year here over 2016–2025 — well below the median of 31 for the decade. None of them involved a death or serious injury.

Map

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Balsam & Beech

Getting here

Transit within 1 km, cycling at the corner, and what's within a 1.5 km walk

Transit & cycling

Streetcar
503501506 nearest 133 m
TTC bus
4041211764135 nearest 133 m
Blue Night
301306322316324
Nearest stops
4 surface stops within 300 m
Cycling
no bikeway on the City cycling network touches this intersection
Bike Share
Kingston Rd / Beech Ave 165 m · 15 docks · 9 stations, 161 docks within 1 km

Straight-line distances to the nearest stop or station entrance in each agency's current schedule feed, including temporary diversions.

Within walking distance 1.5 km

Schools (20)
  • Beaches MontessoriPrivate · 260 m
  • Balmy Beach Community SchoolEnglish Public · 294 m
  • Notre Dame Catholic High SchoolEnglish Separate · 295 m
  • St John Catholic Elementary SchoolEnglish Separate · 372 m
  • Adam Beck Jr Public SchoolEnglish Public · 475 m
  • Malvern Collegiate InstituteEnglish Public · 480 m
  • and 14 more
Community centres
Parks (19)
  • Glen Stewart Park266 m
  • Neville Park Blvd Ravine564 m
  • Ivan Forrest Gardens784 m
  • Bob Acton Park865 m
  • Blantyre Park889 m
  • East Toronto Athletic Field1 km
  • and 13 more
Library
  • Toronto Public Library Main Street branch886 m
  • Toronto Public Library Beaches branch1.2 km
Places of interest
  • Balmy Beach ParkNature/ Park · 1.1 km
  • Kew Gardens ParkNature/ Park · 1.4 km

Around the corner

Food premises, public washrooms, child care and emergency services — distances are straight-line from the node

Restaurants & food

There are 17 restaurants, cafés and takeouts within 300 m of the corner, plus 4 grocery and convenience stores, and 97 eating places within a kilometre. The nearest is Black Dog Cafe, 150 m away, which passed its last DineSafe inspection in August 2026.

Restaurants & cafés17 within 300 m · 97 within 1 km
Grocery & convenience4 within 300 m · 18 within 1 km
Nearest food premisesDistanceLatest DineSafe inspection
Black Dog Cafe · 878 Kingston Rd150 mPassed, Aug 2026
Black Dog Cafe · 878 Kingston Rd150 mPassed, May 2024
Fearless Meat · 884 Kingston Rdgrocery153 mPassed, Aug 2026 · 1 infraction
Fearless Meat · 884 Kingston Rdgrocery153 mPassed, May 2025 · 2 infractions
Wings Fuzion · 917 Kingston Rd154 mPassed, Jul 2026
Sun's Milk · 896 Kingston Rd161 mPassed, Nov 2023 · 1 infraction
Kibo Upper Beach · 906 Kingston Rd169 mPassed, Feb 2025
The Black Canary Espresso Bar · 900 Kingston Rd170 mPassed, Mar 2024

Every establishment Toronto Public Health inspects under DineSafe, screened by name to leave out kitchens inside schools, care homes and offices. A conditional pass means infractions had to be fixed by a follow-up visit, not that the premises is closed.

Washrooms & water

The nearest public washroom is Adam Beck Community Centre Washroom, 434 m away, Mon 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Tue 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Wed 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Thu 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Fri 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Sat 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sun Closed.

  • Adam Beck Community Centre Washroom · 79 Lawlor Ave
    Mon 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Tue 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Wed 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Thu 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Fri 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Sat 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sun Closed
    434 m
  • Blantyre Park Fieldhouse Washroom · 180 Fallingbrook Rd
    9 a.m. to 10 p.m. · accessible
    814 m
  • Beaches Recreation Centre Washroom · 6 Williamson Rd
    View centre hours
    890 m

Park washrooms, washrooms in City buildings and automated street toilets, with hours and status as the City publishes them (park washrooms are seasonal). Malls, shops and TTC stations are not included.

Child care

23 licensed child care centres within a kilometre offer 1,796 spaces; nine accept City fee subsidy. The nearest is Beaches Montessori School Incorporated (260 m, 54 spaces, toddler, preschool).

Within 1 km23 centres · 1,796 spaces
Fee subsidy9 of 23
  • Beaches Montessori School Incorporated · 950 Kingston Rd
    54 spaces · toddler, preschool
    260 m
  • Balmy Beach Community Day Care Centre · 14 Pine Ave
    171 spaces · preschool, kindergarten, school age · fee subsidy · $10-a-day
    294 m
  • Kids Club (Day Care Connection) · 780 Kingston Rd
    118 spaces · kindergarten, school age · fee subsidy · $10-a-day
    372 m
  • Beaches Montessori School South · 995 Kingston Rd
    16 spaces · preschool
    414 m

Licensed centres only; spaces are licensed capacity, not vacancies.

Emergency services

The nearest fire hall is Fire Station 226 (778 m), the nearest police station 55 Division (2.4 km) and the nearest ambulance station 1.9 km away.

FireFire Station 226 · 778 m87 Main St
Police55 Division · 2.4 km101 Coxwell Avenue
AmbulanceAmbulance Station 46 · 1.9 km105 Cedarvale Ave

Nearest station by straight line — not a response time, and not necessarily the station that would answer a call.

Apartment buildings nearby

RentSafeTO-registered rental buildings within 1 km, with the City's latest evaluation score

52 registered apartment buildings with 1,905 rental units stand within a kilometre of the corner, eight of them social or Toronto Community Housing — 2.3× the median for a Toronto intersection. The nearest is 828 Kingston Rd (221 m, 147 units, 7 storeys, built 1962), which scored 96 out of 100 at its July 2025 RentSafeTO evaluation. None scored below 70; the average is 90, about the citywide norm. The Landlord and Tenant Board issued 70 final orders naming these buildings in the latest half-year of its catalogue, and 5 fire-code violations are open across them.

Registered buildings52 · 1,905 units · 8 social housing
RentSafeTO score90 average · none below 70
LTB orders, Jan 2026 – Jun 202670 across the 52
Open fire-code violations5
Tallest16 storeys
Nearest buildingsUnitsStoreysBuiltScoreLTB ordersDistance
828 Kingston RdToronto Community Housing · Toronto Community Housing Corporation1477196296 · Jul 20253221 m
983 Kingston Rd · Ez Property Management Ltd143192578 · Jun 20240343 m
987 Kingston Rd · Ez Property Management153192590 · Jul 20250362 m
737 Kingston Rd · Jblue Enterprises244193583 · Aug 20260389 m
700 Kingston Rd · Greenwin Corp.387197193 · Sep 20265521 m
656 Kingston Rdsocial housing · Neighbourhood Link Homes1066199488 · Aug 20240600 m
1080 Kingston Rd20216197095 · Jul 202413627 m
109 Beech Ave · Colloredo-Mansfeld183197177 · Jul 20240632 m

The City's RentSafeTO register — rental apartment buildings of three or more storeys and ten or more units — with the score from each building's latest City evaluation (out of 100; poor scores trigger a full audit). LTB orders are final Landlord and Tenant Board orders naming the address (Jan 2026 – Jun 2026); fire-code violations are open items in Toronto Fire Services' inspection data. Each building links to its full record on LandlordReport. Condominiums and houses are not registered.

Parking

Every mapped lot within 2 km, Green P with peak occupancy, City EV charging and bike parking

All parking lots379 lots · ≈17,840 spaces · 53.5 ha
Within 500 m22 lots · ≈400 spaces
Green P (public)10 car parks · about 535 spaces
EV charging (City)912 Kingston Road · 176 m · 2 Level 2 ports
Bike parking43 post-and-rings within 300 m · Indoor bike station, 777 Victoria Park Ave (1.7 km)
Green P car parkDistanceSpacesPeak occupancy
197 Blantyre Ave · Surface764 m8329% (Q1 2026)
117 Hammersmith Ave · Surface883 m2947% (Q1 2026)
136 Wineva Ave. · Surface1 km28 *
85 Lee Ave · Surface1.1 km6861% (Q1 2026)
Victoria Main Lot - 777 Victoria Park Avenue · Surface1.6 km173 *

Nearest lots: 109 m away, ≈11 spaces; 162 m away, ≈4 spaces; 166 m away, ≈7 spaces; 178 m away, ≈5 spaces; 192 m away, ≈16 spaces; 232 m away, ≈15 spaces. More EV charging: 2150 Queen Street East (832 m, 2 ports); 2231 Gerrard Street East (868 m, 1 ports); 117 Hammersmith Ave (896 m, 6 ports).

Lot count and area from the City's topographic mapping of parking-lot footprints (every visible surface lot, public or private); spaces are estimated at one per 30 m² of lot. Lots not run by Green P are private, commercial or institutional and may be for customers or residents only. Green P spaces and average daily peak occupancy from the Toronto Parking Authority's quarterly dataset (* = capacity from the 2019 car-park list; rates are not shown because that list is stale — check Green P). EV chargers are City-operated only; on-street and underground parking are not included.

Traffic volume

The City's latest turning-movement count — 8-hour, Mar 29, 2001

This is a three-leg intersection with no north leg. The south leg carries the load — 915 northbound vehicles, or 52% of everything entering — while the east leg brought 377. Morning rush is the busier period: 317 vehicles in the peak hour from 8:15 a.m., compared with 269 from 4:45 p.m. Heavy vehicles made up 2.3% of traffic (typical: 3.2%). The citywide median for a 14-hour count is 16,183 vehicles. The count is 25 years old — treat it as a snapshot of 2001, not today's volume. It was an 8-hour count, which is not directly comparable with the 14-hour counts the City has used since September 2023.

From the north0southbound · 0 bikes · 0.0% heavy
From the west453eastbound · 7 bikes · 2.2% heavy
Total vehicles1,745359 pedestrians · 12 cyclists · 2.3% heavy
From the east377westbound · 3 bikes · 4.0% heavy
From the south915northbound · 2 bikes · 1.7% heavy
AM peak hour317 vehicles from 8:15 a.m.
PM peak hour269 vehicles from 4:45 p.m.
Count8-hour · Mar 29, 2001

Approach figures are vehicles entering the intersection from that leg over the whole count. A count is one day's traffic, not an annual average; the City recounts on an ad-hoc schedule.

How fast traffic moves here

Midblock speed counts on the intersection's streets, the nearest school-zone speed sign, and traffic calming

The City's counter on Beech Ave between Balsam Ave and Glen Stewart Park Trl (46 m away) recorded an average of 33 km/h in its 24-hour count in September 2012; 85% of drivers were at or under 42 km/h. That segment carries about 1,400 vehicles a day. Balsam Ave between Glen Stewart Park Trl and Balsam Rd measured slower: 32 km/h on average and an 85th percentile of 40 km/h (Apr 2001). The reading is 14 years old; the City counts on request rather than on a schedule. At the school-zone speed sign on Lyall Ave (391 m away, 30 km/h limit), 0.0% of the 47,604 vehicles logged in July 2026 were doing 40 km/h or more — almost none. 2 speed humps slow traffic on Beech Avenue between Kingston Rd and Balsam Ave, and 2 more calmed segments end here.

Street segmentCountedVehicles / dayAverage85th percentile95th
Beech Ave · Balsam Ave – Glen Stewart Park Trl · 46 mSep 2012 · 24 h1,44133 km/h42 km/h47 km/h
Balsam Ave · Glen Stewart Park Trl – Balsam Rd · 170 mApr 2001 · 3 days1,21732 km/h40 km/h45 km/h

School-zone speed sign 391 m

Posted limit30 km/h
Median · 85th pct9 · 21 km/h
Over the limit0.2%
40 km/h or more0.0%

Lyall Ave (eastbound), 72 Lyall Avenue · 47,604 vehicles logged in July 2026 · runs weekdays, 7 am - 9 pm.

Traffic calming

  • Beech Avenue · Kingston Rd – Balsam Ave
    2 speed humps
  • Beech Avenue · Pine Ave – Balsam Ave
    5 speed humps
  • Balsam Avenue · Pine Ave – Beech Ave
    4 speed humps

Midblock counts are automatic counters laid across the road for one to seven days; the 85th-percentile speed is the figure engineers use — 85% of drivers were at or below it. Counts are ad hoc, so some are years old. A midblock reading is not the speed through the intersection itself, and posted limits are not in the count data.

All police-reported collisions

Every collision reported to Toronto Police within 65 m, any severity, 2016–2025

2022 was the peak year (4 collisions), and 2025 closed with 3. 0% of collisions here involved an injury. 9 drivers failed to remain at the scene — 82% of collisions. None of the collisions in the window involved a pedestrian or cyclist. Since January 2026, 1 more collision has been reported; they sit outside the ranking window. The most recent report on file is from Apr 25, 2026.

By year

16171819202122232425
2016–2025Collisions
All reported collisions11#4141 of 5,508
With an injury0
Property damage only6
Fail to remain9
Involving a pedestrian0
Involving a cyclist0
Involving a motorcyclist0
With a fatality0
Severity not classified5
Since January 2026 (outside the window)1
All since 201416latest Apr 25, 2026

Source: Toronto Police Service, Traffic Collisions Open Data — every collision reported to police since 2014, within 65 m of this node. Records through Jun 30, 2026.

Killed or seriously injured

Collisions in which someone died or was seriously injured, within 65 m, 2016–2025 — the basis of the danger rankings

The KSI record for this intersection is empty back to 2006.

KSI = killed or seriously injured. A collision is counted if its recorded location is within 65 m of this intersection's centreline node, whether the police coded it as intersection-related or mid-block. Records can lag a year or more, so the current year is excluded from rankings.

Thefts reported at this corner

Thefts from vehicles and bicycle thefts that Toronto Police have offset to this intersection, 2016–2025

Toronto Police place 11 thefts from vehicles and two bicycle thefts at this intersection in 2016–2025 — 2.2× the median for a Toronto intersection with any reported theft. The pace has slowed: 1 in 2023–2025, about 0.3 a year, against 1.7 a year before that. 55% of the vehicle thefts were from house driveways and garages.

By year

16171819202122232425
2016–2025Reported2023–2025Since Jan 2026Most often from
Theft from a vehicle1110house driveway/garage (6), other (4)
Bicycle theft200other (2)

Source: Toronto Police Service, Theft From Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Thefts open data, records through Jul 24, 2025. Police offset every occurrence to the nearest intersection before publishing, so these are thefts on the streets and premises around this node, not necessarily at the corner itself. Other offences are published by neighbourhood only — see The Beaches.

Nearby intersections

Questions

Is Balsam & Beech a dangerous intersection?

Not by the record: no one was killed or seriously injured here in 2016–2025, though police reported 11 lesser collisions. High counts usually track high traffic volume rather than a design flaw; volume is shown alongside so the numbers can be read in context.

How busy is Balsam & Beech?

A lightly travelled intersection. Its latest count is from Mar 29, 2001, 19% of the median for a counted intersection.

How fast do cars go at Balsam & Beech?

The City's most recent speed count near the corner, on Beech Ave between Balsam Ave and Glen Stewart Park Trl (September 2012), found an average of 33 km/h and an 85th-percentile speed of 42 km/h — meaning 85% of drivers were at or below that speed. At the school-zone speed sign 391 m away (30 km/h), 0.0% of vehicles were doing 40 km/h or more in July 2026.

Where can I park near Balsam & Beech?

The nearest Green P car park is 197 Blantyre Ave (764 m away, 83 spaces, 29% full at the daily peak in Q1 2026). The City's mapping shows 379 parking lots of any kind within 2 km — roughly 17,840 spaces — 22 of them within 500 m; most are private or customer-only lots. The nearest City EV charger is at 912 Kingston Road (176 m).

How do I get to Balsam & Beech by transit?

Streetcar routes 503, 501, 506 stop within 1 km, the nearest 133 m away; bus routes 404, 12, 117, 64, 135 within 1 km.

What restaurants are near Balsam & Beech?

17 restaurants, cafés and takeouts are within 300 m, and 97 within a kilometre, according to Toronto Public Health's DineSafe inspection list. The closest are Black Dog Cafe (150 m), Black Dog Cafe (150 m), Wings Fuzion (154 m), Sun's Milk (161 m) and Kibo Upper Beach (169 m). Each one's latest inspection result is shown on this page; DineSafe does not record cuisine or opening hours.

Is there a public washroom near Balsam & Beech?

The nearest is Adam Beck Community Centre Washroom, 79 Lawlor Ave, 434 m away (Mon 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Tue 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Wed 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Thu 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Fri 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Sat 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sun Closed). Next nearest: Blantyre Park Fieldhouse Washroom (814 m); Beaches Recreation Centre Washroom (890 m). These are the City's own washrooms — in parks, civic buildings and automated street toilets — not those in malls, coffee shops or TTC stations.

Is there child care near Balsam & Beech?

23 licensed child care centres within 1 km, with 1,796 spaces in total; 9 accept City fee subsidy and some are in the $10-a-day (CWELCC) program. The nearest are Beaches Montessori School Incorporated (260 m, 54 spaces), Balmy Beach Community Day Care Centre (294 m, 171 spaces) and Kids Club (Day Care Connection) (372 m, 118 spaces). Spaces are licensed capacity, not vacancies.

What apartment buildings are near Balsam & Beech?

52 RentSafeTO-registered apartment buildings with 1,905 rental units are within 1 km. The nearest are 828 Kingston Rd (221 m, 147 units, RentSafeTO score 96), 983 Kingston Rd (343 m, 14 units, RentSafeTO score 78), 987 Kingston Rd (362 m, 15 units, RentSafeTO score 90) and 737 Kingston Rd (389 m, 24 units, RentSafeTO score 83). The average RentSafeTO score across the 52 is 90 out of 100. Condos and houses are not on the City's register. Each building's full record — score history, LTB orders, fire-code inspections, permits — is on LandlordReport.

How many thefts are reported at Balsam & Beech?

Toronto Police place 11 thefts from vehicles and two bicycle thefts at this intersection in 2016–2025. Police offset every reported occurrence to the nearest intersection before publishing it, so the count covers the streets, driveways and parking around this corner rather than the corner itself. Break-ins, robberies and other offences are published by neighbourhood only — see the The Beaches page.

What neighbourhood is Balsam & Beech in?

Balsam & Beech is in The Beaches (City of Toronto neighbourhood 063). It is in Ward 19, Beaches-East York, represented by Councillor Brad Bradford.

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from one of these datasets — how they are joined