Toronto · intersection

Balsam & Willow

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

Balsam & Willow, in The Beaches, is a low-volume local intersection. At the corner: a school within 250 m. Nearby: 13 TTC routes within a kilometre. No one has been killed or seriously injured here in the last ten years of records.

Traffic volume
1,088
vehicles · 8-hour count, Mar 28, 2001
169 pedestrians · 5 cyclists
Collisions
8
police-reported, any severity · 2016–2025
0 with an injury · 5 property damage · #4496 of 5,508 · +2 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

Across the 8-hour count, traffic averaged roughly 140 vehicles an hour, 12% of the median counted intersection. Foot traffic runs at about one pedestrian per 6 vehicles — more walking than at most counted intersections, where the median is one per 13. On average 0.8 collisions a year were reported here in 2016–2025 — well below the median of 31 for the decade. No one was killed or seriously injured in any of them.

Map

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Balsam & Willow

Getting here

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

Transit & cycling

Streetcar
503501506 nearest 113 m
TTC bus
4041211713564 nearest 113 m
Blue Night
301306322316324
Nearest stops
5 surface stops within 300 m
Cycling
no bikeway on the City cycling network touches this intersection
Bike Share
Kingston Rd / Beech Ave 202 m · 15 docks · 8 stations, 150 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 · 134 m
  • Notre Dame Catholic High SchoolEnglish Separate · 326 m
  • Adam Beck Jr Public SchoolEnglish Public · 360 m
  • Balmy Beach Community SchoolEnglish Public · 395 m
  • St John Catholic Elementary SchoolEnglish Separate · 432 m
  • Malvern Collegiate InstituteEnglish Public · 445 m
  • and 14 more
Community centres
Parks (21)
  • Glen Stewart Park390 m
  • Neville Park Blvd Ravine510 m
  • Blantyre Park770 m
  • Bob Acton Park796 m
  • Ivan Forrest Gardens902 m
  • East Toronto Athletic Field1 km
  • and 15 more
Library
  • Toronto Public Library Main Street branch909 m
  • Toronto Public Library Beaches branch1.3 km
Places of interest
  • Balmy Beach ParkNature/ Park · 1.1 km

Around the corner

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

Restaurants & food

Toronto Public Health inspects 25 eating places within 300 m of this corner, plus 5 grocery and convenience stores; within a kilometre the count is 90. The nearest is Wings Fuzion, 26 m away, which passed its last DineSafe inspection in July 2026.

Restaurants & cafés25 within 300 m · 90 within 1 km
Grocery & convenience5 within 300 m · 20 within 1 km
Nearest food premisesDistanceLatest DineSafe inspection
Wings Fuzion · 917 Kingston Rd26 mPassed, Jul 2026
99 Bottles · 925 Kingston Rd46 mPassed, Jul 2026
Mac's Convenience & Cigars · 933 Kingston Rdgrocery65 mPassed, Jul 2026
Cafe Parmesan · 918 Kingston Rd67 mPassed, Nov 2025
Cafe Parmesan · 918 Kingston Rd67 mPassed, Jul 2026 · 2 infractions
Kibo Upper Beach · 906 Kingston Rd68 mPassed, Feb 2025
The Beech Tree Pub · 924 Kingston Rd70 mPassed, Sep 2025 · 3 infractions
The Beech Tree Pub · 924 Kingston Rd70 mPassed, Aug 2026 · 2 infractions

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, 322 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
    322 m
  • Blantyre Park Fieldhouse Washroom · 180 Fallingbrook Rd
    9 a.m. to 10 p.m. · accessible
    699 m
  • Blantyre Park Outdoor Pool Washroom · 180 Fallingbrook Rd
    View outdoor pool hours · closed — Under Construction
    799 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 1,804 spaces; nine accept City fee subsidy. The nearest is Beaches Montessori School Incorporated (134 m, 54 spaces, toddler, preschool).

Within 1 km23 centres · 1,804 spaces
Fee subsidy9 of 23
  • Beaches Montessori School Incorporated · 950 Kingston Rd
    54 spaces · toddler, preschool
    134 m
  • Beaches Montessori School South · 995 Kingston Rd
    16 spaces · preschool
    306 m
  • Community Centre 55-Adam Beck · 400 Scarborough Rd
    198 spaces · kindergarten, school age · fee subsidy · $10-a-day
    361 m
  • Balmy Beach Community Day Care Centre · 14 Pine Ave
    171 spaces · preschool, kindergarten, school age · fee subsidy · $10-a-day
    395 m

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

Emergency services

The nearest fire hall is Fire Station 226 (822 m), the nearest police station 55 Division (2.6 km) and the nearest ambulance station 1.9 km away.

FireFire Station 226 · 822 m87 Main St
Police55 Division · 2.6 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

Within a kilometre there are 49 RentSafeTO-registered apartment buildings — 1,730 rental units, 2.1× the median for a Toronto intersection — six social or Toronto Community Housing. The nearest is 983 Kingston Rd (235 m, 14 units, 3 storeys, built 1925), which scored 78 out of 100 at its June 2024 RentSafeTO evaluation. None scored below 70; the average is 90, about the citywide norm. The Landlord and Tenant Board issued 68 final orders naming these buildings in the latest half-year of its catalogue, and 5 fire-code violations are open across them.

Registered buildings49 · 1,730 units · 6 social housing
RentSafeTO score90 average · none below 70
LTB orders, Jan 2026 – Jun 202668 across the 49
Open fire-code violations5
Tallest16 storeys
Nearest buildingsUnitsStoreysBuiltScoreLTB ordersDistance
983 Kingston Rd · Ez Property Management Ltd143192578 · Jun 20240235 m
828 Kingston RdToronto Community Housing · Toronto Community Housing Corporation1477196296 · Jul 20253241 m
987 Kingston Rd · Ez Property Management153192590 · Jul 20250253 m
737 Kingston Rd · Jblue Enterprises244193583 · Aug 20260474 m
1080 Kingston Rd20216197095 · Jul 202413515 m
700 Kingston Rd · Greenwin Corp.387197193 · Sep 20265604 m
1140 Kingston Rd · Merkur Properties C/O Greenwin Corp.345197193 · Jul 20250666 m
656 Kingston Rdsocial housing · Neighbourhood Link Homes1066199488 · Aug 20240688 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 lots381 lots · ≈18,410 spaces · 55.2 ha
Within 500 m22 lots · ≈580 spaces
Green P (public)9 car parks · about 511 spaces
EV charging (City)912 Kingston Road · 55 m · 2 Level 2 ports
Bike parking49 post-and-rings within 300 m · Indoor bike station, 777 Victoria Park Ave (1.6 km)
Green P car parkDistanceSpacesPeak occupancy
197 Blantyre Ave · Surface652 m8329% (Q1 2026)
117 Hammersmith Ave · Surface1 km2947% (Q1 2026)
136 Wineva Ave. · Surface1.1 km28 *
85 Lee Ave · Surface1.3 km6861% (Q1 2026)
Victoria Main Lot - 777 Victoria Park Avenue · Surface1.5 km173 *

Nearest lots: 79 m away, ≈16 spaces; 98 m away, ≈4 spaces; 116 m away, ≈7 spaces; 121 m away, ≈10 spaces; 130 m away, ≈11 spaces; 132 m away, ≈10 spaces. More EV charging: 2231 Gerrard Street East (871 m, 1 ports); 2219 Gerrard Street East (930 m, 2 ports); 2150 Queen Street East (946 m, 2 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 28, 2001

Traffic is heaviest from the north: 651 southbound vehicles entered from that leg, 60% of the total, against 437 from the west. Evening rush dominates here: 215 vehicles in the peak hour from 4:45 p.m., against 165 in the morning peak from 7:45 a.m. Heavy vehicles made up 0.6% of traffic (typical: 3.2%). For scale, a typical counted intersection in Toronto sees 16,183 vehicles over 14 hours. 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 north651southbound · 3 bikes · 0.5% heavy
From the west437eastbound · 2 bikes · 0.7% heavy
Total vehicles1,088169 pedestrians · 5 cyclists · 0.6% heavy
From the east0westbound · 0 bikes · 0.0% heavy
From the south0northbound · 0 bikes · 0.0% heavy
AM peak hour165 vehicles from 7:45 a.m.
PM peak hour215 vehicles from 4:45 p.m.
Count8-hour · Mar 28, 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

On Willow Ave between Pine Ave and Balsam Ave, 200 m from the corner, a 4-day count in May 2000 put the average speed at 33 km/h and the 85th-percentile speed at 43 km/h, with the fastest one in twenty at 48 km/h or more. That segment carries about 1,100 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 26 years old; the City counts on request rather than on a schedule. At the school-zone speed sign on Lyall Ave (399 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. 4 speed humps slow traffic on Willow Avenue between Pine Ave and Balsam Ave (installed 2003).

Street segmentCountedVehicles / dayAverage85th percentile95th
Willow Ave · Pine Ave – Balsam Ave · 200 mMay 2000 · 4 days1,08433 km/h43 km/h48 km/h
Balsam Ave · Glen Stewart Park Trl – Balsam Rd · 288 mApr 2001 · 3 days1,21732 km/h40 km/h45 km/h

School-zone speed sign 399 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

  • Willow Avenue · Pine Ave – Balsam Ave
    4 speed humps
    installed 2003

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

The worst year was 2021, with 2 collisions; 2025 recorded 0. 0 collisions (0%) involved an injury. 4 drivers failed to remain at the scene — 50% of collisions. None of the collisions in the window involved a pedestrian or cyclist. Since January 2026, 2 more collisions have been reported; they sit outside the ranking window. The most recent report on file is from Mar 27, 2026.

By year

16171819202122232425
2016–2025Collisions
All reported collisions8#4496 of 5,508
With an injury0
Property damage only5
Fail to remain4
Involving a pedestrian0
Involving a cyclist0
Involving a motorcyclist1
With a fatality0
Severity not classified3
Since January 2026 (outside the window)2
All since 201410latest Mar 27, 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

No collision involving a death or serious injury has been recorded within 65 m of this intersection since the record begins in 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

Eight thefts from vehicles and two bike thefts were reported around this corner in 2016–2025 — about the median for an intersection with any reported theft. The pace has slowed: 0 in 2023–2025, about 0.0 a year, against 1.4 a year before that. 63% of the vehicle thefts were from the street or other outdoor spots. Since January 2026, 1 more has been reported, the latest on Jan 29, 2026.

By year

16171819202122232425
2016–2025Reported2023–2025Since Jan 2026Most often from
Theft from a vehicle801street/outdoor (5), house driveway/garage (3)
Bicycle theft200house driveway/garage (2)

Source: Toronto Police Service, Theft From Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Thefts open data, records through Jan 29, 2026. 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 & Willow a dangerous intersection?

Not by the record: no one was killed or seriously injured here in 2016–2025, though police reported 8 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 & Willow?

A low-volume local intersection. Its latest count is from Mar 28, 2001, 12% of the median for a counted intersection.

How fast do cars go at Balsam & Willow?

The City's most recent speed count near the corner, on Willow Ave between Pine Ave and Balsam Ave (May 2000), found an average of 33 km/h and an 85th-percentile speed of 43 km/h — meaning 85% of drivers were at or below that speed. At the school-zone speed sign 399 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 & Willow?

The nearest Green P car park is 197 Blantyre Ave (652 m away, 83 spaces, 29% full at the daily peak in Q1 2026). The City's mapping shows 381 parking lots of any kind within 2 km — roughly 18,410 spaces — 22 of them within 500 m; most are private or customer-only lots. The nearest City EV charger is at 912 Kingston Road (55 m).

How do I get to Balsam & Willow by transit?

Streetcar routes 503, 501, 506 stop within 1 km, the nearest 113 m away; bus routes 404, 12, 117, 135, 64 within 1 km.

What restaurants are near Balsam & Willow?

25 restaurants, cafés and takeouts are within 300 m, and 90 within a kilometre, according to Toronto Public Health's DineSafe inspection list. The closest are Wings Fuzion (26 m), 99 Bottles (46 m), Cafe Parmesan (67 m), Cafe Parmesan (67 m) and Kibo Upper Beach (68 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 & Willow?

The nearest is Adam Beck Community Centre Washroom, 79 Lawlor Ave, 322 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 (699 m); Blantyre Park Outdoor Pool Washroom (799 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 & Willow?

23 licensed child care centres within 1 km, with 1,804 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 (134 m, 54 spaces), Beaches Montessori School South (306 m, 16 spaces) and Community Centre 55-Adam Beck (361 m, 198 spaces). Spaces are licensed capacity, not vacancies.

What apartment buildings are near Balsam & Willow?

49 RentSafeTO-registered apartment buildings with 1,730 rental units are within 1 km. The nearest are 983 Kingston Rd (235 m, 14 units, RentSafeTO score 78), 828 Kingston Rd (241 m, 147 units, RentSafeTO score 96), 987 Kingston Rd (253 m, 15 units, RentSafeTO score 90) and 737 Kingston Rd (474 m, 24 units, RentSafeTO score 83). The average RentSafeTO score across the 49 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 & Willow?

Toronto Police place eight thefts from vehicles and two bicycle thefts at this intersection in 2016–2025, plus 1 since January 2026. 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 & Willow in?

Balsam & Willow 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