Excavating a Late 1800s Breakwater

To restore a more natural mouth for the Don, we’re excavating 1.4 million cubic metres of soil. In the process, we’re uncovering some remnants of the area’s past. In September of 2020, we found remains of a breakwater that connected what was once Fisherman’s Island to the mainland. Learn more about Fisherman’s Island.

Panoramic bird's-eye view of a city, showcasing the bustling city, busy riverfront with numerous ships, and expansive landscapes stretching into the horizon. — This chromolithographic print of Toronto from 1893 shows the breakwater on the far right.

The breakwater served several purposes: protecting the area from stormwaters, rough waves and erosion, and creating a community space for people to swim, play or picnic. The breakwater originally ran from the north edge of the Keating Channel to a sandbar that is now modern Cherry Beach, which effectively blocked Ashbridge’s Bay Marsh from the Inner Harbour. The section that we uncovered was approximately 140 metres long.

A vintage map displaying a section of Toronto Harbour, with labeled features including Ashbridge's Bay and several wharfs. The map uses shades of red and blue to indicate different areas and depth contours are shown near the water bodies. — This map from 1909 shows the breakwater and sandbar encircling Ashbridge’s Bay. You can also see a more natural outlet for the Don River and that oil tanks were present in this area.

As the Toronto Harbour Commission continued its lakefilling campaign to expand the Port Lands, the breakwater was covered with lake sediments and other fill.

We knew the breakwater would be uncovered as we excavated to create a new river valley in the Port Lands. Skilled excavators spent two weeks unearthing the wall so it could be carefully reviewed, documented and photographed by a licensed archaeologist.

A construction worker measuring a wooden wall. — TRCA’s archaeologist taking detailed measurements of the breakwater.

View of a construction site with rough terrain and deep trenches. In the foreground, a weathered blue, old teapot. A construction worker is partially visible in the background, surveying the area. — In addition to the breakwater, we’ve uncovered lots of other objects from the turn of the century, like this tea pot.

Large construction site with excavator and other machinery working on the ground, piles of soil, and building materials in the foreground. Industrial structures visible in the background. — This image gives a sense of the scale of the breakwater. The portion we unearthed is approximately 140 metres long.

Construction site with heavy machinery, including excavators and a dump truck, with Toronto skyline featuring the CN Tower in the background. A construction worker is visible in the foreground. — The wooden piles used in the breakwater were 6 metres long. 3 metres was buried underground and 3 metres above ground created the ‘crib’ for the wall.

Construction site at dusk featuring multiple excavators and earth-moving vehicles at work, with parked trucks in the foreground. — Skilled excavators unearthed the breakwater over 14 days.

Construction site with multiple excavating machines at work, featuring extensive dirt tracks and mounds. In the background, the skyline of a large city is visible under a clear sky. — We had to remove this portion of the breakwater to make way for a naturalized mouth for the Don River.

Watch this video to see drone footage of the excavated breakwater:

Learn more about objects we’ve uncovered in the Port Lands.

You can also read more about the Port Lands’ industrial history.