Carp spawning on Toronto islands

HEAVY RAINS FORCE CLOSURE

The Toronto Islands, a popular tourist destination and home to hundreds of city residents, are a soggy mess where carp are spawning on flooded roadways, public attractions are shuttered and large areas are under water.

Rising water levels in Lake Ontario, brought on in part by heavy rains in recent weeks, have led the city to close the islands to the general public and cancel permits for scheduled events until June 30, a situation that has left couples with weddings planned at island destinations scrambling to find alternative venues.

More than half the buildings on the Toronto Islands — which sit a short ferry ride from the city’s downtown core — are threatened by water levels that are expected to keep rising for several weeks even if there’s no more rain.

But for many who live on the islands, the flooding and continuing threat to homes is being taken in stride.

“We’re islanders and we’re pretty resilient,” said Susan Roy, who has lived in the community for decades.

“It is incredible to see nature taking back the island. You know, the island comes from nature and now it’s like it’s going back to nature.”

Roy, who is chair of a Toronto Island community group, noted that while most homes haven’t been heavily damaged, businesses are taking a hit.

“We’re not sure when the island will be open to the public again, so that’s hard to take,” she said. “But all things considered, it could be much worse.”

Claire Boghdan, an arborist who was watching several carp spawn on a flooded roadway, said she’s been helping fill sandbags and checking on the health of island trees.

Officials have said parts of the islands could remain closed through to August. The public school on the island was closed earlier this week.