Kew Beach Lawn Bowling Club to host upcoming open houses, celebrate opening of 125th season this Saturday
Outdoor sports season is upon us, and 2026 is a milestone year for the Kew Beach Lawn Bowling Club.
This year marks the club’s 125th anniversary, and the celebrations are already underway.
On a mission to learn more about the club, president Steve Ashby visited the Toronto Reference Library and staff helped him locate the Canadian Lawn Bowling Handbook dated 1903.
Page 343 reads of that handbook reads:
“The Kew Beach Bowling Club, founded in 1901, is one of the recreational branches of the Kew Beach Association. The bowling (and tennis grounds) are beautifully situated on Lake Ontario, at the foot of Lee Avenue, being nicely shaded by trees and surrounded by pretty summer cottages occupied by the Beach residents. In its first year, the bowling club could boast of about sixteen active bowlers, to arrange contests for this club, which went no small way to incite others to take part. Interest in this good sport soon gained ground, and in 1902 the bowling club rolled up a membership of 33 active bowlers.”
As of 2025, the Kew Beach club has 177 members and is the sixth-largest lawn bowling club out of the 107 in Ontario.
Beaches-East York Member of Provincial Parliament Mary-Margaret McMahon recently recognized the club’s 125th anniversary in a Queen’s Park Member Statement. Thirteen members of the lawn bowling club joined her for the remarks.
Opening Day of the 2026 season for the Kew Beach Club is this Saturday, May 9. McMahon will be throwing the first bowl if the season at the open house, which starts 9:30 a.m. with bowling and croquet beginning at 10 a.m.
The club is also hosting open houses on the weekend of May 23 and 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as part of Doors Open Toronto weekend. Those interested in trying out lawn bowling are invited to stop by.
Located at the end of Lee Avenue between Lake Ontario and Kew Gardens, the club offers both lawn bowling and croquet in the warmer months, and darts, table tennis, and social gatherings in the winter.
For more about Kew Beach Lawn Bowling Club, please visit www.kewbeachlbc.ca
