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A March 13th story in Vancouver BC's Province newspaper states the Skinnydipper's Recreation Club (SRC) is suing the City of Surrey to regain monthly nude use of the Newton Wave Pool. The article states up to 200 naked swimmers had used the municipal facility once a month from June 2002 to February 2003, until city officials used a bylaw to shut them down. Claiming city staff told the group they were in violation of a bylaw requiring "appropriate bathing attire", the head of the SRC countered "the appropriate attire for a nude swim is nudity, so we don't feel we're in violation of the bylaw at all". The SRC has hired a lawyer and is putting together a lawsuit against the city. The article goes on to mention that Vancouver's parks and recreation department allows once-a-month rentals for nude swimming at two pools, and that the William Griffin recreation centre in North Vancouver has been renting the pool to a nudist club one evening amonth since 1998. The marketing manager of the North Van Recreation Commission stated "It's outside our normal operating hours, so they are the only users in the facility... we haven't had any incidents or complaints. Its been a very good rental opportunity for them and for us."
Vancouver has a pretty relaxed attitude towards nudity, and it is heartening to see that support seems to be behind the nudists. The following editorial appeared in the Province newspaper two days later, under the heading "No nudes is bad nudes for fuddy-duddy Surrey":
"Surrey prides itself on being ahead of the curve with its progressive approach to issues such as crime prevention and community courts, but sometimes the city acts like a Victorian-era prude.
Several years ago, Surrey stripped the Skinnydipper Recreation Club of its right to rent the Newton Wave Pool for private, once-a-month swims.
The city says it cancelled the club's swim because a bylaw stipulates 'appropriate bathing attire'. But what could be more appropriate attire for nude bathing than a birthday suit?
Now, frustrated by its failed attempts to negotiate with the city, the 140-member club is taking Surrey to court.
Several other greater Vancouver public pools rent their facilities to nudist groups for private swims, by the way.
So come on Surrey, don't be an old fuddy-duddy. Just grin while the nudists bare it."
I had never been to nude swims at the Newton Wave Pool, but have certainly enjoyed the nude swims at William Griffin Recreation Centre.
Vancouver has a pretty relaxed attitude towards nudity, and it is heartening to see that support seems to be behind the nudists. The following editorial appeared in the Province newspaper two days later, under the heading "No nudes is bad nudes for fuddy-duddy Surrey":
"Surrey prides itself on being ahead of the curve with its progressive approach to issues such as crime prevention and community courts, but sometimes the city acts like a Victorian-era prude.
Several years ago, Surrey stripped the Skinnydipper Recreation Club of its right to rent the Newton Wave Pool for private, once-a-month swims.
The city says it cancelled the club's swim because a bylaw stipulates 'appropriate bathing attire'. But what could be more appropriate attire for nude bathing than a birthday suit?
Now, frustrated by its failed attempts to negotiate with the city, the 140-member club is taking Surrey to court.
Several other greater Vancouver public pools rent their facilities to nudist groups for private swims, by the way.
So come on Surrey, don't be an old fuddy-duddy. Just grin while the nudists bare it."
I had never been to nude swims at the Newton Wave Pool, but have certainly enjoyed the nude swims at William Griffin Recreation Centre.
I think Surrey is just using this as a scape goat to not rent to a nudist group. How sad.
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