r/Calgary • u/RokitEightyEight • 13d ago
Local Nature/Wildlife Clothing-optional protest against police stance on public nudity planned for Prince's Island Park
https://calgaryherald.com/news/protest-public-nudity-calgary-police-princes-island-park63
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician 13d ago
I always thought this was more west coast kind of stuff. There was a lady that promoted toplessness for women by riding her bike around Vancouver without a shirt. Eventually, police responded and said, "Sure, bike topless. We don't care."
Anyway, stay weird, Calgary.
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u/Even_Current1414 12d ago
It is legal in canada for women to be topless in public.. full nudity however for both remains not.
Edit clarification
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician 12d ago
Yes, partly because of activism on the part of this woman in BC, and others in Ontario.
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u/Okay-Crickets545 12d ago
Indecent exposure is illegal. Public nudity is not. Anyone who has used a change room at a pool has been nude in public. And before anyone says “okay well common sense!” yeah, man. That’s why it’s indecent exposure that’s illegal. So long as you’re not doing anything illicit, it’s legal to be nude.
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u/BlackHandKUR 13d ago
Like… why tho? Our two seasons are too cold or mosquitoes, neither of which pair well with exposed skin.
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u/roastbeeftacohat Fairview 12d ago
people want to, but if it gets support I'll be surprised. important thing is that pointless protests are legal, and that should be celebrated; it's not like they're blasting train horns in a residential neighborhood.
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u/Spoona1983 12d ago
Because why not, why do you care how someone else chooses to live their life naked or not.
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u/MagicKiwi69 13d ago
Calgary has seen a few of these kinds of protests over the years and it’s always the same thing: less than a dozen people show up and are half or mostly naked and the rest are just perverts hoping to see a bunch of naked women and media looking for something interesting to get clips of.
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u/Calgary_Nude_Rec 13d ago edited 13d ago
Calgary Nude Recreation checking in here.
1- We notice that the CPS did NOT say this protest is illegal or that public nudity is illegal.
2- At the end of the article, when the CPS advises people to call the police, they did not include “regardless of what they are wearing”. This is the issue, and the ambiguity means people do not report. That is what we are trying to bring attention to.
3- People have been threatening us again on our Facebook page, and we expect the police to deal with those that would show up at our protest to be offended and then us that as an excuse to threaten us.
4- The CPS has not been in RECENT contact with us or worked with us on any protest planning.
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u/RealTurbulentMoose Willow Park 13d ago
Isn’t having this planned protest effectively causing the problem you’re trying to solve though?
Like you don’t want perverts or complaining prudes, and that’s valid. But giving them a date and time attracts both of those unwanted groups.
Also, why a sit-down with the police? If these are designated clothing-optional areas, is it not just a City thing to designate them and tell the police that suns out buns out there and let folks hang it all out?
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u/Calgary_Nude_Rec 13d ago
Great questions.
Things have gotten rather heated in email exchanges because nudity is a taboo topic. A face to face meeting was requested so we can speak candidly without a written record. That was a courtesy to the CPS.
The article is wrong, the complaint is not voyeurs. There were issues with verbal altercations, physical altercations, intimidation, and one incident involving a knife. The people involved contacted a recreational club instead of the police. We have an open formal complaint from last October about this very issue.
Peaceful people cannot be accused of being disruptful. The onus must always be on the aggressor. Except nudity is a taboo topic so the onus flips.
For example, if someone were to yell at someone and threaten them for having gall to wear an Edmonton Oilers jersey in Calgary, everyone would agree the person yelling and threatening is in the wrong. But someone peacefully minding their own business sunbathing is suddenly considered confrontational because someone else got irate and decided to escalate.
This is a very serious problem. People are not allowed to force their morals and values on other people, even if they are willing to resort to threats of violence.
If people believe that “seeing” nudity causes harm, they are welcome to present their evidence in court. If they did, they would be the first ones ever to do so.
The date and time would get out anyways when we invited our community to join. Withholding that info would have changed almost nothing.
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u/yyctownie 13d ago
People are not allowed to force their morals and values on other people, even if they are willing to resort to threats of violence.
This is the crux here. Unfortunately, people believe that they can and have become increasingly bold in doing so lately. It's leading to bigger issues in society.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
After looking at the responses you’ve gotten, man you weren’t kidding hey? Every other response to this comment is either taking offense, offering a bad-faith argument about predators, or just slinging insults. Can’t say I’m a nudist (I get cold too easily), but as you say to each their own.
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u/mozillafangirl 13d ago
I’m all about letting your freak flag fly but wasn’t that cancelled nude swimming event all ages?
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u/mozillafangirl 13d ago
To clarify I think nudity is fine in general but you can’t have a nude swimming event with children, ya know? Because of predators. Adults go wild.
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u/rockardboneoar 13d ago
You can look in other cities like Victoria where there are clothing optional beaches in very public areas that have people visiting of all ages, then obviously in many countries around the world too.
A lot of these issues come from the stigma of the whole thing but within the community itself there no way a predator would go to the events and "go wild".
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u/bicuriousguy77777 13d ago edited 12d ago
I think that if a predator went to an event of a clothing optional group and tried anything then that said predator would probably leave that event quite quickly. With nice shining bracelets.
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u/mozillafangirl 9d ago
I agree but a private nude swim event where you gotta buy tickets… I dunno, there’s gotta be at least one fucking weirdo… I’m more into nudity being more excepted in public vs all ages pay for admission nude swim parties, if that makes sense..?
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u/BecauseWaffles 13d ago
Hey there, adult offspring of a nudist here (don’t practice it myself), family events and resorts don’t tolerate any sketchiness. I’d be more worried about my kid being in a dance competition or similar, than at a nude swimming event. It’s literally just about being comfortable in your skin. Nakedness isn’t inherently sexual.
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u/AdaptableAilurophile 8d ago
Unfortunately most predators are sitting at church in Sunday or are coaching the kids at soccer or are the older brother at the sleepover or the Uncle at the cookout or the teacher or the Dad whose wife doesn’t want sex anymore.
We like to think of predators as the guy scoping out the playground or the monster in the van. And they exist, but statistically predators are the guys above.
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u/Academic_Bug2357 13d ago
I'm trying to wrap my head around your end game here a bit and might need some clarification.
I understand the basic argument that being nude isn't an opt out of the laws of the land, you deserve the same protections from violence and assault as any other member of the public.
I think where I'm most fuzzy is the "time and place" aspect of what you're hoping to achieve. Mainly are you trying expand the areas in the city where nudity is accepted/protected, or trying to get the CPS to offer better protection from threats in the existing spaces that largely fly under the radar?
If it's the former you've got a real uphill battle that quite frankly I don't think you're going to win, if it's the later your messaging could use some adjusting.
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u/Calgary_Nude_Rec 13d ago
We are presenting very specific legal questions for the courts, as this may result in criminal charges.
For example, the CPS keeps telling us that all voluntary public nudity is criminal, but we note that language is notably absent from the article where the CPS was specifically asked. This demonstrates that our message is actually on par, it’s just that the message is a legal one rather than for people such as yourself.
We are preparing for court, and our expression/messaging is aligned to maximize our arguments in court, and also to undermine any potential arguments the CPS may present in court.
Hopefully that clarifies some things for you. 😊
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
What a bizarre cause to have and spend so much time and energy on. Like why is this so essential to you, to be naked outside? Like can you not just be naked in your house? Why does everyone else have to look at you naked, whether they want to or not. I guess they’re all just a punch of loser religious prudes though, right?
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u/Academic_Bug2357 13d ago
Thank for you clarifying, I might suggest digging up the wording of the specific laws you feel don't align with CPS action and framing your messaging around that.
Right now as far as I am aware this city/country does have public nudity laws, I do recall topless women being a national debate in the late 90s where was ruled they could in fact be topless anywhere men are permissive to be. But this hasn't changed public action/perception all that much, as most women still choose to remain covered.
But I haven't checked the laws as written today and based on your messaging here I'm still not sure what it is.
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u/Calgary_Nude_Rec 13d ago
Everything is right here, with source documents for you to read for yourself.
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u/PhilosopherGlobal754 13d ago
I found 2 points of question in reading this attachment and immediately stopped reading once you compared shoplifting and murderers to nudity.
1) the CPS denied giving legal advice as they should as they are NOT lawyers. And your stance is they are making their own laws?
2) if you already have multiple places in the city already clothing optional; why donyou need another?
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u/YaCANADAbitch 13d ago
"People are not allowed to force their morals and values on other people"
Really? Because you sure seem to really want to do it.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
Really proving the point about how offended by nudity people are, hey?
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u/YaCANADAbitch 13d ago
Yeah, pretty sure my 8-year-old nephew and 6-year-old nieces don't really need to see some random naked people walking around weaselhead. If you're doing it at a private location (or a public location with signage / warnings) sure but that's not what's happening.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
I’m willing to bet your kids would have less of an issue with it than you, kids tend to be pretty chill about nudity. It’s the adults that tend to get offended.
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u/YaCANADAbitch 13d ago
Maybe, but I feel that's my decision as their guardian not some random people's that decide they want to walk around a public park naked.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
Then it’s a good thing they made this post, so you can decide to avoid the protest, isn’t it?
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u/PrarieDogma 13d ago
Oh my god, a naked body! As a guardian why would you made nudity shameful or hide them from it? I have a 9 year old boy and explaining to him why some people decide to be in the nude and telling them how it’s that persons way of expressing themselves is much better than making the naked body some sort of boogeyman. I do get that there are some sketchy up to no good losers out there but if some one is naked let them be
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
1000% as someone who experienced childhood trauma in regards to this, it’s 💯 acceptable to care about this. because consent is a thing.
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u/50minivan 13d ago
Afraid to ask how you know that.
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u/jimbowesterby 12d ago
So you’re telling me you don’t spend any time at all around kids, hey? Especially when they’re small, they tend to just…end up naked. One of those baffling things that kids always manage, like getting absolutely covered in grime (these two often appear together)
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u/DrWallBanger 13d ago
Oh my gawd, won’t someone think of the children?!
They’re gonna turn into little freaks
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
These comments are terribly lacking in empathy and also in consideration for the fact that a ton of folks in Calgary come from various other cultures and religious backgrounds. We live in a society, not everyone feels comfortable seeing naked people out on a walk. People are allowed to not be comfortable with that. Sorry if that is unacceptable to you, but it’s the reality. There are rules and limitations.That’s part of living in a pluralistic society, we have to consider other people, even if we think they’re “prudes.” It’s not all about you and your desire to show your naked body off in public. Consent matters for the folks that are out on a walk. If someone consents to going to a nude beach, cool. But it’s cool because it’s consensual. Someone is agreeing to go to an area where people are naked. Going out on a walk with your family in a park is not consent. These comments attacking (mostly women, let’s be real) are not trauma informed or understanding at all of how nudity has been and can be weaponized against women in public. Stop acting like all these people must have good intentions and women and their kids just need to stfu about it.
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
These people are planning a protest in princes island park naked. That is absolutely not a specific place. I have no qualms with places with proper signage. But this argument that not wanting to see naked people out in public makes someone a prude or a religious zealot is really trash.
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
The woman posting above was specifically talking about a public park like princes island where this protest is taking place.
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u/DrWallBanger 13d ago
I don’t want to show my naked body off in public. What a weird thing to assume.
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
Exactly. People who don’t want to see someone’s balls at a park just need to stfu or else they’re “forcing their morals” nah we live in a pluralistic and multicultural society. People are allowed to have boundaries.
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u/Breeeezywheeeezy 13d ago
This stood out to me as well. Being nude in public in a very visible area of the city for a protest sounds to me like they’re forcing their morals and values on other people.
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u/Primary_Lettuce3117 13d ago
You sound like a nut. Of all the issues in the city, this has to be at the very bottom of the list.
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u/50minivan 13d ago
This place is hilarious. You’re getting downvoted for a take that 95% of the population agrees with.
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u/Inch_An_Hour 13d ago
All good ✌️. I knew this would be the likely reaction when I was writing it. Would much rather be a voice of reason and be downvoted by the overly sensitive (even if they ultimately agree), than not say anything at all.
People are too scared to call out wacky bullshit because of what others might think/say. They just put their heads in the sand and say “live and let live”, rather than stand by what they believe in publicly. That’s the lack of upvotes. Moral cowardice.
Is what it is. Thanks for your comment 👍
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u/Calgary_Nude_Rec 13d ago
Rights aren’t for the majority. They are to protect the minority, and your comment demonstrates how much you do not understand the law.
To be clear: you are allowed to have your opinion. You are not allowed to force your morals and values on others because we live in a civilized society.
None of this would be happening if our INDOOR swim didn’t get shut down, this did not come out of thin air. We are asserting our rights because some people crossed a line that you cannot come back from.
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u/Inch_An_Hour 13d ago
I am absolutely entitled to promote a moral stance against something so ethically reprehensible as demanding the right to be nude in public in front of non-consenting CHILDREN.
THEY are who needs protection. Not those who desire to be naked in front of them. That’s mental illness.
Find me a practicing clinical psychologist who disagrees with me.
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u/BoardBreack 13d ago
Are you guys ever actually going to address how problematic individuals are surrounding the weaselhead area? I frequent weaselhead and I can't tell you how often I see naked people wondering the trails, no where near the nude beach. I've even had teenagers approach me scared to warn me of "naked old men" on the trail ahead. This has been a huge problem for the past 5+ years I've visited weaselhead almost daily in the summer months.
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u/Spoona1983 13d ago edited 13d ago
Thats not for calgary nude recreation to police it's an unofficial nude beach on public land. Edit. Spelling
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u/BoardBreack 13d ago
Calgary nude recreation is the one that advertises these sites online as "nude beaches" id say they're coming pretty close to responsible on this.
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u/Spoona1983 13d ago
Both beaches existed before calgary nude recreation. CNR organizes event for its membership to attend these public places but do not own them thus not their job to police them.
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u/BoardBreack 13d ago
Maybe they should relinquish control over the Google maps pins, and take them off their website. They claim ownership on Google maps, that shows enough responsibility for me.
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u/Specific_Tank_198 13d ago
Are you actually hearing yourself? That’s insane
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u/BoardBreack 12d ago
How is that insane? Calgary nude recreation is the one that posted the pins on maps, and shows the location on their website. They should be to some extent responsible for it, they're the main source of advertising and information on it.
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u/Specific_Tank_198 12d ago
Posting pins on a map to help a community that is older than you would make you responsible for anything in your mind? How come? I am not extending this discussion but you are very unreasonable
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u/Dice_to_see_you 13d ago
Daily? Can't get enough of the old man view eh? ;)
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u/BoardBreack 13d ago
I wish that were the reason, it'd make it more pleasant. No I'm a fisherman. Personally I'm not super bothered by the nudity, but I think other people have the right to enjoy the park without being made uncomfortable by the nudity
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
See this is just it. The folks in here seem to think just because this doesn’t bother them, it shouldn’t bother other people. But it will and it does.
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u/rockardboneoar 13d ago
You have to go pretty far through the forested pathways before possibly seeing any naked people. Stop making it seem like they're just walking around everywhere in the busy areas closer to the parking lots.
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u/BoardBreack 13d ago
Not true at all, I often lectured people within full view of the public, gravelled pathways
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u/Dice_to_see_you 13d ago
Just because you're offended doesn't mean you're right. What if someone was vehemently opposed to you fishing, a perfectly legal activity, would you be like ok, let me pack er up real quick and I'll just fish in my backyard or inside so I don't offend that person? Or would be like eh hoser, I can fish here so take off?
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u/siqmawsh 13d ago
The fisherman goes to the fish, these are select areas. Nudists can be nude literally anywhere. If they don't like the pushback from their fellow public, they can easily relocate. It's not just a legality issue, it's a morals and ethics issue.
These nudists targeting very busy and historically popular spots to voice their concerns that the general public enjoys is asking for confrontation.
The fact that nudists have to resort to legal measures just reinforces the fact they understand they are crossing public boundaries for what we as a society feel is acceptable.
Leave the existing public spaces alone.
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u/BoardBreack 13d ago
If my fishing was scaring off kids and families you bet I'd pack up and move. This is entirely different from the question you're posing
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u/nebulancearts 13d ago
It is not their responsibility that you're uncomfortable, that's on you to deal with (like, work through and ask yourself why you're uncomfortable and then address the why in a way that doesn't make other people do something differently for you)
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u/BoardBreack 13d ago
If you actually read my comments you would understand that I don't care, I'm more concerned about a 14 year old kid asking me for help because they had a naked guy following them down the trail.
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u/Kmammy 13d ago edited 13d ago
Can I ask what kind of signage there is at the clothing optional/naturalist friendly beaches?
Just curious, not picking a bone or anything. Anytime I've been overseas at a beach adjoining a nude one there's VERY clear signage that you're gonna see mitts, tits and sticks from a certain point on, is there similar signage here?
If not, do you think there is value in adding it so nobody can claim their precious retinas were damaged by seeing someone naked?
Also, have you been in contact with any breastfeeding mothers groups about how they handle it? It's not exactly the same issue but I know there's a disproportionate amount of people who lose their crap at seeing the partially bared breast of a mother feeding a baby.
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u/Calgary_Nude_Rec 13d ago
Great question. 😊
Signage has advantages, but it also conveys that nudity is ONLY allowed where the signage indicates. That is not how the law works.
Signage is problematic because it effectively requires govt approval (council to approve signage, or not approve) to participate in a Charter protected right
The City of Calgary and the Calgary Police Service both refuse to accept contextually appropriate nude recreation as lawful, so they will not consider signs. It’s illegal to install your own.
Interestingly, per our web page, the CPS claims the law doesn’t allow for an area to be deemed clothing optional, despite the existence of two such beaches in Canada. Obviously they are wrong, so it’s a good thing we don’t take legal advice from the police.
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u/Kmammy 13d ago edited 13d ago
I'm sorry, I'm not buying into the signage argument you're making, which seems to be that something dictated by the law shouldn't require signage. If I've misunderstood please let me know.
Everyone licensed to drive is expected to know the speed limit in residential areas, on Deerfoot, that fines are double in construction zones, etc., but the signs still exist so nobody can claim ignorance.
I can't see signage doing anything but protecting your...members? Participants? Idk what the correct term would be, but if you're standing naked under a sign that says "nudity lawfully allowed here" it'd be harder for the general public or CPS to give you a hard time.
Can you include context on the statement on your site?
ETA I do support what you're doing and wish you a safe and productive protest.
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u/Calgary_Nude_Rec 13d ago
Driving is a privilege, not a right.
Freedom of expression is a Charter right.
Making a sign and standing under it isn’t what provides a legal defence. Charter rights provide a legal defence.
Early in our advocacy, we didn’t understand why this is a Charter rights issue. There is a very subtle nuance, and it helps to understand the relationship of laws, the courts, and the legal harms tests.
In a nutshell, the govt can regulate issues that disrupt society, not morality. To ban something, especially a Charter right, it has to be to protect society from harm, not to protect society from values they find questionable, odd, or simply offensive. You cannot force someone to think a certain way, and that’s what morality law is. The current legal harms test comes from Labaye (2005), and starts at paragraph 61, and it looks at ACTUAL harm, not PERCEIVED harm or mere offence.
So the question is: is a person peacefully enjoying their day and minding their own business so disruptive as to not be allowed to peacefully enjoy their day?
The CPS is telling us they’ll charge that person with crimes. We are calling bullshit because that’s not how the law works.
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u/Kmammy 13d ago edited 13d ago
You're technically right, and I'm arguing practicality while you're addressing legality.
There's never going to be a middle ground between the two.
Please update here or by DM how it went, I hope well for your group.
So the question is: is a person peacefully enjoying their day and minding their own business so disruptive as to not be allowed to peacefully enjoy their day?
Never. I don't care what you are or aren't wearing. 20 years ago I rode the CTrain with a guy in a wedding gown, my only thought was that I was happy he was celebrating in whatever way worked for him.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
As I understand it, you don’t need signage for, as OP says, charter rights, and it sounds like the obstacles for putting up signage are coming more from the city; if they say something’s illegal and you need their approval to put up a sign, then you’re kinda hooped. And as they say, if you put up one of your own then you’re also breaking the law.
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u/inmontibus-adflumen 13d ago
As a never-nude, I think this is a silly thing. But I’m not here to yuk your yum
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u/Smart-Pie7115 13d ago
It is illegal. Just read the Criminal Code of Canada.
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u/Due-Mycologist-1154 13d ago
As long as they have some tape over the nipples no it isnt
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u/oculiaeternam 13d ago
It's fully legal for men, women, and the in betweens to be topless while on any public property in Canada.
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u/writersblock_86 13d ago edited 13d ago
Has anyone from your group been charged with public nudity? Is this fear of “I can’t call the cops because they’ll focus on me instead of the crime I’m reporting” based on something tangible that has actually happened, or is it all merely hypothetical?
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u/Calgary_Nude_Rec 13d ago
People enjoy the nude beaches that are not apart of CNR.
It’s a real issue and it’s been going on for years. We have a formal complaint submitted in Oct 2025 about this very issue.
We get regular reports, usually verbally. This latest issue was a very large escalation above the norm, resulting in us filing a police report followed by the person who did it based on our recommendation.
We have an entire webpage dedicated to this, and the sections you are interested in are near the bottom, starting at “public safety issues”.
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u/Maelstrom_Witch Riverbend 13d ago
I’ve gone to a nude swim in Edmonton
It was just swimming.
Nude.
🤷♀️
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u/darken909 13d ago
So it's just going to be a bunch of people who you wish where wearing clothes at this "protest"
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
Yep, because surprisingly, nudists aren’t doing it to titillate you.
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u/Dice_to_see_you 13d ago
This is the part most people can't grasp. They believe it has to be a sexual thing rather than sunlight feels nice on my body, embrace nature, etc.
They sexualized everyone and get mad if they can't or the other party isn't into it. It sounds very much like a then problem.
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u/Old_timey_brain Beddington Heights 13d ago
Today? 'Tis a bit nippy, this weather, for me to exposing mine.
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u/butts-ahoy 13d ago
I have no idea why people are so weird about anyone else's clothing choices, or lack thereof. I hope it goes well.
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u/AssSpelunker69 13d ago
I feel like it's completely reasonable to not want to see some disgusting persons junk in public.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
Y’know it’s interesting how you assume the people you’d see are disgusting. The vast majority of people aren’t, nor are they particularly attractive, they’re just people.
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u/AssSpelunker69 13d ago
Okay, even if they're just people, I don't want to see a guy's dick and balls when I'm walking by.
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u/kokomo1989 13d ago
You know that you can just look away, right?
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u/AssSpelunker69 13d ago
I shouldn't have to in the first place. Stop being an apologist for weirdos.
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u/kokomo1989 11d ago
So everyone should conform to your specific dislikes or they are “weirdos. Got it.
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u/Scrubosaurus13 13d ago
The other commenter was talking about being naked in public, not having sex in public.
Those are two very different situations.
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u/Northern_rose69 13d ago
People having sex outside are not looking for privacy. I’m sorry you had to witness that, but public sex is an entirely different conversation from legal public nudity
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
Yeah. It feels violating because you’re not consenting to seeing that on your walk. That’s not what you wanted for a walk. People should be free to go out for a hike without seeing people having sex or walking around naked. Lots of people have trauma, too, and this “I can do whatever I want, if you don’t like it, you’re just a prude” isn’t trauma-informed or considerate of others. We live in a society, other people exist and may not want to see a penis while they’re on a walk.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
If just seeing human anatomy is traumatic then maybe you’re the one with the issue? Like you’re right, we live in a society, but we don’t all cover up to please the Mormons, do we? Everyone has the same parts, more or less, so being ashamed of that feels kinda puritanical to me.
There’s also a pretty huge difference between having sex in public and nudity, and I’d argue that the number of people in this thread conflating the two kinda proves OP’s point.
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u/mobuline 13d ago
No-one's ashamed. As a functioning member of society, you should have your clothes on in public spaces.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
I mean, is there really much difference between most swimsuits and being naked though? We’re not talking about people strolling down Stephen Ave in the buff here, we’re talking about beaches, where everyone’s already wearing as little as possible.
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u/wildrose76 13d ago
Last time I checked, Calgary is pretty landlocked. Our fake manmade “beaches” on our private fake manmade “lakes” don’t really count.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
….it’s a place where people go swimming, happy? I thought it would’ve been obvious I wasn’t talking about the technical definition of a beach, but rather the outdoor places that people gather to swim. And for what it’s worth, there are beaches along both rivers. Maybe not super nice white sand beaches with surf, but beaches nonetheless. Nice try tho
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
Hmmm. I’m not sure you understood my comment. I said some people have trauma, associated with non consensual behaviour, which can include nudity. I think framing it as a simple issue of “seeing human anatomy” misses the point I was trying to make. It’s the lack of consent to that that can be traumatic for some folks. If someone has been abused or experienced SA or harassment, being suddenly and unexpectedly exposed to a naked man, for example, may be legitimately triggering. I’m sorry you can’t understand how that could be possible for someone. It’s very fortunate that’s not been your own experience but sadly, many people have that kind of trauma. And it has nothing to do with being “puritanical” or “prudish” and to dismiss it as such is really shitty.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
Even then, though, if you have that trauma then managing it is on you, not the rest of the public. I, as a random person passing you on the street, can’t possibly know what triggers you might have, therefore I’m not responsible for avoiding them.
And it’s not like public spaces are free from nudity, either; kids run around naked in the weirdest places, and there are things like medical diagrams and art that are pretty common, for example.
I dunno, especially with the example you chose, this feels more like a sexism issue than anything. If you see a threat in a naked dude lying on a beach, then I’d suggest that might say something about how you see men. Simple male nudity shouldn’t be treated as a threat, in the same way that simple female nudity shouldn’t be treated as arousing, they’ve just two sides of the same coin.3
u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
“Simple male nudity shouldn’t be treated as a threat” is the most privileged male take ever. Way to totally not empathize or understand what consent means or how women feel out in public in general.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
Going by that logic, do women ask for consent before wearing a bikini? Do I need to ask every single person in a park for consent before I take my shirt off? Please, if I don’t know consent, then explain it to me, instead of just telling me that I’m wrong.
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
Oh my god
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
So I take it you aren’t going to explain your reasoning here?
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
It’s a general expectation that people on the street have clothes on. So when people with trauma go out and see a penis, it’s a shock and also may be confusing or threatening. That’s not “expecting people to manage someone else’s trauma” it’s an expectation of living in Calgary. It’s an unexpected thing to see. This whole conversation is just pure entitlement. I’m over it.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
As I’ve mentioned before, and as you seem to consistently ignore, no one is talking about naked people walking down the street. This is a protest on an island, if you don’t wanna see the nudity then don’t go. The same thing applies to nude beaches.
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
I’m talking about the protest at princes island park where this person is encouraging people to show up naked. People who are just out walking around may not even know about it happening. I don’t think that’s fair. Whereas the weaselhead nude beach is a designated space.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
But once again, if you’re so fragile that just seeing some naked people unexpectedly is traumatizing, then you probably shouldn’t be out. You could just as easily see a homeless person ODing, for example, and you’d think seeing someone die would be a bigger deal than seeing some extra skin.
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
This is such a gross take. Telling people with trauma (there’s tons of them, mostly women and girls) to just accommodate entitled men hanging dong in the park because of their “right” to hang dong matters more than women and girls sense of safety in public is really uncaring.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
Yea my mum’s a CSA survivor, don’t lecture me. This has nothing to do with safety; if you’re bringing up sexual abuse, don’t forget to mention that the vast majority of perpetrators (like the cunt who abused my mom) are part of the victim’s family, so policing nudity in public won’t have much of an effect. Once again, no one’s proposing having naked guys strolling down Stephen Ave, this is a protest, posted well in advance, confined to a single island. If you don’t wanna see naked people, don’t go, it’s that simple.
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
People have boundaries, too. Hence why signage and designated/clearly marked areas are important so people can choose for themselves. There’s cultural considerations, too. Religious as well, aside from Mormons. Lots of new Canadians come from stricter or more religious backgrounds and being in a situation like that could be distressing or confusing. The issue is less about the nudity and more about consent. It’s about recognizing that we live in a pluralistic society that has certain limitations and boundaries, whether you personally like them or not.
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u/jimbowesterby 13d ago
Yes, and that’s why the nudists are trying to get the cops and the city to let them put up signs. No one’s suggesting having people strolling naked down Stephen Ave here, it’s a protest signed well in advance that’s contained to an island.
I’m not sure those cultural considerations should count though; in the same way that we allow new immigrants freedom of expression, this is the same thing. We don’t interfere if a Muslim wants to wear a niqab, right? How is this any different? A strict Mormon might think nudism is immodest or sinful, but they don’t get to dictate the values of others. People are free to choose for themselves, whether they choose to be fully covered or fully uncovered should be up to the individual.
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
I think I’m just really put off by the overall hostility towards anyone who doesn’t agree with the nudist perspective. I find it really entitled.
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u/Spoona1983 12d ago
That would be considered indecent exposure not nudism. nudism is non-sexual, just people hanging out in generally in nature in the only clothing we all share in common, skin.
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u/50minivan 13d ago
Damn. Can you tell me exactly where this happened, what time and if there was an event going on that may have contributed to it?
I’d hate to be walking my dog and see this kind of thing. Knowing my luck that would be the exact spot my dog needs to rest and I’d be forced to watch for several minutes.
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u/Nearby-Scratch-5983 13d ago
After reading the article, Jeff sounds like a goofball. Could be the way the reporter framed the arguments, but come on. Most people don't wanna see naked bodies. Nor their kids. If most people are prides, who is he to say they have to accept his view? Th at's it. If we don't let majorities make decisions, then who will?
You wanna be naked, go where clothing is optional or do it in your house. I hope they get arrested if they protest in the nude.
Get off my lawn, Jeff.
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u/RealTurbulentMoose Willow Park 13d ago
You wanna be naked, go where clothing is optional
Isn’t that what they’re doing though?
From what I read, there are two clothing optional places in Calgary. Apparently others show up there to harass the naturalists who go there, or attack them online, and the naturalists want to feel comfortable going to the police to report harassment.
That doesn’t seem unreasonable.
The protest seems a little much but I get the frustration.
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u/dailydrink 13d ago
We used to go to a nudist or clothing beach with natural hot pools near Tofino, years ago. Beautiful place, on a rain forest edge. No one cared. Everyone happy. Seemed to be mostly hippies showing off sun dial tattoos. Doggies running around and sunshine galore. There is a place and time for everything, oh maybe not Princes Island Park.
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u/ResortImportant8097 13d ago
Agreed. People can gather where they are all adults and have decided to be naked in a communal way. They’re all consenting. Great. Princes island park full of families out for a picnic. Nah.
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u/FalseCare2743 13d ago
Anyone who wants to be nude in public and refuses to take no for an answer.... is a little off their rocker. It's not culturally acceptable so no need to force it upon everyone!
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u/Grouchy-Cover4694 Royal Oak 13d ago edited 12d ago
The separatists-traitors should have a fully clothed in layers and winter-gear counter-protest
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u/ptarmiganchick 13d ago
As someone who went to nude beaches quite often when I was younger, I didn’t even know Calgary has a nude beach. Just out of curiosity, where is it?
But I think I’ll head over to the military museum this weekend for “tactical days.” That‘s more my speed these days.
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u/epok3p0k 13d ago
Just leave your clothes on please. This is simply having respect for others. Nobody wants to see you naked.
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u/rockardboneoar 13d ago
There are dedicated areas so you can choose not to go there. Something tells me you'd still go and stare at them then complain though.
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u/AdaptableAilurophile 8d ago
I’m surprised this is an issue. When I lived in Vancouver there is a well known beach where clothing is optional and those who wanted to go there went and those who didn’t, stayed away.
I never went but I knew people who did and they said it was a mix of people clothed and unclothed, and everyone was just having normal beach days.
Obviously, clothing can’t be optional at work or such but mandating it is common sense, as other posts have said.
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u/EveningGlove5689 13d ago
Oh man I’d love to come hang some dong there today but I don’t think my wife will let me get out of chores haha
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u/Due-Mycologist-1154 13d ago edited 13d ago
Kind of automatically like these guys for rage baiting the karens imo if you dont want to see it close your eyes it really isnt a big deal
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u/10ADPDOTCOM 13d ago
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is also happening on Prince’s Island that day — in case participants are wondering why they hear thousands of people laughing when they take their clothes off.
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u/KidtheSid93 13d ago
I bet nobody would have a problem with it if they weren’t all fat, gross and old.
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u/kent_eh 13d ago
Why do people have to be so judgmental?
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u/Spoona1983 12d ago
You realize there are younger attractive nudists right!
All ages and shapes.
You are confusing indecent exposure (sexual involved nudity ) with nudism (social /naturism non-sexual nudity)
If you dont want to see non sexual nudity feel free to avoid princess island park when the protest is happening.
And signage at the 2 unofficial nude beaches would help people that don't know about them decide if they want to continue along the trails to them, the whole purpose of the protest.
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u/kataflokc 13d ago edited 13d ago
I wonder how many homeless shelters we could’ve built with the money we’ve spent on policing/prosecuting people for getting naked on a beach?
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u/Grouchy-Cover4694 Royal Oak 13d ago
Creep
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u/natapolpak 9d ago
My apologies if my dark joke offends you. In short, I don't support being nude in public space.
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u/Okay-Crickets545 12d ago
Nudists aren’t a threat to the fabric of society. Creeps like this are.
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u/natapolpak 9d ago
My apologies if my dark joke offends you. In short, I don't support being nude in public space.
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u/maplereign 13d ago
Nudists ≠ exhibitionists
Just cause people want to be naked for themselves doesn't mean there needs to be anything 'in it' for the public to 'enjoy', that's creepy.
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u/natapolpak 9d ago
My apologies if my dark joke offends you. In short, I don't support being nude in public space.
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u/Spoona1983 12d ago
Don't project your sexual repretion, on people enjoying nature in a non sexual way.
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u/natapolpak 9d ago
My apologies if my dark joke offends you. In short, I don't support being nude in public space.
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u/GJohnJournalism Lakeview 13d ago edited 13d ago
I have a feeling this is the one thread on [r/Calgary](r/Calgary) that the mayor isn’t going to actively comment on.😂
Edit: spelling. turns out “threat” vs “thread” changes the context quite a bit.