Complaints prompt Calgary to review nude swim night
CALGARY The City of Calgary is reviewing whether or not a “naked water slides and wave pool” event booked at a city facility will proceed.
“Given the attention this event has received, we are undertaking a review with the event organizer to ensure the privacy and security of participants can be maintained,” the city said in a statement.
A city spokesperson said a final decision is expected Tuesday.
The private, after-hours event is scheduled for Jan. 14 at Southland Leisure Centre, organized by nudist group Calgary Nude Recreation.
But an online petition created over the weekend had garnered about 9,000 signatures as of Monday afternoon, calling on Mayor Naheed Nenshi and the city to “put this event to rest” or “at least ... make it age appropriate.”
Some have taken issue with the event because the group describes itself as “family oriented and kid friendly and open to people of all ages.”
April Parker, who started the petition, said she is “shocked” by the amount of support it’s received.
“It seems a lot of Calgarians are concerned with the age limit for the event,” she said. “I’m hoping they will at least change it to 18-plus.”
But the nudist group dismissed the assertion its events should be limited to adults.
“The suggestion that our events should be marketed as ‘adult only’ entertainment illustrates the disconnect between what people THINK social nudity is about versus what social nudity is ACTUALLY about,” it stated on its Facebook page.
Two other events are planned for Feb. 11 and March 11. The group describes the swims as “naked events for people who enjoy their birthday suits” and stress the events are a non-judgmental environment for self-expression, rather than a place to show off or stare at other people’s bodies.