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This is an open call for your letters of support to ALL people who support recreational nude events in Canada, whether you live in Toronto or not. All letters of support will help.
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Community Action Committee Dear Fellow Nudists and Supporters of Nudism:We are writing to you on behalf of the Community Action Committee of TNT!MEN with an urgent and important request: We need you to please write to the following people at City Hall to state your objections to recent police behaviour relating to nudity at TNT!MEN events at The Barn. The people who need to hear from you are: (addresses below)
Writing Your Letter
Some Points to Consider
You probably have many more ideas. Put them to good use in your
letter. PetitionsAs well as letters, we will be soliciting signatures on two petitions, one directed to the Police Services Board from residents of Toronto and the other from visitors to Toronto directed toward the City's tourism office. They will demand the immediate cessation of police harassment and intimidation of naked or clothing-optional events and the premises where they occur, including those which are licensed. These will be available on Pride Day. We believe that only through making our views heard can we bring this abuse to a halt. Please try to make time to write your letter. It will make a difference. Walter Cavalieri |
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His Worship, the Mayor of Toronto Mr. Mel Lastman Toronto City Hall, 2nd floor 100 Queen St. West Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 Phone: (416) 395-6464 Fax: (416) 395-6440 E-mail: mayor_lastman@city.toronto.on.ca |
Councillor Norm Gardner, Chair Toronto Police Service Board Toronto City Hall 100 Queen St. West, Suite B28 Toronto, M5H 2N2 Phone: (416) 392-4018 Fax: (416) 392-4120 E-mail: councillor_gardner@city.toronto.on.ca |
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Councillor Olivia Chow Toronto City Hall 100 Queen St. West, Suite C50 Toronto, M5H 2N2 Phone: (416) 392-4044 Fax: (416) 392-4130 E-mail: councillor_chow@city.toronto.on.ca |
Councillor Kyle Rae Toronto City Hall 100 Queen Street West, Suite A5 Toronto, M5H 2N2 Phone: (416) 392-7903 Fax: (416) 696-4300 E-mail: councillor_rae@city.toronto.on.ca |
If you live in the Downtown ward, your councillors are Kyle Rae and Olivia Chow.
If you live in the new mega-city of Toronto, but not downtown, you can phone the city at (416) 338-0338 during office hours to find out the names of your councillors.
Alternatively, looking at the start of the Blue Pages in the Toronto phone directory, you'll see a map showing Toronto wards as well as a list of councillors sorted by ward name. (page 21)
A full list of city councillors is available on the City of Toronto web page. You can check to see if you recognize anyone listed there. The URL is http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/council/councillors.htm.
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Norm's LetterJuly 27, 2000 Councillor Norm Gardner, Chair Dear Mr. Gardner; I am writing to you as a nudist who has regularly attended the TNT!MEN (Totally Naked Toronto Men Enjoying Nudity) dances at The Barn on Church Street every month for the last three years. I am also a father of three and grandfather of six who believes that the negative attitudes about the human body in our North American society do more harm than good. In February, two police officers from 52 Division spoke with the management of The Barn and warned them that the naked dances of TNT!MEN must be stopped. When the March event went ahead, officers again entered the premises and subsequently laid a charge of "permitting disorderly conduct" solely on the basis that, during this party, all the people in the bar (except the staff) were naked. In April, when the event was held as a "private party" with tickets that were sold in advance (a suggestion which Sup't Maher of 52 Div. had made, saying that this would satisfy the police), three officers spent considerable time on a "routine inspection" during the TNT!MEN dance - "routine" on the only day of each month when the bar is open between 4:00 and 8:30 pm. At a time when the City now has a clothing-optional beach where men, women and children can sun, swim and socialize naked in the open in broad daylight, it seems a remarkable kind of prudery for the police to suggest that nude dancing and socializing is "disorderly" simply because it takes place inside a licensed premises! In its summer issue of "Going Natural", the Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN), which represents thousands of naturist/nudist couples and families across Canada, indicated that "if this charge stuck, it would mean that every naturist club in Ontario (and who knows where else) that held a liquor license would have to either give up the license or ban nudity." Mr. Gardner, I am asking that the Police Services Board raise concerns about the amount of police officer time that has been spent on this issue. Considering the fact that these dances have been going on for the past three years and that there have been no problems or incidents of actual disorderly conduct, violence or drunkenness, could we have assurance that the police will leave these events alone - at least until the court has had the opportunity to rule on the validity of the officers' contention that mere nudity by the attendees at such an event constitutes "disorderly conduct" in and of itself? Sincerely, J. Norman Rickaby cc: His Worship, Mayor Mel Lastman |