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A Note from Peter Simm
Gentlemen,
As you know, TNT!MEN played a crucial role in convincing Toronto City Council last year to designate the southern part of Hanlan's Point Beach as officially clothing-optional.
This year, we succeeded in getting Council to significantly expand the clothing-optional zone. However, rather than making the zone permanent, Council decided to continue the clothing-optional designation on a "pilot project" basis, renewing it for an additional two summers (2000 and 2001).
Council accordingly hadn't been expected to revisit the issue until early 2002. Despite this, and unbeknownst to TNT!MEN, Council just a few weeks ago ended up considering nudity at Hanlan's Point. The result is that Council has now quietly taken another step toward eventually making the clothing-optional zone a permanent amenity for Torontonians and tourists.
Following the recommendation of Council's Economic Development and Parks Committee, Council (as a whole body) voted in early August to adopt a report from the City Solicitor. That report recommended that the Parks By-law (chapter 255 of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code) be amended to formally recognize the clothing-optional zone at Hanlan's Point.
Prior to Council's vote, subsection 17(D) of the Parks By-law had provided that "no person shall utilize facilities in any park without being properly attired, including appropriate swimwear or beach clothing".
Council's latest vote means that provision is now followed by an exception in the newly-created subsection 17(E): "Notwithstanding subsection D, clothing shall be optional in the designated clothing optional area at Hanlan's Point Beach." From a legal standpoint, this is nothing new. However, from a political perspective, this helps to institutionalize the clothing-optional zone and create a greater presumption of permanence.
To make the clothing-optional zone permanent, Council won't have to vote to amend any bylaws. In contrast, pulling the plug on the zone would require voting to delete subsection 17(E).
Meanwhile, local media are helping to solidify support for making the zone permanent. The latest favourable article was published today in the Toronto Star. Titled "Au naturel an all-over hit: Nudists say Hanlan's Point beach is thriving", the full text of Katherine Harding's article can be found at /tnt/beach/news/star000825.html (Incidentally, the quote attributed to me is a bit mangled. I would never use the term "clothing beach"!) The article also indicates that the ridiculous lifeguard situation should be resolved by the start of next summer.
Now that we're FINALLY getting some warm weather, be sure to enjoy the beach!