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As you may know, TNT!MEN was instrumental in convincing Toronto City Council in 1999 to make Hanlans Point Beach officially clothing-optional. The formerly deserted beach is now recognised as a successful recreational amenity enjoyed by thousands of Torontonians and tourists, including women and straight men.
Here's a note written by Stephane Deschenes of the Federation of Canadian Naturists regarding the meeting of the Economic Development and Parks Committee on March 27th:
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On March 27th, the Economic Development and Parks Committee of the city of Toronto recommended that the Hanlan's Point Clothing-Optional beach pilot project be made permanent. Toronto now joins Vancouver as the second city in Canada to have a permanent and officially recognised beach. The three year test has been deemed a strong success. Their report to council states "The beach has gained acceptance from the general public and has enjoyed growing popularity among its users." Of even greater interest in the report are its comments on public acceptance. Despite concerns by a few individuals, the committee reported that the beach "has not generated a significant number of complaints during the three years it has been in existence. There appears to be support for the beach and an understanding that this type of beach can exist in harmony with textile, or clothing required beaches." During the pilot project, a few beach users had caused some controversy due to their belief that inappropriate behaviour might result in the closing of the naturist beach. Fortunately, this turned out to be unfounded since the committee reported that Hanlan's Point clothing-optional beach has had "no more incidents reported by the public on this beach than on any other beaches throughout the City". The next and final step will be approval by city council. This is not expected to meet any opposition due to the very positive report and strong recommendation of the Economic Development and Parks Committee. The success of this report is largely due to the strong and positive feedback sent in by all of you. Councillor Kyle Rae was overwhelmed by the letters and emails of support that the received. He passed them on to the other councillors who were astounded by the level of support. A big thank you to all who supported the Hanlan's Point clothing-optional beach. Your efforts did make a difference! Present at the committee meeting in support of the proposal were Peter Simm, the author of the report which resulted in the initiation of the pilot project, Spike of TNT!MEN, Jim Hodder of the FCN, and Stephane Deschenes, also of the FCN who submitted a letter from Judy Williams of the FCN, NAC, TNS and Wreck Beach. |
Here's the official proposal which was passed:
Economic Development and Parks Committee Agenda
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The amendment was drafted by Peter Simm, who gave it to Kyle Rae's office. Kyle spoke with John MacIntyre of Parks and Recreation, who wrote the report mentioned above. John approved of Peter's amendment, and although it was too late to change his report, John recommended the amendment to the committee.
In past years, Councillor George Mammolitti provided the only real opposition on the council, but apparently, having had no complaints from his constituents in the last year (as reported in last Saturday's Globe and Mail), he's changed his mind.
So Kyle got George, who is serving on the Economic Development and Parks Committee, to present the amendment to the committee. It passed easily, as were the recommendations of the report. It still has be ratified by City Council, but no-one expects there to be any fuss about that.
Regarding the April 18th meeting of Toronto City Council, Peter Simm writes:
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Among the numerous items on Toronto City Council's agenda for April 16, 2002, was clause 4 of Economic Development & Parks Committee Report No. 3. That item embodied two recommendations. First, the clothing-optional zone at Hanlan's Point Beach on Toronto Island should be made permanent. (Note that "permanent" designation would not legally preclude a future Council from revoking the zone.) Second, senior Parks staff should be authorised to vary the zone's boundaries, subject to the zone being no smaller than its size on August 31, 2001. At 10:06 a.m., Deputy-Mayor, Case Ootes, chairing the session of Council, raised that agenda item, inquiring if any member of Council wished to place a "hold" on it. After double-checking with George Mammoliti, Ootes confirmed for the Minutes that no Councillor was seeking to "hold" that Hanlan's Point item. In other words, no Councillor indicated a desire to debate or hold a recorded vote on it. Under the procedural rules of Council, the agenda item was accordingly deemed to have been unanimously adopted. On April 18, on the final vote in the three-day session of Council, an omnibus resolution was passed authorizing the promulgation of whatever by-laws were required to implement matters which had been approved at that Council session. Hanlan's Point was included in that omnibus resolution. The clothing-optional zone is now officially "permanent". Toronto City Council also now guarantees that -- despite the sometimes chilly waters of Lake Ontario -- there will be no shrinkage in the zone: Parks staff can make the zone bigger, but they can't make it smaller than its present size (about 700 metres of shoreline). |