Group wants section of Wasaga Beach to be declared clothing-optional

[NudieDaniel]

By Gisele Winton Sarvis, Special to Postmedia Network

Wednesday, January 6, 2016 7:49:56 EST PM

WASAGA BEACH - It may be cold and icy outside but local nudists are petitioning municipal and provincial governments for their place in the sun along the world's largest freshwater beach.

The Wasagabares have submitted letters to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Town of Wasaga Beach looking for a section of Wasaga Beach to be designated clothing-optional for this coming summer.

John Cropper, the founder of Wasagabares and director of the Federation of Ontario Naturists, expressed in a December letter to Mayor Brian Smith his concern over not receiving a reply from John Fisher of the MNR from letters dated September and October.

Cropper suggests that the far east end of Beach Area 1 be the designated area.

"We have historically collected at the 'Point'... adjacent to the mouth of the Nottawasaga River, for decades. Many of us are children and grandchildren who initially came with our folks to enjoy our wonderful beach at the water's edge across from the dune," the letter to the MNR written by Lesley Clarke, co-founder of Wasagabares and a resident reads.

When the MNR erected fencing to protect plovers, the naturist group was thrust out into the open.

This led to more complaints to the MNR about nudity, with as many as five per day.

"While we are respectful of each other ... it must be a costly endeavour to send MNR to investigate yet another complaint, and a financial burden to the taxpayer," she wrote the MNR.

Clarke also wrote that a nudist area would be a boon to the economy because it would attract more tourists from Quebec who live a more "relaxed lifestyle."

Naturists are ambassadors of the beach, they respect wildlife, pick up garbage and last summer three members used their personal watercraft to rescue a drowning woman, she wrote.

"An area designated as clothing optional would significantly reduce the endless calls and exploitation of taxpayers dollars. It will generate revenue... They bring and leave their tourist dollars."

Further, many of the nudists are already residents and tax-paying citizens.

"Many of aging seniors will be able to enjoy what our forefathers and mothers have been doing since the 1900s, enjoying the beach as God created them, in a designated area that is both safe and with sufficient foliage...so as not to disrupt others," wrote Clarke.

Clothing-optional beaches are the norm in Europe and Quebec and other places in the world. Hamilton has recently implemented a clothing optional beach and Hanlan's Beach in Toronto is an historic one.

The letter concludes with an argument that the MNR has made room at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park for two kite beaches (Beach Area 5 and Allanwood Beach) and a dog beach (Beach Area 3), so why not, even if it's a trial, establish a clothing-optional beach?

At the Dec. 22 council meeting, Wasaga Beach Chief Administrative Officer George Vadeboncoeur recommended that the issue be put on the agenda for the newly-created tourism and events advisory committee. Council voted to approve that recommendation.

Councillor Bill Stockwell said, tongue-in-cheek, "I'd like to congratulate the CAO for having an open mind."

http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/2016/01/06/group-wants-section-of-wasaga-beach-to-be-declared-clothing-optional

[Danee]

Update:

Wasaga council OK with three-year trial for clothing optional beach

The longest freshwater beach in the world could soon have the longest stretch of clothing-optional beach in Ontario.


Read more: http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/6393144-wasaga-council-ok-with-three-year-trial-for-clothing-optional-beach/

[Freedom]