When asked for the most unusual difference between Canada and the United States, I can point out that men and women can go topless in Canada nationwide, while outside of a few laws and rulings in the United States, only males in America can go without a shirt.
We get reminded of this nuance as the organization GoTopless.org celebrates its 4th year of protests, extolling the right for women to go topless, or in lieu of this, requiring men to cover their nipples.
This Sunday, the organization will have protests in Toronto and Vancouver. Unlike the protests in most of the American cities, the protest north of the border is more about reminding Canadians that they have this right, while most Americans are fighting to have this right.
For professional reasons, I did take in the protest in Chicago. The protest was in the middle of the Air & Water Show, so they didn't get noticed much. The protest wasn't huge, but the folks were enthusiastic.
Seeing men in bikini tops was pretty hilarious, a visual reminder of the silliness of what women have to go through in American society, but not always Canadian society.
I'm pretty sure that the law allowing women to go topless is not federal in Canada. They're only allowed that right/privelage in certain places (like Ontario). I know for a fact that in Newfoundland and Labrador that, while women can get away with wearing just a sports bra, they still cannot go completely topless. But yes there are some places in Canada where women can go topless legally.
Posted by: Selah Beth | August 26, 2011 at 09:04 PM
I had read that the Supreme Court of Canada had ruled on this, so I thought the ruling applied nationwide. I do know Ontario for sure.
It should be nationwide, consistent throughout the country.
As for Toronto, the group did have a protest.
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1046128--topless-activists-march-through-streets-but-avoid-the-park
Posted by: Chad | August 29, 2011 at 08:36 PM