Women allowed to go topless in Ontario, not all of Canada

"You know Canadian women can legally go topless."

This is what I've heard. But I've also heard that this applies only to women in Ontario, Canada's most populous province. Turns out that the law only applies to Ontario.

I brought this up to had this confirmed by Canada's Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin, who wanted me to set the record straight.

The chief justice was in Chicago for a few days, sure that she heard about other more serious cases than the example I provided. I did point out her remarkable work in getting quite a few unanimous decisions, something her counterparts below the 49th parallel could learn from her.

McLachlin is Canada's first female chief justice. As a matter of fact, I've also met Kim Campbell, Canada's first female prime minister.

McLachlin was absolutely delightful throughout the reception: warm, friendly, again something we don't think about from U.S. chief justices.

The example at the beginning of this story spoke to Canada being more laid-back about certain taboos. I've been to 2 clothing-optional beaches in Canada, though the one in Toronto only has a section devoted to that policy.

Gwen Jacob is the woman whose case allowed women to go topless in Ontario.

Theoretically, women are allowed to be topless on the whole beach, though I haven't seen that at the beach at Hanlan's Point. The other clothing optional beach I attended in Canada was Vancouver's Wreck Beach. So there are places where local ordinances and rules allow for nudity. (I missed a chance to try one near Halifax.)

Thanks again to McLachlin's patience and grace in answering my questions. I told her I wanted to make sure I got it right. She wanted that, too. Good to see that from a chief justice of a country's Supreme Court.

Comments

[Paul Rapoport]

Sorry, this is not believable. No Supreme Court Justice is going to say what you claim, especially when it isn't correct.

[Chad]

I would like to respond to what you are saying, but it would help if you can be more specific.

[Fran The Canadian]

What's not correcte?! In all of canada there are nudist beaches, beaches where clothing is optional and in Ontario woman can go around topfree anywhere a man can...This does not apply only to beaches, but parks and your own front yard! Comme on it's just boobies!!!

[Chad]

Ontario has a distinction over the other provinces in that you can go topless in areas besides designated beach areas. As Fran so well put it, "Comme on it's just boobies!!!"

[George]

The laws that made it illegal were struck down in Ontario and they would also be struck down in any other Canadian province as it is simply a matter of equality. There is NO non-religious reason why a man may go topless but a woman cannot. If someone were arrested in another province they could easily apply the same defense as was used in Ontario.

[Chad]

This all comes down to equality. On the religion note, Adam and Eve were both equally naked in the Garden of Eden.

[bedroom furniture]

great man :D