Nude swim planned at public pool sunk

CALGARY — An escalating debate over a nudist swim at a public swimming pool has prompted the City of Calgary to cancel the event over concerns about security.

“We’ve had a review completed by Calgary Police Service and corporate security that has led to these arising concerns,” James McLaughlin, acting director of Calgary Recreation, said Thursday.

“Safety concerns are related to the volatile public commentary regarding this public booking and they cause concerns for all users of the facility.”

The Calgary Nude Recreation club had sold tickets for a swim night on Sunday at the Southland Leisure Centre.The club described the private, after-hours event on its Facebook page as a way of snubbing winter.

Word of the event prompted an online petition urging the club to cancel the swim or ban children from attending.