by KRISTIAN GRAVENOR

Nudists - or naturists, as the local practitioners of the clothes-free art like to call themselves - are smack dab in the middle of one of Montreal’s defining paradoxes. In spite of its reputation as a progressive, laissez-faire centre of sophistication, Montreal has long languished behind other cities in accepting and embracing the concept of stripping to the bone and walking around naked in front of others.

Indeed, while the great unclad have gained recognition in cities like Vancouver and Toronto, both of which have created official nude beaches, their Montreal counterparts have suffered prejudice and suspicion, according to Jean-François Audet, president of the Quebec Naturist Federation (FQN).

“In Quebec we consider ourselves to be closest to the European way of life, but elsewhere attitudes towards naturism are much more evolved than they are here,” he says.

So naughty seemed the naturist pastime to the collective mind that local naturists were forced to keep the details of their weekly winter-season activities a closely guarded secret. The group had been meeting for seven years in a clandestine arrangement Sunday evenings at the YWCA on Crescent. They had an agreement with the brass to occupy the facilities after closing hours, under condition of secrecy. The YWCA managers feared the barenaked gang would scare off some of the prudish, nudity-fearing donors.

The naturists’ stay at the Y came to an apocalyptic head last spring when a female gym user complained of spotting a line-up of nudes waiting to enter the pool. The Y’s manager Debbie Loiseau hastily axed the YWCA’s association with the group.

“Clearly there are still people ill at ease with naturism who still have a lot of prejudices towards it,” says Audet. “Even though it’s a totally non-sexual, family-oriented activity, many people have discomfort with it.”

But Audet and his merry gang of epidermis appreciators will no longer be forced to meet in the shadows. Audet has revealed to the Mirror that anybody willing to shed their clothes and fork over $15 ($8 for association members) is invited to let it all hang out starting next month. Starting January 18 the gang will strip down, splash in the pool, use gym facilities or just flat-out socialize with other nudies every Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at UQÀM, found at 1212 Sanguinet near the Berri Metro. Audet hopes the new hours will beckon more families who might have previously found it hard to make the previous Sunday night meetings.

With rental costs up 60 per cent from their prior digs, Audet says that the pressure will be on to attract more than the 100 or so who used to show up.

Audet, a 10-year veteran of the clothesless lifestyle, remains a passionate apostle. “People come in and quickly forget that they - and others - are naked. The ambiance is cordial and friendly. We have workers, doctors, judges, everything, showing up and doing sports and leisure together without any reference to social or professional status. People don’t come to talk about their work, sell insurance or discuss their clients. There’s a certain respect of each other’s private life.” :