History of Naturism in Canada
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1939The Van Tan Club is established in North Vancouver. This club is still active and is regarded as Canada’s oldest continuous running naturist club.
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1946Ray Connett begins writing his column “Sunny Trails” for Sunbathing for Health Magazine. Through a series of articles, he begins to network with isolated clubs across Canada.
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1947The Canadian Sunbathing Association is established, spear-headed by Ray Connett.
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1960The eastern and western chapters of the Canadian Sunbathing Association officially split, forming two separate groups with each adopting “East” and “West” into their respective names.
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1973The Eastern Canadian Sunbathing Association is renamed the Canadian Nudist Confederation.
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1977The Fédération québécoise de naturisme (FQN) is founded by Michel Vaïs.
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1978The Canadian Nudist Confederation is dissolved.
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1981The Wreck Beach Committee formally becomes the Wreck Beach Preservation Society.
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1984Three members of Glen Echo, Petra Scheller and Doug and Helen Beckett, begin discussions to establish a new national organization, which will eventually become the Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN). To read a history of the FCN, click here.
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1986The Federation of Canadian Naturists is formally incorporated in March. The first issue of its newsletter “Going Natural” is released. The first annual general meeting is held at Glen Echo Park in August.
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1987The FCN collaborates with the FQN to produce its first formal publication “Canadian Guide to Nudist Clubs and Beaches”
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1988The FCN and the FQN form a liaison to jointly represent Canada at the International Naturist Federation (INF).
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1991Wreck Beach, which had been an unofficial nude-use area since the 1920’s, receives formal consent from the Greater Vancouver Regional District to become Canada’s first legally sanctioned clothing optional beach.
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1995The FCN launches its first web site.
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1996The FCN organizes its first annual Naturist Festival at the Four Seasons Nature Park.
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1999Toronto City Council approves Hanlan’s Point as Ontario’s first sanctioned nude beach.
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2000The FCN establishes its first office and library at Glen Echo Park. This would later be relocated to Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park after Glen Echo closes in 2009.
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2012The FCN launches its Facebook page and later, its Twitter account, @FCNaturists.
