Canada鈥檚 oldest nudist club is offering an inside tour of its large North Vancouver property this Saturday.
Nestled in the forests of Upper Lynn Valley, the Van Tan Club sits on three hectares, featuring a pool, fields, a wood-fired sauna and badminton courts.
The rather unknown nudist colony describes itself as a 鈥渇amily-friendly naturist club鈥� that provides a rustic, relaxing and private park for the enjoyment of social nudism.
Club spokesperson Daniel Jackson told Black Press Media the location isn鈥檛 as famous as Wreck Beach on Vancouver鈥檚 west side, but nudists across the globe will look for the group when they are travelling.
鈥淢ost countries in the world will have some form of a naturist organization or community of clubs,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淎s for us being somewhat of an enigma in North Van, it鈥檚 true. Outside of North Vancouver most folks wouldn鈥檛 accidentally know we exist.
鈥淏ut, because the club is on the main access road to some of the best mountain biking on the North Shore, there鈥檚 a lot of traffic there that knows we exist.鈥�
The group was founded in 1939 by Ray Connett. Celebrating its 79th anniversary, it now boasts more than 50 members of all ages.
As the summer heat hits B.C., he said it鈥檚 typical for some people to become curious.
鈥淲e exist as a safe alternative for people who want to practice naturism in a safe environment with people who have the same kind of respect and beliefs in that it鈥檚 not a bad thing, or anything that is wrong to run towards,鈥� he said.
For those who aren鈥檛 so sure, Jackson said there鈥檚 no pressure to remove the layers right away.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not about making yourself feel uncomfortable. You can come up and give it a go and remain clothed or dressed to whatever your comfort is 鈥� there鈥檚 no pressure at all.鈥�
The open house is free, and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the top of Mountain Highway.
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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