Charges laid after threat caused cancellation of nudist swim event
Following the cancellation of a naked swim event at a Calgary pool, the Calgary Police Service have charged one woman with uttering threats, according to a release.
The polarizing nudist swim event caused a stir in early January, when it was announced that attendees at the Southland Leisure Centre would be sans-bathing suits on the evening of January 14.
A petition was created to cancel the event, along with another petition petitioning against that first petition.
Ultimately, the swim was shut down before it could commence, but the City of Calgary made it clear that the cancellation occured in the name of public safety, as threats had been made against those who might attend.
On Tuesday, February 27, the RCMP arrested Arie Guthrie, a 26-year-old woman from Ponoka, Alberta, who has since been charged on one count of uttering threats.
“We take any threat of this nature very seriously,” said the Centralized General Investigative Unit’s Acting Staff Sergeant Scott McCann in the release.
“We conducted a thorough investigation in order to lay this charge and we appreciate the RCMP’s assistance with this file.”
Guthrie will next appear in court on Friday, April 8.
In the weeks following the cancelled swim, an agreement was reached between the City and the nudist group, Calgary Nude Recreation, that would allow for nude swim events to take place at Calgary pools going forward, though the public will not be made aware of future locations.