An Oliver woman is defying law enforcement agencies and municipal governments by going topless, which she argues is legal in Canada. The human rights advocate is organizing a “go topless” event in Penticton on Sunday, Aug. 23. File photo
A 65-year-old Oliver woman is organizing a “go topless” event in Penticton on Sunday, August 23 to demonstrate that men and women are equal.
The slogan is “free your breasts, free your mind.”
Gail Owen said she rides her bike topless in the morning on the KVR trail, and in the evening, she wears an unbuttoned shirt.
“Under the Charter (of Rights), men and women are equal.”
She also argues that the courts have made it legal for women to go topless, so she questions why cities and law enforcement agencies are interfering by telling women to put their tops back on.
Owen, a human rights advocate, said four people from Oliver and 10 from Osoyoos are participating in the Penticton event starting at 1 p.m. at city hall.
They will be wearing street clothes upon arrival, then remove their tops after making a speech. The group will then proceed to walk down the beach. This will be followed by a potluck at Three Mile Beach, a popular place for nudists.
“We’re going to rattle the chains (at city hall),” Owen said.
