Nude revival: Toronto’s Hanlan’s Point Beach will now be bigger than ever

A city scheme that could have “redeveloped” one of Canada’s clothing-optional beaches out of existence backfires in a glorious win for nudists and the LGBTQ+ community

Nudist grafitti at Hanlan's Point Beach. Soon, clothing won't be required on any part of Toronto's nude swimming spot. | Photo by Curtis Atkins

TORONTO—In March, Planet Nude reported to our readers that Hanlan’s Point, Toronto’s famed clothing-optional beach, was under threat from city planners’ schemes to “redevelop” the Toronto Islands, the huge offshore park where the beach is located.

News emerged in February of a “Master Plan” being assembled by the local government which would have seen the erection of a concert and festival venue right next to Hanlan’s, one of two official nude swimming spots in the country and site of Canada’s first Gay Pride celebration back in 1971.

The leaked proposal sparked a firestorm of controversy, propelled a “Save Hanlan’s Point” campaign into existence, and ultimately backfired completely—leading to a major investment of public funds into the improvement and expansion of the queer and nude beach. 

It wasn’t at all the outcome envisioned by planners when…