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Secret Life of Canada

A Brief History of Nudism

Leah and Falen have the answers to the most important questions in this brief history of nudism.

Leah and Falen take a closer look at naturism

CBC Podcasts ·
The scene is set in a forest clearing where Eve stands before the Tree of Knowledge, caught in the act of handing an apple to a bewildered Adam. Entwined in the tree's branches above, the serpent looks on as Adam succumbs to temptation. A rich menagerie of birds and animals - a stag, a hind, a sheep, a roe-buck with its mate, a lion, a wild boar and a horse, and partridges, a stork and a heron - completes this seductive vision of Paradise. On the tree-trunk are the date 1526 and the bat-winged serpent which formed part of Cranach's coat of arms.
This week's episode of the Secret Life of Canada look at the revealing history of naturists and nudists and how their roots in this country go back much farther than you might think. But probably not Adam and Eve far. (Courtauld Gallery, London, 1526)

Leah and Falen take a (fully clothed) deep dive into the history of nudism in Canada. They learn the origins behind the naturist movement which includes a love of the outdoors, embracing nudity in a non-sexual way and most importantly, the use of  a towel when sitting down. So, when did it all start here, who were the members of the clubs and what happened when someone got visibly aroused? We have all the answers in this brief history of nudists.

*Content warning: this episode contains sexual content and adult themes which may not be suitable for younger listeners.

Recommended companion episodes:

Listen to the episode here, and get transcripts of our series here.

Key References

Nudists bare all for journalist June Callwood in 1961

63 years ago
Duration 13:53
The owners of Ontario's Sun Valley Gardens nudist camp chat with Callwood on CBC-TV's Close-Up. Aired Nov. 5, 1961.

 

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