Diner en...nude? North Vancouver nudist club hosts inaugural naked picnic
Van Tan Nudist Club inspired by popular Diner en Blanc to 'celebrate nothing, wearing nothing'
A North Vancouver naturist club is taking a layer off the popular pop-up picnic Diner en Blanc with their own Diner Dans le Nu, where they plan to "celebrate nothing, wearing nothing."
The Van Tan Nudist Club, which claims to be Canada's oldest official naturist club, hosts its inaugural naked picnic on Aug. 20 at their grounds located a few acres above the Lynn Valley neighbourhood.
"It's a bit of a joke for us because we would be wearing nothing anyway," said club member Daniel Jackson.
He said the group was inspired by the success of the popular Diner en Blanc — an invite-only picnic where everyone wears white, as well as last year's spin-off Ce Soir Noir — a public event where diners wore black and picnicked in Vancouver's Crab Park.
"We got to thinking, 'Well gosh, there is another option. It doesn't have to be black or white: it's nothing at all,'" Jackson said.
'Celebrate nothing, wearing nothing'
He added that for those who may be interested in being in the buff, Van Tan's colony offers a place without the "looky-loos."
"This is a potentially safer place and respectful place for people to experience nudism or naturism for the first time."
Like Diner en Blanc, the event will be self-catered, Jackson said.
He added the club will have tables, chairs, barbecues and other amenities for participants (including a wood-fired hot tub and sauna).
"We often have barbecues and things up here so we thought let's have Diner Dans le Nu, and we can celebrate nothing, wearing nothing."
Advantages of eating nude
Jackson said there are also some advantages to eating in the nude:
"If it's not too hot and you spill it on yourself, it's easier to clean up," he said. "And you haven't ruined your outfit."
The Van Tan Club, which was founded in the forests on North Vancouver's Fromme Mountain in 1939, has seen declining membership.
Jackson previously told CBC News the club's membership numbers peaked in the 1970s at about 150 people, and now there are about 50 or 60 members.
He and other members said they would like to attract new members, especially from the younger crowd.
With files from Jake Costello and Rafferty Baker