Manitoba's Naturist Beaches

At Patricia Beach Provincial Park, should you venture to the far end of the main area of beach, and step beyond a short pathway to the right through some bushes, you will find yourself in a separate open, sandy area of beach, and you will notice something quite different. There are nude people here! If it's a hot 30C (86F) degree Sunday afternoon there could be a hundred or more nudists on this secluded area of beach. Should you continue beyond this open area, you'll find yourself on a sandy point of land reaching out into a marshy lagoon where there are bushes and small sandy areas for nudists who want a bit of seclusion, away from the main crowd.

This area of beach has been visited by nudists for 50 years or more, and since the early 1990's, their numbers have increased dramatically. Today, this unofficial nude beach is visited by hundreds of people of all ages and walks of life, from seniors, to young and middle-aged couples and singles, to young families with children.The regulars at this beach generally all know each other, so there is a strong sense of community and an easy-going, freindly atmosphere. Newcomers can very quickly establish new freindships. Many newcomers, especially women, have commented that they feel quite safe and comfortable here, and receive less unwanted attention than on the regular clothed beach. Women are often seen coming here alone whenever there is a substantial number of people here. People watch out for each other's safety, especially that of children, and this also discourages any undesireable individuals. You can leave your blanket and go for a walk, for hours if you wish, and when you come back, your things will be right where you left them. Also, no one will mind if you wish to spend the entire day here wearing a bathing suit, as long as you're willing to accept that you are surrounded mostly by nude people. Some newcomers will remain clothed for several visits, some for just an hour or two, before deciding on their own to get naked and discover a wonderful new way to enjoy a beautiful beach on a beautiful Manitoba summer day.

Prior to the 1990's, nudists usually had to stay out of sight behind bushes and other objects and keep a wary eye out for park police. They would put on some clothing when they saw police approaching, and take it off again when the police went away. For about a dozen years now, park officials and police have just let things be. Nudists have been told by park officials and the R.C.M.P. that so long as they respect the people on the main beach who may not want the sight of nude people imposed on them, stay in the established nude-use area when nude, and as long as there are not a lot of complaints from the general public, there will be no intervention. So far, there have been no problems and all has been peaceful.

Directly across the channel from the nude area of Patricia Beach is the nude area of Beaconia Beach. You have the choice of either wading across the channel, or getting into your car and travelling by road around to the Beaconia Beach parking area. Either way, it takes a bit of effort to get to the nude area of Beaconia Beach, but the effort is well worth it, for this is a truly beautiful beach. If you choose to go around to the parking lot, the first 800 or so metres going south along the beach is a regular clothed beach, used mostly by the local Beaconia area residents. DO NOT GO NUDE ON THIS AREA OF BEACH!!

In recent years, there was a small but very vocal group of Beaconia residents strongly opposed to nudity on any part of this beach. This group first mounted a strong campaign to get a municipal by-law passed to have nudity banned from the beach. When that failed, they then tried to obtain a lease on the beach, presumably so they could control it themselves, and thus have control of who had access to the beach. This campaign failed as well. The controversy has died down for the time being, but it would be foolish to risk antagonizing anyone by going nude anywhere in the first 800 metres of this beach south of the parking lot!

Beyond the first 800 metres, the beach widens out somewhat, and on a warm, sunny day you will begin to see a few nude people. For the first 500 metres of the nude section of beach you will see mixed groups of men and women, sometimes with children, as well as singles. Further south is an area of beach traditionally frequented by gay men, occupying the next 500 metres south to the channel. For many years now, the gay and non-gay nudists have peacefully shared this beach, although they do tend to stay somewhat segregated .

Neither of these two beaches is officially sanctioned by any level of government as clothing-optional. One must always keep in mind that there will always be some individuals or groups who, for religious or whatever other reasons, would dearly love to see the law enforcers step in and put a stop to the nudity. Each of us who want to enjoy these beaches as nudists have a responsibility to other nudists not to give those individuals or groups the ammunition they need to put an end to this perfectly harmless and enjoyable pastime. Lewd behavior, sexual activity out in public view, and being nude in clothing-required areas are some things that would give these anti-nudists a reason to complain to the authorities. As for sexual activity, there is an abundance of private, secluded places to go to throughout the beach area, well out of sight of the general public.

Respectable behavior at a nude beach is important, just the same as at a regular clothed beach. The open, public area of a nude beach should be a suitable place to bring children. A mixed crowd including families with children helps to make a nude beach publicly acceptable. Non-nudists who wander into the nude areas should be able to see that at a nude beach, everyone is behaving much the same as the people on a regular clothed beach.

Nudists at both Patricia and Beaconia Beaches should be commended for taking such good care of their beaches. Although there are no garbage containers provided, the nude sections of both beaches are virtually free of litter. Good work, folks, and let's continue to try and take away a bit more trash than we brought in each time we visit!

At Beaconia Beach the future of its clothing-optional status is still uncertain. Although the opponents of the nudists are quiet for the moment, things could certainly flare up again. This issue has never really been resolved.

This webpage can serve an important function by providing a means for nude beach regulars to keep in contact and be able to organize and fight back if there is ever any move by opponents to bring about an end to the nude beaches. There is a large nation-wide naturist organization willing to lend support if needed! Any new developments will be reported on this site. E-mail addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses will be provided for contacting the appropriate people if the nude-use of these beaches is ever threatened.