The Day the Nudists Came to Avonlea

Some stories, like this one, could be lifted directly from the plot of the Road to Avonlea television series. Xenophobia is not one of the more endearing aspects of the “Island way of life.”

Comments

Charlie's picture
Charlie on July 18, 2003 - 19:12 Permalink

I think I, and many other reinvented.net readers, would enjoy a review of this hotel much like your reviews of hotels in Boston and around the world…

Rob MacD's picture
Rob MacD on July 19, 2003 - 04:07 Permalink

I wonder if they have tuck, and how much for the wig wag…. :( …I’m tired, does that even come close to being a joke?

Blair's picture
Blair on July 19, 2003 - 14:01 Permalink

Anne of Seen Genitals. The sequel.

nathan's picture
nathan on July 22, 2003 - 00:53 Permalink

PEI was embarrassed by this issue on national radio tonight (As It Happens). Complete with the standard disclaimer of “I have nothing against these people personally”, a Cavendish tourism operator explained the problem. He said basically “We’re scared of any that is new and different”. The rest of the interview was not particularly informative since the interviewee had not spoken to the owner nor even seen the resort in question. Actually on second thought, what better way to maintain the quaint image of the Island way of life.

Wayne's picture
Wayne on July 22, 2003 - 01:38 Permalink

The exact same thing was said about the automobile in the early 1900’s. After careful consideration and contemplation, they were allowed on a limited basis to be introduced to PEI. This is The Island Way..Be patient…maybe we could try this approach-just encourage topless for awhile, just to see how it effects beer sales, green fees at Crowbush and stuff…:)←—(Me at the beach on opening day)

Craig Willson's picture
Craig Willson on July 22, 2003 - 01:41 Permalink

Wayne, I am realling beginning to like you!

Christopher's picture
Christopher on July 22, 2003 - 04:40 Permalink

Wrong, Wayne. In 1908 the very progressive PEI government banned the motor car. There is a wonderful photo of a horse-towed Pierce Arrow in Summerside which thereafter served as a static display in somone’s front garden. Interesting to note, the attitude to new technology remains exactly the same (ignore TechPEI press releases which seem to refer exclusivly to Potemkin Villages).

Wayne's picture
Wayne on July 22, 2003 - 10:27 Permalink

Not wrong at all. They were eventually permitted in the early 1900’s on a limited basis, as stated. (After reconsidering that ban you mentioned)

Alan's picture
Alan on July 22, 2003 - 12:14 Permalink

I think you are both right that there was a ban in 1908 and then an every second day permitted a few years later in the WWI era which was in turn scrapped when the soldiers came home and ignored the foolishness of it.

Ken's picture
Ken on July 22, 2003 - 15:50 Permalink

When talking about sexuality, why do cars come into the conversation — is this high school?
Vroom! Vroooom!

What we need now is an MLA to charge a weekend stay at the nudist resort to their govt credit card. Oh the shame!

The concept of nudity embarasses people, even strangers behind a fence raises fears — but of what?

Does anyone on the Cavendish Council wear a burka?

Dan James's picture
Dan James on July 22, 2003 - 16:04 Permalink

We wear two.

Ken's picture
Ken on July 22, 2003 - 16:31 Permalink

Burkas of the mind, worse yet, your pressing morals on poor Mr. Lowther’s guests; to keep Anne’s Land safe for families?

Ken's picture
Ken on July 22, 2003 - 16:36 Permalink

Dan, I thought you were from Cavendish Municipality, but you are from silverorange.

Wayne's picture
Wayne on July 22, 2003 - 18:13 Permalink

My original post referred to a change in legislation-the permitting of cars on a limited basis. Inarguably, it is obivious and not requiring mention that previous to this decision, the policy was different (in that cars were not permitted-hence it is a “change”), which renders the attempt to argue that I was mistaken absurd and illogical.

Wayne's picture
Wayne on July 22, 2003 - 18:31 Permalink

Spock out.

Christopher's picture
Christopher on July 22, 2003 - 18:46 Permalink

Sheesh, Wayne. Save it for Alan. He’d likely point out the difference between “everything not permitted is forbidden” and “everything not forbidden is permitted”. We tend to the latter in Canada. Governing legislation or formal tolerance often lags well behind practice. “After a prohibition” is something quite different from “after careful consideration and contemplation”. I just find the fact of the prohibition intriguing.

Dan James's picture
Dan James on July 22, 2003 - 18:53 Permalink

I do live in Cavendish though Ken — so a close assumption. It is key to point out for the purposes of humor that the debated nudist resort is next to Bosom Buddies cottages.

Christopher's picture
Christopher on July 22, 2003 - 19:03 Permalink

I liked the Burka joke too. The point made on the CBC this morning about the bugs was perhaps the most telling I have heard. One’d want to be careful how and where one swatted.

Wayne's picture
Wayne on July 22, 2003 - 20:13 Permalink

That last “Wayne” was not theee Wayne.

Mike's picture
Mike on July 22, 2003 - 20:50 Permalink

I loved Capt’n Bart’s comments in the Charlottetown newspaper about Anne not being a nudist — she didn’t play ‘black light golf’ or visit a space shuttle replica either, but they are in his tourist trap in Cavendish.

A lot of Cavendish would have to close down if only Anne stuff was permitted. Since Anne was fictional, there is nothing there that Anne did — so I guess it is time to shut all of Cavendish down, right?!

Think of all the golfers who could visit PEI (with the approval and accompanyment of their spouses) if they could find an Anne book with those characters playing ‘black light golf’!! I bet what the sign at Bart’s tourist trap would look like!

Alan's picture
Alan on July 22, 2003 - 21:02 Permalink

Anne was a drunk, though — what with the “cordial” incident — thus linking the character to Thirsties…

Marcus's picture
Marcus on July 22, 2003 - 23:07 Permalink

Is the “Island Way of Life” too small-c conservative?

Don’t forget the 1988 plebiscite where ‘Friends of the Island’ vs. ‘Islanders for a Better Tomorrow’ duked it out…

Also, prohibition ended in 1948 so nudity will probably be allowed by 2030 by my calculations:
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/pe… (search on prohibition)

Seriously, people on both sides have to relax — it’ll happen, just take about 20 years longer than the mainland! Just like we’re adopting big box stores, courtesy of Tim Banks.

Ken's picture
Ken on July 23, 2003 - 18:33 Permalink

Here is a quote about PEI from the temperence crusader, Carrie A. Nation’s The Use and Need of the life of Carrie A. Nation

As I had promised to return to Canada, I did so in the month of June, visiting the Maritime Provinces, where I was very much delighted with the people, finding in Prince Edward’s Island the most intelligent and moral people, as a body, that I have ever met.

That Island has a Prohibition Law similar to Kansas, but the primier, Peters, told the former premier, Mr. Farguason, that the Club in Charlotte Town, the Capitol, had to be an exception to the prohibitive amendment or he would vote against and ruin it. This condition is similar in our own government-conspiracy and treason. I visited this club, strange that I should get in, God opened the way. It was fitted up like other drinking clubs, where men congregate together to act in a manner and talk of subjects they would be ashamed for their wives to see and hear. The back room was stacked with empties and imported liquors of different brands. I went up into the parlor about nine o’clock in the morning, where I met one of these beer-swelled outlaws, I asked him, “Will you object to answering some questions about this place.” His pompous and indignant reply was, “No, I will do nothing of the kind.” I said, I will tell you some things about it. You are a set of traitors, you pose as being the elite, but you are criminals, shame on such villainy.” He held his paper up before his face. I had the satisfaction of telling him the truth in plain language, such men are well dressed, gold fobbed, diamond studded rummies that are more hateful than those behind the prison bars, their bodies a reeking mass of corruption.

Alan's picture
Alan on July 23, 2003 - 19:10 Permalink