Topless in PQ & The Rest of Canada

With the sweltering heat in the summer, it can be tempting to shed a few layers and go topless. In public spaces in Quebec as in the rest of Canada, you have this right, no matter your sex or gender. But there are limits to respect. And if your rights aren’t respected, you can file a complaint. What is a public space? A public space is a place where anyone can go. For example: streets, sidewalks, and parks. A right confirmed by courts Simply being topless in public is legal. The Criminal Code doesn’t prohibit it. Canadian courts have also confirmed this right in different decisions, notably in 1996 and 2000. You’re allowed to be topless in public, for example, when you are: walking on the sidewalk, riding a bike, participating in a protest, swimming at a beach, a pool or a water park, sunbathing in the park, in your backyard or on your balcony. You’re also allowed to breastfeed your child in any public space: at the park, in a store, at the movie theatre, in a hotel, at work, at the courthouse… No one is allowed to stop you from taking your top off because of your sex or gender. For instance, municipalities and pools can’t adopt bylaws, dress codes, or policies that require only women to wear a top. PG