Ponoka woman charged with threat against Calgary nude swimming event

UPDATE DEC. 10, 2018: Charges against Guthrie were withdrawn by the Crown.

A nude swim event in Calgary causedsignificant controversy before it was cancelled by the city in January, and now one woman opposed to the event has been charged with uttering a threat.

Arie Christine Guthrie of Ponoka, Alta., was arrested on Feb. 27.

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Police said they received a report of a threat on Jan. 8 against the Southland Leisure Centre, where the event was to take place.

"Following a risk assessment that took into consideration the threat,a decision was made by Calgary Recreation to cancel the event," said police in a news release.

Many threats received

Guthrie faces one count of uttering threats, but police did not specify the nature of her threat.

Speaking toCBCNews in January, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the threats against the event included a bombing and smashed windshields for cars parked at the leisure centre.

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"We take any threat of this nature very seriously," said Acting Staff Sgt.Scott McCannin the news release. "We conducted a thorough investigation in order to lay this charge and we appreciate the RCMP's assistance with this file."

The event, organized by Calgary Nude Recreation, was to take place at the leisure centre on Jan. 14 and was open to the public.

Competing petitions

The fact it was billed as family friendly and open to childrenled to the creation of a petition against the swim, which was then met with a counter-petition and days of back-and-forth arguments and vitriolic comments left on the leisure centre's Facebook page.

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"Hopefully, people like this will be invited to enter the ovens," wrote one commenter.

"I'll never set foot in Southland Leisure Centre with my family after hearing about your pedophile soup event," wrote another.

After the city pulled the plug on hosting the event, Calgary Nude Recreation threatened legal action.

Guthrie is scheduled to appear in court on April 6.

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