By COLLEEN SILVERTHORN
of The Leader-Post
Three Regina women slipped into Wascana Pool, removed their bathing suit tops and went for a swim while curious onlookers peeked through the surrounding chain-link fence.
About 75 people -- mostly men -- waited outside the pool for nearly three hours in hopes of catching a glimpse of the women in their pre-arranged swim exerting the rights of Regina women to bare their breasts in public.
"I think we made a point and I think it's a good point," said Heather Ireland after spending about 15 minutes topless in the pool Saturday.
The 19-year-old said women deserve the same rights as men to remove their tops, and society needs to accept equality between the sexes.
But some disagreed with the stand taken by Ireland.
Members of Regina's Celebration Lutheran Church handed out flyers denouncing women appearing topless in public.
"We want women to be respected and honored in society, not degraded," said Anita Johnson with the church."
She said rape and sexual harassment of women will increase if women appear topless in public.
Johnson pointed to the men hanging on the pool fence and uttering lewd comments to back up her belief that women doffing their tops will increase sexual harassment.
Despite opposition and a low turnout of women supporting the swim, Ireland joined Catrina Neudeck, 20, and Evangeline Godron, 63, in the pool just before 8 p.m. Saturday.
The swim marked a recent ruling dismissing charges against Godron for appearing topless in public last summer.
Provincial Court Judge Eugene Lewchuk dismissed charges against Godron and friend Kathleen Rice on July 22 saying the women, "did not cause any harm, disturbance, argument or cause a crowd to gather."
"I'm hoping to (do) what the law said we had the right to do -- bare our breasts in public," Godron said.
But Godron along with Neudeck and Ireland may face charges for their recent topless swim.
Johnson complained about the swim to pool staff, who called police after the women refused to put their tops on.
Lifeguard Tammy Murray said city hall officials met with pool staff during the week and decided that if people complained, staff should call police.
"We're very upset about the whole thing," Murray said.
While Godron, Ireland and Neudeck left before Regina Police Service officers arrived, Sgt. Clem Carnall said their refusal to leave when pool staff asked them to could result in charges.
"We'll put a report in and forward it over to Sask. Justice and let them decide," Carnall said.
Godron returned to the pool Monday around 6 p.m. and while in the water rolled down the top of her bathing suit.
When the head lifeguard asked her to cover her top, she complied.
Godron said she complained about men going topless, and even wrote out a complaint about it.