Clarkson mother Pam Ayers (left) has received help from daughter Tammy Catania (right), and friends Angie Tucker and Kristine Andres, in organizing a petition against topless women on city streets and parks.

Grassroots approach taken to put tops on

A Clarkson mother of three is taking her beef with topless women straight to the top.
Pam Ayers, 32, had collected 234 signatures on a petition as of yesterday, and when she fills the list with as many names as possible, she's sending it on to Ottawa, in hopes of changing legislation that has made it no longer a criminal offence for women to go topless in public, unless it's for commercial purposes.
Ayers, helped out in the cause by her daughter Tammy, 15, and friend Angie Tucker, 17, says she's not trying to put the the tops back on women everywhere, just on city streets and in parks.
"I'm not saying women who choose to go topless are wrong. They have every right to do so, but in designated areas, such as the beach, but not everywhere in public. The streets and the parks are for our children - where else are we going to send them to play? Women who choose to go topless should do so away from the kids," explains Ayers, who began seeking the signatures of supporters Tuesday.
Since then, she has not only garnered the support of the names on the lists, which include, "men, women and children of all ages," but a number of businesses in the area have called her asking for a copy of the petition. Two Clarkson convenience stores have also climbed on board, and have allowed Ayers to leave copies of her petition with them for customers to sign.
Ayers believes many people, including herself, didn't grasp the full meaning of the Ontario Court of Appeal ruling last December, until recently.
Ayers says it was a couple of incidents last week that prompted her to take action.
While getting out of her car at a shopping mall parking lot, Ayers says several men yelled at her to take her top off.
Around the same time, she says, her daughter and friend received similar cat calls.
"When that happened to my daughter, it hit home. She was sexually harrassed last year. Nobody needs this."