Deputy police chief Kates pledges full police support if needed when YMCA continues female-only swim Sunday

Should the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA opt to continue female-only swims — the organization indicated Tuesday evening it will host a swim Sunday — Sault Ste. Marie Police Service will do its utmost to keep the event afloat amid calm waters, says Deputy Chief Bob Kates.

Last Sunday’s swim was cancelled following a flurry of online and vocal opposition, and Kates confirmed police were contacted by the organization last Saturday and told an identified male had telephoned the McNabb Street facility’s front desk indicating that he and about 50 other males planned to “attend” the Y the following day at 11 a.m. The swim was slated for noon.

“They would be taking over the pool,” said Kates in an interview Tuesday, referring to the content of the anonymous message.

“We did monitor and attend on the Sunday at 11 o’clock when all these people were to attend. And nobody did attend.”

Kates said he’s heard nothing further on the matter.

“We will continue to monitor should (the YMCA) decide to have their swim at a different time,” he added.

The swim, which debuted earlier this month, is geared to cultures and religions that forbid mixed-gender pool outings, but is open to all women and children; males must be six and under.

To ensure privacy, the pool-viewing gallery is blocked off, windows covered and doors locked on the pool deck. All staff are female.

Critics charge the swim is everything from sexist to an attempt by Muslims to bring in Sharia law via the back door. A Sault Star story last week generated nearly 200 online responses, some of which bordered on pure bigotry, and Y CEO Kim Caruso confirmed last week she shouldered a number of fiery e-mails, phone calls and face-to-face encounters with swim opponents.

“They can’t accept their adopting homeland, they must be assimilated or eradicated,” read one, in part.

“Wait till Canadian citizens are butchered in the streets of Toronto as we just saw in London, or where riots by Muslim youths go on for days, as we are currently witnessing in Stockholm,” another read, in part.

Other opposition was much more tame and many online responses supported the swim.

As for last Saturday’s call to front-desk staff, Kates was simply appalled.

“I think in this day and age, we certainly don’t expect this type of conduct from individuals from our community, specifically targeting different groups,” he said, adding the Y made it perfectly clear early on the event was inclusive.

“They talked about self-confidence issues and self-image issues, physical fitness, privacy. So it’s not specifically because of a specific group. But I think somebody’s tried to turn this around to be that.”

Kates branded over-the-top opposition “inappropriate.”

“I certainly wouldn’t expect in this day and age it would be continuing in our community,” he said. “That’s certainly not what we expect and will continue to certainly monitor it and investigate any threats that we do receive.”

“Absolutely,” said Kates when asked if he hopes the event resumes.

“I think the YMCA saw a need for this type of a swim. I think if the YMCA identified a need for individuals for some type like a swim like that, I think it’s great. I don’t think people should be complaining about something like that and try to turn it into something that I don’t think it is.”

Meanwhile, the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA kept mum following last Sunday’s cancelled swim — until Tuesday evening.

Board of directors chair Paul Glassford confirmed the swim will resume Sunday.

The decision to cancel last week’s event was Caruso’s, a move the board supports.

“The board has never weighed in on recent actions,” Glassford said. “We’re talking about an operational issue, which is very much the CEO’s decision. And the CEO, after seeing the response in the media from a number of our critics, was concerned for the safety of the women and therefore decided they would postpone (last) week’s swim and reconvene (this) Sunday.”

Glassford said he doesn’t believe most Saultites, or Y members, share the more toxic comments expressed in opposition to the swim.

“It is those people who usually have issues, do bring forward those issues in the media … It’s those people who support the program who were often quiet because they accepted it,” he added. “So, I think the reaction we have heard in the media, particularly in response to the article that appeared in the paper last Friday, I believe that is a small fraction of the people in Sault Ste. Marie in terms of their concerns. I would say 95%, if not more, of the people in Sault Ste. Marie understand the role the YMCA plays in our community, understand the need for us to consider the need for new programs.”

Glassford reiterated his desire to see new Y programs launched, not just directed at current members, but tailored to the entire community and, perhaps most importantly, to potential members.

“We believe this particular program is reaching out to members of the community who, to date, haven’t taken up the opportunity that the Y presents, and so we reached out to those (individuals) to provide that opportunity,” he said.

Although a non-profit agency, the Y must “put energy” into membership growth to enable it so expand programs and services.

“And we saw an opportunity here for membership growth,” Glassford said.

A police presence won’t be needed Sunday — unless events between now and then warrant it.

“I guess it would depend on what other media reactions we have over the coming week,” said Glassford, adding Caruso will make any final decisions on the matter.

“Barring a huge outcry or huge inappropriate set of comments coming from the public, we would continue the program this Sunday, next Sunday and the Sunday after, by all means.”

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