DonLever Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 *Please link to content: http://www.theprovince.com/health/Vancouver+club+gets+green+light+from+city+while+cross/10238314/story.html -SN From the Province: VANCOUVER — On Sunday afternoon, as Vancouver public school students contemplated their return to classrooms after a nasty teachers’ strike, some sat inside a library in the city’s West End, reading books. Other kids raced around the adjacent community centre or played outside. Meanwhile, in a building across the street, men gathered for a masturbation session. “Vancouver Jax” is billed as a regular event “for guys of all kinds to gather as a tribe of horny men to bond and indulge in honest, ‘in your face’ penis play.” It’s hosted by Doug Durand, a City of Vancouver cultural planner. “I felt that it was time for Vancouver to have a space for men to gather, get naked and simply do what comes naturally, masturbate with other like-minded men,” Durand explained in an email. “And the 25-30 guys who show up to each of the parties seem to think so too.” in any capacity with my job with the city.”Durand makes it clear that he hosts the adult male-only sessions at 1775 Haro St. “as a private citizen and not Other regularly scheduled events inside the basement-level commercial space include “Anonymous” Thursdays, described as a “mask mandatory event for men only” where “who you meet is a mystery,” and “The Junk Yard,” described as “a no holes barred sex party.” Earlier this month, a new event was introduced. It’s called “The Glory Hole.” They are all under the auspices and control of two local entrepreneurs who rent the basement and some ground floor space at 1775 Haro. They call their business 8×6. It opened discreetly and with little fanfare in July 2013; most folks in the neighbourhood have likely never heard of it. For a $25 annual membership and cover charges ranging from $10 to $20 per event, men 19 and older may participate in 8×6 events. House rules must be followed. For example, members must agree they “are aware and understand the sexual nature of the club and will not be offended in any way by the activates [sic] that other members may be engaging in.” At Durand’s events, self-masturbation and “consensual mutual masturbation” are allowed, but “insertion” is not. As 8×6’s advertising suggests, group sex seems the primary focus. But co-owner Zoll Ruskin insists it’s more about fitness, socializing and men’s health. “Our primary business is a Social Playspace, [it is] not a sex club,” Ruskin told the National Post in an email this week. “Keep in mind that ‘play’ does not necessarily mean ‘sex.'” He points out that male nurses from the local health care provider, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), attend certain 8×6 events each month; among other services, the VCH nurses offer advice regarding the prevention of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV. Naked yoga sessions are also held inside the venue. “We are currently working on introducing several new and innovative fitness classes to our calendar,” Ruskin said. And in fact, 8×6 holds a City of Vancouver business licence that identifies it as a fitness facility. City officials acknowledged this week that the fitness designation is incorrect. 8×6 has the “wrong business licence,” Vancouver’s city manager, Penny Ballem, told the National Post. “It is actually operating as a club.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that, she says. What happens inside 8×6 — fitness facility, club, whatever — isn’t the city’s concern. “That’s not our department,” Ballem says. As long as 8×6 goes through the city’s permits process and obtains the correct licence — and doesn’t break any laws or attract complaints — it can continue to operate without interruption. And to date, say both Ballem and a Vancouver Police Department spokesman, no complaints from West End residents and 8×6 neighbours have been heard. Clubs that offer group sex activities are not illegal in Canada. But one prominent gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activist is not impressed. For five years, Jamie Lee Hamilton has operated a club where men gather and “get dolled up” in ladies’ wigs, clothing and large-sized shoes. There is no group sex activity at her venue, she says. Hamilton held a city-issue business licence that properly defined her operation as a club. After moving locations earlier this year, to a venue just a few blocks from 8×6, Hamilton was told she must re-apply for her licence. Then she was told she must apply for a more costly “development permit,” before she can obtain the business licence, a process that can take months. More recently, Hamilton was told she must close her doors. The reason given: She has no business licence. There’s a strange double standard at play in Vancouver, says Hamilton. Businesses that offer group sex activities have no trouble obtaining business licences, while establishments such as hers encounter roadblocks. “I haven’t tried to hide anything, or pretend that my club is something that it’s not,” she says. Another business has joined 8×6 at the same address, across from the West End Community Centre and library. The Healing Club Medicinal Society sells 13 different strains of marijuana to any adult with a doctor’s note. Like the 40-odd other marijuana dispensaries in Vancouver, the Healing Club has no business permit. None are required at marijuana dispensaries. At least not in this city, where almost anything goes. bhutchinson@nationalpost.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Too much sax & violins throughout society. It's subjective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jägermeister Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 And the OP's thoughts on this are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonLever Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 And the OP's thoughts on this are? Whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzle Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 That is an adult-oriented building doing adult things. It's really nobody's business to judge them or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckGAME Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Wtf is wrong with people these days? I would rather be sent to guantanamo bay than jerk off infront of dudes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianoman13 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Some people..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Strangelove Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 What consenting adults do with other consenting adults (as long as it's legal) is really no one else's business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckGAME Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 What consenting adults do with other consenting adults (as long as it's legal) is really no one else's business. Sounds like youre part of this club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Strangelove Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Sounds like youre part of this club. Nope not at all interested besides I live in Florida so even if I was interested the commute would be killer . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucklehead Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Our primary business is a Social Playspace, [it is] not a sex club, Ruskin told the National Post Misleading title,please change. When a real sex club opens up, let me know please. I'll be there with bells on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangelos Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Wait so there's no girls? That business is gonna tank fast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucklehead Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Wait so there's no girls? That business is gonna tank fast Note the address; location, location,location... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imuzi Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Sex Cauldron? I thought they shut that place down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuckin_futz Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 The janitor at that place better get paid lots of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 The janitor at that place better get paid lots of money. Was going to say the same thing. This is just gross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kryten Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Nope not at all interested besides I live in Florida so even if I was interested the commute would be killer . Not even for a dutch-rudder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonLever Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 Misleading title,please change. When a real sex club opens up, let me know please. I'll be there with bells on! I changed the title to the one used by The Province. It is The Province that called it a "Sex Club", not me. http://www.theprovince.com/health/Vancouver+club+gets+green+light+from+city+while+cross/10238314/story.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonLever Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 This is from the article: There’s a strange double standard at play in Vancouver, says Hamilton. Businesses that offer group sex activities have no trouble obtaining business licences, while establishments such as hers encounter roadblocks. “I haven’t tried to hide anything, or pretend that my club is something that it’s not,” she says. Another business has joined 8×6 at the same address, across from the West End Community Centre and library. The Healing Club Medicinal Society sells 13 different strains of marijuana to any adult with a doctor’s note. Like the 40-odd other marijuana dispensaries in Vancouver, the Healing Club has no business permit. None are required at marijuana dispensaries. At least not in this city, where almost everything goes. Clubs that offer group sex activities are not illegal in Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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