Strip club opposed by group in Regina

A Regina group is opposing a proposal to open a strip club in the city.

The people in the group range from parents to church representatives.

The City will be considering an application to put an "adult entertainment" establishment at 1047 Park St., which is the former home of the Whiskey Saloon.

If the club is approved, it will be Regina's first strip club under the province's new liquor laws. At the beginning of 2014, the province changed the law to allow partial nudity in establishments that serve alcohol.

The group says strip club are degrading to women and can lead to prostitution.

"We need to do everything we can to protect the vulnerable people in our city, and not increase the likelihood of them coming to harm," said Ed Smith.

Ed and Linda Smith are a Regina couple whose daughter was killed after being drawn into prostitution.

Since her daughters' death, Linda has worked with prostitutes for 24 years. Linda said some of the women started out as strippers, but were later lured into prostitution and pornography by pimps.

"The girls may be hired as dancers, but they will be moved once they're in the system. They will be moved from place to place and often times have very little say to how they're used and where they're taken," said Linda.

Ed, for his part, has spoken to more than 1,200 men who have been arrested for soliciting a prostitute.

"The huge majority of men I speak to readily admit that they have a sexual addiction, which began with them viewing sexually explicit material, often at a young age."

Another person speaking out against a strip club opening was Pastor Charles Kooger. He is the chair of the Regina Evangelical Ministerial Association and the Regina Council of Churches. Collectively, those organizations represent more than 100 churches in Regina.

"Whatever happens in a strip club can certainly not be described as a loving environment. It's a using environment," said Kooger, who believes strip clubs are unhealthy and not in the interest of the well-being of the city.

Grade 12 student Emmanuel Sanchez agrees. He attends Harvest City Christian Academy, and believes young people need guidance by their parents and government leaders.

"We need to be taught true morals and values. We need to show that men and women are not an object of sex. You must help us transition into a healthy adulthood that does not allow the objectification of its residents."

The group plans to attend city council on Monday, when councillors will vote on the proposal.