Heartbreaking: Radio Station Cancels Annual Underwear Show

The pinnacle of Toronto's cultural history is coming to an end after nearly 40 years.

In an emotionally-worded press release, President and CEO of the CHIN Picnic, Lenny Lombardi, announced today he has decided to retire the event's annual bikini pageant ahead of its 50th anniversary. CHIN AM 1540 is a multicultural radio station servicing a variety of cultures and languages across Ontario. It's held an annual picnic in Toronto since 1966, advertised as the largest multicultural picnic in the world. Clearly struggling with the decision, Lombardi paints a picture of the city's changing demographic as the reason behind the abrupt cancellation. "Toronto has grown from a primarily Victorian White Anglo Saxson [sic] community to one that now boasts over 60 percent of its population of an ethnic origin other than English or French. But times have changed … so with some sadness we bid farewell to a historic and beloved event that touched the lives of so many Torontonians, spectators, and participants alike," he laments. Women in their bra and panties have a long and storied history of forging harmony between a variety of cultures, dating all the way back to 1978 when the CHIN picnic first introduced the swimsuit parade into their festivities. Though the annual cavalcade of flesh was initially created by a seafood restaurant to help advertise their surf and turf, it found its natural home a year later when it was adopted by CHIN to represent the colourful immigrant landscape it works so tirelessly to represent. In recent years the bikini contest partnered with local newspaper The Toronto Sun. That outlet is well known for their own contribution to feminine diversity, the Sunshine Girl. CHIN's pageant is no stranger to controversy however, when allegations of sexism grew louder over the years Lombardi was forced to introduce a Mr CHIN contest for swimsuit-attired men. Lombardi won't be the only one sad to see the event go. In an exclusive report Toronto Sun writer Sabrina Maddeaux reacted viscerally to the news, remarking, "a not-so-small part of me suspects CHIN is actually scared of the PC police. We have much larger things to worry about than guys and girls strutting around in themed swimwear."

VICE cannot confirm how CHIN plans to replace their beloved underwear show, nor have have we tried.

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