JAN 2005 FUR PROTEST

Environment Canada warns don't expose skin in B.C. cold

VANCOUVER (CP) - British Columbians experienced unusual sub-zero temperatures on Saturday, but that didn't stop protesters from stripping down to the buff.

Three women and four men braved -5C weather to protest against Sears selling fur-trimmed coats.

"The cold is nothing compared to what the animals go through," said 18-year-old Ashley Fruno of the Liberation B.C. animal rights group.

Some were completely naked, while others kept their underwear and socks on.

One activist had her dog wearing a sign that read "wear your own fur."

Johnathan Skinner stood behind a placard with his teeth chattering. He said the group probably wouldn't be able to hold out for the 45 minutes they had intended.

"Well, we're going to try to hold out for at least 20 minutes so, it's a little colder than we expected," he said stuttering as a bitter wind whipped across his lanky, naked frame.

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The group lasted just over 20 minutes before getting dressed in their warm thermal wear.

The record-breaking weather in B.C. saw wind chills up to about -35C on the coast and up to -50C in other regions of B.C. on Friday and Saturday.

Freezing rain and up to 10 centimetres of snow was expected to fall overnight Saturday on B.C.'s west coast.

Cold temperature records were broken this weekend in Cranbrook, Revelstoke, Kamloops, Kelowna, Campbell River, Whistler and many other areas of B.C.

"It has been bitterly cold, we've set records ranging from temperatures down around minus 42 in the north to even down in Vancouver to minus 10," said David Jones, spokesman for Environment Canada on Friday.

Jones said exposed skin in this kind of weather isn't safe, particularly in coastal climates.

"Up and down the coast, we have wind chill warnings and Arctic outflow warnings and that means your skin will freeze very swiftly if you are outside and it's uncovered."

That kind of warning didn't seem to deter Skinner who echoed Fruno saying, "It's nothing compared to what animals go through."

Warmer Pacific air should be moving in towards the end of the weekend, Jones said.

"The air will certainly warm up but all this Pacific moisture is going to move in over top of all the Arctic air that's in place and that means for the next four days, starting in the southwest part of the province the weather is going to get very nasty."