A Montreal YMCA is removing frosted glass installed to protect the innocent eyes of young Orthodox Jewish students from scantily clad exercisers but the windows will be covered with blinds.
The decision will return the windows to their state before the frosted glass was installed at the request of the synagogue across the alley.
A poll showed about 72 per cent of YMCA members were satisfied with the solution of covering the windows with blinds, said Serge St-Andre, director of the Park Avenue YMCA.
"It was never our intention to hide women who are training," Mr. St-Andre said at a news conference on Monday.
"We wanted to protect the privacy of our members while respecting the wishes of our neighbours."
The YMCA is next to a synagogue where some young male students found the state of undress of some exercisers to be a distraction.
YMCA management tried to be good neighbours, allowing a member of the Jewish community to pay to have the windows frosted.
Renee Lavaillante, a female Y member, started a petition and complained about being hidden behind the frosted glass.
She was pleased with the decision, saying it was a matter of principle.
The YMCA decision is not the only ruling on adapting to minorities raising hackles in Quebec these days.
The series of controversies over reasonable accommodation for minorities has led Liberal Premier Jean Charest to order an inquiry into reasonable accommodation for the province's minorities.