The night it became my Toronto

Tonight, Toronto became my home as opposed to a place that I've lived for 14 years.

As I watch my city completely over run by hooligans determined to cause chaos and distract from true democratic process protesters, I am appalled, scared and upset.
Anarchist forces have entered the city and started attacking independent shop owners, homes and even the St. Lawrence Markets. These are non corporate targets that it serves no purpose to attack, they are not pro G20 nor are they the so called "fat cat corporations". They are citizens of my city who are simply trying to live their lives.

Len has been called back downtown to the security zone to take a show out that was supposed to happen tonight, because they are afraid that it will get attacked. As he went back into the thick of it Adara asked if "daddy would be ok or would he come home in an ambulance from the emergency". Appalling. This is not my city, nor, I would bet, are the majority of these demonstrators Torontian, or even Canadian. To top it all off Stephen Harper announced a week ago that he would not be providing any recompense for businesses that have to shut down (the Mirvishes for an entire week), or are damaged (St. Lawrence Markets).

Meanwhile, near my theatre, several police cars are on fire. This neighbourhood is notorious for very old wood buildings, all fully attached, and when fires start, it blows out an entire block. It happened two years ago. I'm hoping that my 180 year old theatre will survive this, but I'm not going down to check.

I never knew that I had any feeling for my city. It has been the place where I have worked and played, but I've felt no real connection to it. Tonight I am a Torontonian. I am furious at Stephen Harper for the complete lack of care he shows to Toronto on a day to day basis, and his decision to hold such a dangerous event in the direct heart of my city. As he has no votes in Toronto anyways, he clearly doesn't care what we think.

I realize that it's popular to hate Toronto. But this is my home. This is where I work and play, where my friends live and where my daughter was born. I am deeply connected to hundreds of people in this city and am fearful for them tonight. I never knew how much I viewed Toronto as an intensely peaceful, culturally vital, charitably minded community of neighbours. I wish my neighbours peace and good health tonight.

Games and Memories

Tonight at bedtime, I was curled up beside Adara, tickling her back as we cuddled. She giggles, turns her back to me and says "Do Criss Cross" and like a bolt of lightning it comes back "Criss, Cross, applesauce, spiders crawling up your back". Except that I can't remember the rest, help anyone?
I think it's crazy that my two year old is already gathering this childhood bank of rhymes and stories.

Newfoundland

Here's some shots from my recent trip to Newfoundland, to Cow Head which is in Gross Morne Park. I was there on work for the conference of the Professional Association of Canadian theatres, a national organization of about 150 theatres to which we belong. the PACT conference is actually weirdly like my major vacation each year. I get to spend five days completely immersed in talking about the issues and joys of creating theatre, attend sessions on that, explore the landscape, play some cards, drink too much , and this time even sing some karoake. All while seeing another part of the country; it's kind of like summer camp for theatre practitioners. Each year while I do this Adara has her big vacation with Grammy and Pappa and Len takes on some major house project while we're away. Grammy and Poppa and Adara had a great time, and Len accomplished a lot this year, all to be shared in future blog entries.
First up on the pics is the "boat of salads"! On our last night, the church ladies threw us a big lobster supper and this is how they serve up all of the salads that come with the lobster. Dinner came with wine too and they sang a beautiful acapella grace before dinner. It was gorgeous!
It made me think a bit about my grandpa slesser and how much he loved a church dinner and how he would have appreciated the newfie version of it. Come to think of it, my grandpa Fry who was a united minister probably would have dug it too.


Next is all of the gorgeous landscape pics. I went on the most freezing cold, snowing boat cruise that one can possibly imagine, but it was beautiful. This was through one of the inland lakes near Cow Head



In Cow Head we all stayed at the shallow bay motel, and I had a great little cottage there, as did many of my colleagues. We played a few good games of cards, which kind of made me feel like I was in highschool again. I also found myself backing up a good colleague as he sang the B52's "Love Shack' one night for the local karoake. Questionable at 2 in the morning with all of your workers partners present, but an awful lot of fun!


So, as always, a great deal of fun. Next year is in Barrie. Now, why doesn't that sound as exciting as Cow Head? Oh well, I'll let you all know at this time next year!