FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 VOL. 42, NO. 61
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Cirque du Soleil
Raising the roof
Ben Courtney stars in Luzia
Relationship building
Islanders help build Burn Centre
How to stop pushing buttons
The circus is coming to town LOUISE LOIK EDITOR
In a surprising collaboration between a Cirque du Soleil performer Benjamin Courtney and developer John Reid of Evergreen Developments, Bowen is about to become home to an elite acrobatic training school and local acrobatic centre that doubles as community use space. The plan will incorporate a tightrope that will span Grafton Lake, and use the rocks on the far side of the lake for launching acrobats over the water. The flat open space beside the road will accommodate a circus-training tent that provides space for community use and theatrics. Courtney explains that this initiative is not related to Cirque du Soleil, but a separate, local project incorporating his professional expertise. Says Courtney, “By combining provincial funding for sports and fitness, clean energy and funding for seniors healthy living, as well as new business ventures, we had a golden opportunity. The funding has allowed us to access a lot of financial support to get the project off the ground quickly.” Accommodation for the athletes and choreographers in training will be housed in short-term rentals around the island. Reid from Evergreen is pleased to be able to be part of this project. “It’s important to recognize opportunities and seize them when they come up,” says Reid. The developer, who is a strong supporter of sport, contributed $5,000 to the turf field and built Aaron’s field in Evergreen neighbourhood. In response to claims that this approach to providing a unique opportunity for the community places him in the league of visionaries, “–well, I don’t know about that,” says Reid, pointing out that Courtney was the one with the inspiration for the project. “I’ve trained in many gyms,” says Courtney, who is currently based in Montreal during training for the new Cirque tour. “And I think we can create something amazing on Bowen. This will allow for a progression from the gymnastics program on island while drawing athletes from around the country to a place where they can focus without distraction.” “I met Ben, and he had this vision for developing a high level acrobatic training space to attract athletes and tourists to the island and I think it’s perfect. In the off-hours, the general community can make use of the space and equipment. It requires very little investment and the land is already designated for community use. We can incorporate a silks and aerial acrobatic program for seniors so that they can enjoy low-impact activity, be active and relieve joint pain with all the inverted movements. It will be unique and great for a wide age span and it seems to be what the community wants.” Reid concedes that this is a slight departure from the original vision for the Grafton Lakes Lands, but says that only changes a very small percentage of the usage of the land, from open gathering space, to training space which will also double for community use and provide artistic and athletic performances with numerous
Cirque du Soleil’s Ben Courtney started as a four-year-old gymnast with the Bowen Island Gymnastics Club, and now he wants to give back to Bowen by initiating a circus training program on the island. He hopes the space will serve all ages for either elite training, light recreation or serve as entertainment and a performance arena. He is working with developer John Reid to bring acrobatic training to the island in a unique venue by Grafton Lake. photo supplied local business spinoff opportunities. “We would still maintain the communal farm space, the protected zone by the lake,” says Reid. Courtney adds that the performers would be invited to help design the programs, artists would be welcomed to help with sets for shows, musicians to create sound effects, and clothing designers to express their visions through costuming for the community. “There’s so much up and coming talent in the creative and athletic arenas on Bowen. This is a prime opportunity for the island to showcase and develop the goldmine of talent, provide business opportunities and give the island more entertainment and healthy activities.” Says Reid, “We may install a high-ropes walkway in the tree tops around the lake which could provide a source of income for the island. “Lynn Valley has an aerial walkway; we could do the same here while we are installing the cables for the acrobats.” Reid says they have already consulted with the appropriate agencies regarding conservation measures to do with the frogs and mating season around the lake, and with safety consultants who
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have assured him that a cable would safe to use and easy to maintain. He points out that there is already a high ropes course as well as a low ropes course on Bowen, mid-island. “We would use the newest technology for harnessing kinetic energy to power the building in addition to solar power for heat, light and sound. Some food would be grown on site and they would resist the use of plastics and other petroleum-based products so that we can be a beacon of leadership on many levels.” Reid says they have already begun work on the site, “but we haven’t decided on the perfect outdoor high wire locations. We’ve got it narrowed down, now we’ll leave the final decision to the experts that will be arriving next month.” The construction, says Reid, will be done by the end of May, and Courtney is confident that training will start immediately after the last day of construction. “I think we can start early June, which coincides with the West Coast part of my tour,” says Courtney. “I’ll be able to check in with the our staff and the athletes. It’ll be great for performers to have an option to train outside of a city and draw some inspiration from the natural world.”
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