RIVA: Bringing Out Local Talent

 “Local NBCC College student Jacob Savard joined in and performed one of his own original songs for the crowd, bringing them tears of laughter at the comical lyrics.”

“Guitarist Phil Hawkins played a few bouncy hits that had the crowd bouncing their knees to the beat and bobbing along.”

“Guests go through the RiVA scrapbook, getting an idea of what the organization does and what they have already accomplished.”

“Cruise ship singer J.P. Nadeau made an appearance and had the crowd laugher and singing along with his incredible piano playing.”

“The evening was a complete success; the crowd thrilled with the entertainment, as proved by the standing ovation Gill Nadeau gives her father, the final performer, at the end of the evening.”

“Riva Host Katelin Dean introduces the evening’s talent, littered with a few very corny jokes.”

The River Valley Arts hosted an open mic night at Fusions coffee house Wednesday evening. The crowd came out to hear local performers sing their hearts out and for the amazing coffee deals that Fusions was offering.

RiVA hosts an open mic event one night a month at Fusions coffee house in Woodstock to promote the need to advance arts in the area. The organization is recognized as a not-for-profit corporation. Their goals is to get the public excited about the arts by bringing events such as open mic night at Fusions to the public and have them come and watch or even perform. For more information and to purchase a membership, visit their website: www.rivervalleyarts.net.

“Fusion’s waitresses take orders for the guests as they sit, drinking their coffee and tea while listening to performers.”

“Performer Amanda Woods rocks out and gets the crowd going with her rendition of ‘Wagon Wheel’.”

“Star Bishop followed Woods’ act with a few radio hits, her raspy voice a great delight to listen to.”

“Leah Larocque brought forth a soft tone that set a whole new tone that indeed was enjoyed by all.”

The Beast and the Bear Hug

Jacob Cormier, grandson of Yvon “The Beast” Cormier, holds one of his favorite pictures of his retired wrestling grandfather.”

SACKVILLE - On March 4^th of 2009, Maritime wrestler Yvon “The Beast” Cormier passed away after losing his battle with lymphoma. He’s permanently out of the ring but the legend behind his name lives on.

Cormier was known for his look; short, rugged, weighing 250 pounds and large hair and beard; as well as his signature move, the bear hug. His grandson, Jacob Cormier explains that the move was a grapple move. “His special move was the bear hug,” he said. “He basically just squeezed you until you didn’t have a breath left in you.”

He had many names before settling on the Beast including Yvon the Lumberjack and Pierre LaBelle. His character in the ring started out evil but would change to the good guy. Everett Freeman, a college student, remembers seeing the Beast live. “He was a good wrestler,” Freeman said. “He started out as a villain. He was always a little bit on the evil side. He would have a few dirty tricks. Back then, it was more like having salt in your pocket and throwing them at the other wrestler and hair pulling.” He said that the wrestler remained in his evil character until he wrestled the Cuban Assassin; around the same time he changed his wrestler name to The Beast, as he is known today.

Freeman is not the only fan to remember the greatness that was the Beast. On Slam! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame’s website, where fans can read up on the former wrestler, many fans have posted their favorite memories of the wrestler, including John Greeley of Halifax, Nova Scotia. He wrote: “Beast also re-kindled his legendary feud with Cuban Assassin, climaxing with a bloody “chain match” in Halifax in August which, of course, Beast won. Think you’d ever see that sissy-boy HHH or that loudmouth blowhard Rock in a chain match? Uh—uh!!!” Greeley also wrote about the Beast making time for his fans. “Some of my favorite wrestling memories involve just chatting with Beast outside the Halifax Forum after a Grand Prix card,” he wrote. “Always a kind man, he always spoke well of his family, his horses, his wrestling opponents, and his love of the Maritimes.”

Jacob Cormier said the man he knew always had a sense of humor about him. “He always thought he was really, really funny,” he said. “He wasn’t that funny, but he seemed to think he was. Everyone else just kind of laughed anyway because he was a little shorter than a midget but he was built like a brick house so they would just laugh along to his really corny jokes.” Cormier also said that he was a real crowd pleaser, doing anything he could for the photographers. “We have a bunch of pictures of him holding just trees they had cut down for telephone poles,” he said. “They would get him to hold them above his shoulders to take pictures and stuff.” Cormier said that his grandfather did in fact try to pass some of his signature moves onto him but failed. “He tried,” he said. “But I’m a lot smaller than him though… I do have his hair but the hair apparently doesn’t give me his incredible strength.”

Even though his grandfather is gone, Cormier still misses the man behind the wrestler. He said his stories were always something he looked forward to. “He always had really cool stories to say,” Cormier said. Even when he was pissed off he always seemed like he was in a really good mood when he was around us. So, he was just a really nice person to sit down and have a conversation with even if it was about nothing.” He laughed thinking back on the memory. “He talk and I would just nod.” Cormier said he would always remember his grandfather and being able to meet all his rivals during his career.

Cirque Mondo visits Woodstock

Niall Higgins, circus worker, gives elephant Limba a little attention, in the form of a pedicure, before the evening’s shows. Foot care and mouth care are important for the health and longevity of elephants.”

Lindsey Bruggink, Lindsay Paats, Niall Higgins and Marcel Vasseur (left to right) take a much needed break with their German Sheppard Tucker and their elephant Limba prior to Monday night’s Cirque Mondo show at Carleton Civic Centre.”

Lindsay Paats, circus worker, gives camel Todd a little love.

Lindsey Bruggink, circus worker, gives camel Eddie a treat, one of a variety of exotic animals from the Bowmanville Zoo in Ontario

Lindsey Bruggink gives Major the zebra a treat while Lindsay Paats brushes his coat in preparation for Monday night’s Cirque Mondo show in Woodstock.

WOODSTOCK – The Circus came to town Monday night, much to the delight of local children.

“I seen the elephant and a baby camel and a big camel and another big camel,” said four-year-old Alex Pickel, who enjoyed the circus immensely. “My favorite was the motorcycles because I like them.”

Cirque Mondo, a circus based out of Bowmanville, Ontario, made its last Maritime stop at Woodstock’s civic centre. Eager spectators lined up to see two shows put on by the animals from Bowmanville Zoo. Carleton Civic Centre staff said approximately 560 adults and children attended the first show and 700 watched the second.

The show includes aerial acts, animal rides and delicious circus treats.

“There’s balloons and popcorn and those kinds of circus treats,” said Marcel Vasseur, animal trainer. “Then in the first half, some aerial stuff, some animals, some juggling and then you have an intermission where they (children) can come and ride the camels and elephant and the second half is again, a bit of everything.”

Vasseur has been with the circus for four years, working with elephants for five, and working with other animals even longer. He said the show is a lot of fun for both excited adults and children.

Vasseur leads a special act in the show. He and his partner, Limba, dance a waltz, and give rides to the young children. His partner is an elephant. “She’s goes out there, goes around the ring, does some waltzes,” he said. “She gets up on the tub, sits on the tub.”

After her act, Limba lets the children ride her and pet her, said Vasseur.

“She grew up in a zoo by herself and doesn’t like other elephants so she actually prefers people. She’s a sweetheart of an elephant.”

Cirque Mondo is a travelling show; it travels around eastern Canada and Atlantic provinces starting in Quebec. “We do this for two months, travelling everyday to a new town,” Vasseur explained. “After two months, we go back to working at the Bowmanville Zoo, working regular hours, well, regular zoo hours.”

“The last few weeks we’ve been in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and now we’re heading back into Quebec for a couple days before we go home.” Vasseur said although putting on a circus show is a lot of fun, he can’t wait to return to the less stressful life of working at the zoo.

As for four-year-old circus enthusiast, Alex Pickel, he’s already looking forward to the next time the circus comes to town.