Description of event
I was contacted by the city of Parkdale about 4 months before this event happened and was asked if we had anything to do with art. After a bit of explaining who we are and what we do, they posed a simple question to me. Could Parkour attact more people to go into Parkdale during Nuit Blanche? A tough question! I didn't know the area well, so I had to go down there to answer it.
After seeing the area and the proposed CNRail overpass where they wanted us to do something with, me and Tim went to figure some stuff out and take some pictures. We later gave them to the city to use as promotions pictures for Nuit Blanche. They are included below. I must say the first time up on that bridge was a tad iffy, even during the day.
After that it was set and we came up with some ideas we could pull off at the Queen/Dufferin overpass. But that wasn't all. Those that know me know that without proper education involved in an event, I will not participate. So the idea of having a "Parkour Zone" where blocks and mats were brought out and people could train on them was born.
A couple months of planning on paper, meetings with the city events division to try and get the permission to do this, and voila! PKTO at Nuit Blanche. The rest is history.
A big special thanks to the 20 or so volunteers that helped me a lot, my drivers for the day, the city of Parkdale, the city of Toronto, Tim for having a great projector show idea, Dim/Silex/Kai for coming from Montreal to help, the Toronto Police officers that turned a blind eye to us, Pizza Pizza for making me a crazy number of pizzas last minute, Steve for the Tshirts, and everyone that watched us that night and came out to try Parkour.
It was one of the most interesting events we have had yet, and needless to say opened my eyes up to the possibility of creating even better for next year where I can get even more of the community involved.
Pictures from the event night
(Click thumbnails to view a larger size)
Promotional Pictures
Photos by Tim Visentin
Videos from Event
Or you can download a higher res version of the video HERE
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