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Toronto Affiliate Grows Strong

by Bill Oliver .

Passersby love it! The clubs fly through the air in every direction, unicycles lurch and totter, torches roar back and forth, devil sticks clack out their tempo and balls and beanbags seem to be floating everywhere you look. It's not uncommon for people, out for a summer evening stroll, to sit and watch for an hour or more, and many of them ease their way nervously forward to try their luck at learning this seemingly magical skill.

It's summer and the Toronto Jugglers' Club is "out of doors" in Queen's Park, just behind the Ontario Parliament Buildings. During the "regular" year, the club meets in the gym of a downtown elementary school (Jackman Ave. P.S.). Both venues are handy to a main Toronto subway line. Some 90 or so members are currently on the club roster, given the ebb and flow of new arrivals and the occasional departures.

It wasn't always thus. In the early years, the club consisted of a small number of performing professionals and those who were about to become such. Wes Zaharuk, "Johnny Toronto" McCorkell, Bob Stutt, Dan Wood, Dave Shilman, Scott "the Juggling Guy" Norman, Jonathan Seglins and the emerging "Circus Shmirkus" (Fred Stinson and Steve Westren) comprised this pioneering group. The year was about 1982 and the venue was the McCormack Recreation Centre in a pretty tough part of downtown. (How tough was it? The local kids stole hubcaps from moving cars!)

There were frequent visits from various U.S. colleagues such as Waldo, Fred Garbo, Bob Berky and Paul Bachman. Yes, the founders had their social venue as well! The Brock Tavern served nicely for libation and some billiards after an evening's juggling. Nowadays, after a Tuesday practice session it's not uncommon for twodozen or so to venture to Terry-O's for some chicken wings and the unofficial club drink -- lager and lime.

This original group has always set a standard and a target for newer, aspiring jugglers to aim for. A nucleus of them had, in the past, rented "studio" space for serious (or intended as such ) practice and for fellowship. They are truly the "founders" of the TJ.C. Their interest was more professional and they were not necessarily interested in expansion, nor in instructing the masses.

The present era is a little different. Yes, there are some excellent new professionals such as Jean-Michel Pare, Jonathan Seglins, Daniel Cole, Kristi Heath, Christine Meilleur, Don Glover and Rob Power. We also see some "up and coming" performers such as Greg Tarlin, Stuart Fraser, Damien Sword, Joe White and Leyland Gordon, and the new troupe "Objex in Air" (Graham Fletcher, Paul Sneath, Gary Lancaster). Young jugglers like Corin Raymond will also be future stars.

There is a whole subset of unicyclists led by Darren Bedford and some gifted riders such as Carl Schenk, Keith Imeson, Corrina Kupelweiser, Allan Stanish, and Mike Rocks.

The most exotic talent in the club perhaps belongs to David Morgen, who besides being a good juggler, has memorized the answers to three versions of Trivial Pursuit, 18,000 answers in all!

However, the vast majority of the club's members are recreational jugglers. Most seek the relaxation and camaraderie that exists in a friendly, inviting environment. The pleasure of mastering a new prop or move, or teaching a novice is adequate motivation for these members.

Bill Oliver, a basketball playing high school principal, has become the unofficial "scribe" of the club. He directs most of the club activity with the help of Larry "Round" Ellenson. The club got its IJA affiliation in Fall 1987, and is becoming more high profile in Toronto. A June festival at the beautiful Harbourfront area has become traditional. The club has helped at charitable events (Rynnymede Hospital) and is a loyal "friend" of the Young People's Theatre.

The real focus of the T.J .C. is undoubtedly on teaching people to juggle and to promote the enjoyment inherent in this wonderful activity. From those beginnings in the early '80s under the leadership of Johnny Toronto, the club has come a long way. The spirit of fellowship in juggling has been an enrichment for the lives of its members.