10 Niagara Advance * Thursday, June 16, 2011
Local extreme athlete asks permission to perform in town parks
Busking in Simcoe Park would add entertainment value for tourists.
Penny Coles Niagara Advance When Trevor Bodogh trains, he draws a crowd. The 25-year-old is an extreme cyclist, specializing in performing unique and energizing bicycle action shows. He loves to perform-has toured the world, enthralling audiences with incredible demonstrations of what is possible on a bicycle. Now, he hopes to perform in his hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Bodogh was at council
Monday to ask council to consider allowing buskers such as himself to perform in Simcoe Park or Queen's Royal Park, providing entertainment for visitors or locals who happen to catch his act. He trains occasionally on the rocks at Queen's Royal, and before long, has people asking him to pose with them for pictures or for his autographs. Once he has attracted a crowd, he goes into performance mode. But he hasn't yet asked for money for his performances, he says. He's hoping for a positive response from council, but is concerned about the timing-council asked for a staff report before reaching any decisions, and won't meet again until July 18. Bodogh, who performed recently as part of a coun-
try-wide product launch with Blackberry, also uses his bike skills to reach audiences on a different level, especially young people. In September he will be part of Heart Niagara's annual meeting, speaking to clientelle about fitness, and to educators about physical and mental health for young people. He plans to speak about digging deep within to find who you are, what you want, and how to go get it-integrating bicycle action to get their attention, and hopes to take his message into Niagara elementary and high schools. Through dealing with family issues-his father, Gerard Bodogh, committed suicide about three years ago-and friends affected by drugs and suicide, Trevor talks to teens about
dealing with and finding help. While Bodogh did not speak of family to NOTL counsellors Monday, his late grandmother, Margherita Howe, often sat in council chambers listening to town matters-protecting heritage and the environment were two issues she was passionate about, and his mother, Louise Howe, follows in her mother's footsteps when it comes to activism Using his skill on the bicycle and powerful lessons learned by his grandmother, he says he also focuses on the importance of sustainable living. He is living in NOTL now, using it as his base while he promotes his business. "I'm hoping to get this expedited. Sooner rather than later would be great."
Trevor Bodogh, performing in Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto, prepares to leap on his bicycle to the 7-foot platform in front of him.