In a surprising collaboration between a Cirque du Soleil performer Ben Courtney, and developer John Reid of Evergreen developments, Bowen is about to house an elite acrobatic training school. Incorporating a tightrope that will span Grafton Lake, the rocks on the far side of the lake for acrobatics into the water and the flat open space for a circus-training tent. Says Courtney, ”with provincial funding for sports and fitness, clean energy and funding for seniors healthy living, and new business ventures, this has allowed us to access a lot of financial support to get it off the ground quickly.”
Accommodation for the athletes, and choreographers in training will be housed in short-term rentals around the island. John 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 $5000 to the turf field and built Arron’s field in Evergreen neighbourhood. Says Reid, who some describe as a visionary. “--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 on Bowen that 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 for construction costs, and the land is currently already designate for community use. We can incorporate a silks and hoops 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. There’s some federal funding to support the initiative for seniors as well,” 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 local business spin-off opportunities. Courtney says that he and colleagues from around the world would be able to assist in providing facilitators for the program
“We would still maintain the communal farm space, the protected zone by the lake, “ says Reid. Courtney says 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 shows. “There’s so much established and young, 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 and business opportunity while giving the island more entertainment and heathy activities.” “We may install a canopy high ropes walkway around the lake which could provide a source of income Grafton Lake neighbourhood. “Lynne Valley has an aerial walkway; we could do the same here during the installation of 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 have assured him that a cable would safe to use and easy to maintain, He points out that there already are a high ropes course as well as a low ropes course tucked away in the trees that’s been successful for many years. :”We would use 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 almost 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, “so I’ll be able to check in with the our staff and the performers. “It’ll be great to have an option to train outside of a city and draw inspiration from the natural world,”
Already, seniors on the island are talking about the freedom they will experience from using harnesses, and a trapeze,” My sister, who lives in Belgium does this kind of exercise and she’s 90,” says Suzanne Fibz, “she says it helps her joint pains. She really likes the trapeze.”
