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Export date: Mon Dec 2 13:59:35 2024 / +0000 GMT

‘Traditional circus’ stops in Caledon




Members of the world famous Wallendas were performing on the high wire last week as the Shrine Circus Spectac! 2015 stopped in Caledon at the Brampton Fairgrounds. Romulus Cortes let the way, followed by Rick Wallenda, as they supported Sharlie Wallenda on this pyramid. All three got across safely. Photos by Bill Rea

Members of the world famous Wallendas were performing on the high wire last week as the Shrine Circus Spectac! 2015 stopped in Caledon at the Brampton Fairgrounds. Romulus Cortes let the way, followed by Rick Wallenda, as they supported Sharlie Wallenda on this pyramid. All three got across safely.
Photos by Bill Rea



Youngsters attending the circus were thrilled to meet clowns like Topsy. His fans here were Rachel Ader, 8, Adelle McDougall, 7, Ashley Ader, 6, Luka Hessing, 6, and Elle Hessing, 5.

Youngsters attending the circus were thrilled to meet clowns like Topsy. His fans here were Rachel Ader, 8, Adelle McDougall, 7, Ashley Ader, 6, Luka Hessing, 6, and Elle Hessing, 5.



Sebastian Videla, 10, was warming up his juggling act. He's been performing in the circus all his life.

Sebastian Videla, 10, was warming up his juggling act. He's been performing in the circus all his life.



Ring Master Richard Curtis stresses the camaraderie of circus life.

Ring Master Richard Curtis stresses the camaraderie of circus life.



Asian elephants Marie and Shelley are affectionate with each other, and their handler Dwayne Brake.

Asian elephants Marie and Shelley are affectionate with each other, and their handler Dwayne Brake.



Performing can be very tiring, which might explain why Marie seems to be wiping the sleep from her eyes.

Performing can be very tiring, which might explain why Marie seems to be wiping the sleep from her eyes.



Shelley the elephant gave lots of rides, including to Xavier Pijuan, 5, of Ottawa and his cousin Lucas Pijuan, 10, of Brampton.

Shelley the elephant gave lots of rides, including to Xavier Pijuan, 5, of Ottawa and his cousin Lucas Pijuan, 10, of Brampton.



Izabella Cortes, 13, was thrilling the crowds from up high.

Izabella Cortes, 13, was thrilling the crowds from up high.



Piolita the Clown needed some volunteers from the audience, and he got Paul Pijuan from Ottawa and Crystal Moors from Edmonton.

Piolita the Clown needed some volunteers from the audience, and he got Paul Pijuan from Ottawa and Crystal Moors from Edmonton.



Rick Wallenda gave the crowd a thrill by standing on his head on the wire.

Rick Wallenda gave the crowd a thrill by standing on his head on the wire.



By Bill Rea
The circus came to town last week, to the delight of many.
The Brampton Fairgrounds in Caledon was one of the stops for Shrine Circus Spectac! 2015, with many of the thrilling performances which one would normally expect at a circus, from stunts to popcorn to elephant rides.
“This is a traditional circus,” commented Cathy Sproule, marketing and media director for the circus.
She also said it's a show run by families with families, including the world famous Wallendas and the Flying Cortes family. She added it's run in the 252-year-old tradition of the Zerbini Family Circus, complete with a genuine big top, that held 2,600 people.
“It's a beautiful circus tent,” she remarked, adding it took two days to erect, with performers lending a hand, along with some local help.
“It's really a family show,” she added. “It's families performing for families.”
It's a matter of camaraderie, as far as Ring Master Richard Curtis is concerned.
Having served in the Marines during the Gulf War, he knows something about it when he refers to a “band of brothers.”
Curtis's wife comes from nine generations of circus performers, and his three children, Lincoln, Harley and Jordan, were all performing in the show, running the Globe of Death.
“It's a huge family affair,” he said, adding there are families from all over the world. He cited the Wallenda and Cortes families, which are both new to the show this year. “We're extremely excited to have them.”
Animals are a big part of a circus, and in this case, they included two Asian elephants; Marie and Shelley. Sproule said Marie weighs in at about 9,500 pounds while Shelley is a bit more petite, at 8,500 pounds. She added they both put away about 400 pounds of hay and 250 gallon of water per day. They are both in their mid-40s.
Circuses have been coming under lot of criticism from animal rights groups, but Curtis said there's another side to the issue. Marie and Shelley are well-cared for and content, and he said they will likely live into their 90s. In the wild, the life expectancy of such creatures might be 18 to 20 years, considering the menaces of predators, poachers and loss of habitat.
Sproule said the tour of the circus started in May in Alberta, and it's been making its way across the country, including local stops in such places as Milton and Markham. The tour is slated to conclude next month in Ottawa. In all, they will have put on 121 performances.
“It's just every day you live the circus life,” she declared. “They just live and breathe it. It's amazing!”
Post date: 2015-07-24 17:21:37
Post date GMT: 2015-07-24 21:21:37

Post modified date: 2015-07-30 09:24:19
Post modified date GMT: 2015-07-30 13:24:19

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