Motion to use empty spaces for arts and culture in front of Vancouver City Council
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National Post
3 hours ago
- National Post
Raymond J. de Souza: Hulk Hogan told a simple story, but his life was far more complex
Article content Hogan did have charisma, as much or more than any other performer in any field. Wrestling is all about lights and music and grand entrances, but Hogan was his own source of energy, uniquely able to connect with mass audiences. The frenzy of a full Saddledome that night was a formidable thing — a frenzy that the world would see at the Silverdome the following year when Hogan body-slammed the Giant. Article content It was the capacity for public frenzy that struck teenage me as a bit frightening. I recall a woman, climbing atop her chair, face contorted and screaming, resembling a woman possessed. She was my mother's age, so should have known better. Article content The performers in the ring were scripted, directed toward telling a story. The frenzy on the outside was harder to control. In time, others would learn, in wrestling and the broader culture, that frenzy could be put to other purposes. Article content In the 1980s, McMahon presented Hogan as utterly wholesome, advising kids to 'train, say your prayers, and take your vitamins.' Eventually, Hogan's fans would discover that he 'trained' with steroids, said nasty racist things, and took other men's wives. Alongside that, as is always necessary in wrestling, Hogan became a villain. Frenzied adulation or frenzied vituperation matters less than the frenzy itself, which generates attention and relevance and revenue. Article content Article content Fifteen years after the Saddledome, Hogan fought The Rock at the Skydome in the most memorable match of WrestleMania X8 (18). Remembered now as one of the historic moments in wrestling history, it was the pro-Hogan frenzy of the crowd that determined the outcome of the story, an unusual reversal of manipulators and manipulated. Article content Toronto 2002 would be the effective end of the Hogan era. Then, nearly fifty years old, boasting a litany of back and hip and knee surgeries, Hogan was losing the sheer athletic ability demanded of professional wrestlers. Soon, he would descend into scandal and, despite WWE's attempts to restore him to prominence, his last wrestling appearance ended in an embarrassment of booing. The frenzy had turned. Article content Hogan's career then slipped from wrestling into reality TV — and eventually to politics. For those of us who long ago explained that Donald Trump could not be understood apart from professional wrestling, Hogan's introduction of Trump at the Republican National Convention last summer was sad confirmation of a malign cultural force converted to demoralizing political effect. The frenzied woman of 1986 was the Trump voter long before there was Trump to vote for. Article content Article content WWE will honour Hogan in death, recalling the glory days of the 1980s. Vince McMahon himself will not do so, banished from the company he built after a flurry of sexual misconduct claims. Perhaps his wife Linda might, serving as she does as Trump's secretary of education. Article content
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
‘People coming together': Nova Multifest marks 8 years of continued growth
Dartmouth's waterfront will be alive with a global mix of music, entertainment and food this weekend. The 8th annual Nova Multifest will be held at Alderney Landing from Friday to Sunday. Organizers call it the 'biggest multicultural festival east of Toronto'. 'It's about preserving, promoting and celebrating our art, culture, and community' said Vishal Bhardwaj, the president of the Nova Multifest Society. The volunteer organization behind the event expects it to bring in more than 30,000 people over three days. In 2024, they welcomed more than 25,000 attendees. crowd The crowd is pictured under the pavilion watching a performance at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, N.S., during Nova Multifest. (Courtesy: Nova Multifest Society) 'We're seeing exponential growth,' said Bhardwaj. 'Every year, we have more cultures and countries coming in. It's just now to the point where we have to select what performances we keep or not.' There will be more than 50 performances, including dancing, music and fashion showcases representing more than 35 different cultures. 'Ukrainian, Indonesian, Spanish, Egyptian dance, Latin music, and more,' said Bhardwaj. The event is also attracting visitors from outside Atlantic Canada. 'We get a lot of inquiries from different provinces or countries, even people from Europe, asking if it's free, if there's a charge, or how can they book seats,' said Bhardwaj. 'It's pretty amazing when you see those kinds of inquiries coming up. We're in the top ten events happening in [Halifax] the summer.' drummers A group of drummers are pictured, performing onstage at Nova Multifest. (Courtesy: Nova Multifest Society) Alongside the performances on the Main Stage there will crafters, heritage displays and more than 25 food vendors. The three-day event takes a year for the society to organize. They also support other cultural organizations with their events and fundraising initiatives. 'When people come together smiling and dancing, that's the biggest reward we get it. And it's so powerful, so satisfying. It motivates us to do more.' Expenses increase every year but Bhardwaj said volunteers and sponsors for help keep admission free. 'It's not possible without their support having such a large event going safely and smoothly.' Dancers A group of dancers are pictured performing onstage at Nova Multifest. (Courtesy: Nova Multifest Society. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
4 hours ago
- CBC
P.E.I. couple buys 100-year-old piano that's a part of history, including their own
A century-old piano that spent decades at the University of Prince Edward Island now has a deserving new home with a family who also has a history with the instrument. The 1925 Steinway and Sons model O baby grand piano had a long tenure in UPEI's music department, where countless students practised and performed on it over the years. That's why Rory O'Donnell could hardly believe his luck when he noticed in the spring that it was going up for bid through the university's procurement system. Luckier still, UPEI called to say his was the winning bid on the piano, which now sits in the living room of his Stratford home. "I would compare it to … winning the lottery. It was like, 'Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, we got a Steinway,'" O'Donnell recalled. "The first thing I did when I got off the phone with them was call my wife and let her know, and we were both ecstatic. The first thing she said was, 'We're getting rid of the dining room table.'" O'Donnell and his wife, Hannah, had good reason to rearrange some furniture to accommodate the Steinway. The music program at UPEI is where the two met. They've made music together ever since, along with two daughters — five-year-old Aoife and Maeve, 2. Rory and Hannah both still perform and teach music to their daughters and students, so the chance to own the piano that was so formative in their own education was too good to pass up. "It was kind of like a friend for generations of music students, some of whom are no longer with us, and the knowledge that they would've played this piano too is really special," Hannah said. "It feels like more than just an instrument. It really feels like a living thing." 'It's priceless to us' Founded in 1853, Steinway and Sons are world-renowned for producing high-quality pianos — and they typically don't come cheap. Prices can range from tens of thousands of dollars up to several hundred thousand for rare models. Rory said he put in a bid he could live with for UPEI's baby grand. In the end, though, using it to foster the family's love of music right in their own living room is something he can't put a price on. "The fact that we can make this a part of our family and something that we can pass down to our daughters and something they can pass down," he said. "It's more than just an instrument, it's priceless to us." Most mornings, Hannah and Rory can hear Aoife in the living room, coaxing Ode to Joy or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star from the ivories. Other times, her parents help her play Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan. While the five-year-old may not yet realize that she's making music on a piece of history, she does understand one thing — the piano was worth sacrificing the dining room table for. "I like playing on pianos," Aoife said.
