ARMCHAIR MAYOR: 'Rent-a-gramp' – a way to learn outside class

Armchair Mayor

Does it matter what I look like, that you think me boy or girl?

Does it matter if my hair is short; or long, and holds a curl?

Does it matter if I feel as if, Nature got my body wrong?

Because I see the world from eyes, that sing a different song.

Why does my self offend you? Why can’t I wear a dress?

Why are adults so scared to know, ALL the ways that I am blessed?

At one I signed to say, what at two I could read out.

At three I dressed in mummy’s heels and danced myself about.

At four I asked to be a girl, at five I watched my teachers start to hate.

At six we moved to feel more safe; and I am stronger, now I’m eight.

But bullies come from all backgrounds, all kinds of occupations;

They judge me ‘weird’ and silence me; I’ve become a ‘bad’ relation.

But what if they are incorrect, and there is no ‘boy’ or ‘girl’?

Then the only ‘deviation’, is in how we see the world.

I see in all of Nature, a great diversity;

If God loves all our features, then why can’t I be ME?

You ask me what I need today.  I want to raise alarm:

I need more superheroes, to rescue kids from harm.

Please tell your friends and neighbours you know someone just like me,

That despite my gender questioning: I’m as normal as can be.

This child is not an enemy, no matter which bathroom I choose,

If you can’t begin to understand me, then both of us will lose.

The right to be just who we are, without judgment or rebuke;

And live the life we feel is right, with dignity and truth.

(This poem was written by me, with the help of my family, October 2012)

May 2017

Even though it sounds very new, my subject today actually has a long back-story. Whether it’s on buildings that would give tightrope walkers vertigo, or in your neighbourhood park, it can be done anywhere. Everywhere, if you’re experienced enough. Have you guessed what I’m talking about yet? Parkour.

What is parkour? I bet that a lot of you have heard about parkour or freerunning. If you haven’t, or are unsure what it is, then I will explain.

Parkour is a extreme sport in which you must use any weapon in your arsenal (your body doing special movements, basically) like vaults, wall runs and slides to get from point A to point B. Some athletes use it as a workout to train leg and arm muscles, along with muscle endurance and stamina.

“Parkour” is french for “free running”, and was first developed in France. Raymond Belle is said to have “invented” parkour, but it was really a group effort primarily lead by Raymond that developed the sport. His son David continued the sport in the late 1980’s, followed by Yamakasi, who has his own style that he teaches. In fact, parkour is really all about your preferences, not your teacher’s preferences. Go with what you feel comfortable with. Also, they don’t plan our routes beforehand, and they use the objects around them to get where they want to go.

So what is the difference between parkour and freerunning?  Not many people know that there is a slight difference. Parkour is getting from A to B in the most efficient way possible using any sort of movement or combination of moves. Scale walls with wall climbs, hurdle over obstacles using vaults, or head downwards using your roll to handle those far falls.

Freerunning, on the other hand, is using your environment to have fun; to show off using more stylish moves like flips and wall-pivot vertical spins, also called wall spins. It’s a cross between parkour and gymnastics, and looks AMAZING.

It takes the multiple years of getting parkour perfected, plus a few more years to learn and master the flips. But challenges are learning experiences too, so go ahead if you so desire! It’s all up to you.

Where can I go to learn parkour? Well… this one is tough, actually. There are a few parkour academies in the U.S., like the famous Tempest Parkour & Freerunning Academy, but not many here in Canada. But don’t worry, not all hope is lost!  OCR Academy here is the first obstacle training gym in Ottawa – and currently the only one.  I have been dying to go here, but I’ve had a lot to do, like this speech, for instance! If you ever want to learn about OCR Academy, then there is a website to explore to find out where it is, and you’re set for a visit!

Thank you, and have a great day!

Charlie and family, along with her good friend Warner and family, won the Joan Gullen Award, July 2, 2015.

http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/two-ottawa-families-of-transgender-children-recognized-for-their-work-1.2453059

https://www.unitedwayottawa.ca/the-path-to-friendship/

https://newint.org/columns/makingwaves/2016/11/01/making-waves-charlie-lowthian-rickert/

In the fall of 2016, I joined staff from the Canadian Human Rights Commission to produce a video about the Canadian Human Rights Act and Bill C-16.