This entry is being written from my bed.

I was in for surgery Thursday morning and am quietly recovering at home receiving the occasional visitor with care package in hand – aren’t friends lovely?

Since I have yet to add to this column anything really personal about myself, I decided that this entry would centre around my surgery and how wonderful our Canadian Health Care System is.

But before we dive into what happened yesterday, let’s go back to about April or March when this all first started. Read the full story

So some pretty insane stuff has happened in my life since my last post. Over this past weekend, I became the youngest Mr. Leatherman Toronto in the history of the competition. For those non leather readers out there this is a pretty big deal. This means a year chock full of appearances, travel, hard work and a ton of charity involvement. MLT is one of the most well respected titles in North America, and to have it represented by someone so young says alot about the direction that the community is going in.

It has already opened so many doors, and will give me the opportunity to further myself personally and to represent Toronto on an International scale. And I would like to take a moment to indulge myself and thank some people who I neglected to mention in various other public forums over the course of the days following. I would first and foremost like to thank my Mom. Followed quite quickly by three people whom I would not of even been a title holder without, Carolyn Kelly, Jack Pearce & McG who helped set me on this path. Ed & Dean for being such amazing title sponsors. Matt Pavelich & Fenn for your continuing support in the face of the competition and now my title year. To my class of 2010, I owe you so much. I learned so much competing against such great guys. Shaun Proulx for the confidence to believe in my voice. Corey Breau for being so young and doing so much with the title. Brendan McGovern even though we barely just met, your coming in 2nd at IML was more inspiration then you can imagine. And to the judging panel, for taking the much more controversial road of appointing a 22 year old as Toronto’s ambassador to the community. And especially Peter Kincheloe for his incredibly kind words. And a huge thanks to Bryan, who I don’t think ever realized that this painfully shy young man would end up where I stand today. And of course to Ray Hayhurst for biscuits.

I look forward to taking this title to all kinds of events throughout the year. To hosting some amazing fundraisers. And working with Mr. Leather Fellowship Devin Thompson & Toronto Bootblack bootboy digger to do some amazing work in the community this year.

MLT Victory Ball, Primrose Hotel, Toronto Canada

True, each pageant’s winner must selflessly give of themselves for a year after being awarded the title, MLT differs in the respect that personal core values must be aligned with that of the Leather Community – a community that does astounding charity work and raises funds for many non-profit and charity organizations. Being a charity fundraiser himself, SERIAL SEAN definitely gives two very big thumbs up!!

This year’s winner was David Ivey, Mister Leatherman Woody’s/Priape, and will continue to represent Toronto in the Mister Leatherman International Competition.

A new restaurant is opening!

Pizziolo, a North American known pizza establishment, will be opening it’s doors very soon on Church Street – just a few doors south of Woody’s.  The gourmet pizza restaurant will be licensed (that’s right, pizza AND beer) and I’ve confirmed that they will be doing community and charity work as well!  What a great way to start the new year!

In Other news, Dance Camp also occurred over the MLT weekend which included a performance by local performer Gia. ‘Camp’ was definitely a word to be used as the young performer did a saucy rendition of ‘Candyman,’ from the Scandinavian band Aqua – most noted for their single ‘Barbie Girl’ in the late 90′s.

With many other events occurring around the city in a less than lip-synced fashion, I think that Toronto is headed straight into a renaissance period of artistic re-creation.

What are your thoughts?

SERIAL SEAN
xo

This past weekend had a few memorable events occur. First, on Saturday night, Tel Aviv DJ/Producer, Tommer, landed at Toronto’s Fly Nightclub. Once local DJ Jamal warmed up the crowd, the alcohol started flowing, the water bottles were held high, and the evening was full of shiny sweat-streaked faces all through the night. What will probably be a blur to many people present that evening will undoubtedly be a returning event in the future.

Second, Sunday night featured the finale showcase (and added date because of the show’s demand) of local darling Nina Arsenault’s ‘The Silicone Diaries,’ which was a sold out show all week – leaving many people without even standing space at Toronto’s Buddies In Bad Times Theatre.

‘The Silicone Diaries’ has been in the media all week, with rave reviews from all of the local theatre critics and papers – 4 out of 4 stars, spectacular indeed. If you missed Nina Arsenault in action this time around, you’d better make sure you buy your tickets in advance for her next awe-inspiring performance.

Last, our very own GayGuideToronto.Com founder, and Toronto’s 103.9 Proud FM media star, Shaun Proulx, returned from Los Angeles after interviewing Buck Angel and gets ready to host the upcoming Mister Leatherman Toronto Competition. The competition weekend kicks off tomorrow with a tribute dinner for the 2009 titleholders and runs through until Sunday with the 2010 competition & Victory Ball.

Make sure that you check out the complete run of events and after parties on the MLT website – I’ll be attending most of these events as a media correspondent and photographer so make sure to say hi and enjoy yourselves responsibly!

SERIAL SEAN
xo

So I haven’t blogged in an almost heinous amount of time. And as such I am going to do a redux of some of the things I would have been blogging about had I not been so busy with my numerous other engagements.

Become Part of the Tribe

A few weeks have passed since Northbound Leather’s annual Fetish Extravaganza, but the images are still quite fresh in my head. The fashion show, this year was told in a narrative form seeing a young initiate as he goes through a series of trials to become a full fledged member of a very kinky tribe. Marty Rotman and  his team truly out did themselves with this one. Not only were the fashions mind blowing (Ranging from Mad Max to CBGB to Ancient Africa to Vampires), the over all exploration of the different roots of kink and fetish were so inspired and well produced. It was as if the over all underlying message was one of normalization. That these things all have their roots in other cultures. The theme of Tribe was the perfect one. That no matter our kinks we all stand together as part of a tribe. A chosen family.

You Are Still In The Running To Be The Next Mr. Leatherman Toronto…

So one of the reasons I have been so busy is that I am now a title holder in the leather community. Through a series of odd and somewhat controversial events I ended up becoming Mr. Woody’s Priape.  As such, I have been attending alot of events in the community, making appearances etc. I am having so much fun, and it has really gotten be back into being involved in the community. After all my younger leather friends moved away I kind of just didn’t have the energy to brave going out alone and making new leather friends. And already I have found some amazing friends in my fellow 2o1o title holders. And a week from today begins the MLT weekend, with the Mama Does Toronto party at the Black Eagle. The excitement well out ways the nerves in all of this. And I hope to see you the reader at some of these events (the full list can be found here). And don’t forget that none other then Shaun Proulx will be hosting the contest along with David Kloss (The first Mr. International Leather). They hosted last year and did a fabulous job, and will surely continue to amaze.

I also am one of the youngest (if not the youngest) contestants in MLT history. In a class of some of the youngest title holders (only 2 are over 3o). So wish me luck! Also don’t forget to check out the Toronto Bootblack Contest a the Black Eagle the afternoon of the 28th.

Autumn brings us to the beginning of the end of another Mr. Leatherman Toronto’s title year and without question my congratulations go out to those 2009 titleholders, Peter Dillon and his crew. I have experienced first hand the ups and downs that unkowingly await a leather titleholder and Mr. Dillon has done both Toronto and those who came before him proud.

As for MLT the organization, honestly I cannot say much, I know what the average Joe on the street knows. Despite many disgruntled opinions from the unknown masses, it appears business as usual and MLT 2010 is holding strong. Joshua McPherson has won Mr. Black Eagle 2010, Graham-Martin Campbell took the title of Mr. Barn Leather 2010, Mr. Firkin Leather is to be named at Leather Brunch on October 18th, Mr. Spearhead will be announced at the Eagle on October 15th and Mr. Gladman’s Den is currently looking for contestants to find successor. There has been no word from the Priape/Woody’s and Steamworks camps and with Zeldas in admidsts its rellocation I do not expect a Mr. Zeldas this year. So all in all things seem to be shaping up well and I am looking forward to the new reign.

After my year as MLT I have opted to stay out of the politics and what boards of Directors do, he said/she said and rumours of poor behaviour are enough to turn anyone off anything. My support and dedication will always lie with the individual(s) who put themselves under the microscope and represent. So to the class of 2010 good luck, have fun and I look forward to meeting you. Just by stepping forward you have shown you got balls, and as anyone who knows me can attest to, I do so admire balls.