There was an article, recently, about Toronto being the most hated city in Canada.  Well, I’ve got a big beef to pick with the media.  The anti-Toronto rhetoric has got to stop.  Period.  It’s ridiculous.

You’re probably going to ask, what does this have to do with Leather?

Over the past week, Sir and I have travelled to both Ottawa, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta for Mr. Leather/M. Cuir Ottawa and Western Canada LeatherSIR/Leather boy.

At both events, we each received a fair bit of anti-Toronto rhetoric relating to Toronto being the centre of the Leather universe in Canada.

What kind of ridiculous crap is this?

Case 1: In the first case, I was talking to a Leatherman about running for either Eastern Canada Leatherboy (as I know him as a boy although he is taking on subs) or even as LeatherSIR when he is ready.  His response to me was that it was a Toronto title and that there was no interest in having others from outside of Toronto.

Pardon me?  With the current Sir from Sudbury, a previous boy from Hamilton and another previous boy, I believe, from Montreal this is a Toronto-centric title?  I believe the title is called “Eastern Canada” because it encompasses the whole region from Ontario eastward including the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the province of Newfoundland & Labrador.

Now that said, in our title year, Sir and I have only been able to travel between Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Sudbury and North Bay – but I know we would love to help spread the word to Quebec, and we have made some new contacts there.  I’ve fantasized about about seeing if we can do some form of bath house night at Sea Dogs in Halifax (Rough House @ Sea Dogs, anyone?).

Admittedly, beyond Halfax, we’re not aware of Leathermen in New Brunswick, PEI or Newfoundland.  Despite being a Newfoundlander myself, unfortunately I’m not connected in the gay scene in Newfoundland as it’s been 13 years since I’ve been back to The Rock.  I have done a bit of poking and prodding online without much success.

So – despite the fact that our step-down is in February, and we’ve not done and gotten to everywhere we wanted to – I know I am committed to seeing what can be done in the Maritime and Atlantic provinces to raise awareness of the title where appropriate.  I am also looking into some teaching opportunities in Quebec – where, I must add, that I have taught my Batter Up: Intro to CBT course.

I also plan on attending several pride parades in Ontario, next year – especially if my replacement for ECLb cannot attend to represent.  I will have a lot more time this year, than I did last year.

ECLSb is not a Toronto-centric title.  The contest just happens to be in Toronto.

If you want to run and you’re from outside of Toronto, GREAT!  Sign up today at LeatherSIRCanada.com!

Case 2: During this past weekend, Sir was apparently accosted by someone complaining about Toronto being the so-called centre of the universe.

Please!  You’re talking to the wrong Titleholders about this and Sir is from Sudbury which is four hours north of Toronto!

Personally, if I thought Toronto was all that and a bag of chips, I’d never leave this city, I’d have a Sir in this city, and I probably wouldn’t go north of Bloor, west of Yonge, east of Parliament and south of Queen St for fear of a nose bleed.

Personally, I love getting out of this city.  I love the fact that my Sir lives 4 hours north of Toronto.  I love that my favourite bath house is actually a 45 minute drive away – yes, I drive to Hamilton occasionally to go to the baths.  I like getting into the country.

Yes, Toronto has a critical mass of gay people, Leathermen and kinky people. It has one of the larger leather events in Canada, but we also recognize that, in the East, Ottawa and Montreal also have significant Leather populations and many of us travel to at least MLO and many to MCM.

I look to Calgary and Edmonton as being the Leather centres of Western Canada with Vancouver rising up again – together that’s a phenomenal force! Edmonton in particular really has caught my attention seeing what many of the younger men have done to build up their community with EPIG (Edmonton Players in Gear) and other events such as Kink Kamp.  Events such as Rubbout in Vancouver.  All of these I want to get to when I can.

When I travel to Master Scott’s home town of Port Alberni, BC – seriously, the reaction I get from people when I tell them I’m from Toronto, that “Oooh!  You’re from Toronto!” reaction…  As if I’m some city slicker big shot.

Honestly, I can do without it.

Never put your own city down because I happen to come from Toronto and say something to the effect of, ‘Wow, and you were willing to come to our city from Toronto!”  I’m there because I want to be there, to share myself, to share my experiences, to connect with other like minded people – and vice versa – to learn from you, get experiences with you, etc…  Not because I’m some big shot with attitude.

The bitching about Toronto being the centre of the universe… Do you hear me complain about Alberta for whatever inane reason the media chooses to bitch about?

You won’t hear me complain because it’s tiresome and honestly, it’s rude.

Your community may be smaller, but it’s just as valid as any other larger or smaller community.  Whatever I can do to be supportive, I’m more than willing to help out.