Bon Soo, beatboxers and ball hockey (17 photos)
Saturday, February 09, 2013 by: Donna Hopper
Meet Robert Drolet, also known as Killabeatz.
He's a beatboxer.
Yes, the Sault has those.
Drolet was one of many local performers entertaining winter enthusiasts this afternoon at the Marquee stage adjacent to the bum slides at the Bon Soo Winter Playground in Bellevue Park.
He first began beatboxing in an attempt to emerge from the grief that set in after the death of his father, Sault radio personality Mitch Drolet.
"I broke down and wouldn't speak to anybody for about two years," he told SooToday.com. "I finally started to express myself through music, and beatboxing was my way of doing that."
Drolet said it's difficult to find outlets for his type of performance in a skeptical Sault Ste. Marie, but welcomed the opportunity afforded him by the Sault College Public Relations and Event Management students who organized the Bon Soo Marquee stage.
"It's nice to do this at a community event where families and kids can see that it's fun and something anybody can do," he told us.
The 26-year-old father of two has spent the last 15 years honing his craft and hopes to someday produce some recordings of his his work for public consumption.
For now, he seems content to be a stay-at-home dad.
Following Sunday's Bon Soo Polar Bear Swim, the Marquee will continue with performances from:
- 1:40 pm - Mark Peltonen (spoken word artist)
- 2 p.m. - Lindsay Pugh (guitar, vocals)
- 2:30 p.m. - Guy Smith (guitar, vocals)
- 3:40 p.m. - The Zaghareets (belly dance)
And seeing that today is Hockey Day in Canada, we at SooToday.com thought it appropriate to venture up to Northside Toyota this afternoon to take in some of the second annual Bon Soo Ball Hockey Tournament in support of Easter Seals.
Organized by James Boynton and Steven McCoy, the tournament offers registered teams a competitive but fun afternoon with a chance to win prizes and a coveted trophy.
As a former Easter Seals child, Boynton told us that he started the event as a way to give back and raise awareness for the important work that Easter Seals does for children with disabilities.
"What better way to that, especially being up north, than hosting a ball hockey tournament?" he said.
Ten teams registered to take part this year, and at 1 p.m. this afternoon, the event had already raised $6,100 for the cause.
For more information about these and other Bon Soo events, please click here
