Film
The Toronto Portraits - Harvey Lalonde
Harvey Lalonde, 46 years old. The South Annex.
Nuit Blanche, Summerworks, HotDocs, TIFF, Reel Asian, Toronto After Dark...what do all of these major Toronto festivals have in common?
Harvey Lalonde, volunteer God.
Harvey was born and raised in Etobicoke. His young adulthood was spent ducking in and out of matinees at classic Toronto cinemas.
"Most of the places I enjoyed are now gone. The University, the Imperial 6, the Uptown, the Bay, and the Eglinton, which was converted into an event hall."
Harvey's life changed course thirteen years ago when he applied to the Toronto International Film Festival as a volunteer.
"I wanted to know what the other side felt like. The ushers, the managers, the ticket takers. I met a woman who was doing nine or ten festivals a year; she got me interested. I do way more than that now."
Harvey may be in his mid-forties, but he has the energy and verve of a 20-year-old. This summer he volunteered an average of twelve hours a day for Toronto arts festivals. He usually works two or three of them at a time.
He doesn't confine himself to the GTA, either. After four years of attempts Harvey realized one of his dreams this past January; he worked the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
"It took me a while to get the funds together, to get my passport sorted out. There were a lot of firsts on that trip; my first time out of Ontario, my first plane ride...my first time looking out of a plane window. I'm getting over a fear of heights."
Harvey has become the ultimate insider. He knows all the venues, all the theatre managers, all the tricks of getting a crowd in and out. New festivals call him all the time for advice.
I asked him how he's managed to keep such a wild schedule; he once worked from 9AM to 2AM, ten days in a row.
"I hear about people getting caught in dead end jobs all the time; jobs they need but don't like. If you enjoy what you're doing you'll put more effort into it."
The Toronto Portraits profiles a young, dynamic Torontonian, each week in a different neighbourhood.
Photos by Mr. Robin Sharp
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Unsung hero is not quite right. But there are many worthy persons like him in the city and many of them have wonderful stories. These are the types of stories I'd like
to read about here--mixed in with the other types of stories that have been featured here.
- Team After Dark
Volunteering is also a great reward. I am with John Ralston Saul on this topic: If each Canadian volunteered 4 hours a week, think of the type of Canada we would have. Not to mention that it changes your life as an individual because it gives you a sense of community and a desire to enjoy the projects in a new light.
Great Post Robin.
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Cheers to Harvey and anyone who gives up their time for great events.
He totally deserves the title of volunteer god. He is also one of the nicest people I've ever met. You rock!
Guess he won't be impressed to discover that the Eglinton is now a gym for the upper class.
I didn't personally interact with him very much (I was too busy dealing with the 1000 other volunteers) - he was a quiet guy who usually kept to himself. (Perhaps he's since blossomed and turned into a social butterfly? ;-)
Glad to see him featured here - totally deserving of it.
One of the best people out there!!!!
He also starred in my short film Urban Zombies this year so you can add actor to his list of things that he does. He has been a big help to many festivals of all kinds. I have worked with him on a few festivals and he can tell you what the good ones are and what the bad ones are.
I am hoping to do a documentary on Harvey sometime soon... if I can get the funding to do it properly. So maybe you will see the full story on screen soon.