My Story, My Tattoo

The history of tattooing is as old as civilization itself and is found in cultures around the world. The Iceman discovered in the Italian-Austrian border area of the Alps in the early 1990s has tattoos and he is around 5200 years old. Over the decades and centuries, the meaning of tattooing has changed and evolved along with society.

In the 1970's, tattooing in western society experienced a resurgence in popularity. No more are they just for military personnel and bikers. Its becoming more socially acceptable for anyone to have one or more tattoos. Chances are, you work with people who have them, they might just be hidden.

More and more, people are choosing tattoo designs that have personal meaning to them. Whether its a hand print, GPS coordinates, or a semicolon, it means something to the person having it done. Tattoos are becoming more than just drawing chosen from a sketchbook.

Wellington County Museum and Archives currently has an exhibit that tells the story of thirty people and their tattoos. The exhibit explores the art, as well as the reasons and meanings behind why these people chose what they did. Artist Mac Young from Nighthawk Tattoo, and Stigmata Body Art owner Joan Larsen are featured, as well as Stigmata artist Adam Shortreed. The exhibit runs until March 27 and is well worth the half hour drive north of Guelph. You might just see someone that you know!

Muddy Grape Endurance Run

The fundraising efforts for the Special Olympics that #Guelph is hosting in May continues. Following their highly successful Polar Plunge at the beginning of February, Guelph Police Services will be having a mud run. Cox Creek Cellars, located just north of Guelph on highway 6, will be hosting the event on Saturday May 7th.

Appropriately, the mud run is called the Muddy Grape.

The registration fee is $40 per person, regardless of if you participate in a team (4 to 6 people) or individually. You can choose whether or not you want your race timed with a chip. All participants are required to fundraise a minimum of $60 each.

The course is designed to challenge participants of all skill levels, regardless of if this is your first mud race, or your tenth.

There will be prizes for the teams and individuals who raise the most money, the fastest competitive times, and best costumes. After the race there will be live entertainment, as well as food vendors, merchandise vendors on site. Admission is free for family or friends who are coming to cheer on racers.

Be sure to get your friends and family together for what is sure to be a good time!

If you're interested in volunteering for the Muddy Grape, or any of the other fundraising efforts for the Special Olympics follow this link to find out what opportunities there are. Lots of volunteers are also needed for the event it self, at the end of May.

Polar Plunge

Before Christmas, I had the chance to speak with Guelph police constable Chris Probst about the upcoming Special Olympics Ontario games that are coming to Guelph at the end of May. We spoke at length about the events, the venues, the athletes, and fundraising efforts.

This coming Saturday, Johnston Green at the university will be host to the Polar Plunge. The cost to register is $50 per person, $20 if you're a student, or free if you raise $100 or more. There will be prizes for the most money raised and the best costume. The event runs from 1 to 4pm, and even though the weather won't be as warm as it is today, the Weather Man does say that it will still be mild.

As of writing, the Polar Plunge has raised 91% of their goal of $20,000, just in pledges and registration fees. The public is encouraged to attend, to cheer on their favourite plungers, or even take part themselves. Walk-ups are more than welcome!

Be #freezinforareason!