Simon is an Oakville high school student with a rather unusual talent... he juggles. In fact, he turned his unique skill into a 30 minute stunt juggling show that's called STOP (Simon's Tour of Positivity). His show includes juggling knives, balls, pins, rings, the diabolo (similar to a giant yo-yo) and juggling stunts using a unicycle ladders, wobble boards, etc. People of all ages really love watching Simon juggle and many say it's like watching mini fireworks (all that energy and dynamic colours).
Simon has taken STOP to entertain for a variety of not-for-profit organizations including: ErinOakKids, Halton Police Day, McMaster Children's Hospital telethon and neonatal picnic, Senaca Seniors' Daycare Program 30th anniversary celebration, the Halton Down Syndrome Association family BBQs, the Peel Caring Network for Challenged Kids Christmas parties, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Classic Run, Oakville's Terry Fox Run, SAVIS' Take Back the Night and Incredibowl, a variety of local seniors' residences, etc. Simon's first STOP show (for The Peel Caring Network for Challenged Kids) was in December 2007, and recently celebrated his 100th STOP performance in June 2011 at Senaca Seniors Day Program. Simon has performed 108 STOP shows to date.
In the spring of 2009 the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration included STOP in their media campaign ChangeTheWorld (via the Web, Facebook and YouTube) to encourage youth volunteerism across Ontario.
Simon first learned to juggle at his elementary school as part of the gym curriculum taught by Jean Marc Deneau. Simon was so keen on juggling that he put forward the idea for Pine Grove Public School and the Oakville community to attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for mass juggling. On May 11th, 2006, more than 1600 enthusiastic jugglers gathered at Oakville Place at 5:30am in their unified attempt. Although a new record wasn't set... community spirit and a carnival atmosphere abounded!
Simon enjoys learning new tricks and is constantly looking for ways to expand his show. But, what he loves most of all about performing STOP is putting a smile on someone's face!
2011 S.T.O.P. juggling show dates:
100th STOP performance
June 27th Senaca Seniors Day Program
September 6th Blakelock High School
October 15th ErinOak Kids
October 18th Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital
October 19th The Centre for Special Needs Students
November 19th ErinOakKids
November 29th Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital
December 4th Oakville Parent Child Center
December 19th The Salvation Army
For further information please Simon Harmgardt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.