I was out at Yonge & Bloor on Saturday night... and spotted a Toronto icon:  Zanta.

Zanta can be seen on Toronto's streets most nights of the week.  While officially 'banned' (whatever that means) between College and King, Yonge and Spadina (resulting from several incidents with CHUM / CityTV)..... Zanta is known to frequent stretches of Yonge Street... particularly Yonge & Bloor as well as Yonge & Eglinton.

 

Zanta's famous for his "Yes Yes Yes" catchphrase... which he encourages his fans to yell if they spot him on the street.

 

My experience on the Yonge night bus was a memorable one:  Zanta performing push-ups (on his knuckles no less!) as he hangs from his feet from the stanchion on the bus.

 

Zanta reminds me of another Toronto character:  Flyerman.  Both have an insatiable desire for attention and fame... and will pull any variety of stunts (be it push-ups, in Zanta's case... or illuminated jackets, in Flyerman's case).  Coincidentally both are the subjects of biographical documentaries.

 

Do you have a Zanta story to tell?

 

 

- Official web site:  http://www.torontozanta.ca/

- Wikipedia biography:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanta