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Zombies, survivors walk downtown (12 photos)

Participants in costume moaned, screamed and groaned their way from the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre and through downtown Sault Ste. Marie Saturday night, but not without some controversy.

Participants in costume moaned, screamed and groaned their way from the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre and through downtown Sault Ste. Marie Saturday night, but not without some controversy.

The Soo Zombie Walk was held in support of the Sault Community Soup Kitchen, each zombie and survivor was required to bring a canned good with their registration.

Participants dress as either flesh-eating zombies or as human survivors, popularized by various movies or in TV shows such as the Walking Dead.

“It’s an excuse for the community to get together and rally around something and gives people an excuse to dress up,” said Liz Cooke, administrative assistant at the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie and District.

The council has overseen the event since it was relinquished by the Sault Youth Association.

Cooke said she expects similar numbers to last year, which was impressive due to competing events this weekend, such as the Mari-Con anime and manga convention.

Mari-Con was being held simultaneously at the Grand Theatre, the former home of the zombie walk.

The walk moved to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre last year because the theatre was no longer able to hold the amount of zombies who were participating.

Some participants faced questions about the guns and military gear on display, especially by the participants playing survivors.

Christopher Monette, who was dressed head-to-toe in military-style clothing as a survivor, had an exchange with a bystander prior to tonight’s event.

“I think he just saw me and all my gear and had a little bit of concern and approached me,” Monette said.

Monette said the bystander mentioned recent attacks in Canada which have been focused toward the Canadian Forces.

"He saw me sitting and waiting for my buddies and approached me just to make sure,” Monette said.

Asked if it was appropriate to have people dressed as survivors with guns so soon after a series of national tragedies, Cooke said people should be allowed to express themselves.

“I don’t think a national event should quash our ability to rally around each other in regards to community,” she said.

Cooke noted participants were asked to put coloured tape on the muzzle of any weapon that appeared realistic.

“Instead of pre-emptively saying ‘no’ we want people to have their self-expression,” she added.

Monette said this is his third year dressing up as a member of the resistance.

“I just found the survival aspect to be fun,” he said.

(PHOTO 1: Kait Cruickshank (Cookie Monster) and Klylie Kozak (Big Bird) participate in the Soo Zombie Walk on Saturday. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday)

(PHOTO 2: A participant dressed as a survivor seen Saturday at the Soo Zombie Walk. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday)


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Kenneth Armstrong

About the Author: Kenneth Armstrong

Kenneth Armstrong is a news reporter and photojournalist who regularly covers municipal government, business and politics and photographs events, sports and features.
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