Day of the living dead

Activist zombies march through downtown Toronto

Josh Wingrove, the Eyeopener (Ryerson University)

TORONTO (CUP) — “What do we want?” a zombie shouts through a megaphone.

“Brains!”

“When do we want them?”

“Noooow,” comes the reply from about 100 undead who gathered Sunday for Toronto’s third annual zombie walk.

Joel Friesen, the man with the megaphone, organized the event along with Thea Faulds, a television facility assistant at Ryerson. “We decided to make it one big, huge, super zombie event,” Friesen said.

“Does anyone need the makeup or blood?” shouted Scott Moyle, a self-professed zombie enthusiast. “It’s such a good genre of horror,” he said while bloodying his neck. “We’re them and they’re us and we’re not that far apart.”

Nearby, seven-year-old Kyle MacRae-Theiren wove through spectators and undead alike, his Scooby Doo umbrella dragging behind him. “My dad’s trying to get me in the zombie game,” he said. “Dad, you’re supposed to chase me.”

“We love horror, so any chance to come out and be zombies is great,” said Kyle’s mom, Wendy MacRae. “It’s not Halloween-oriented. It’s stuff we love.”

The march continued down Carlton Street, pausing long enough for zombies to attack a passing car. The Chevrolet managed to escape with only minor fake blood stains. Zombies made their way through Ryerson before limping to Dundas Square, interrupting an event hosted by United Mothers Opposing Violence Everywhere.

Upon their arrival, sound technicians began playing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” prompting the zombies to dance in front of the shocked crowd.

“I just think it’s a coincidence but I’m not offended by it. But I think it’s time that we start our conference. This has been set up for a long time,” said Toronto city councillor Jane Pitfield. Pitfield, a mother of four, was a key speaker at the UMOVE event, which continued after a chuckling police officer stopped the music.

The undead continued through the Eaton Centre without incident before finishing at City Hall, where they handed out prizes.

Organizers hope the event came as a relief to zombie enthusiasts. “It’s been constant disaster in the news. I hope it just lifted everyone’s spirits. Sometimes that’s what you have to do,” Faulds said. “I just hope that people enjoyed themselves.”