There's a clown down in Area B. The best pratfall death's angel has ever seen.
& Mr. fast forward of fun Mr. Lightning giggle Mr. Condo man is dying on stage. But not the performance. Audience suspended between life and nose.
Laughter in a circle. The spirit curls & glows. There's a clown down in Area B. But look! He's up again circling the park
& over the trees. Where ever you are going Condo clown wait for us - wait for me.

-Kirk Miles, 1998

On a personal note, returning to The Edmonton International Street Performers Festival 2003, my memories go back to my last performance there in 1998 - that year tragically a talented fellow performer (a physical comedian, clown, husband, and father of two) died during one of his shows. Indeed he gave laughter to the crowd even in his final moments on this earth.

Throughout those years, I was moved on how his passing and his life touched so many lives around the world.

The true test of any artist is the ability to touch many and to be fondly remembered long after one's passing. Wayne is one of those people.

One thing that made this memory so unique for me is that I was asked to do a short-tribute on stage a few days later. It was one of the rare times that I actually spoke in character (my Charlie Chaplin's Canadian Tramp) on stage to the audience. My line was: "I think we need a little "Wayne". I suggested to have his hat on the other side of the stage on a chair as a reminder of his presence.

This month, I return to Edmonton with those memories. My hope is that his memory along with his talented contribution to the art-form of busking will be continue to influence the next generation of performers.