Pole-climbing show to make triumphant return to Acadian Festival

Popular climber Gerry Arsenault coming out of retirement

ABRAM-VILLAGE – July 10, 2013 – It will be the event of the year that can certainly not be missed! After an extremely noticed five-year absence, the ever-popular pole climber Gerry Arsenault will be making a triumphant return to l’Exposition agricole et le Festival acadien de la région Évangéline (Evangeline Area Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival) to present his show during the afternoons of Saturday, Aug. 31, and Sunday, Sept. 1.

“We are extremely pleased that Gerry will be coming out of retirement to present two magnificent shows of acrobatics and aerial stunts atop poles reaching up to 100 feet in the sky,” says event president Eric Richard.

“For many years, the pole-climbing show was one of the most popular and appreciated attractions of our festival,” adds the president. “Each year since Mr. Arsenault’s retirement in 2008, countless people have asked us if he would one day return to put on his shows or if someone else would take over the show. We are therefore very glad that Gerry accepted to come back this year, definitely by popular demand.”

“Something tells me his show will again become one of our most popular attractions this year,” notes Richard.

As usual, Arsenault will be accompanied by a couple of assistant climbers who will help him perform his dangerous tricks, always performed without safety nets. Spectators can expect to see some of Arsenault’s old favorites, including his dancing on the top of the 100-foot pole. But he also promises a few new surprises.

Long-time fans will remember that Arsenault is a professional tree trimmer and tree topper. He’s co-owner of Deva Forestry; his division, in charge of trimming trees and branches, is called The Branch Manager, again reflecting his typical sense of humor. Arsenault learned his trade many years ago when working in British Columbia; there, he got to climb huge and extremely tall trees. People who do this type of work on those trees quickly learn how to swing from one tree to the next, Tarzan-style, rather than climb down one tree and climb back up the next one.

Back in the 80s, Arsenault agreed to use his skills in swinging from trees to develop an annual acrobatics and comedy show, starring various characters such as The Flying Nun (played by his brother Marcel Arsenault) and Pepé Le Pew the skunk (played by local actor Gerald Arsenault).

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CUTLINE: The very popular Gerry Arsenault will be coming out of retirement to put on yet another pole-climbing show during the l’Exposition agricole et le Festival acadien de la région Évangéline in Abram-Village Saturday, Aug. 31, and Sunday, Sept. 1. (Photo by La Voix acadienne)

For more information:
Jeannette Blaquière
Board member
L’Exposition agricole et le Festival acadien de la région Évangéline
(902) 854-3256