Brampton’s Dark Knight delivers strong message, big smile, to Davis Campus

STORY AND PHOTOS BY FRANK BUTTY

Wearing his 32-pound armor-plated suit, local-legend Brampton Batman paid a visit to Davis Campus Tuesday afternoon to raise money for the Student Union food bank and speak out about bullying.

“It’s like a voluntary community gesture,” said Peter Grevstad, the English instructor who invited Batman as a creative way to engage his Graphic Novels class. “He’s taken the time and trouble to invest in this persona – to be a visible fixture in his community. I think, in a way, it’s a great public service.”

Subject to the anonymous internet slanders that come with being the Dark Knight, the topic was close to his heart and “not just a fad.

“Some of them are quite hurtful,” he said about the comments while tapping his carbon-fibre chest plate. “It gets through.”

Batman, who grew up in the GTA and moved to Brampton in 1998, fielded questions from Grevstad and his students for close to an hour. While willing expand on the experiences that shaped him and the parallels between his life and Bruce Wayne’s, he made it clear that he stands for something bigger than himself.

“Brampton Batman has very little to do with me,” he said in the strong, deep voice he maintains when wearing his suit. “It has a lot to do with the community that sees me.”

For years Batman has been patrolling Brampton’s streets, covering nearly 15 kilometres from dusk to dawn on foot. Acting as a symbol of “positivity”, he stands firmly against vigilantism and never carries a weapon, instead filling his wraparound utility belt with chapstick, tissues, a rope and beef jerky.

“When people on the street ask me why do I do it, I simply ask ‘Were you happy to see me?’ and of course they smile. Then I say ‘That’s the answer.’”

Following the question period, students lined up to take photos with the Dark Knight in exchange for donations to the food bank. Comfortable in front of the camera, Batman adopted a variety of poses ranging from serious to playful, at one point hoisting first-year ESL student Monica Campos into the air while her friend snapped a cellphone pic.

“He was great,” said Campos afterward with a big smile.

After class, Batman, accompanied by students and their collection box, headed to the campus bar. It was here, surrounded by unsuspecting students, that his impact became clear. Working by day at just six kilometres from Davis Campus at Coca-Cola, it was no surprise that his reputation preceded him.

“I love what he does,” said Omar Ishmail who lined up for a photo with the Dark Knight. “It gives kids something to believe in and morals for them to look up to.”

While his visit to Sheridan was his first time speaking to college students he sees himself doing it a lot more often in the future.

“After the first two weeks of me doing this, I don’t think anyone in their right mind would say that they want this person standing in their schools. But after discovering who I am – here I am.”

And finally, yes, he does have a Batmobile.

“The fire does come out the back – but I had to disable it,” said the Dark Knight who has been saving gas money for over a year in an effort to fund this “dream come true.”