THE LOUGAN HALL OF FAME

ZANTA, THE 'LIVING LECEND', BANNED FROM TTC FOR 2 YEARS

WON'T PUT UP WITH PUSH-UPS

BY SAMANTHA ISREAL

Zanta, notorious for doing push-ups in nothing but a Santa hat and shorts, has been banned from Toronto's transit system.

The oddball busker, a.k.a.David Zancai, received a probation order stating he is "not permitted on any TTC property or vehicle other than surface routes" for a two-year period. Moreover, bus drivers across the city have refused him access as well.

"I've lost my freedoms. I can't move. I can't fo nowhere." Mr Zancai says. "They don't like it when I do push-ups or say 'Yes,Yes, Yes' and 'Merry Christmas'. But I refuse to take my hat off."

TTC media relations officer Marilyn Bolton would not say much about the situation. "This gentleman has a number of Bylaw No. 1 infractions," she said, "He was in violation of the 'No person shall loiter' bylaw."

This isn't the first time Mr. Zancai, 38, has had trouble with the TTC. After being convicted of committing a nuisance on TTC premises in April 2003, April 2005, and March 2006, he received a six-month probabtion. He was convicted of projecting his body beyond the edge of the platform in March 2006, and of entering a TTC vehicle other than from the designated entrance in April 2006.

His unpaid tickets relating to the TTC add up to almost $1,000.

In May 2006, he says, a TTC constable told him to leave the Keele subway station. An hour later, as he was walking across the street at Bloor and Dundas, a marked TTC enforcement vehicle stopped in the middle of the intersection. According to Mr. Zancai, two TTC constables jumped out of the car and roughly arrested him.

In September, Mr Zancai attempted to board a bus after appearing at the Ontario Court of Justice on Finch Avenue West. A police officer from 31 division served notice to Mr. Zancai, in writing, that the TTC ban applies to surface routes as well as subways.

"I'm a living legend at the TTC. Everyone loves me down there - the drivers, the guys that blow the whistles, everybody. I can't beleive they'd want me banned," he said.

But Mr. Zancai has been banned from city parts before. In 2005, he was banned from the downtown core after escalating complaints from Citytv news crews. He is no longer allowed at the Toronto Street Festival, the Taste of the Danforth, the St Patrick's Parade or (ironically) the Santo Claus Parade. Most recently, he's been banned from Old York Lane between Cumberland and Yorkville, College Park and Yonge-Dundas Square.

But fans defend him. Supporters join his "Zanta March" at Queen's Park every Sunday and his Web site, www.toronto-zanta.ca has received more than 85,000 hits since it was launched in July.

~ from The National Post - Nov 17 '06