Kale Clark

After moving to Kingston as a one year old, Kale quickly made friends he would keep his whole life. His early years were spent split between his parent's homes. Time with his mom was often walking around Kingston to play at Skeleton Park, enjoy naps and treats at The Sleepless Goat and climbing everything he could. As a school child, he attended Ecole Cathedrale and later Rideau Public. He was a precocious young child, and was always learning and experimenting, reading and writing stories, creating and making friends and dreaming up big ideas. He loved creative endeavors, and our house is full of all the priceless treasures he has made us over the years. We moved into this house when he was 7 after a few years of apartment living- and was delighted at a backyard with trees to climb, neighbors to chat with and holes to dig up full of discarded relics from the neighborhood's historic past.

Middle school brought him to Vanier, and introduced him to music! He started on a Saxophone, and quickly added flute, drums, ukulele and guitar to his repertoire. It was also around this time he auditioned for his first theatrical role as "Patrick" in The Sponge Bob Square Pants musical. Delighted to get a lead role on his first go, he went on to excel in theater both at school, and with the Blue Canoe youth theater group. He played Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and as Grover in Percy Jackson the Musical. His final role was as Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors (while also simultaneously being in the pit band for Anastasia.) He was truly a force of nature. He left behind his dream role of playing Elton John (his most favorite artist in the world) in the stage production of Amelie.

Kale was not the name he was born with. He knew from a young age that he had been assigned the wrong gender at birth, and chose his own name and gender as a pre-teen. Kale's transness brought about bravery and self assurance even as a young person, and he came out much sooner than many others in generations of trans people before him. He was THE MOST EXCITED about finally being able to start testosterone, and had excitedly received his first dose at the in the month before his death. Trans health care saves lives, and brings euphoric joy to those who need it.

After leaving Vanier to study at KSS, Kale found a true home for his talents. He was a great student, a cherished friend and beloved by his teachers. He found joy too in nature, and was an avid back country camper and always up for an adventure. He gave his mother one million heart attacks growing up with his love of exploring and finding excitement, and found a special place in nature at Round Lake, jumping off the Gordon Downie Pier, camping at Ivy Lea and canoeing at Oxbow Lake in Huntsville. He lived for the journey and always showed up with such enthusiasm to be alive, and explore everything the human experience had to give.

Kale's time on earth was also characterized by his civic participation. A lifelong vegan, he grew up passionately advocating for animals and the environment. When he was 8, he attended a city hall meeting to encourage local businesses to close their door while the air-conditioning was on. He participated in 2SLGBTQIA+ groups and camps from a very young age, and was active in school groups around this. He also was a passionate advocate for the Palestinian people and the ongoing genocide being perpetuated against them. He slept in tents while there was an occupation at Queens. He wore buttons and kefiyas and engaged with people and protests. He was brave and wise beyond his years.

Despite it's short length, Kale left an indelible mark on the world, this neighborhood and especially this house. This mug exchange is in honour of his love of coffee, and the cutest little business he held during the pandemic, offering lattes and drinks under the name "Colborne Street Cafe". Thank you for reading about Kale's life and legacy. If you have found a new coffee mug to take home, please let every sip encourage you to share love and revolution with the world.