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Meet Ajax's very own friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man

In the fifth installment of CBC Toronto's Meet the Neighbours series, we meet the Ajax Spider-Man, who has become a celebrity on local running trails.

CBC Toronto's Meet the Neighbours series catches up with the man behind the mask running through Ajax

Sannah Choi · CBC News ·
Wayne Young is the man behind the mask and has become somewhat of a local celebrity. (Sannah Choi/CBC)

Look out! Here comes the Ajax Spider-Man!

Since March, there's been plenty of buzz as Spider-Man has been spotted running past suburban streets, through wooded trails, and along the waterfront in South Ajax. 

Wayne Young is the man behind the mask, and has become somewhat of a local celebrity.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, he decided to pull out a Spider-Man costume he had worn from a previous 5K run and started running in it.

WATCH | Here's Ajax Spider-Man in action:

Meet the man behind the Spider-Man costume who brings joy to his South Ajax community

Toronto

1 month agoVideo
4:19
Since March, South Ajax has been spinning with sightings of the superhero. As part of CBC Toronto’s “Meet the Neighbours” series, we catch up with the man behind the mask. 4:19

Soon, Ajax Facebook community groups were trying to figure who he was and how they could snatch a photo.

"It gave me a little bit of a purpose to get out there every weekend and see the smiles on their face," said Young.

"It actually energized myself and gave me hope and happiness... So, I just kept doing it." 

As restrictions eased, Young started charting his route based on Facebook requests for photos and met many families in his community along the way. 

How have you grown closer to your neighbours during the pandemic? We want to hear and share your stories as part of our Meet the Neighbours series. Send an email to torontotips@cbc.ca.

About the Author

Sannah Choi

Sannah Choi is a multi-platform journalist with CBC Toronto. She started as a TV reporter in her hometown at CBC Ottawa and has since worked on shows like Power and Politics, Ottawa Morning, Here and Now, and Metro Morning. She enjoys exploring her neighbourhood in Toronto's west end with her husband and son.

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