Eric Parker
I was in grade 8 with Perter Martilla at Williamson Road public school. At some point, probably in grade 10 (I did grade 10 twice and never actually passed it!) Peter moved downtown to the Annex a few blocks from Yorkville Street. He met Eric at High school. Eric had a brother who was a cuplu years older than we. Eric's mom taught English at the college of Art, and Eric's dad was an artist designer at the museum. Eric's mom was also into a Guru and I went to meetings a cuplu times and, thru Eric, was introduced to the whole Hindu Eastern philosophy including Karma and Reincarnation. Pretty heady stuff for one who came from from such a mediocre background as myself. It was thru Eric's older brother that we were introduced to the non drinking nite life of TO such as the Bohemian Embassy, the Purple Onion and the 72 coffee house. And thus, to eventually bring the concept of a coffee house back to the east end to join with Billie's vision somewhere in grade 11.

And that was how Eric came to be associated with the Grotto.