Tattoo artist offering free cover up of hate symbols
Every day Jorden, a Norfolk County resident, carries around a symbol of his former life he wishes he could erase — it is a hate symbol tattooed in a hidden area of his body.
He said he acquired it while trying to survive prison during a dark time in his life.
“For about 15 years, I was in drug addiction. And, that came with jail and the streets,” Jorden explained.
But now, many years into recovery and a new life, Jorden said his hateful tattoo remains a great source of shame.
“I met the Lord and totally radically changed. Set me free from drug addiction. Now, I am a father and a husband,” he said.
Jorden's story is not unique to Simcoe, Ont. tattoo artist John Champagne. He has heard many stories of a hateful tattoos being applied for misguided beliefs or jail gang requirements.
“All the people I have talked to so far, just said it was a mistake,” he explained. “They just said it was something they had to do in order to survive.”
Champagne fully admits it is hard to tell if someone has truly changed their mindset, but he wants to give those who have made a mistake a second chance — no questions asked.
For the next two months, he is offering free sessions to transform tattoos of hate into scenes of humour and acceptance.
“I going to try to get some hate off the street for Christmas, maybe change some lives,” he said.
Jorden is looking forward to removing a symbol of hate acquired while in prison during a darker time in his life many years ago. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
In Jorden’s case, Jon will turn the hate symbol into a Windows operating system logo.
“Now he’s taking a sign of hate and he’s turning into laughter,” Jon said.
It is one of many designs Jon is creating to help those who have already come forward with requests to remove their hateful symbols and words.
Financially independent at a young age, Jon said he is prepared for a long list of pro bono clients.
After all, he maintains that covering up signs of hate with signs of laughter and love helps more than just the person tattooed.
“We live in Canada. We’re so multicultural here. There is no room for this here,” he said.
Jon is hoping other Canadian tattoo artists will take his idea.
For more information on his offer, you can visit the Pure Pain Parlour Facebook page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.