Why Are We Called Red Tree?
A tale of Red Tree and where it got its name
By: Dustin Jodway
The man after whom Red Tree Performance Academy is named—my father, Ric Jodway, affectionately known as Ricco, Dad, Popy—possessed a remarkable gift for seeing beauty in everyone and everything around him. It was the small things that brought him joy, like the laughter of his grandchildren, the smell of fresh cut grass or the most exquisite red tree he had ever laid eyes on.
In the spring, preceding the complete collapse of my sister and I's world, my father called to share his excitement about this stunning red tree located across the street from his first-story balcony.
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I chuckled and replied, 'Dad, it's just a tree. How beautiful could it possibly be?'
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He insisted, 'Dust, it’s the most beautiful red I’ve ever seen. You have to come take a look!'
With a playful tone, I responded, 'I’m sure it’s lovely, Dad.'
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Yet he persisted, 'It truly is, the most beautiful red tree I ever did see. You should come and take a picture.'
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'Alright, Dad, I’ll do that,' I laughed it off and continued our conversation.
In the end, I never saw the tree, nor did I capture its image that year. That winter, on my birthday, at home, my father passed away, and I found myself regretting not taking that photograph. Now we had to wait until spring to try and figure out what tree he was actually talking about, there were so many. Persistence played off as we actually did witness the marvel that was truly -
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'the most beautiful red tree I have ever seen.'
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The vibrant red of our logo is derived from an actual photograph of that magnificent tree. Thanks to our awesome tech guy, Robert Quinn.
So, in honour of one of our greatest supporters, a seed was planted, and the Red Tree that sprouted into what it is today—embracing all that is beautiful.
Fly high, Pops.
