Boris
In 1994 a group of men gathered in Vancouver to organize a Rhino...
Dave Moreau suggested creating a Rhinoceros mascot. Men including Thomas Luckweald, Greg Brown and Brian Von Einsiedel helped with suggestions and construction to help Brad Leslie build BORIS.
BORIS is designed to be a costume operated by two 6-foot-tall men with the front man controlling the head. Brad Leslie, who happens to be an excellent wood carver, built the sculpture with a frame made of 2x4s and chicken wire covered with linen sheets that held carved sprained on styrofoam. Dave Moreau provided the Styrofoam, Thomas Luckwald painted him and Greg Brown and Brian von Einsiedel helped with construction.
There is only one version of Boris, though he has been partially rebuilt at some point, replacing wooden supports with metal legs, making him heavier but still functional.
BORIS has been passed between different men's groups for events since 1994, with the tradition being that the men who host an event would store him, maintain him for as long as required and deliver him to the next Rhino. This was facilitated by the donation of and 8x10 trailer which was managed by Dave Lynch at first.
BORIS makes his way back to Brad Leslie occasionally where he is touched up and stored until the next Rhino. Currently (2025), the head is in Brad's garage for repairs while the body is stored under a tarp in North Surrey. Dan Lynch is still involved in transport and Brad remains available to coach and mentor regarding Boris's management.
BORIS has traveled tens of thousands of miles over the years, attending events across North America including a memorable appearance at an MDI conference in Las Vegas where he surprised a large group of over 350 men. Brad Leslie is willing to mentor others in maintaining and transporting Boris but emphasizes that the rhino events happen independently, with or without the presence of Boris..
BORIS serves as a symbol for men's events that can help to hold the traditional context and purpose of the event which is to connect with masculine natural gregarious and courageous spirit.
We are wanting to recreate the history of Boris’s travels and the events(Rhinos) he attended. If you know of any events he was at, please click on the link and fill in details as you know them.
We are also wanting to collect any photos of Boris on his adventures over the years. If you have any photographs of him, feel free to scan, take a pic of a pic, or upload at this link below.
Finally if your interested in sharing it our favourite Rhino stories, you do so at this link.
