Feature Act - Ian Sirota
Ian Sirota has opened for Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Dennis Miller, Robin Williams, and Dana Carvey and headlines comedy clubs across North America. Ian was a regular cast member and writer for Comedy Inc., Comedy Now, Gutterball Alley, and many more! Ian has been nominated for not one but two Gemini Awards including “Best Comedy Performance”
Ian’s famous hoax on Jerry Springer was recently named the 50th funniest moment in Canadian Comedy History by SiriusXM Radio. Number 50 out of the top 150 in history.. not too shabby.
This sharp-tongued comedian takes no prisoners and can also blend in observational humour with a family focus all the while mastering the audience with lightning crowd work.
A perfect fit for any fundraiser or corporate event, Ian has been a regular contributor to Dynamic Funds Humour Me Comedy Competition. The event turns Canada’s biggest CEOs into stand-up comedians all to raise money for charity. To date, the event has raised over 8 million and Ian’s students include Mayor Jon Tory of Toronto who took home the trophy with Ian in 2017.
Middle Act - Paul Haywood
Paul has been a fixture on the national scene since winning the Toronto New Comic Search in 1998. Over his 20 years he has done it all from packed theaters of 1000 people to 25 people in a man-cave garage. He was even hired to dress up as a door man and heckle lawyers as they arrived at their corporate party - everyone has a different sense of team. Paul has his own one hour Comedy Now special and was a hit at CBC's Halifax Comedy Festival.
Paul has starred in over 40 commercials worldwide, showcasing his comedic timing and antics. Most recently recognized during Blue Jays broadcasts as the goofy Dad who can't catch in Honda's trade-in your car event ads. Paul won a Bessie award for best male performance in a U.S. national Budweiser ad that aired during the Superbowl. Paul’s film & television appearances include; “The Squeeze” at the international short film festival, “The Santa Suit” opposite Kevin Sorbo, on the Hallmark and WTN networks in Canada and the U.S., the sitcom “Dan for Mayor”, he even scored a small role in the recent Robocop reboot, sharing a scene with Gary Oldman.
You can continue to see Paul’s own Comedy Now special on CTV, The Comedy Network and online, and can be heard on XM Satellite radio.
MC - Laurie Elliott
Laurie Elliott is a stand-up comic, Juno nominee, actor and television writer. She won the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award and is a four-time winner of Best Female Stand-Up at The Canadian Comedy Awards.
Her stand-up credits include Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival (where the late, great Joan Rivers chose her to perform on her final Gala show), the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, the Comedy Factory in Rotterdam, Raw Comedy Club in Stockholm, the SheDot Comedy Festival in Toronto, and a gala run at the Cape Town International Comedy Festival in South Africa.
She has had recurring roles/appearances on MuchMusic’s Video on Trial, CBC's The Red Green Show (she married Harold!), The Jon Dore Television Show, Match Game and The Debaters. Laurie's voice can be heard on many animated series such as Total Drama Island, Scaredy Squirrel, and Camp Lakebottom. Laurie was also a regular on WWF star Chris Jericho's award-winning web series, But I'm Chris Jericho.
