Canadian Association of Stand-Up Comedians

It's. Been. A. Year. We here at CASC will be shutting down until January 18th 2021. Let's take ths time to recuperate, to keep each other safe and to remember there are better days ahead. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Merry Kwanza and Happy Holidays to all!

Ahead of the Canadian comedy's ninth season, writer Kelly Boutsalis explores how a show by non-Indigenous creators manages to respectfullyand accuratelyrepresent Indigenous culture - Read how ' Letterkenny Problems' got Indigenous representation so right from FLARE here: https://bit.ly/3gMdBIo

As it stands, Canadian comedians must misrepresent their work, shape-shift, and compete with artists within programs designed for their respective practices Theatre, Literature and Media Arts. That is ONLY IF they can squeeze past the gatekeepers to The Canada Council’s grants portal in the first place. This is hardly fair. Comedy must be recognized as a distinct arts discipline, complete with its own frame of reference, and tailored programs that include comedy professiona...ls in their adjudication processes. Refusal to recognize that Comedy is Art has not only left Canadian comedians out of professional advancement and development opportunities offered by funding frameworks, but most recently it has systematically excluded comedians from urgent COVID-19 relief for artists. Please help us make this change by emailing your local MP today: https://bit.ly/3m9AoPh

The Foundation for Canadian Comedy - CANCOM today announced the results of "Profile and Value Chain Analysis: Ontario Comedy Content Creators", a research effort conducted to develop the first-ever profile of Ontario’s comedy sector, with funding from Ontario Creates and in partnership with Nordicity. Read the results here: https://bit.ly/2LKe2Yf

TONIGHT! Join us for the CASC Town Hall @ 7PM EST https://bit.ly/3pIAIay

Looking for some inspiration? Read the latest article from The Comedy Tribune by Niek Theelen "How Stand-up Comedy Has Helped Me Get Through Covid-19" https://bit.ly/344vPiS

The Executive Board will present updates on what CASC has been doing during the pandemic, what our goals are for the future and how you can help that future become reality. What we will be talking about: - Executive Director Position - New Position - CASC Board - Openings... - Membership renewal - CASC lobbying during Covid 19 - Pay Guidelines for the comedy industry - CANCOM Update from Adam Growe - No more unpaid members starting May 1st 2021 - CASC is going national - French - Committee and site translation - Ask Us Anything (Q&A period) for members. See more

StandUp Stitches is a new Comedy Series in Studio II at The Rose Brampton . Located in downtown Brampton, Ontario. Watch the Holiday Edition FREE ONLINE, December 19th @ 7:30 PM. Featuring some of the funniest stand-up comics and comedians from all over the globe with your host got Brownie? https://bit.ly/2KcX5F0

On Wednesday December 16, 2020, The Foundation for Canadian Comedy (CANCOM) will announce the results of Profile and Value Chain Analysis: Ontario Comedy Content Creators, a research effort conducted to develop the first-ever profile of Ontario’s comedy sector, with funding from Ontario Creates and in partnership with the independent consulting firm Nordicity. Join the live event here: https://bit.ly/3qXtujU

Canadians are invited to share their views about AM and FM radio The CRTC is keen to hear about listening habits, behaviours and views as part of its review of commercial radio. Canadians are encouraged to share their opinions online survey by Nov 26

Join the CASC Town Hall Wednesday, November 18th @ 7PM EST. - https://mailchi.mp/b86537cd770f/cmf-fund-5099072 Sam MacDonald Jen Hamilton Monty Scott Charlie Demers Kathleen McGee Tim Gray Myles Morrison Shawn McLaren Derek Seguin Nick Martinello Nikki Payne Mike Hammond Bibi Bilodeau Ted Morris Richard Ryder Drew T. Nelson Darryl Orr Paul Snepsts

Mark your calendars! Baroness von Sketch Show returns for its fifth and final season October 6 on CBC! https://bit.ly/3jiWBdd

And now for a little bit of art from the National Gallery of Canada . Discover a master colourist named Greg Curnoe. The broad strokes of Curnoe’s life and career trajectory are widely known devoted regionalist, Canadian icon, generous mentor, temperamental artist, avid cyclist, untimely death. Click to read more. https://bit.ly/3ijpbtz

"Veteran CBC execs Helen Asimakis and Michelle Daly, who serve as senior director of drama and comedy, respectively, are set to depart as the pubcaster restructures its scripted team to create dedicated development and production units. The new model sees the elimination of the two senior director roles, with CBC transitioning to a structure that includes new positions for director of development and director of current production across both drama and comedy. The recruitment process for these four new director positions will begin this week, according to CBC."

We know you are fed up, tired and ready for this pandemic to be over. But it is not. COVID-19 is not over. Please see some guidelines that #CASC has put forward for comedians and producers to check before, during and after shows. Together we can do it. https://bit.ly/3l3DO5S

RESIDENTS OF #SASKATOON! Planet S Magazine is holding their annual readers poll on Saskatoon's favorite people, places, businesses, creations and events. Show your support and vote for our Ambassador Myles Morrison! https://bit.ly/33dJLHA

Submissions for the 2021 The JUNO Awards are NOW OPEN and will close on Friday, November 6, 2020 at 11:59pm ET. There is a subsidy for those submitting to the Comedy Album of the Year category https://junoawards.ca/submissions/submission-guidelines/

Since March 2020 when the COVID-19 crisis hit, CASC made the following actions to help Canadian comedians through this unpredictable time: - Created the Emergency Relief Fund for Canadian Comedians, which raised over $30,000 to help comedians in need. This fund will live on past COVID-19, as it is the only emergency fund in the country-specific to comedians. - CASC successfully lobbied the Federal government to include comedians and other gig workers to be included in relief ...efforts like CERB - CASC lobbied the Minister of Canadian Heritage to include comedians and the comedy industry in the Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations - CASC continued to lobby the Canada Council for the Arts to have comedy recognized as an art form - and more. Have you paid your dues yet? Support your association by becoming a paid member today. https://bit.ly/3mYLjwO See more

Schitt's Creek has proven that Canada is hilarious. Don't you think it's time that Canada support comedians? https://bit.ly/3n3IESt

We're loosing the letters too? If you haven't watched it yet, catch Kyle Brownrigg 's full episode from "The New Wave of Stand-up" online now on CBC Gem https://bit.ly/2RhOiSn

What happens when you’ve got two hairy hands covered up by shoes? Ask Leland Klassen Comedy (Official), he'll explain it to you! --- Catch the full set from the Winnipeg Comedy Festival special hosted by Trent McClellan here on CBC Gem : https://bit.ly/2DPHacO

Effective October 2, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is raising the filing fees for most visa petitions and applications, which will increase the burden for Canadian comedians who wish to work in the United States. Click the link to read more. https://bit.ly/3hpJCo6

CASC would like to thank the Emergency Task Relief Force for helping raise $33,373 to help Canadian Comedians during these hard COVID-19 times. We have a last wave of payments to make so if you did apply, hold tight and check your emails for good news. https://bit.ly/3ioSOe0

Comedy Live Now spoke with Jill Andrew - MPP, Toronto-St.Paul's about Canadian comedy