Broken wand: Charles Edwin Millard

We were notified by Dennis Schick, the editor of the Broken Wand in the International Brotherhood of Magician's magazine, The Linking Ring, of the passing of Charles Millard.

From the March 2017 Linking Ring:

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters was notified that Charles Edwin Millard, 68, of Edgetts Landing, New Brunswick, Canada, died July 25, 2016. His I.B.M. membership number was 61351, and he had been a member since 2000 (sixteen years). Born in Kingston, Ontario, he worked in the service industry for over thirty years, with Xerox. Following retirement, he continued to work, both as a church custodian, and for a printing firm. He loved entertaining people as “Choctaw the Clown,” and was involved in clowning for almost four decades. In addition to clowning and magic, he loved the outdoors and nature, including all water sports, roller skating, cross country skiing and bird watching. He also was a photographer. Survivors include his wife, Paula; sons Robert (Cathy) and Andrew (Amanda); grandchildren Julia, Katie, Savanah, Liam and Ella; step-children Tanya Minter, and Steven Lawson; step-grandchildren, Marina, Ryan, Danny, and Samantha; step-great-granddaughter, Brookelynn; and brother, David. Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Baptist Church, 3039 Main Street, Hillsborough, New Brunswick, Canada EOA 1XO

From the website of the Albert County Funeral Home:

Charles Edwin Millard aka "Choctaw the Clown", 68, of Edgett's Landing passed away peacefully on July 25th, 2016 at the Moncton Hospital with his family by his side.  

He was born in Kingston, Ontario on October 1st, 1947, the son of the late Dr. William Edwin "Eddy" and Annie "Isabel" (Miller) Millard. He was a faithful member of the Valley Baptist Church.  He worked in the service industry for over 30 years with Xerox. Following an early retirement from Xerox, Charles moved to Edgett's Landing, NB where he spent many years as a custodian at the Valley Baptist Church. He was last working with Andrez Printing in Riverview.   Charles was a professional clown and loved entertaining people.  He was "Choctaw the Clown" and involved in clowning for 37 years. He was the Eastern Ambassador for clowns of America International and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. 

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Canadians on "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" season 4

Updated November 24th at add Ekatarina, Matthew Johnson, Shin Lim, and Jean-Pierre Parent.

Updated on May 24th to add Richard Forget!

Updated on April 17 to add Yan Markson!

Updated at 1:55pm to add Patrik Kuffs!

Information is slowly leaking about about the contestants on season four of "Penn & Teller: Fool Us."  So far I've spotted Murray Hatfield, Sheldon Casavant, and Patrik Kuffs.  (And a teaser from Shawn Farquhar.)  Tell me, who am I missing from Canada?


From Murray Hatfield's Facebook page:




From Sheldon Casavant's Facebook page:






From Yan Markson's Instagram:

'Penn & Teller's Fool Us' Season 4 premieres this July, and you might find a firmiliar face this year. - stay tuned! ;) #magician #mentalist #torontoentertainment #torontoevents #eventplanner

A post shared by Yan Markson (@yanmarkson) on Apr 8, 2017 at 12:22pm PDT

From Richard Forget's Facebook page:

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From Shawn Farquhar's Facebook page:

Toronto: Free magic club

From the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:

Hi Denizens-This Saturday, April 8 is the next free Magic Club at Browser's Den.

The meeting will take place from 2:30pm until 5:30pm. All interested in talking magic are welcome.

Thank you-Old Jeff, Young Jeff & The Browser's Den Team.

James Randi and Matt Dillahunty

From the Pangburn Philosophy YouTube channel:

Pangburn Philosophy ALL ACCESS presents "The Amazing James Randi TRICKS Matt Dillahunty." This moment occurred in a hotel, prior to the CONJURE THE NIGHT event which took place on April 2nd 2017 at the UBC Chan Centre in Vancouver BC Canada. James and Matt spoke together about conjuring, skepticism and the life of James Randi. James and Matt later performed some conjurations followed by illusionist Murray Hatfield and 2 time world champion of magic, Shawn Farquhar.

Browser's Bash 2017 in the Toronto Star

Edited to add this direct link to the Toronto Star website:

• https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2017/04/06/browsers-annual-bash-for-illusionists-is-where-the-magic-happens.html

From Press Reader:

Jeff Pinsky is the guy who makes it all happen.  For the third year in a row, he has rounded up the sprawling community that's grown around his four-decade-old specialty store, Browser's Den of Magic, on Dufferin St. north of Lawrence Ave. W.

"The magic shop, and in extension the bash itself, is a separate little world," he said. "It's a wonderful escape for some people."

Guests at his bash said that Pinsky's event is really the only one out there of its kind and scale. Some flew in from across the country, or even as far as Japan, to be there for the 12 hour "full day of magical fun!"

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