Canada's Magic: ~IBM

Showing posts with label ~IBM. Show all posts

26 December 2018

Shelby Craigen recently featured by the IBM

From the Facebook page of the International Brotherhood of Magicians:

18 November 2018

Linking Ring obituary for Erik Stefanyi (Stephany)

We previously mentioned the passing of BC's Erik Stefanyi.

Dennis Schick, the editor of the Broken Wand in the International Brotherhood of Magician's magazine, The Linking Ring, is graciously allowing me to pass this on to you.

ERIK STEPHANY
Erik Stephany (Stefanyi), 23, of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, died September 9, 2018 from a tragic bicycle accident. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (2010-2015). He was a member of Ring 92 (Vancouver, British Columbia), and Ring 387 (Abbottsford, British Columbia). He joined the I.B.M. at age fourteen. He began his magic education under the mentorship of Damien Carriere. While living in Chilliwack, he took his magic to the streets, pioneering the Chilliwack Busker Program. After moving to Kamloops to pursue his degree in theater, he continued to perform for a variety of groups in various venues. In addition to magic, he loved rock climbing, white water rafting, and geocaching with his family. He was an actor, poet and playwright. Survivors include his parents, Maude and Paul; and his brother, Gilles, and his fiancee, Emily Thibert. A Broken Wand Ceremony was performed in his honor.

06 July 2018

Alex Seaman in the Tri-City News

Congratulations Alex, on becoming the youngest in history to be installed as the International President-Elect of the International Brotherhood of Magicians!

From the July 4th article "Making magic on the international stage --Former Tri-City News paper boy delivers with his act" by Grant Granger in the Tri-City News:

Like many other kids, Zander got a magic kit when he was in kindergarten. But he lost interest in it quickly and put it away. The desire to pull the kit out of the closet didn't resurface until he was 11 years old when his family was on vacation in Victoria. They dropped into Tony's Trick and Joke Shop run by renowned magician Tony Eng. It had its fair share of the prankster staples like squirting nickels, hand buzzers and whoopee cushions. What little Alex couldn't take his eyes off of, though, was the Wall of Magic Wonders with all its oddities.

His parents and two younger brothers had other plans that day, but Alex didn't want to leave so they left him "with the magician dude."

Eng taught him a bunch of stuff, and by the time he exited he was the proud possessor of a deck of cards, sleight-of-hand sponge balls and other magic stuff. And he began to practise, practise and practise some more.

Read more.

06 February 2018

Alex Seaman, IBM nominee for International President-Elect

It seems like only last year, when we congratulated you on your then new position of Vice President of IBM!

Congratulations again Alex! And thank you for all of your hard work.

From Alex's Facebook page:

21 January 2018

In Memory of Henry Muller

Recently 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 Henry Muller. Dennis is graciously allowing me to pass this on to you.

~~~

Henry Muller

MULLER, Henry - Born July 12, 1930 in Hlohovec, Czechoslovakia, died at 1:45 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Bella (Zucker) Muller, by his four children, Jerry (Sharon), Alice (Ben Zion), David (Joyce) and Michael (Adrienne), by his grandchildren, Elisha (Laura), Sara (Alan), Joseph (Keren), Tali (Jesse), Liat, Matan, Jacob (Aviva), Rachel, Rebecca, Isaac and Abraham, and by his great-grandchildren Nadia, Julia, Maya, Hannah, Daniel, Benjamin and Lily. Mr. Muller was the founder of Muller's Meats, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, Cavalier Motel and the Niagara Industrial Mall, a respected businessman and entrepreneur and a lover of Niagara Falls, Canada. Funeral Thursday, March 2 at 1:00 pm at the Adas Israel Synagogue in Hamilton, Ontario followed by interment at Lundy's Lane Cemetery in Niagara Falls, Ontario

Henry Muller, cofounder of the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, a public museum and tourist attraction operated in Niagara Falls, Canada, from 1968 to 1995, died on Feb. 28 in Hamilton, Ontario. He was 86 years old.

Muller, with Dr. Harold A. Stein, opened the Hall of Fame in May 1968 at 5019 Centre Street. The attraction housed many significant items from Houdini’s personal collection, including some of his childhood props, posters, a multitude of handcuffs and leg irons, a wooden packing crate he used for underwater escapes, and the famed Water Torture Cell.

Four years after opening, the Hall of Fame moved a half block southeast to 4983 Clifton Hill, into the old Victoria Park Railway Station, where it remained until it burned down 23 years later, on April 30, 1995. While some of the collection, including the Water Torture Cell, was destroyed in the fire, a lot of the paraphernalia survived and exists in many private collections.

Heartfelt condolences to Henry’s wife, Bella, and the rest of the family.

04 September 2017

[Guest post] The "Magicians Support Fund" by IBM

The following is from Dennis Schick, the editor of the Broken Wand in the International Brotherhood of Magician's magazine, The Linking Ring:

Hello fellow magicians:

   There likely will be magicians in the very-active world of magic in Houston, Texas and throughout the Gulf Coast, who will need all the help they can get in coming weeks and months. Since the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and the resulting floods was still taking place as the September issue of The Linking Ring was going to press, I had the idea of asking I.B.M. members — and other magicians — to give to the Magicians Support Fund, anticipating those needs. I was able to get a request for funds in that issue.

   The Magicians Support Fund was started almost exactly twelve years ago, in response to another natural disaster — Hurricane Katrina, in 2005. The late Phil Wilmarth, then editor of The Linking Ring; Past I.B.M. International President Michael Stratman (2002-03); and then-IBM President Roger Miller, got the idea of an independent fund to help fellow magicians in need.

   Indeed, the fund did help a number of magicians who suffered in various ways from Katrina, and has continued to help other magicians since then. The fund is not an official activity of the I.B.M., and magicians do not need to be an I.B.M. member to benefit from it. “This is a magicians-helping-magicians fund,” said Stratman, who continues as chairman of the committee.

   At this time the Fund is not tax-deductible (although it may become so if someone volunteers to take it over and do the paperwork). Requests for help can come directly from a magician, or can come from someone who knows of a need. The committee will consider every request.

   “Right now we need donations to build up the fund,” says Stratman. “We can’t give it away if we don’t have it. Magicians are a generous lot, and now is the time to show it.” Please send check donations — and requests for help — to:

Mike Stratman
Magicians Support Fund
126 Coyatee Circle, Louden, TN 37774.

   Contact Stratman at mikestrat4 @ aol . com for more information.

17 July 2017

Alex Seaman: IBM International Vice-President

Congratulations Alex. Thank you in advance for your hard work!

From Alex Zander's Facebook page:

04 July 2017

Canadians competing at IBM SAM 2017

A little bird has told me that four Canadians will be competing at the upcoming IBM-SAM Combined Convention.

Keep an eye out for Philippe Theriault, Nicky Circelli, and Nicolas Dutel (stage), and Chris Bruce (close up) who all made the preliminary judges’ selection to compete for IBM and SAM prizes plus a chance to obtain a spot to compete at FISM 2018 in South Korea!

Joan Caesar is a co-chair of the competition, along with Vinny Grosso, Past President of the SAM.

Break a leg Canada!

[With thanks to Joan Caesar for sending me the information.]

02 July 2017

Canadians at IBM SAM 2017

The IBM-SAM Combined Convention is coming up July 12th to 15th!

Canadian roll call please!

So far, I've got:

Julianna Chen (stage and lecture),
Jay Sankey (close-up and lecture),
Murray Hatfield and Teresa (stage and lecture), and
The Outerbridges (stage and lecture).

Who'd I miss?

From Ted Outerbridge's Facebook page:

06 February 2017

Alex Seaman, IBM Vice President

Congratulations Alex!

From Alex Seaman's Facebook page:

27 January 2017

Billy Hsueh on IBM's Executive Committee

Congratulations Billy!

From Billy Hsueh's Facebook page:

14 May 2016

Request: Benevolence of Magic

The following is from Dennis Schick, the editor at the International Brotherhood of Magician's magazine, The Linking Ring:

Dennis Schick, Assistant Editor of the IBM’s monthly magazine, The Linking Ring, has been writing a series of articles on the Benevolence of Magic since the December 2012 issue. To date, he has highlighted over forty giving-back projects and activities of individual magicians as well as groups and organizations. Many are various kinds of fund-raising; others are simple acts of bringing joy and laughter to people in need, such as orphan children or senior citizens. Projects so far range from Kevin Spencer’s Healing of Magic and Magicana’s Sharing Wonder, to Magicians Without Borders, Magic is Medicine, and Michael Finney’s Foundation. If you do or know of good examples of magic used for good causes, please contact Dennis at crylds [at] att [dot] net* as soon as possible.

Alternately you may post examples of your magical good deeds in the comments below, and I'll be sure to e-mail Dennis directly!

--
* Email formatting by Canada's Magic to discourage e-mail harvesters.

21 January 2016

Canadians on the IBM convention schedule for 2016

On the schedule, I spy Shawn Farquhar, Scott Hood, and Trevor and Lorena Watters.

Who'd I miss?

19 July 2015

Alex Seaman - 2016 IBM Executive Committee Member

From the IBM Facebook page:

2016 I.B.M. Officers and new Executive Committee Members inducted into office yesterday at the I.B.M. General Membership...
Posted by IBM - International Brotherhood of Magicians on Friday, 17 July 2015

22 June 2015

It's official! Welcome to Ring 62!

This was mentioned briefly in February, but now there's paperwork to back it up!

From Shawn Farquhar's Facebook page:

One more Ring for the IBM and it's in Canada. The first time an IBM Ring has been in Montreal in more than FORTY YEARS!...
Posted by Shawn Farquhar on Wednesday, 17 June 2015

02 June 2015

Sorcerers Safari Supports I.B.M. Youth Contest

From the IBM website:

Mike and Jen Segal have donated a registration to the Sorcerer’s Safari Magic Camp as a prize for the first place youth close-up winner! THANKS MIKE AND JEN!!!!

The camp will be held Friday, August 14th through Wednesday, August 19th at Camp White Pine located in the Haliburton Highlands about 2 ½ hours north of Toronto, Canada. The camp registration includes transportation between the airport and the camp, sleeping quarters, all meals, classes, workshops, fun and LOTS of MAGIC! The winner will be responsible for his/her own transportation between home and Toronto.

Sorcerer’s Safari is now in its 19th year of operation. At the Sorcerer’s Safari Magic Camp, campers learn magic while having fun. Campers will learn new magic skills while polishing old ones. Although all required materials are provided for planned workshops, campers are encouraged to bring magic items if they have a special interest they are working on.

Read more.

22 March 2015

Canadians on the IBM convention schedule for 2015

Updated at 5pm to add:

- I was just reminded that this considered to be outgoing President Shawn Farquhar's convention so it would be awesome to have a strong Canadian contingent to show our support.
- Michael Dardant, from New Orleans who won the CAMaraderie close up competition at our last convention will also be there.