Our sincere condolences to Paul's family and friends at this impossible time.
Updated April 29th to add:
- From the Victoria Times Colonist obituary for Paul:
Paul is survived by his son Christopher, Mother Peggy Little (Blair) sister Catherine Dempsey, (Jim), brothers David and Peter (Kathy), his nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Willows Park, from 11:00 - 1:00 on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Please bring your own chair.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, or to a charity of your choice.
[via Facebook post by the Canadian Association of Magicians]
Updated at 9:20am to add:
- From the April 23rd article "Magician Paul Kilshaw, who performed for royals, dies at 60" by Roxanne Egan-Elliott at the Times Colonist:
Kilshaw died Wednesday [April 19] after suffering a heart attack, his sister Catherine Dempsey said from her home in Newfoundland.
He was born on Aug. 4, 1962, in Grostenquin, France, where his father, who was in the air force, was stationed. The youngest of four, Kilshaw moved with his family to Ottawa then to Victoria when he was about six.
The family lived near Willows Beach and it was there that a young Kilshaw met a magician who started teaching him sleight of hand, Dempsey said.
“For the first few years, we sort of ignored him. You know, it was just a little boy doing stuff and then it kept on and the next thing we knew he was getting good,” Dempsey said.
Kilshaw worked at Tony’s Trick and Joke Shop, which has since closed, honing his craft.
Read more.
From the April 21st article "‘He was a gift’: Greater Victoria mourns loss of popular balloon, magic man" by Christine Vanreeuwy at the Vancouver Island Free Daily:
A familiar face with a fandom at any event he attended – pretty much all of them whether he was working or not – Kilshaw wowed Greater Victoria crowds for more than three decades
“We lost a great man. He was a gift,” said friend Kelly Kurta, also the executive director of the Greater Victoria Festival Society. “Paul was an in-person kind of guy. He’d show up at an event even just to say hello.”
Kilshaw caught the magic bug as a child and spent years honing the craft, travelling far and wide to study with the masters in this art.
Fondly called Paulie, Kilshaw was known for magic and balloons and was always looking for some new twist.
From CBC Radio One Vancouver (On The Island):
On The Island with Gregor Craigie - April 21, 2023: The island magician and balloon artist Paul Kilshaw died this week. His friend Phil Mansfield will share his legacy with us
You may remember that in 2016 Paul entertained Prince George and Princess Charlotte at a children’s party at Government House in Victoria. This lead to Paul being featured in a photo used for the Cambridge's Christmas card!
Some memories from the magic community:
