Brian Glow in the CBC News

From the November 17th article "For this Manitoba anti-bullying magician, the real trick is helping kids connect" by CBC News (with files from Nadia Kidwai):

A Manitoba magician who found solace in sleight of hand when he was bullied as a kid is using the same tools to help fight bullying in northern communities.

Brian Glow, a corporate magician and illusionist, has performed for audiences in 44 countries over the past 40 years. These days, he spends as much as four months a year in remote communities in the Northwest Territories, enthralling students with magic tricks he hopes help them deal with bullying.

His work with them ranges from performances to workshops on how to do the tricks and motivational speaking.

"Each trick actually has messaging in it, whether it's motivational, whether it's anti-bullying, whether it's what to look out for when someone's talking a certain way," Glow said.

Read more.

The 2018 "Readers' Choice Inspirational Canadian Magician of the Year" award

 

Updated November 28th to add the following nominees:

• Mike Segal - He inspired a generation of young magicians to turn their hobbies into careers. Magic Mike gave us a space, a special club and to some, a family where we could explore our creativity and expand our knowledge with like-minded people. Magic Mike is not only an amazing mentor but he is also a fantastic performer. Whether he’s teaching a class or performing in front of a huge crowd, he’s always giving 100%. He is known in the magic community for his positive attitude and he will stop at nothing to lend a helping hand. If that doesn’t deserve recognition, I don’t know what does! #MagicMike2018

Updated November 23rd to add the following nominees:

• Carisa Hendrix - Multifaceted magic, bubble and sideshow performer. Co-founder in 2018 of Shezam, the feminist magic podcast that hopes to make itself obsolete.

• Jonah Babins - Magician, podcast host, and neologist. Cofounded the Discourse In Magic Podcast, now with over 130 episodes. Host of The Newest Trick in the Book, Canada’s only open mic magic show."
   
  
• James Alan -  "In the past year he's helped numerous performers make their acts better, has participated in leadership roles on several major magic projects (including TMC, Hat and Rabbit, Magicana, etc). He's lectured on his original magic, he's supported the community..."
• Kent Wong - "I nominate KENT WONG from Edmonton. He is one of the most giving an talented magicians in Canada and his shows are extremely well written, rehearsed and thought out. His unbelievable attitude to help magicians and people in general is un heard of and he never asks for anything in return. His door is always open for anyone to use. He uses his magic to raise money for charities, feed the homeless, gloves and coffee for the homeless all through magic shows and when he is not doing that he is performing for children at the hospitals. Kent does this while having a family, and a very busy full time job. He knows all aspects of magic, psychology, timing, misdirection and history. Im glad he is my friend in magic." and"I too nominate KENT WONG from Edmonton. Kent had a fundraiser for the non profit organization Adarius 4 Autism. He took the time to set it up, and spent the whole day doing shows and donated all the profits. The event raised $1300. All the attendees were very entertained."

Updated November 22 to add the following nominee:

•  Greg Frewin - "In 2018 I was inspired when I saw Greg Frewin at his theatre in Niagara Falls. I was there on a cold day in the off-season. My first visit to Niagara and all I saw was empty streets and mostly closed attractions. On top of it all it was a Wednesday night. I had tickets to the show that night and was expecting the worst... an awkwardly empty house, and a lackluster performance.
  
  Instead, what I got was a wonderful show with a performer who shared his passion for magic, and playing to a very full house! It was an inspiration to see one of Canada's best magicians still being amazing two decades after I first saw him, and a testament to the hard work and dedication of Greg and his team to have such a well running theatre."

Updated November 21 at 8pm to add the following nominee:

• Jeff Christensen - "I would like to nominate Vancouver magician Jeff Christensen for using his magic to conjure up a better world.  Jeff has faced loss in his life but has turned the darkness into light for so many others through his magic and fundraising.  He has raised more than $100,000 for a variety of local and international causes.  He has done this in a variety of ways such as through the sold out charity show “”A Magical Evening” and his foundation, Celebrate the Child (CtC).  CtC has built a school in Kenya, and worked on freshwater in Ecuador. Jeff has gone further to raise money through performances for a health centre in India.  His heart is good and so is his magic.  He received an invitation to attend the very exclusive 4F Close-up Convention….a sort of “Willy Wonka” ticket that every magician would love to get.  Invitation is not random, however, and is generally given in recognition of expert magical skill.  I know Jeff from our learning and work at the McBride Magic & Mystery School.  Jeff received the title of Ambassador from the School this fall at our annual gathering in recognition of his work to further meaningful magic.  Please give him your fullest consideration!"
  
  
  Updated November 21 to add the following nominee:

• Ryan Brown -  "Ryan Wonder Brown is a rising star of magic from the Toronto area. He should be considered for these bragging rites."

The Canada's Magic "2018 Readers' Choice Inspirational Canadian Magician of the Year" award nominations are now open.

You may nominate living Canadian Magician(s) of your choosing by leaving their name along with a short note about how they inspired you in 2018, in the comments below.  (Or you may email me your nomination.)

Nominations will be accepted up until 11:59PM on Thursday November the 29th.  I will contact the nominees via email and give them one week to accept or decline their nomination.  The full list of nominations will be published and voting will commence in December.  (Canada's Magic is not eligible for the award, nor will it be participating in the nomination or voting process.) 

This is a "bragging rights" only contest.  There is no cash value for this award.

Individuals and groups can be nominated.

I look forward to seeing your nominations!

In the spirit of celebrating all Canadian magicians, last year's winners of the Readers' Choice award (Benzi Train) or the Editor's Choice award (Julie Eng) are not eligible for nomination in 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.

Without Perfect Magic, there may not have been a JP Parent to fool Penn and Teller!

How many brick and mortar magic store staff are responsible for stories like this one from JP Parent ...

From the October 10th article "A Note from Montreal Magician Jean-Pierre Parent Who Fooled Penn and Teller" by Evelyn Matlin at Perfect Magic:

One goes about ones business everyday, doing what they do, but once in a while something happens to lift your spirits. JP Parent  who fooled Penn and Teller https://youtu.be/_-P4wjAROok took the time to write to me and with his permission I am sharing it with you. This is what he wrote.

“I love your articles you post !

The last one about being in heaven when you walked in the shop was my favorite. Ms Evelyn, you prob would not remember this if I told you ,but you where the first person to perform a magic trick for me in a magic shop.

Read more.

Broken wand: Trevor Hamilton

Trevor Hamilton was the Past President of IBM Ring 17 in 1986-87.


From November 10th edition of  The Toronto Star:

KENNETH TREVOR HAMILTON (September 17th, 1930 - October 20th, 2018)

Trevor passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 20th, 2018 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre at the age of 88. Predeceased by his parents Iris Mary and Kenneth Francis Hamilton. Devoted husband of Myrle, proud father of Cynthia (Tim), Kenneth (Kara) and Douglas; and cherished grandfather to Connor, Ariel, Taylor, Madison, Hawkeye and Dana. Trevor, a retired Bell Canada employee was a military buff, especially loving the pipes and drums. A former member of The Irish Regiment of Canada, he also loved magic, bird watching, and genealogy. His compassionate and generous spirit touched many and will be greatly missed. Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of His Life will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 344, 1395 Lake Shore Blvd West Toronto, on Saturday, November 24, 2018, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers please remember the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation K Wing, or any children's charity.

Read more.

"FOOL US" Experience Webinar

From Michael Close:

On Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at 9 p.m. EST, I will host an hour-long webinar to discuss Penn & Teller: Fool Us. This webinar will be of particular interest to those of you who are considering auditioning for season six (which will tape the last week of February and the first week of March).

Webinar only $5.00 USD

What we’ll cover...
I will give you some background on the show, explain what has to be accomplished during your time in Vegas (an amazing amount has to get done during a brief period of time), analyze some of the restrictions imposed by the medium of television and the venue, and discuss strategies to maximize your chance of being selected.   

In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions. I will get to as many of these as time allows. The information you will receive at this webinar will save you time and money, and it will provide you with helpful advice and will clarify for you exactly what the Fool Us experience is all about.

Read more and register.

Toronto: Mahdi Gilbert workshop

DM Mahdi to learn more.

From the Twitter feed of Mahdi The Magician:
A note to subscribers: the content of this post is embedded from another website and is not available to preview. To view the content of the post, please visit http://CanadasMagic.blogspot.com. Some of the embedded code may be visible in this notification.

TORONTO WORKSHOP! Evening of Wednesday, November 14th.
$100 (materials included)
DM to RVSP ;)

— Mahdi The Magician (@mahdibuchinger) November 1, 2018