02 January 2019
01 January 2019
31 December 2018
In memoriam 2018
- Boissonneault, John ( - 2018)
- Hamilton, Trevor (1930 - 2018)
- Ikenberry, Betty Lou (1935 - 2018)
- Palmer, Perley ( - 2018)
- Stefanyi, Erik ( - 2018)
- Trouten, Douglas (1959 - 2018)
Please e-mail additions or corrections to "canadasmagic at gmail dot com"
30 December 2018
Thank you for a great 2018!
We couldn't have done it without you!
Thank you to our readers, our fans, our followers, our wonderful guest posters (Dennis Schick and The Magic Demon), Starvox Entertainment who offered up prizes for contests, those who sent news our way, and last but not least, thank you to all of this year's friends (John Smithman, John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, The Outerbridges, Ian Crawford, Owen Anderson, Ryan Pilling, and Matt DiSero) and sponsors (be sure to support them!):
Thank you to our readers, our fans, our followers, our wonderful guest posters (Dennis Schick and The Magic Demon), Starvox Entertainment who offered up prizes for contests, those who sent news our way, and last but not least, thank you to all of this year's friends (John Smithman, John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, The Outerbridges, Ian Crawford, Owen Anderson, Ryan Pilling, and Matt DiSero) and sponsors (be sure to support them!):
For more information about purchasing Sponsored Posts or about our Platinum, Gold, or Silver level sponsorships, please visit our Sponsorship page.
Or you can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year!
Donations of any size are always welcome.
Or you can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year!
Donations of any size are always welcome.
The top 5 posts in December 2018
There were 35+ posts at Canada's Magic this month. Here are the 5 most viewed posts in the past 30 days:
and the most viewed post this month ...
5. Random thoughts on "Champions of Magic" - So. Much. Fun! Catch the Champions of Magic at The Bluma Appel Theatre through to January 6, 2019. Tickets through Ticketmaster.
4. Toronto: Kayla Drescher lecture - Looking forward to this!
3. Jeff Pinsky - honourary life member of Ring 17 - Thank you Jeff, for your support of the magic community!
2. Toronto: Win tickets to see "Champions of Magic" - Thank you for playing and a special thank you to Starvox Entertainment for making the prize available!
and the most viewed post this month ...
1. Vote now for the 2018 Readers' Choice award - View the results now!
29 December 2018
2018 Readers' Choice award results
Thank you all for participating in the spirit in which the awards were
intended: a fun way to recognize and celebrate all of the wonderful things being done by the fabulous
talent in our country.
Over 2380 votes were cast in this "bragging rights" only contest. You all have a lot of devoted fans!
Here are the results of our third annual "Readers' Choice Inspirational Canadian Magician of the Year" award!
James Alan
Nominated by Ben Train.
Thank you for lecturing, coaching, and participating fully with organizations like Toronto Magic Company, Ring 17 Hat and Rabbit, and Magicana).
Website: JamesAlan.ca
Jonah Babins
Nominated by James Alan.
One of two podcasters in this year's field, which has now enticed me into the realm of podcasts! Keep up your great work with the Discourse In Magic Podcast, and The Newest Trick in the Book, Canada’s only open mic magic show.
Website: JonahBabins.com
Ryan Brown
Nominated by Taylor Martin.
Ryan is an inspiration to the students at his alma mater. Ryan continues to stretch himself by seeking opportunities to learn with and from world class magicians. Go Ryan, go!
Website: RyanBrownMagic.com
Greg Frewin
Nominated by Ryan Pilling.
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Greg! I've seen his show on a number of occasions and seen him donate his time to the kids at Sorcerers Safari, lending a hand to the magic community (remember the CAM-JAM and the Browser's Bash?), and supporting his local community too. Thank you Greg!
And as Ryan stated,
"... 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."
Website: GregFrewinTheatre.com
Carisa Hendrix (aka Lucy Darling)
Nominated by James Alan.
Carisa is an in demand, multifaceted performer. In addition to magic, she does beautiful bubble, entertaining sideshow performances, and is a multiple Guinness World Record holder, while also running her own entertainment company.
Carisa is the other reason I've ventured into the world of podcasts. She (with Kayla Drescher) is breaking ground with Shezam, "the feminist magic podcast that hopes to make itself obsolete." They are taking on some pretty big issues in the magic world and I look forward to hearing what else they've got to say.
How big a deal is this podcast? "This podcast is now funded, in part, through support from the Endowment and Development Fund of the International Brotherhood of Magicians." Well done Carisa! That's a big deal!
Website: CarisaHendrix.com
Kent Wong
Nominated by Unknown.
I can't improve on the submitted nomination:
"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. I'm glad he is my friend in magic."
Keep up the great work Kent!
Website: KentWongMagic.com
Mike Segal
Nominated by Sam.
That Mike, through Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp, runs the ONLY magical instructional program certified by the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Public Library is a source of inspiration all on it's own ... there are a lot of hoops to jump through to earn your certification!
But wait! There's more!
Through Sorcerers Safari, Mike has enriched the lives of so many magicians! Camp alumni include: Nathaniel Rankin, Scott Hammel, Daniel Steep, Sheldon Casavant, Rosemary Reid, Keith Brown, Brad Bond, Ben Train, Alex Seaman, Mark Correia, Chad Juros and the list goes on. Now think of all of the lives that those people have touched. That's not counting the army of devoted volunteers he created whose lives were also deeply influenced from the camp experience! Thank you Mike and keep on keeping on!
From his nomination:
"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!"
Website: Magic-Mike.com
Jeff Christensen
Nominated by Cyril May.
Congratulations to Jeff for winning the 2018 Readers' Choice award!
Keep up your great work with the Celebrate the Child foundation.
Website: MagicalEducator.com
Over 2380 votes were cast in this "bragging rights" only contest. You all have a lot of devoted fans!
Here are the results of our third annual "Readers' Choice Inspirational Canadian Magician of the Year" award!
Beacons of Inspiration (in alphabetical order by surname)
James Alan
Nominated by Ben Train.
Thank you for lecturing, coaching, and participating fully with organizations like Toronto Magic Company, Ring 17 Hat and Rabbit, and Magicana).
Website: JamesAlan.ca
Jonah Babins
Nominated by James Alan.
One of two podcasters in this year's field, which has now enticed me into the realm of podcasts! Keep up your great work with the Discourse In Magic Podcast, and The Newest Trick in the Book, Canada’s only open mic magic show.
Website: JonahBabins.com
Ryan Brown
Nominated by Taylor Martin.
Ryan is an inspiration to the students at his alma mater. Ryan continues to stretch himself by seeking opportunities to learn with and from world class magicians. Go Ryan, go!
Website: RyanBrownMagic.com
Greg Frewin
Nominated by Ryan Pilling.
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Greg! I've seen his show on a number of occasions and seen him donate his time to the kids at Sorcerers Safari, lending a hand to the magic community (remember the CAM-JAM and the Browser's Bash?), and supporting his local community too. Thank you Greg!
And as Ryan stated,
"... 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."
Website: GregFrewinTheatre.com
Carisa Hendrix (aka Lucy Darling)
Nominated by James Alan.
Carisa is an in demand, multifaceted performer. In addition to magic, she does beautiful bubble, entertaining sideshow performances, and is a multiple Guinness World Record holder, while also running her own entertainment company.
Carisa is the other reason I've ventured into the world of podcasts. She (with Kayla Drescher) is breaking ground with Shezam, "the feminist magic podcast that hopes to make itself obsolete." They are taking on some pretty big issues in the magic world and I look forward to hearing what else they've got to say.
How big a deal is this podcast? "This podcast is now funded, in part, through support from the Endowment and Development Fund of the International Brotherhood of Magicians." Well done Carisa! That's a big deal!
Website: CarisaHendrix.com
Kent Wong
Nominated by Unknown.
I can't improve on the submitted nomination:
"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. I'm glad he is my friend in magic."
Keep up the great work Kent!
Website: KentWongMagic.com
Editor's Choice
Nominated by Sam.
That Mike, through Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp, runs the ONLY magical instructional program certified by the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Public Library is a source of inspiration all on it's own ... there are a lot of hoops to jump through to earn your certification!
But wait! There's more!
Through Sorcerers Safari, Mike has enriched the lives of so many magicians! Camp alumni include: Nathaniel Rankin, Scott Hammel, Daniel Steep, Sheldon Casavant, Rosemary Reid, Keith Brown, Brad Bond, Ben Train, Alex Seaman, Mark Correia, Chad Juros and the list goes on. Now think of all of the lives that those people have touched. That's not counting the army of devoted volunteers he created whose lives were also deeply influenced from the camp experience! Thank you Mike and keep on keeping on!
From his nomination:
"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!"
Website: Magic-Mike.com
Readers' Choice
Jeff Christensen
Nominated by Cyril May.
Congratulations to Jeff for winning the 2018 Readers' Choice award!
Keep up your great work with the Celebrate the Child foundation.
Website: MagicalEducator.com
28 December 2018
Review: The Illusionists
From the November 28th article "'The Illusionists — Magic of the Holidays': Theater Review" by Frank Scheck in the Hollywood Reporter:
Shin Lim, who pocketed a cool $1 million as an America's Got Talent champion, performs sleight-of-hand card tricks. While close-up magic inevitably loses something in a large auditorium (even if you're sitting down front, you inevitably wind up looking at the video screens), the young magician is such a master of his craft that it doesn't matter. His fluid movements are beautifully choreographed and executed, achieving a near poeticism enhanced by his slyly confident manner.
Oake delivers some of the evening's most lavish illusions, including several in which he miraculously appears and disappears. His muscled, tattooed physique and shaved head make him appear far more threatening than he actually is. Plenty of magicians perform a bit in which they make doves appear out of thin air, for instance, but not many seem fond enough of the birds to kiss them.
Read more.
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