Alex Belfield interviews Murray SawChuck

From Alex Belfield's YouTube channel:



[via iTricks]


From the KTNV Channel 13 Action News YouTube channel:



[via iTricks]

Free books from The Conjuring Arts Research Center

From Mahdi Gilbert's Twtiter feed:

More free books from @conjuringarts http://t.co/GnFDhghBiS Happy New Year!
— Mahdi Gilbert (@mahdigilbert) January 1, 2015

$250 in prizes and a t-shirt

From Shawn Farquhar's Facebook page:

Post by Shawn Farquhar.

Mahdi Gilbert ambiciosa

From Eric Mead's Twitter feed:

My dear friend Mahdi Gilbert doing fantastic sleight of hand. Take a moment and watch. You're welcome. #fb http://t.co/50SvW4Sp9z
— Eric Mead (@meaderic) December 20, 2014

Toronto: Brian Roberts at "Magic Tonight"

From Reality Based Magic:

Among the things that distinguish me as a truly unique entertainer — such as the fact that I have performed in both East Gwillimbury and West Gwillimbury — is the fact that I have performed with both of Canada’s tallest*magicians. The first is, of course, Tyler Wilson, whom I joined for our show Illusions of Grandeur in 2013. The second is the virtuoso sleight of hand performer Brian Roberts who will be joining me this Sunday on Magic Tonight. 

* It’s actually fairly difficult to tell which one is taller since one of them has the odd propensity for wearing high heels and the other is so hyperactive he won’t sit still long enough for anyone to properly measure his height.** 

Read more.

From Brian Roberts' Twitter feed:

#TorontoMagic January 11 at The Cage 292 Rumoured to be a special day for Magic Tonight's creator @james_alan . pic.twitter.com/q8t7tVO9Uy
— Brian Roberts (@BrianRobertsNow) December 21, 2014

Receive a 50% discount at Magic Tonight with coupon code cmagic



--
* Offer is subject to change without notice.  Canada's Magic earns a commission when you use the coupon code cmagic.

Spellbinding Science and Magic

While it's too late to see Rob Testa and Baldini at the Ontario Science Centre, you can still book them for your school!  Spellbinding Science and Magic offers a lunch and after school program as well as an anti-bully show.


Watch on Rob Testa's YouTube channel, Rob and Baldini on CP24:




Watch on YouTube how Rob says no to bullying... magically:

Close Up Kings on OLN

From OLN Canada's Twitter feed:

#IllusionsofGrandeur is followed by new series #CloseUpKings RT @zackmirza: @canadasmagic @tv_eh Get an exclusive first look tonight at 8!
— OLN (@OLNCanada) January 6, 2015

More information can be found at the bottom of the page mentioned in TV, eh?'s Twitter feed:

@canadasmagic @zackmirza @OLNCanada I have nothing on Illusions of Grandeur but added Close Up Kings here /dw http://t.co/MbHNW7YEYb
— TV, eh? (@tv_eh) January 6, 2015

Chris Funk's 52 week challenge

Magicians love challenges.  Eric Leclerc ("Project 365") and Andrew Musgrave both did 365 day challenges.

And now, Winnipeg magician Chris Funk, is well on his way to completing his 52 week, Wonder Wednesday challenge!

From Chris' Twitter feed:

52 week challenge ends soon! - http://t.co/dA2x014qFj
— Chris Funk (@chrisfunkmagic) December 31, 2014

Zack Mirza: Illusions of Grandeur

Watch a teaser video at OLN.

From The Star:

Specialty channel OLN is putting some magic into its 2015 schedule.

The channel announced two new original series on Friday: Illusions of Grandeur and Close Up Kings.

Illusions follows Toronto illusionist Zack Mirza as he travels across North America on a quest to become one of magic’s all-time greats, walking in the footsteps of past magicians and learning the history of their tricks, OLN says.

It won’t be Mirza’s first time on TV. He appeared on a February episode of CBC’s Dragons’ Den, where he impressed the Dragons with some card tricks and a disappearing act.

Read more.

From Zack Mirza's Facebook page:

Post by Zack Mirza.

Thank you to our January 2015 sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support.  This site would not be possible without their backing.

We're grateful to have the support of:

• Clive Court - The Fun-da-Mentalist,
• Evelyn & Phil Matlin, owners of Perfect Magic and
• Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic!

The next time you see them, let them know you saw their sponsorship here!

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.

California: Jay Sankey lectures

From Jay Sankey's Twitter feed:

I'm psyched to lecture in San Francisco @ Misdirections and in Carmichael @ Grand Illusions in January. California here I come!
— Jay Sankey (@jay_sankey) December 25, 2014

Rounding the Western rings in January 2015

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

City	Club	Event(s)
Calgary, AB	Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring)	- n/a
Edmonton, AB	Edmonton Magic Club	- n/a
Winnipeg, MB	The Magic Club of Winnipeg	- n/a
Fraser Valley, BC	IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring)	- Third Monday Magic
Vancouver, BC	Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)	- IBM JAM
Vancouver, BC	SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly)	- n/a
Victoria, BC	Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)	- n/a

 
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Ontario rings in January 2015

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- Auction Night in Canada
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- n/a
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- A dealer demo
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Member’s Night:  Tenyo Magic Presentation by Pierre B. - Something New - New Member Induction Presentation
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- n/a
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Auction

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Eastern rings in January 2015

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Halifax, NS	Ring 316 (Conjourer's Court)	- n/a - Visit their Facebook page.
St. John, NB	Magic Circle of St. John	- n/a

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Review: The Conjuror

Reminder: The Conjuror ends on January 4.

From Mooney on Theatre:

The Conjuror David Ben showed off some family-friendly hocus pocus at Toronto’s Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Watching The Conjuror in action was a enchanting way to welcome the new year for me and my little companion.

Set in 1909 at London’s St. George’s Hall, the show was a mesmerizing series of magic feats typical of the Golden Age of Magic: we saw a person being sawed in half (ouch!), a handkerchief playing hide and seek, and an egg being thrown around without breaking.

The set was simple. We did not see a flashy David Copperfield-style spectacle, but instead saw classic acts performed against a relatively plain background. No neon lights or booming music. As a result, we were successfully transported to an early 20th century London stage.

Read more.

FCM Q&A with Shawn Farquhar and Ice McDonald

From Daz Buckley's Facebook photo:

Post by Daz Buckley.

Toronto: Browser's magic club meeting reminder

From the Browser's Den mail out:

Magic Club Meeting is this Sat. Jan. 3, 2015 from 2:30 to 5:30pm. 

[Guest post] Magic Magazine: January 2015

The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.

--

Magic Magazine always makes good reading but the current issue contains noteworthy Canadian content.

First and foremost, a feature profile of the award winning Canadian photographer, cinematographer, magician and Ellusionist production manager Peter McKinnon. It is eloquently penned by the multi-talented Vancouver magician Jamie D. Grant.

Peter McKinnon's inventive photographic work is well known within the magic community. Magic Magazine's September 2014 cover was his; and if you've ever seen any special deck of playing cards advertised in an unusual or attention-grabbing way in the last decade or so, chances are it was also one of Peter's photos or videos.

It was just about ten years ago that Peter McKinnon was cutting college classes and hanging out at the Browser's Den of Magic in Toronto. Today he bases his internationally acclaimed photographic work out of both Toronto and San Francisco. He usually manages to combine his love for magic with his awesome creativity in the visual arts. It's an inspiring story.

Secondly: Prominent within the article is a whimsical photo of Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic in Toronto. It was originally part of Peter McKinnon's compelling and idiosyncratic "Plaid Chair" online project. It seems a fitting salute to the man behind the b&m magic store which perhaps initially helped to energize Peter's impressive career.

Editor's notes:

• Visit the Browser's Den Facebook group to see Peter Mennie's post which inspired Wilson to comment "So this is how Harry Potter looks like when he grows up"

• Read Peter's thoughts about Jeff over at The Plaid Chair (in keeping with Wilson's comment above, the photo is filed under "Hogwarts")

Thirdly (and finally) in this issue: Ian Rowland's always must-read "Loving Mentalism" column features a fun and quirky mentalism effect contributed by John Pellatt, known to readers of this blog as the founder/curator of the Johnny Giordmaine tribute site. John credits fellow Canadian Patrik Kuffs for inspiring the creation of his original mentalism effect/routine. It is called "Expresso ESP" and described as "a seemingly impromptu experiment in mindreading suitable for informal occasions."

So, not bad for Magic Magazine's first issue of 2015. In fact, it's a Canadian magical hat-trick!

 ~~~~

Thank you The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!

Who's Where January 2015

Leave a comment on this post to let us know where you're going to be this month!

• The Conjuror wraps up its run in Toronto
• Potted Potter wraps up its run in Toronto
• Bill Abbott and Bobby Motta are back at Dave and Busters Vaughan
• Magic Mondays with James Jordan in Calgary

Jump to date: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

1
2	From Captain Corbin's Twitter feed: Shiver me timbers mates! I'll be at the Brampton libraries on January 2cnd as well. I'm @ South Flecher's & @ the Gore Meadows branches. — Captain Corbin (@Captain_Corbin) December 20, 2014
3
4	From James Alan's Facebook page (Receive a 50% discount* at Magic Tonight with coupon code cmagic): Post by James Alan.
5
6
7
8
9
10
11	Receive a 50% discount* at Magic Tonight with coupon code cmagic From Brian Roberts' Twitter feed: #TorontoMagic January 11 at The Cage 292 Rumoured to be a special day for Magic Tonight's creator @james_alan . pic.twitter.com/q8t7tVO9Uy — Brian Roberts (@BrianRobertsNow) December 21, 2014
12	From the Celebrities of Magic's Facebook page: Post by Celebrities Of Magic.
13
14
15
16
17
18	Jason Palter at Magic Tonight Receive a 50% discount* at Magic Tonight with coupon code cmagic
19
20
21
22
23
24
25	From Ben Train's Facebook page (Receive a 50% discount* at Magic Tonight with coupon code cmagic): Post by Benzi Train.
26
27
28
29
30
31

--
* Offer is subject to change without notice.  Canada's Magic earns a commission when you use the  coupon code cmagic.

Happy 2015!

Wishing you and yours a year filled with awe and wonder!

And now, a musical interlude from James Jordan's Twitter feed:

Happy New Year: http://t.co/mQxCM7MRU8 via @YouTube
— James Jordan (@JJordanmagic) December 31, 2014