Canada's Magic

09 November 2017

Welcoming a new Friend: Ian Crawford

Welcoming our newest Friend, Ian Crawford!

I first met Ian at a Ring 17 meeting back in the day. (If I recall correctly, we pledged in the same year. This may have been when the club was meeting at a venue close to a Pickle Barrel, but I digress.)

Performing a literacy based show as "Magic Ian," he has shared his love of magic with thousands of children over the years. By day Ian is a partner in an Executive Development and Human Resources Company. A few years back, he kindly wrote us a guest post about Steve Cohen's performance at Luminto. Ian currently sits on the Ring 17 executive as the Sergeant at Arms.

Thank you Ian, for befriending Canada's Magic!

08 November 2017

Toronto: Browser's makes Pop announcement for Bash 2018

From the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:

Dear Denizens,

We are very excited to announce that Pop Haydn will be making a very rare Canadian appearance, bringing his award-winning magical talents to our 2018 Browser's Magic Bash.

Pop Haydn started out as a street performer in the 1960's, and he has worked all over the world in every type of venue.

He is a seven time Magician of the Year award winner at the Magic Castle. He is easily one of the most versatile performing magicians alive.

He is well known for his comedy Four Ring Routine, Multiple Peeked Cards to Pocket, Mongolian Pop Knot, Six Card Trick, Chicago Surprise, and Colour Changing Handkerchiefs. However, it is not only his handling of these effects that are impressive but the entertainment he squeezes out of each moment that is truly amazing and a lesson for all to study.

As well, through School for Scoundrels (a company he co-founded with Chef Anton) he has given the magic community valuable lessons on classic cons such as Three Card Monte, Fast & Loose, and the Three Shell Game.

Read more and buy tickets.

07 November 2017

Toronto: Bobby Motta's "Cryptic"

From Bobby Motta's Facebook page:

Canada’s most coveted mentalist and mind-reader Bobby Motta hits the stage with his show Cryptic on November 22, 2017 in downtown Toronto at Crow's Theatre, Scotiabank Community Theatre 345 Carlaw Avenue.

This is a rare performance in Toronto, space is limited making it a very close and intimate show.

06 November 2017

McCord Museum poster contest

From the McCord Museum Twitter feed:

POSTER #CONTEST ★ Over $1,500 in prizes to win + your creation exhibited! Enter by November 12 ❯❯ https://t.co/F4IbCKMU6H #IllusionsMcCord pic.twitter.com/m87TcBNA14
— Musée McCord Museum (@MuseeMcCord) October 2, 2017

05 November 2017

Vanish Magic Magazine 40th edition

The 40th edition of Vanish Magic Magazine is out now! Have a look at vanishmagic.com.

From Paul Romhany's Facebook page:

04 November 2017

Remembering Nick Sacco

The folks at Ring 49 have more information to share about Nick Sacco.

From The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club:

He was President of IBM Ring #49 (2002-2003) & also an active member of the Canadian Association of Magicians & IBM Ring 17 Toronto.
Nick was instrumental in the creation of the IBM Ring 49 Web-Site that won an IBM International 1st place Award of Excellence for Best Web-Site for 2003-2004.
Nick was also involved in the nomination process that lead to the induction of the late Doug Henning onto the Canada Walk of Fame in Toronto in 2010.
Nick was also the recipient of the John E. Shipton Memorial Award of Achievement for 2000-2002 for his unending work & contributions that benefited Hamilton Ring #49.
Nick’s love of card magic and endless practice also achieved him a personal invitation as a performer and member of the exclusive Four F International Convention held in Batavia NY every year.
Nick will be sadly missed.

03 November 2017

Toronto: Free magic club

From the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:

Hi Guys,

Hope that you are all well and happy.

Friendly reminder that our monthly Magic Club is this Saturday, November 4 from 2:30pm to 5:00pm.

Feel free bring a trick or a move to show others.

AND...Our 42nd Store Anniversary Party is coming up on Sunday, November 12. You can find full details about the party on our homepage.

Thank you for your kind support-Old & Young Jeff, John Cardella.

02 November 2017

Thank you to our November 2017 friends!

Thank you to John Smithman, John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, and The Outerbridges, for being Friends of Canada's Magic!

It's good to have friends like you.

You too can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year!

Donations of any size are always welcome.

01 November 2017

Thank you to our November 2017 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,
Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic, and
Michael Close, author of the Workers series and other ebooks.

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.

31 October 2017

Rounding the Western rings in November 2017

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)	- Monthly meeting - Bizzaro lecture
Edmonton, AB	Edmonton Magic Club	- Bizzaro lecture
Winnipeg, MB	The Magic Club of Winnipeg	- Close up / parlour contest - Bizzaro lecture
Fraser Valley, BC	IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring )	- Third Monday Magic. - Bizzaro lecture - Christmas banquet
Vancouver, BC	Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)	- Magic! (75th anniversary celebration) - Christmas pot luck
Vancouver, BC	SAM 95 (Carl Hemeon Assembly)	- TBA
Victoria, BC	Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)	- Bizzaro lecture

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

Rounding the Central rings in November 2017

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

Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- Free form first Fridaze - Second Saturday night special - Montreal's first IBM magic jam! - Magicians and friends - Sunday brunch - Instagram Tuesday
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- TBA.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Magic auction.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- TBA
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- TBA.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- TBA
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Richard Sanders lecture. - Browser's Den anniversary party.

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

Rounding the Eastern rings in November 2017

Does anybody have current information to share about the Magic Circle of St. John?

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

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

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

30 October 2017

Doctor Mysterion in the Toronto Star

Shows Monday at 8 and 9:30 p.m., along with a curated collection of items to Curiosa at 1273 Queen St W.

Go to eventbrite.ca for tickets to Sideshow and Tell.

From the article "It's home, sweet creepy home for Doctor Mysterion" by RAJU MUDHAR in the Toronto Star:

Shrunken heads, mummified specimens and Voodoo artifacts are just some of the items in the collection of oddities that Doctor Mysterion has amassed in his west-end Toronto home.

The well known local mentalist has long been on the hunt for the strange and obscure through his various work engagements, along with Steffi Kay, his onstage partner in The Sentimentalists.

It’s got to the point where weird things just end up being offered to him.

“When I was a kid, I loved Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and I used to love going to the museum and seeing the mummy and the artifacts. I always had a fascination with unsolved mysteries. So these are things that have always been interesting to me, for example, like a shrunken head, or things that are part of Indigenous cultures or cryptozoology, like the Loch Ness Monster or the Jersey Devil,” he explains.

Read more.

Ryan Brown on TVO Haunts

From the Twitter feed of The Agenda:

TVO Haunts: The art of the scare with illusionist @magicryanbrown at @screemers. By @MatthewOMara #Halloween pic.twitter.com/s1S97BD5lT
— The Agenda | TVO (@TheAgenda) October 27, 2017

29 October 2017

Broken wand: Nick Sacco

Our thoughts go out to Nick's family at this difficult time.

From Patterson Funeral Home:

The world is a less joyful place with the passing of Nick Sacco on October 27, 2017. Nick was that rare individual who knew the true meaning of friendship, family, loyalty and commitment. No one who met him would ever forget the experience. Born on April 27, 1947, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Nick straddled many worlds -the food, beverage and hospitality industries, the worlds of conjuring and cardsharps, family and philanthropy, and, quite devoutly, Catholicism-all seamlessly. Intent on a business career, Nick attended both Niagara and York Universities. But he often said that he never forgot so many of the lessons he learned growing up in “The Falls”. Nick was recognized as a super salesman and manager in the food and beverage business, rising to become a National Sales Manager at Minute Maid (Coca Cola Ltd.) He treasured time with family and friends and was passionate about his magic (where he was respected internationally as an organizer, consultant and arm-chair performer).

Read more.

28 October 2017

Names announced for Browser's Bash 2018

From Jeff Hinchliffe's post at the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:

Dear Denizens,

The launch of the Bash 2018 tickets was our most successful yet!

Thank you to all who have already purchased a ticket. We appreciate your kind support of this event!

Of course there are still plenty of great tickets available. Remember the earlier you buy the closer you will be to the stage!

And now...Bash Drum Roll please....Here are some of the talented performers who will be taking the stage at the Bash 2018. We will announce more big names soon!

DICK JOINER - Emcee
Joining us again in 2018! He will share his infectious hysterical laugh, fun-loving zany manner and high paced interactive comedy magic. With Dick Joiner returning as emcee we know that Bash 2018 will be another fun day!

MICHAEL CLOSE- Miracle Worker
Michael Close has a worldwide reputation in the magic community as an author, a creator, a performer, and a consultant. His specialty is sleight-of-hand, close-up magic, but he also has extensive experience in stand-up magic. He has lectured and performed for audiences around the world!

NICHOLAS WALLACE - Practitioner of the Art of Astonishment
Nicholas has been receiving rave reviews from both critics and audiences for his one-man stage shows. His most recent production "Séance" received glowing reviews from the Toronto Star, Now Magazine, The National Post, Torontoist and more.

JAMES ALAN - Blindfolded Card Magic Extraordinaire
One of Toronto's busiest working pros. His one man show Magic & Martini continues to fill the house each night leaving his audiences stunned, perplexed and entertained. We are pleased that James will be joining us on the Bash stage.

CHRIS PILSWORTH - Mixing Magic & Art
A rare breed of magician. A performer who stays true to his strong beliefs about magic as an art form yet always entertains his audiences. And always with a twist of originality. A Canadian hidden treasure.

And we have more big names to announce!

TO BUY TICKETS OR FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BASH 2018 please follow this link: http://www.browsersden.com/bash

Thank you
-Jeff Pinsky, John Talbot, Jeff Hinchliffe & The Browser's Den Team

27 October 2017

The Canadians: Stewart James

If you missed this project by Daniel Zuckerbrot on television back in 2012, Historica Canada has published it's episode "The Canadians: Stewart James" on YouTube:

26 October 2017

Vancouver Magic Circle mentioned in "It Takes Two"

From Shawn Farquhar's Facebook post:

Walking through Orlando airport, yes an airport... surprise, I saw the book “It takes two” by Jonathan and Drew Scott. I’ve seen it lots in book stores and decided today I would buy and read it as I’ve known Jonathan since he was a teenager from the Vancouver Magic Circle. I was browsing the book on my way to the counter and was thrilled to see he mentioned the club on page 84, right next to a photo of Drew in drag! It made me smile...

Read more.

25 October 2017

Canadians at the FREE 2017 Magic Master Summit

From what I could tell from the schedule in yesterday's post, the following Canadians will be lecturing at the 2017 Magic Master Summit:

Eric Bedard: Secrets to Getting Booked To Entertain Celebrities!
Murray SawChuck: Bonus Lecture! and
Trevor & Lorena Watters: Working And Traveling As A Couple and Duo Act

Who'd I miss?

What are you waiting for? Register now!

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Disclosure: I am a Magic Master Summit Affiliate and I am eligible to make a commission with every sale made using the links posted on this site.