Welcoming our newest Friend, John Smithman!
You may remember that back in 2015 John was the Vancouver Magic Circle Membership Chair and is an avid photographer. In addition, he is also the founder of Champions in the Workplace Training & Development, an established workplace coach, trainer and author of "Workplace Champion By Example."
John's relocated to Ontario and we hope he enjoys the Central Canada magic scene as much as he did the West Coast!
Thank you John, for being an official Friend of Canada's Magic!
09 October 2019
Thank you to our October 2019 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:
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.
This site would not be possible without their backing.
We're grateful to have the support of:
- Clive Court - Get PR help from a Life Membership Award winner of the Canadian Public Relations Society,
- Evelyn & Phil Matlin, owners of Perfect Magic,
- Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic,
- Michael Close, author of the new Paradigm Shift ebooks, the Workers series and others,
- Ty Reveen - catch him on his Fall tour, and
- Brent Smith, owner of The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop!
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.
08 October 2019
Toronto: Bobby Motta birthday party!
From the Browser's Den of Magic eFlyer:
SATURDAY OCTOBER 26, from 4pm to 6:30pm - BOBBY MOTTA BIRTHDAY PARTY! FREE EVENT TO ATTEND. Come join us celebrate a milestone for a beloved member of our magic community. By now many of you know Bobby was hit by a car and was in a coma. His life has been turned upside down. Bobby was for many years one of the leading and busiest performers in Canada. He intends to reach that level again!
On this day he will be bringing for sale some of his past marketed products at special prices. Killer mentalism!
We hope that many of you will come to give Bobby's spirit a lift and eat a piece of cake to wish Bobby a sweet year!
07 October 2019
2019 "Holiday Magic"
The tradition continues with the 2019 HOLIDAY MAGIC SHOW raising monies to support Shrine Kids and the Shrine Children’s Hospitals.
The show is once again hosted by DICK JOINER who has been presenting this variety show annually for the past 28 years. Since the last tour in 2018, Dick has been busy touring across Canada, and filming special segments of the TV show “Anne with an E”, a continuing story of Anne of Green Gables. Dick is proud once again to bring first class entertainers to the touring show this year. They include:
Show dates + locations:- Note **** indicates Arestovs NOT appearing
The show is once again hosted by DICK JOINER who has been presenting this variety show annually for the past 28 years. Since the last tour in 2018, Dick has been busy touring across Canada, and filming special segments of the TV show “Anne with an E”, a continuing story of Anne of Green Gables. Dick is proud once again to bring first class entertainers to the touring show this year. They include:
- RICHARD FORGET... an international award winning magician that places him at the forefront of the magic world.
Richard has performed on stages in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia, as well as on live television in front of millions of viewers and before Royalty, mesmerizing a wide variety of audiences with his innovative illusions. - NATHANIEL RANKIN, The Canadian Champion of Magic, is an International award winning performer. His one man show “Astonishment” has been performed over 5000 times in 45 Countries and 5 continents.
Nathaniel has completed numerous national and international tours. He has headlined on 28 luxury cruise ships. Among his entertainment awards – he is the winner of the Asti Theater Festival in Asti Italy. - THE ARESTOVS. …. A husband and wife team providing outstanding talents specializing mainly in circus skills. They were initially trained with the Moscow State Circus, and have travelled the world performing various highly skilled acts. They toured with the Holiday Magic show a few years past and due to popular demand have been added to the 2019 tour with their mind blowing quick change act
Show dates + locations:- Note **** indicates Arestovs NOT appearing
- Saturday November 2nd. Wolfville
- Sunday November 3rd, New Glasgow
- Monday November 4th, Charlottetown
- Tuesday November 5th Glace Bay
- Wednesday November 6th Halifax
- Thursday November 7th Yarmouth
- Friday November 8th Truro
- Saturday November 9th Bathurst
- Sunday November 10th Fredericton
- Monday November 11th Moncton
- Tuesday Nov 12th. St. John.
- Friday November 15th Niagara Falls
- Monday November 18th Chatham
- Tuesday November 19th Windsor
- Wednesday November 20th Sarnia
- Thursday November 21st, Kitchener
- Friday November 22nd London
- Saturday November 23rd St. Thomas *****
- Monday November 25th Belleville
- Tuesday November 26th Brampton
- Wednesday November 27th Peterborough
- Thursday November 28th. St Catharines
- Friday November 29th. Hamilton
- Monday December 2nd. Brantford
- Tuesday December 3rd. Barrie
- Friday December 6th. Stratford *****
- Tuesday December 10th. Woodstock ******
05 October 2019
A peek behind the curtain with Fernando Velasco
Upcoming Champions of Magic Canadian tour dates:
- 12/8/19 Brandon, MB
- 12/12/19 Ottawa, ON TD Place <<< ** recent addition **
- 12/14/19 Oshawa, ON
- 12/15/19 Laval, QC
- 1/16/20 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
- 1/17/20 Regina, SK Conexus Arts Centre
- 1/26/20 Prince George, BC
Read more and buy tickets.
I was delighted to receive an invitation to email interview Fernando Velasco, as part of a Champions of Magic promotion. You may already know that Velasco was presented with the 2018 Junior Achievement Award at the Magic Castle earlier this year.
What a dream receiving this award was over the weekend, big Thanks to the AMA (thanks Steve & David for presenting it) huge thanks to my manager/mentor/ Director Chuck Jones, who is always… https://t.co/9Otpl6J073— Fernando Velasco (@illusionistFV) May 7, 2019
What is your first memory of magic?
I must have been around 7, and my dad (who lived in the US while i still lived in Mexico) took me a DVD from the US with a number of magicians on it. there i started to fall in love with magic.
I used to think "THAT is real magic" and would invite all my neighborhood friends to come over and watch this DVD with "REAL magic."
I must have been around 7, and my dad (who lived in the US while i still lived in Mexico) took me a DVD from the US with a number of magicians on it. there i started to fall in love with magic.
I used to think "THAT is real magic" and would invite all my neighborhood friends to come over and watch this DVD with "REAL magic."
Who inspires you magically?
Mexican magician Joaquin Ayala, along with Copperfield, and naturally HOUDINI.
What would have been in store for you had you not caught the magic bug?
Maybe if I could sing, a singer
Why do you think audiences are still drawn to escapes, sleight of hand, and illusion?
Magic still gives people a feeling of "wonder."
Who inspires you that is not a magician?
Mexican singer Alejandro Fernandez as it feels like he gives it all on stage every time.
What's special about Champions of Magic draws large audiences on 6 UK tours and 3 North American tours over the past 6 years?
Mexican singer Alejandro Fernandez as it feels like he gives it all on stage every time.
There is nothing like a good magic show LIVE. Not on TV or online, BUT LIVE.
You've performed in many different countries. Have you experienced anything specific about Canadian audiences in particular?
They are up for the fun.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I sing, terribly but I try to sing. As well as sometimes I watch live performances of my favorite singers/bands. I feel like I take on their energy for the show.
Do you have a favourite touring anecdote and / or advice for touring magicians?
I sing, terribly but I try to sing. As well as sometimes I watch live performances of my favorite singers/bands. I feel like I take on their energy for the show.
Too many to tell!
(Sam) Strange and I often go urban exploring and that's fun.
@ChampionsMagic— Fernando Velasco (@illusionistFV) January 3, 2019
There i was minding my own business (as usual)
... LOOKING FOR SOME TACOS... 🌮🇲🇽❤️
Somehow I’ve ended up in a very sketchy part of town ( shown in this picture) ...
FYI in case I don’t make it to tonight’s show pic.twitter.com/BsCt91Izb3
Advice: Have fun on and off stage!
What interests do you have outside of magic?
Sports.
Sports.
What do you do to keep your performance fresh for both your audience and you?
If you could be endowed with the talent to take on any Broadway role past or present, who would you pick and why?
What's your Canadian connection to magic?
Doing little things to have fun with the other performers and crew on stage. Like playing tag on stage (without the audience noticing anything) among other small things.
If you could be endowed with the talent to take on any Broadway role past or present, who would you pick and why?
Aladdin. Because I had a dream I played him!
I just had a dream i was Aladdin 😂🤦🏻♂️— Fernando Velasco (@illusionistFV) September 14, 2019
What's your Canadian connection to magic?
I saw Greg Frewin's show last year.
Velasco also experienced, for his very first time, the magic of real snow in Toronto last December!
Thank you Fernando Velasco for making the time to answer our questions!
Catch the Champions of Magic on tour in Canada!
Catch the Champions of Magic on tour in Canada!
Upcoming Champions of Magic Canadian tour dates:
- 12/8/19 Brandon, MB
- 12/12/19 Ottawa, ON TD Place <<< ** recent addition **
- 12/14/19 Oshawa, ON
- 12/15/19 Laval, QC
- 1/16/20 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
- 1/17/20 Regina, SK Conexus Arts Centre
- 1/26/20 Prince George, BC
Read more and buy tickets.
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