13 August 2023

The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari - part 3

Recap (click to show | hide)

From Part 1 of the series:

In lieu of a physical reunion bringing together past campers and staff, Canada’s Magic is hosting a virtual reunion of sorts.  We’ve reached out to the Sorcerers Safari community with a dozen or so questions to help bring us up to date on what everyone has been up to since our magic camp days.

If you completed our survey, keep your eyes peeled for your segment!  

If you would like to participate but haven’t filled out the survey, there’s still time.  The survey can be found here:  https://forms.gle/umg77yj9QxUzfpm76

Thank you to all that contributed!


 

Mike, Jen, Sorcerers Safari staff, and alumni, this series is for you.

 

The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari
<< part 2  |  part 4 >>

 

Part 3 features:  Brett Chrest, Dick Joiner, and Matt DiSero

 

  Brett Chrest  
Scientist.

Attended camp as a camper from 2011 to 2014.

Since his time at camp Brett has:

  • Completed an undergraduate degree in biomedical science and moved from Canada to North Carolina to pursue a PhD as a cancer scientist.


In his own words:

  • Attending camp greatly improved my public speaking ability and gave me the confidence I have now to speak with authority and give presentations up on a stage.

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • Watching and sharing magic with our fellow roommates, counsellors, and our honoured guests later at night in our cabin before bed.

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • The sense of community and belonging at a young age.

 

 

  Dick Joiner  
Professional magician,  DickJoiner.com

Attended camp for 18 years as staff from approximately 2001 to 2016.


In his own words:

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • Seeing so many young adults arriving at the camp with a dream and leaving at the end of a week with that dream becoming a reality.

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • The friends made.
    • Seeing so many campers performing professional "entertainment" not only in Canada but around the world.

 Life is but a dream that can be magical...

 

 

  Matt DiSero 
Professional magician, MattDiSero.com

Attended camp the second or third year as a Special Guest.

Since his time at camp Matt has:




In his own words:

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • Sharing the stage with Josh Jay.

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • I noticed the relationship between kids and counsellors was very good and the atmosphere supporting new magicians was really great.

 

Mike’s done an incredible job with that camp. Professional magicians working today can draw a direct lineage to their success and the camp. I hear that often.

 

 Thank you Brett, Dick, and Matt, for sharing your memories!

 Check back throughout the month to read updates from other Sorcerers Safari alumni and staff!

 

 Previously featured 

 

Learn more about Sorcerers Safari.

part 1part 2  | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12

<< part 2  |  part 4 >>

 

 

Dean Gunnarson's "Escape or Die!" now on Tubi [free]

Watch on Tubi.

 

From the July 24th Instagram post by Dean Gunnarson:

I just found out my TV series Escape Or Die can be watched on tubitv.. Watch as me and my crew travel around the world and i attempt some pretty daring escapes... let me know how you like it. 💀 ☠️ https://tubitv.com/series/300000904/escape-or-die?start=true

 

 

 

 

12 August 2023

An update and wheelchair jokes from Miranda Allen

Thanks for the update Miranda!  Nice to see you're in good spirits.  Take good care.

 

From the July 4th Instagram post by Miranda Allen:

Holy smokes, making this was so exhausting! I’m so happy I finally did it.
I’m gonna go take a nap while you read this description 😆

My condition is called ME/CFS.
It is a complex, chronic, fluctuating, neurological condition which affects the autonomic nervous system and cellular ATP energy output…. What?!

I’ll break it down:
COMPLEX = a condition affecting multiple systems in the body.
CHRONIC = it’s gonna last a long time.
FLUCTUATING = sometimes it is better, sometimes it is worse, sometimes it’s a symptom severity mix and match.
What I can do one day, I may not be able to do another.
NEUROLOGICAL = affecting the brain and nerves.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM = the part of your nervous system (brain & nerves) that controls subconscious body functions, IE: all the stuff you don’t have to think about like heart rate, breathing, digestion, sending blood to in-use muscles, dilating pupils, etc.
CELLULAR ATP ENERGY OUTPUT = remember the mitochondria?  Powerhouse of the cell.
In short, inside our cells mitochondria turn oxygen & nutrients into a chemical called ATP, which your body uses as energy.
In ME/CFS patients this process is messed up. Our mitochondria are in rough shape and produce HALF the energy of a healthy person.
Our bodies literally cannot make enough energy to function.

Hence, a complex, chronic, fluctuating, neurological condition which affects the autonomic nervous system and cellular ATP energy output. 😊

Thanks for watching and reading.
Please give this reel a “like” if you’ve come this far because I dunno where I’m going with this all, but I imagine likes will help. 😄

 


 

From the July 23rd Instagram post by Miranda Allen:

Wheelchair jokes!
Here’s 90 seconds of a ten minute set I’m working on about things I’ve noticed &/or learned since becoming an ambulatory wheelchair user. 

 

 

 From the July 30th Instagram post by Miranda Allen:

 

 

 

11 August 2023

Magic at the 2023 Edmonton Fringe [Aug 17 - 27]

With thanks to Keith Brown for compiling the list at FringeMagic.ca

  • Absolute Magic with Keith Brown
    (Also part of the Sorcerers Safari Legacy!)
  • All Tease All Shade with Jay Flair
  • Cooking with Igor with Chris Visser
  • Magic with a Little Flair with Jay Flair
  • Mind Hack Sideshow by Rob Dante
     

 

From the August 6th Facebook post by Keith Brown:

The 42nd annual Edmonton Fringe Theatre is happening August 17 - 27.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 9th at NOON!
Absolute Magic plays La Cité Auditorium over in the French Quarter.

 

 

 

 

 

10 August 2023

Thank you to our personal sponsors for August 2023!

A quick reminder of our earlier Mail as Medicine request for Katie Hunt.  If you have the time, Katie and Doug would both benefit from hearing from their friends!

 --

Thank you to John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, Ian Crawford, Matt DiSero, Doug Hunt, John Smithman, Robin Dawes, Eric Bedard, Loran, Peter Mennie, Graeme Reed, Gwyn Auger, Jokers, George Blott, Noah Nogueira, Ryan Edwards, Aaron Matthews, Colin Geddes, and Cam Dix 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.





or

 

 

 

09 August 2023

The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari - part 2

Recap (click to show | hide)

From Part 1 of the series:

In lieu of a physical reunion bringing together past campers and staff, Canada’s Magic is hosting a virtual reunion of sorts.  We’ve reached out to the Sorcerers Safari community with a dozen or so questions to help bring us up to date on what everyone has been up to since our magic camp days.

If you completed our survey, keep your eyes peeled for your segment!  

If you would like to participate but haven’t filled out the survey, there’s still time.  The survey can be found here:  https://forms.gle/umg77yj9QxUzfpm76

Thank you to all that contributed!


 

Mike, Jen, Sorcerers Safari staff, and alumni, this series is for you.

 

The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari
<< part 1  |  part 3 >>

Part 2 features:  Cameron Dunlop, James Carey Lauder, and Brad Bond

 

 Cameron Dunlop  Special Effects technician 

Attended as camper 2009-2012 (approximate). 

Since his time at camp Cameron:

  • Owns a Special Effects company, and
  • Continued his love of the unknown.


In his own words:

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • All of it.

 

So glad you guys made this camp possible!

 

 

 James Carey Lauder   Photographer Retail and Social Media.

Attended camp as staff approximately 2009 - 2016.

Since his time at camp Carey has:

  • Kept the SYM Assembly going in Winnipeg.


In his own words:

  • My ability to teach magic to children was made better by my time at Sorcerers Safari.

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • Camper shows.

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • Improving and performing more magic.

 

 

 Brad Bond  
Musician / clothing creator / actor, Don’t Trip You’re Fine

Attended as a camper in 2014 and 2015.

Since his time at camp Brad:

 


In his own words:

  • Obviously the short series TV show happened because of and was made easier by my time at magic camp!
  • I learned so much at Sorcerers, that I was able to carry with me onto the show. 
  • Not only did it help with magic. But camp boosted my confidence and taught me so much more than just magic. 
  • I wouldn’t be who I am today without the experience of Sorcerers Safari! 
  • Thank you to everyone who helped me grow❤️

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • Capture the flag. A small group of us hid under the kitchen building and had a little card jam. We then strategized how to win the game haha. I don’t know why but that stands out to me, I think because it felt like I had connected with a group of people, and that was not something that usually happened back home lol.

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • All the friendships. I made so many life long friends there, I will always be here for any of them and cannot wait to reconnect in the future!!!

 

Thank you Magic Mike and all the wonderful staff and campers who I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with. It was truly some of the best times of my life and I will hold on to those memories forever! Thank you❤️

 

Thank you Cameron, Carey, and Brad, for sharing your memories! 

Check back throughout the month to read updates from other Sorcerers Safari alumni and staff!

 

 Previously featured 

 

Learn more about Sorcerers Safari.

part 1part 2  | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12

<< part 1  |  part 3 >> 

 

 

Toronto: Hokus Jokus with Ben Train, Jonah Babins, and Mark Clearview [Aug 13]

Tickets available at Yuk Yuk's.

(As an aside, all three of these performers are part of the Sorcerers Safari Legacy!)


From the August 4th Facebook post by The Toronto Magic Company:

What do you get when you combine a Comedy Mindreader, an Award-Winning Magician, and a World Record Holder into a single 90-minute show? 

Answer: an amazing night of fun for YOU!

Jam packed with laughs and mind-blowing magic, this show is perfect for a night out with friends, a date, or just because you need a break from your annoying kids.  

Featuring Ben Train (Penn and Teller's Fool Us), Jonah Babins (2021 Allan Slaight Award Winner), and Mark Clearview (World Record Holder), it's all happening Sunday August 13th at Yuk Yuk's Toronto.