Canada's Magic

Montreal: There's magic at The Fringe [Jun 1 - 21]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:03:00 +0000

For more information and tickets, visit MontrealFringe.ca

A Magician
A one-of-a-kind memoir of the life of Las Vegas entertainer Jordan Rooks. This isn't your average magic show, leave the kids at home!
Something From Nothing
What do I have to do to get superpowers? This question has been the obsession of magician Ben Bisaillon since they were a kid. With little more than sleight-of-hand and the audience’s dreams, Ben sets off on a journey to find the meaning of “real” magic.

Found at the June 5th Instagram post by Ben Bisaillon.

Broken wand: Bill Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 04:02:00 +0000

Our sincere condolences to Bill's family and friends.

From the McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes:

He had a playful side as a magician, bringing smiles and laughter to those around him.
Read more.

Found at the June 5th Facebook post by Paul Alberstat at the Calgary Magic Circle Facebook group.

Checking in with James Alan's show Mysteries and Lies at The Toronto Fringe

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:02:00 +0000

The Toronto Fringe (June 30 - July 12) is fast approaching!

James Alan kindly agreed to answer some of our questions ahead of his upcoming show Mysteries and Lies at The Toronto Fringe.

What is your first memory of magic?

Memory is tricky at that age. I can reconstruct after the fact that I definitely saw Penn & Teller do “Blast-Off” on the Muppet Show.

How long have you been performing professionally?

My first paid performance was in 2007. I think I started identifying as a professional around 2012.

Why is now the right time for you to be at the Fringe?

At any given time, I have three or four shows I could do. I interact with the audience a lot. So what I do really has to be grounded in the space I’m in. Magic & Martini (2016-2020) always took place in a cocktail lounge. My virtual show, Bring Magic Home, never tried to hide the fact these weird Zoom get-togethers were utterly mad.

The Toronto Fringe is enormous. This year it has one hundred twenty-three shows. And those slots are assigned by lottery. Some years I get busy and don’t get around to applying. But really it was a random number generator that decided this was the time. And so I didn’t know what the show would be until I found out where it was going to be. But once we knew, the whole show basically came together in one afternoon of shuffling index cards around a coffee table.

What is the title of the show?

Mysteries and Lies. I’m chronically obsessed with the paradox of truth in magic — that there is no way to do what we do honestly. My last Fringe foray was called Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks. There’s a naive version of magic which is about fooling people — I know something you don’t know, Nyah! But there’s a more interesting more grown up version which is about getting people to think about what shouldn’t and shouldn’t be possible. But fooling someone is tightly bound up in that project so it’s a very fine line to walk.

I want people to have an amazing — maybe even a profound — experience. But I don’t want to fall into the trap that so many in the industry do of thinking that you need people to think it’s “for real” in order to be respectable. There shouldn't be a contradiction between being totally amazing and being “just a magic trick”.

How, if at all, does this show differ from your previous shows?

Because the theatre is a very intimate space, 46 seats, with raked seating, we decided this was going to be a close-up show — like what you might see at the close-up room of the Magic Castle. The format is one I hadn’t really worked in before 2020. I never really sat down, even to do close-up magic. I got used to it doing virtual shows, where I opted to sit behind a desk. And during re-opening after the pandemic, there was an awkward period in Canada where you weren’t allowed to have more than ten people in a gathering. So my private shows moved from the end of the room to around the coffee table or the dining room table. (Again, so that the magic can be grounded in the environment. The show happens in your living room. I don’t try to make you pretend your living room is a bar or a theatre or a comedy club.)

But it also means this show is really brand new. If you saw Magic & Martini, before the pandemic, this will be completely different.

The show is thematically richer — maybe just because I’m older. Recently truth has been top of mind. We’re bombarded by fake headlines, fake experts, AI slop and the threat a Large Language Model is coming for your job. So as someone who is trying to walk this tightrope of honest lying, my job is to channel all that angst into a real experience, but without making things explicit so you feel like you’re watching a TED talk about what to do if you think your toaster might be conscious.

When did you start writing and preparing for this show?

I found out where the show was going to be in mid January and that’s when I seriously started preparing. The origin of the show we wound up doing is actually a bit stranger.

I did get used to the idea of performing at the table during re-opening. But the first one of those shows was actually in January of 2020. I received a last minute inquiry on a Sunday morning for a show that night. It was for four people. They wanted something to lighten the mood after they got back from a funeral. (Friends of mine know that the stranger the request, the more likely I am to say yes.) So in my mind, that show was Mysteries and Lies v1.0. And there is actually one trick from that which survives into this version.

The other weird thing that seeped into this show is that the theatre is inside of a converted school classroom. It’s one of the old red brick kind built in 1914. So the hallway has that odd proportion designed to funnel hundreds of kids to and from recess. The doors are classroom doors. So we’re playing with the idea that we’re surveying all of the regular school subjects — science, history, math — through the lens of magic.

Will you tease an effect or two for us?

I would rather people be surprised. But if someone is willing to do some work, they can earn a spoiler. When The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, we got so swept up, we forget that immediately after that, there was a magician on, who did two tricks. The show contains one of those. There is also a piece by Tommy Wonder that he was so protective of that he withheld it from publication in The Books of Wonder. (But he later softened and ultimately shared it in 2003.) I’ll be doing a version of that.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s Magic?

If they have the time, they should take the time to experience the Fringe. There are over a hundred different shows. So part of the fun is making a day of it, and seeing what new and different things you can experience.

Thank you James, for making the time to answer our questions!

For more information about the Toronto Fringe, visit FringeToronto.com

Mysteries and Lies

Tickets:
https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/mysteries-and-lies

A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 1 of 3

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:04:00 +0000

An abridged version of this article first appeared in last month's issue of VANISH (May 2026 #142, pgs 48 - 53). Republished with permission.

A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 1 of 3
On a cold and grey December day, I met up with the Champions of Magic crew at the Bluma Appel Theatre in downtown Toronto.
My mission: to shadow the company from load-in to load-out, for their 13 day Toronto stay.

I was unable to attend two of the days and four of the days were statutory holidays. Allow me to take some liberties with the timeline and present to you what I learned spending A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic).

Continue reading this password protected article.

Password clue:

the Canadian magician who appeared on The Muppet Show

Format: Firstname_Lastname

Post-script

In 2026 the Champions team will present their biggest engagement to date, a summer residency at the Studebaker Theatre in Chicago. Alex, their producer, said, "Our run in Toronto was something of a test for this longer engagement. Taking away concerns of trucking and travel allows us to add even more magic and production, to deliver the greatest version of the show possible. The Studebaker is an ideal environment to present what we’ve been honing over the last 13 years, as well as some brand new illusions that we’ve been developing which can’t be done on a touring schedule."

Be sure to check out their show if you’re in the Chicago area this summer!

For tickets and more information, visit ChampionsOfMagicTour.com

Read Part 2 in this month's issue of VANISH Magic Magazine (June 2026 #142, pgs 48 - 53)

From the May 30th Instagram post by Champions of Magic:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Champions of Magic (@championsofmagic)

Thank you to our June 2026 sponsors!

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:03:00 +0000

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 - Life Member, Canadian Public Relations Society,
Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic,
Michael Close, author of the new Paradigm Shift ebooks, the Workers series and others, and
Toronto's IBM Ring 17, the Sid Lorraine Hat & Rabbit Club!

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

Sid Lorraine Hat & Rabbit Club

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.

Lévis: Michael Demers presents SECRETS - Le Spectacle [Jul 29]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 04:04:00 +0000

Tickets and more information at lepointdevente.com/billets/hkj260729001.

Win tickets to the premiere of SECRETS! Details at the June 1st Instagram post by Michael Demers.

Found at the March 17 Instagram post by Michael Demers.

Hollywood: Billy Hsueh at The Magic Castle [Jun 15 - 21]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:08:00 +0000

From the May 27 Instagram post by Billy Hsueh:

I’m excited to be back at @magiccastlehollywood June 15–21!
Read more.

Previously shared on Facebook May 27.

Toronto: Javi Benitez workshop [Jun 3]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:05:00 +0000

From the May 31st Facebook post by James Alan at the Sid Lorraine Hat & Rabbit Club Facebook group:

We're extending members a last minute invitation to a special workshop with Javi Benitez. (Javi has been on Fool Us twice and did a virtual lecture for the club during the pandemic.)
It's Wednesday, June 3 at 7pm, near Yonge and Eglinton.

$100 per person.
Read more.

ICYMI: New additions to the Screening Room at Magicana

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:06:00 +0000

Three videos have recently been added to the Screening Room at Magicana.

From the April 14th article "Back to the Screening Room" by James Alan at Magicana:

So with these challenges in mind and wanting to adhere to Prof. Edwin Dawes’ motto (“Collect, Collate, Communicate!”) we want to share video from the collection on a regular a basis. Our working title for the series is “The Good, The Bad and the… You Decide”.

We want to begin with this recording of Lewis Ganson. This is a short excerpt where he performs “The Diminishing Cards.” (Please note this clip has no audio.)
Read more and watch video.

From the May 5th article "Principles, Deceptions and a Phantasy" by James Alan at Magicana:

Continuing our series of “The Good, The Bad and the… You Decide” we are pleased to share two clips from Arthur Buckley. (If you missed the previous release featuring Lewis Ganson, consider stopping there first.)
Read more and watch video.

Gabriella Lester in Forbes!

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Fri, 29 May 2026 04:07:00 +0000

ICYMI, from the May 27 article "Why Hollywood And The Creator Economy Are Trading Places" by Taylor Reilly in Forbes:

Gabriella Lester, is no different. A touring magician, a Magic Castle headliner, and a Penn & Teller Fool Us alum, she joined the four Horsemen of Lionsgate's Now You See Me LIVE for its 2025 Sydney Opera House premiere. Her social channels alone are now pulling roughly 100 million views a month.

Read more.

Found at the May 27 Facebook post by Gabriella Lester.

Previously shared on Facebook May 27.

Also ICYMI, the folks at the Canadian Association of Magicians named Gabriella their Canadian Magician of the Year for 2025!

New Westminster: Lectures by Nathan Coe Marsh [Jun 1] and Ice McDonald [Jun 15]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Thu, 28 May 2026 04:01:00 +0000

Tickets and more information at the Vancouver Magic Circle website.

From IBM Ring 92:

Monday, June 1
Nathan is in Vancouver between headline performances on cruise ships. Because of baggage limitations he is only bringing and sharing actual material he is currently performing for real audiences on real world gigs.
Read more and buy tickets.

Previously shared on Facebook May 26.

From IBM Ring 92:

Monday, June 15

When Kenrick was 10-years old he was given a used magic kit from a second-hand store that was incomplete and missing pieces. That magic kit was the key to revealing a passion and natural talent that would later becoming a life-long career, which would transform Kenrick into “ICE McDonald.”
Read more and buy tickets.

Previously shared on Facebook May 25.

Regina: Marc Trudel lecture [May 27]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Wed, 27 May 2026 04:01:00 +0000

See Marc lecture in Regina while he's touring Saskatchewan with his French school assembly shows. We saw him lecture in Toronto a couple of years ago and learned a lot!

From the May 26th Facebook post by Marc Trudel at SaskMagic:

Wednesday 27th at the Regent Family Restaurant
3823 Sherwood Dr, Regina, SK S4R 4A8

Hope to see you there!

About Marc Trudel:
A two-time Canadian Magic Champion and the first recipient of the prestigious Grand Prix de Magie Michel Cailloux, Marc Trudel has built a reputation that goes far beyond the stage. With over 25 years of performing experience — from intimate close-up settings to full theatrical productions — he is recognized by his peers as a creator, consultant, lecturer, and educator of the highest calibre.
Read more.

Previously shared on Facebook May 26.

How did four magicians fair as fares on Cash Cab Canada S10E08?

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Tue, 26 May 2026 04:05:00 +0000

How do Ian Batterbury, Rob Fishbaum, Gambit, and Jason Lam fair as fares on Cash Cab Canada S10E08? Stream on Crave and find out!

Found at the May 14th Facebook post by Ian Batterbury.

Previously shared on Facebook May 14.

Winnipeg: Defy Reality [Jun 6]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Mon, 25 May 2026 04:01:00 +0000

Tickets at https://www.bloomtickets.ca/event/1217?DaredevilsofDeception-DefyReality

From at the May 22nd Instagram post by Patrick Gregoire:

🔥 Brand new show at the Rec Room Seasons of Tuxedo in Winnipeg - just 2 weekends away!
Read more.

Ian Stewart's earned three Guinness World Records in 2026!

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:02:00 +0000

Ian's done it again! Earlier this year we reported that he reclaimed the Guinness World Record for "The most stage illusion tricks performed in three minutes (27), January 14."

He's also earned:

The most magic tricks performed blindfolded in one minute is (46) on January 14, and
The longest duration juggling three flaming torches (5 min, 33.82 sec) on March 14

Congratulations Ian!

Found at the May 19th Instagram post by Ian Stewart.

A reminder that the number of Canadian World Record holding magicians is eighteen!

Doug The Great: Heaviest Stilts Mastered. [Guinness World Record - 2002], Tallest Stilts Mastered [Guinness World Record - 2023].
Scott Hammell: Highest Suspension Straitjacket Escape. [Guinness World Record]
Lucas Wilson: Fastest Suspension Straitjacket Escape. [Guinness World Record - 2011]
Carisa Hendrix: Longest duration fire torch teething. [Guinness World Record - 2012]
Michael Francis: Most one-handed coin rolls in a minute. [Guinness World Record - 2013], and The farthest distance to "walk the dog" with a yo-yo. [Guinness World Record - 2023]
Mark Correia: Longest Amount of Time Wearing a Straitjacket. [World Record - 2014]
The Sentimentalists: (Chris Mysterion and Steffi Kay) Most items transferred from one mentalist to another. [World Record - 2017]
Gordon Precious: Oldest heli-skier [World Record - 2019]
Big Trick Energy: (Led by Chris Ramsay, Eric Leclerc, Wes Barker, and Alex Boyer) The largest online video chain of people performing a magic trick. [Guinness World Record - 2021]
Rod Chow: Owner of the World's Narrowest Commercial Building [Guinness World Record - 2021]
Aaron Matthews and Christoper Campbell: First Danger and Thrill Show performed within the Metaverse. [Online World Record - 2021]
Anastasia Synn: The most technological implants in the body (female) is 52 and was achieved by Anastasia Synn [Guinness World Record - 2023]
Ian Stewart: Greatest distance travelled whilst juggling three chainsaws [Guinness World Record - 2017], Farthest distance travelled while juggling a chainsaw and two balls [Guinness World Record - 2018], Most consecutive chainsaw juggling catches [Guinness World Record - 2019],
Most consecutive juggling catches (chainsaw and two balls) [Guinness World Record - 2020],
Most consecutive juggling catches (chainsaw and 2 balls) on a balance board [Guinness World Record - 2021], Most consecutive juggling catches (3 mauls) [Guinness World Record - 2021], Most jellyfish fire extinguishes in one minute [Guinness World Record - 2021], Most magic tricks performed in one minute [Guinness World Record - 2024], Most magic tricks performed blindfolded in one minute [Guinness World Record - 2024, 2026], The most stage illusion tricks performed in three minutes [Guinness World Record - 2026], The longest duration juggling three flaming torches (5 min, 33.82 sec) on [Guinness World Record - 2026]

Windsor: Magic Box -- An Evening of Wonder [May 23]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Thu, 21 May 2026 04:01:00 +0000

Tickets at Eventbrite.

From the May 13th Facebook post by Chris Philpott:

4 magicians. 2 countries. 1 unforgettable night. Windsor, May 23.

Eric Bedard, Dreygon, Johnny New York and I return to the Shadowbox Theatre for an outstanding and awe-inspiring evening of magic and mentalism that will leave you wide-eyed and thirsty for more!
Read more.

Previously shared on Facebook May 15.

New Westminster: Eric Buss at Hidden Wonders [Oct 15 - 18]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Wed, 20 May 2026 04:05:00 +0000

Tickets and more information at TicketTailor.com/events/hiddenwonders.

From the May 17th Facebook post by Hidden Wonders:

Hidden Wonders is hosting a very special weekend and tickets are already selling fast for this experience in October!
Read more.

Previously shared on Facebook May 17.

Brandon: Magic at the Manitoba Summer Fair [Jun 3 - 7]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Tue, 19 May 2026 04:09:00 +0000

Visit ProvincialExhibition.com:

Entertainment by:

Doodles the Clown,
Bella Magic, and
The Magician and the Muse (Chanelle Munroe and Sean Watson)

For more information and tickets, visit ProvincialExhibition.com.

From the May 17th Facebook post by Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba:

🎭 Back by popular demand, Wayne Lee is returning to the Manitoba Summer Fair!
Wayne Lee brings a high-energy hypnosis experience packed with huge laughs, jaw-dropping moments, and unforgettable audience participation. Fast-paced, family-friendly, and wildly entertaining, this crowd-favourite show turns everyday volunteers into the stars of the stage in the most hilarious ways imaginable.
Read more.

Found at the May 17th Facebook post by Sean Watson.

Halifax: Anmol Magic -- Out of This World [May 23]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Mon, 18 May 2026 04:09:00 +0000

Tickets and more information at BellaRoseArtsCentre.com

From the May 13th Instagram post by the Bella Rose Arts Centre:

For the first time ever, the sensational magician and mentalist Anmol Magic brings his spectacular “Out of This World” Canada Tour 2026 to the stage at Bella Rose Arts Centre, Halifax — welcoming audiences from across the region.
Read more.

Found at the May 17th Facebook post by Bernard Cormier at the Magic Circle of St. John.

Edmonton: Magic Mania -- Puttin' On The Hits! [Jun 12]

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Fri, 15 May 2026 04:02:00 +0000

Tickets and more information at ShowPass.com

From the May 6th Facebook post by Jordan Sabo:

Magic Mania returns on Friday, June 12th
Read more.

Updated Facebook post from May 12.

Previously shared on Facebook May 7.

Shawn Farquhar and Friends at TED2026 in Conjurly

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Thu, 14 May 2026 04:01:00 +0000

From the May 6th article "Shawn Farquhar and Friends Bring Wonder to TED2026" by James Lauffer at Conjurly:

Attendees at the TED2026 conference had a unique opportunity beyond the signature talks that share paradigm-shifting ideas and the chance to interact with some of the world’s brightest and most influential thinkers. Thanks to Shawn Farquhar and a select group of five additional magicians, they were able to experience wonder even beyond the typical awe-inspiring experience TED is known for.
Read more.

Found at the May 6th Facebook post by Alyx Hilshey.

Previously shared on Facebook May 6.

Thank you to our personal sponsors for May 2026!

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Wed, 13 May 2026 04:01:00 +0000

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, Loran, Peter Mennie, Noah Nogueira, Aaron Matthews, Cam Dix, Ian Batterbury, Sonny Patel, and the Toronto Magic Company 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.

UPDATE about season 12 Fool Us applications

noreply@blogger.com (Canada's Magic) — Tue, 12 May 2026 04:09:00 +0000

From Michael Close's May 6th Facebook post:

The cutoff date for submissions has been moved to June 30, 2026
Read more.