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Making 'em laugh for a good cause

Comedy show at the Columbia Theatre in New West is raising funds for South Vancouver Family Place
comedians, new west
Stand-up comics (clockwise from top) Ray Morrison, Syd Bosel, Lawrie Ferguson, Katie-Ellen Humphries, Danika Thibault and Janice Bannister will be taking to the microphone at the Columbia for Life is Funny (Still), a comedy benefit performance on Oct. 7.

Syd Bosel and Ray Morrison rather liked the idea of making people laugh and giving back to the community at the same time.

The two Lower Mainland comedians are teaming up for a fundraising show, Life is Funny (Still), Oct. 7 at the Columbia Theatre.

“We came up with this idea three years ago after taking a comedy class together,” Morrison said in a press release. “We wanted more opportunities to perform, but also give back to our community. We love to feature people with comedy experience, and also new talent.”

The show – their third such event - is a fundraiser for South Vancouver Family Place, a non-profit organization that supports families with young children.

Bosel, who is set to MC the show after finishing second in the B.C.’s Funniest Female competition, also happens to work for Family Place.

“Our organization is a non-profit, and we are always looking for unique opportunities to raise both funds and our profile,” she said. “There are a lot of fundraisers out there, but this is one of the few with comedy on the menu. People who work in the field of social services work hard, and this event gives them a chance to come out and enjoy some laughs with their colleagues and friends.”

Morrison will take to the stage for the show, which also includes headliner Katie Humphries of CBC’s The Debaters and Just for Laughs Northwest, plus the owner of Laughter Zone 101, New West’s own Janice Bannister.

It also features B.C.’s third-funniest female, Danika Thibault, plus Yisrael Shurack – billed as “Vancouver’s funniest rabbi” and Lawrie Ferguson, who comes to the stage as a “mildly amusing banker.”

Their comedy will cover everything from parenthood to aging to modern dating and more.

Kimberley Berger, South Vancouver Family Place executive director, said the show is an important fundraiser for her organization.

“I am so grateful to these wonderful comedians who come together for us and donate their proceeds to SVFP and the families we serve,” she said.

Tickets, on sale now through www.eventbrite.ca, are $12. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. for an 8:30 p.m. show.