The Pulse
Jan. 16, 2025

Clowns and street performers can get feedback on their work from other comedy artists now that a lab for these artists is returning after a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's really hard to kill artists," said Christine Lesiak of Small Matters Productions, the original founder of The Comedy Lab. "We're pretty resilient."

The Comedy Lab was born in 2018 as a place for "alternative comedy" artists to workshop their material. Lesiak started it because while stand-up comedians have open mic nights and improv actors have improv jams, clown artists, street performers, and other physical comedians didn't have a similar place to share early work in Edmonton. Street performers Aytahn Ross and Paul Bezaire were among the original lab participants. The lab ran until pandemic restrictions forced it to go on hiatus, but it will return starting on Jan. 23 at The Playhouse in Ritchie.

To restore the lab, Lesiak has partnered with Dayna Lea Hoffmann and Katie Yoner of Batrabbit Collective, the indie company behind Rat Academy, which won three of the five Fringe categories at the 2024 Sterling Awards.

"I'm just thrilled that Katie and Dana are jumping on board with this, because I think their energy and their ability to get (stuff) done is extremely good," Lesiak said. "They're very talented performers and creators and are quite skilled in other ways that an artist needs to be from a producing standpoint."

Artists are invited to sign up to perform online. The lab is looking for "clown turns, physical pieces, new characters, comedy bits, (or) vulnerable performances that blur or mix the structures of theatre, improv, clown, stand-up, dance, mime, and/or music." Audiences are welcome, too. "We just want a general audience to understand that our focus isn't to entertain you, but to serve the artist's needs at this time, but a lot of this work requires an audience for development," Lesiak said.

Each artist or group will perform their bit, there will be a break, and then each bit will be workshopped using Liz Lerman's critical response process. "It's a method that prioritizes the artist's positioning so that the facilitator, in collaboration with the artist, will go through a process to make sure that the feedback isn't just a wave of stuff the artist might not actually want at that time," Lesiak said. "Most of the time in this situation, the artist wants to just know, 'Did you understand what I was doing? Did you enjoy this? What was confusing?'"

"And then, honestly, a big bunch of the time we end up going out and grabbing a drink or a coffee somewhere, and people can continue the conversations there," Lesiak added.

Part of the reason the lab has been shut down for so long is that Lesiak has been working on The Spinsters, which won two Sterlings and returns for a limited run in February. It's free to workshop bits and to come watch the lab, but donations are welcome, Lesiak said.

• Edmonton and surrounding areas are under an advisory for snow squalls, or intense blizzard-like conditions, on Jan. 16 as a strong cold front sweeps across Alberta. Anyone travelling in and around Edmonton should check conditions along their route before leaving home. Strong wind is also expected in Edmonton, especially midday and early afternoon. The snow squall advisory zone also includes Edson, Hinton, and Grande Prairie, while heavy snow is expected in northern Alberta and intense wind in southern Alberta.
• New Edmonton Transit Service fares will take effect on Feb. 1, after city council approved the adjustments as part of the 2023-2026 operating budget. Single Arc trips will be $3 instead of $2.75, cash fare will be $3.75 instead of $3.50, and the monthly adult Arc fare will be $102 instead of $100. The monthly youth fare is decreasing from $73 to $66, but eligibility for youth passes will drop from age 24 to 18 and under. Daniel Witte with Edmonton Transit Riders said the increases are in line with other Canadian municipalities but underscored the consequences for young adults, especially those without a U-Pass.
• Coun. Michael Janz said the Alberta government has an unfair funding gap when it comes to snow and ice control for provincial highways in Edmonton and Calgary. The province says it pays $3.25 million each year for snow and ice control for Calgary's Deerfoot Trail but doesn't cover those costs for Edmonton's Whitemud Drive and Yellowhead Trail because the roads are within municipal jurisdiction. "I'm not begrudging Calgary for getting the deal," said Janz. "I'm asking for the same fair deal for Edmonton."
• Unifor, the largest private sector union in Canada, said it stands in solidarity with education support workers employed by Edmonton Public Schools and Sturgeon Public Schools, who went on strike Jan. 13. Unifor represents about 3,500 workers in Alberta's education sector. CUPE Alberta, which represents the striking workers, is running a letter-writing campaign for residents to call for fair wages for education workers.
• Eveline Charles, a beauty industry entrepreneur, has died. Charles was "a visionary who transformed the beauty industry with her innovation and dedication," EvelineCharles Salons and Spas wrote in an online post honouring her legacy. In 2003, Charles became the first woman inducted into the Alberta Business Hall of Fame.
• The Alberta government says it is drafting policy options for procuring COVID-19 vaccines after the federal government's distribution program ends this summer. A provincial spokesperson said it would be a "significant cost" to continue providing free COVID-19 shots to Albertans. Stephanie Smith, a doctor at the University of Alberta Hospital, said she expects some provincial funding for COVID-19 vaccinations, but it's unclear how much or for whom, noting COVID-19 "seems to be so politically fraught."
• Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is expected to announce his bid for the leadership of the federal Liberal Party at an event in Edmonton on Jan. 16. Born in the Northwest Territories, Carney spent about 12 years in Edmonton during his youth. A 2009 profile of Carney, who was then serving as governor of the Bank of England, captured his reflections growing up in Edmonton.
• Edmonton is Canada's fifth-sexiest city, according to PinkCherry, an online retailer of sexual health and wellness products. The company's list of sexiest cities in Canada is based on its per capita sales from 2024. Edmonton buyers showed a particular demand for blindfolds, the company said.
• The Edmonton Elks have released punter Jake Julien to pursue opportunities to play in the NFL. Julien, who was the team's main punter for two years, led the CFL in gross punt yards and punt average.

Here are opportunities to inform municipal decision-making about rezoning, development, policing, and more. Please only answer surveys from the municipality where you live.

• 18333 Lessard Road NW Rezoning — The City of Edmonton received an application to rezone 18333 Lessard Road NW in the Donsdale neighbourhood to allow Touchmark at Wedgewood, a seniors facility, to add an additional 41 semi-detached villas for seniors. The area is currently zoned for medium density residential, and the request is for low density residential. Residents can ask a question or share their thoughts to a discussion board until Jan. 26.
• StrathconaBlok99 Rezoning — The City of Edmonton is considering an application to rezone the vacant lot on the northeast corner of 99 Street NW and 90 Avenue NW to allow for a mid-rise residential building of up to eight storeys. Residents can ask a question or share thoughts to a discussion board. Due to the recent Canada Post strike, engagement has been extended to Jan. 26.
• 2025 RCMP and Enforcement Services Priorities Survey — Strathcona County is asking residents about their priorities for policing in their community for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. A survey is open until Feb. 2.

More input opportunities

• Until Feb. 28: Engage and Play: Shaping Public Recreation (City of Edmonton)
• Until April 15: Passenger Rail Master Plan Survey (Government of Alberta)

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• 2025 REALTORS Housing Forecast starting at 9am at Edmonton EXPO Centre
• Chinatown Dining Week (until Jan. 26)
• STEAM Lab starting at 3pm at Edmonton Public Library (Mill Woods)
• The Grind Unplugged starting at 5pm at Boa and Hare
• kw7íkwl̓acwmíntsinlhkan | i dream of you Opening Reception starting at 5:30pm at Mitchell Art Gallery
• Startup TNT Happy Hour starting at 6pm at Pub 1905
• Paths for People starting at 6:30pm at Ritchie Community Hall
• Chef JP Dubaldo's INA MO Pop-Up Dinner Series starting at 6:30pm at EPIC Market
• Talking Archaeology starting at 7pm at Edmonton Public Library (Strathcona)
• Book Clubs of EPL: My Brilliant Friend starting at 7pm at Edmonton Public Library (Abbotsfield - Penny McKee)

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Jan. 25: Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? at Horizon Stage Performing Arts Theatre
• Jan. 26: YEG Trivia "Night" at VP Kitchen and Lounge
• Jan. 28: The History of Heritage in Edmonton at Bison Lodge

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.