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Behind the scenes: Canadian comedy celebrated in Hamilton

Four-day festival and hall of fame induction revives dream for a bricks-and-mortar comedy hall of fame. 

PHOTOS BY DONNA WAXMAN AND BRENT PERNIAC

The Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame Festival included  the finals of the Funniest Person in Hamilton contest, inductions into a virtual hall of fame, a bilingual comedy event, and Indigenous stand-up showcase and an Uncle Buck pancake breakfast in tribute to John Candy. 

The Hamilton connections among inductees are rich. The include Eugene Levy and Martin Short, both born in Hamilton, Steve Smith, creator of The Red Green Show, which was produced and filmed at CHCH in Hamilton, and the late Billy Van, known for The Hilarious House of Frightenstein, which was also produced in Hamilton.

The inductions also included comedic great Jim Carrey, the cast of SCTV, along with Rose Ouellette, Marie Dressler, The Happy Gang, Joe Bodolai and Jo-Anna Downey.

The festival and induction revives the dream of a brick-and-mortar hall of fame that will be a tourist attraction and teach about Canada's rich history in comedy.

Tim Progosh, co-founder of the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame, moved to Hamilton from Toronto in December. The festival launched the first of a three-year collaboration with Tourism Hamilton.