Timeline

MARCH 2024

In an historic announcement, The Groupe Juste Pour Rire seeks creditor protection. CASC reaches out to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, about the void the festival has created and to support CANCOM’s strategy to fund comedy where comedians are the direct beneficiaries.

FEBRUARY 2024

The second annual Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame Festival took place in Hamilton this year. CASC was present to spread awareness about CASC.

JANUARY 2024
CASC holds a Town Hall to discuss the benefits of UNIFOR and to have a final vote on it.

OCTOBER 2023

Founding member of CASC and President from 2020 to 2023, Monty Scott steps down to focus on his comedy career. His contributions are invaluable to the growth of the organization and its mission to give a greater voice to Canadian comedians.

NOVEMBER 2022

Comedian Janelle Niles from Ottawa joins the CASC board as the Membership Officer.

AUGUST 2022

The AFC Reactivation Program provided direct financial assistance to independent and self-employed workers in the live performance sector who experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emergency support was provided to help artists maintain or regain work in the sector. This was a one time $2500 grant.

https://capacoa.ca/en/2022/07/resilience-fund-where-to-apply/

MARCH 2022

The AFC (Actors Fund of Canada) is a charity that supports Canadian entertainment professionals with emergency financial aid, mental health support, and other services that help people maintain their health, dignity, and ability to work. They reached out to CASC to include comedians in the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund (CPAWRF grant).

NOVEMBER 2021

CASC launched a Guidelines’ booklet to help comedians navigate the business of getting paid and what to ask for. It’s also an indispensable resource for producers on how to structure fair pay where everyone benefits. http://canadianstandup.ca/stand-up-comedy-pricing-guidelines/

NOVEMBER 2021
CASC introduces $5 a month memberships to encourage comedians to join.

NOVEMBER 2021
CASC holds a virtual town hall to explain the benefits of joining UNIFOR and to update the community on its goals and mission for 2021.

JULY 2021
Sketch comedian Tom Hill joins CASC as the Secretary.

JULY 2021
After two great years as 2nd VP, Darryl Purvis, steps down. Thank you for your contributions, Darryl.

JUNE 2021
CASC board members Sandra Battaglini and Johanne Britton are joined by comedians Jonathan Rollins from Sweden and Chris Dorering from Germany to attend a virtual trade mission to Sweden to discuss developing international export opportunities for Canadian comedians.

MARCH 2021

CASC board members Sandra Battaglini and Johanne Britton along with German comics, Oliver Sotra and Chris Doering, attend a virtual trade mission to Germany to discuss developing international export opportunities for Canadian comedians and exchange tours between Canada and Germany.

JANUARY 2021

As Monty Scott becomes President of CASC, Nick Durie is selected to replace Monty as Treasurer.

DECEMBER 2020
After spearheading the movement and launching CASC, Sandra Battaglini steps down as President of CASC and Monty Scott steps up to lead the charge as new President.

AUGUST 2020

The Emergency Relief Fund for Canadian Comedians distributed one-time relief grants of $500 to over 50 comedians.

JULY 2020
The Emergency Relief Fund for Canadian Comedians surpasses the $30,000 mark with the help of the community.

JULY 2020

CBC has been in the practice of not providing contracts to comedians prior to engagement and paying comedians only if they accept the recordings to air on the radio. In many cases comedians are being be paid nothing at all. This directly contravenes their agreement with ACTRA which is as follows:

The 2019/20 minimum fees under E2, Grid 1 of the CBC Radio Agreement is $200.99 for a performance of 30 minutes or less. Per E203, a payment and contract are required. If CBC decides to use the recording then CBC will pay the comedian the use fee of $301.48 plus additional payments for satellite and internet use.

This had been a source of contention for many comedians for quite some time but it was only when a CASC member came to us that we were able to address with the producers and the CEO of CBC. The comedian requested that he be paid and that his recording not be broadcast because he was only made aware after the fact that it would air in the US and Europe.

MAY 2020
The Emergency Relief Fund for Canadian Comedians passes the $10,000 mark with the help of the community.

APRIL 2020
CASC creates a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Task Force to help comedians during the pandemic.

MARCH 2020

COVID-19 shuts down all live events and shows.

FEBRUARY 2020

CASC returned to Parliament Hill to talk about SiriusXM and JFL Canada, labour mobility to the United States and getting comedy recognized as an art form.

DECEMBER 2019
With the help of Scott Faulconbridge, CASC is now able to provide its members with benefits from ACTRA’s Arts and Entertainment Plan.

OCTOBER 2019

In October 2019 CASC and The Foundation for Canadian Comedy (CANCOM)* submitted an application to Ontario Creates’ Business Intelligence Program to fund a study: Profile and Value Chain Analysis of Ontario’s Comedy Content Creators.

If approved, the consulting firm Nordicity will work with CASC and CANCOM to deliver this first-ever analysis of the importance of Ontario comedians in the screen sector; the challenges faced by Canadian comedians; and how to keep Ontarians living and working in the comedy industry in Canada.

The lens is on Ontario, but this project will provide valuable insights for the comedy industry across the country. The first two industry stakeholders to provide support to CASC and CANCOM for the study were ACTRA Toronto and Just for Laughs. Since then, Project 10 and Frantic Films have also come on board with support.

OCTOBER 2019

In October 2019, CASC posted a Federal Election Platform Statement encouraging members to give attention to candidates and parties who were campaigning to improve arts funding, improve export activities for artists, strengthen the creation of original Canadian content, and promote the talents of Canadian artists. READ: http://canadianstandup.ca/the-canadian-association-of-stand-up-comedians-casc-federal-election-platform-2019/

SEPTEMBER 2019

In September 2019, CASC submitted a comment as an intervenor on a broadcasting license renewal for Super Channel. The CRTC asked for interveners to comment as Super Channel was being examined for being non-compliant with their condition of license.

CASC expressed opposition to Super Channel’s request to reduce their Canadian programming expenditure requirements, the elimination of their requirement for Canadian script and concept development, and supported the CRTC’s response and concerns about Super Channel’s future payment of shortfalls in the funding requirements they had previously failed to satisfy.

AUGUST 2019

In August 2019 CASC was invited to participate in a nationwide Working Group teleconference lead by the Canada Media Fund (CMF), with screen sector stakeholders across the country. It was designed to discuss the CMF’s first-ever Early Stage Development Program. Adam Growe joined the call, and shared the feedback shared by CASC members about their experience applying for the fund.

CASC submitted recommendations to the Department of Finance, Standing Committee on Finance (FINA), for pre-budget consultations in advance of the federal government’s 2020 Budget. We highlighted our support for: continued funding to The Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF); federal tax credit incentives, funding for CBC/Radio-Canada, and Canada Media Fund (CMF) contributions; and Canada’s Creative Export Strategy.

AUGUST 2019

In August 2019 Sandra Battaglini and Adam Growe had a teleconference with The office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage (to discuss funding for comedy) the CMF, Canada Arts Presentation Fund, and CANCOM*)

AUGUST 2019

CASC participated in an historic round table with arts research group Mass Culture entitled: How can Professional Canadian Comedy Creators Make Canada a Global Leader in Comedy Content. A gathering of participants from across the comedy industry including broadcasters, comedy clubs, bookers, festival organizers, and comedians came together to discuss how comedy artists can negotiate better pay, more equitable working conditions and where the government can support.

For the full report, go to: CASC, Mass Culture Gathering Synopsis

CASC Mass Culture Gathering 2019, Sharing Document

JULY 2019
Adam Growe was invited to participate on an industry panel at Just for Laughs in Montreal. Representing CASC and CANCOM, Adam appeared with Dave Merheje, Michelle Daly (CBC), Sarah Fowlie (Bell Media), and Andrew Barnsley (Project 10) to discuss “Comedy in Canada: What’s the Deal?”

JUNE 2019

As a result of our Ottawa meetings, CASC was given an opportunity to provide witness testimony at the Parliament Hill meeting of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage with regards to The Canada Council for the Arts. Adam Growe expressed CASC’s support for budget allocations to the Council, and reiterated the importance for the Council to recognize comedy as art. LISTEN: https://soundcloud.com/canadianstandup/casc-testimony

We are strongly urging CASC members to apply for Council funding, as well as apply to become Peer Assessors at the Council, and share their experiences with CASC for our files.

MARCH 2019
CASC will continue our efforts to collaborate with other stakeholders in the comedy industry. We are expanding our Membership to become the first-ever platform for a unified voice to advocate for ALL comedians to make Canada a comedy nation. While our name, for now, will remain the same, Membership will no longer be restricted to just those who identify as stand-up comics.

FEBRUARY 2019

In February 2019, there was a bold and brisk response from individuals and groups across the country to plans by Just for Laughs and SiriusXM Canada to revamp and rebrand “Canada Laughs 168” to “Just For Laughs Radio”.

The response included massive social media activism from countless stand-up comics, an unprecedented boycott by Edmonton stand-up comics of a JFL showcase, and a CASC Town Hall meeting on February 26th, 2019. The next day JFL informed CASC, and then the public, that they decided to make their revamped and rebranded “Just For Laughs Canada” on SiriusXM 100% content from independently produced Canadian comedians. Private industry stakeholders demonstrated they were prepared to listen to the stand-up comedy community. CASC again demonstrated the value of a unified, informed voice to its Members.

SEPTEMBER 2019
An e-petition to the Canadian Government to recognize comedy as an art form was signed by thousands of comedians and sponsored by Liberal MP, Julie Dabrusin. On September 24th, 2018, when she tabled the petition in the House of Commons on behalf of CASC, it received by a standing ovation unanimously from MPs across the country. Efforts continue to get the government to declare comedy as an art form and its integral place within Canadian culture, both domestically and internationally.

SPRING/SUMMER 2019

CASC Members and supporters met with government officials and staff, including Global Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Department of Canadian Heritage in the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2018, when NAFTA was being renegotiated which eventually became the proposed USMCA.

The Canadian government, much to our disappointment, eventually abandoned the issue of Labour Mobility for cultural workers. But, for the first time in Canadian history, stand-up comedians were at the table and had a voice inside government.

FEBRUARY 2018

A small group of stand-up comedians rallied around Sandra, met with industry stakeholders, and took action on the advice to form an Association. An ad hoc Executive Committee approved a Constitution and ByLaws in February 2018, and began working on the two initiatives: recognizing comedy as an art form, and labour mobility.

An ad hoc executive was formed comprised of Sandra Battaglini, Adam Growe, Frank Spadone, Barry Taylor and Monty Scott. They became the founding members of CASC along with Johanne Britton of the Mob’s Press who was to become a vital contributor and supporter of the movement who built the website and initiated all