Tickets: $5 (student/low income), $15 (regular), Available HERE
Author Paul Myers in conversation with Edmonton’s Historian Laureate, Donna Coombs-Montrose.
From the bestselling author of Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy, the definitive biography of John Candy—a heartwarming portrait of one of comedy’s most beloved and enduring stars.
From his humble beginnings in sketch comedy with the Toronto branch of Second City, to his rise to fame in SCTV and Hollywood film classics like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck, John Candy captivated audiences with his self-deprecating humour, emotional warmth, and gift for improvisation. Now, for the first time since Candy’s tragic death, bestselling biographer Paul Myers tells the full story of the man behind the laughs.
Drawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews with many of Candy’s closest friends and colleagues, including Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, and many more, John Candy: A Life in Comedy celebrates the comedian’s unparalleled talent, infectious charm, and generosity of spirit. Through ups and downs, successes and failures, and struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, Candy faced the world with a big smile and a warm demeanour that earned him the love and adoration of fans around the world.
PAUL MYERS is a Canadian writer and musician living in Berkeley, California. His previous books include The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy, which was the source for the Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks from Amazon Studios, and the critically acclaimed A Wizard a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio; It Ain’t Easy: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues; and Barenaked Ladies: Public Stunts, Private Stories.
Social media:
IG: @pulmyears
X: @pulmyears
Bluesky: pulmyears.bsky.social
DONNA COOMBS-MONTROSE is a Community Activist and History Advocate who has resided in Edmonton, Alberta for over 25 years. Since coming to Edmonton she has served on the board of CARIWEST – Western Carnival Development Association – from 1999-2017, including the last 10 years as its President. Her core intent was to raise the contributions of Caribbean immigrants to building this society. She has also served as founding member of the Alberta Labour History Institute (ALHI) from 1999 and continues to serve as a Director. Her passion for documenting oral histories – the narratives that fuel communities – has resulted in scores of interviews of African-American pioneers, African-Canadians, diaspora residents, community members on the ground of transforming society in health, labour, education, professional occupations, culture being included in ALHI’s online sites at albertalabourhistory.org/blackcommunities.
Coombs-Montrose is also a Founding Member of the Caribbean Women Network, an Elder to CCACH (Council of Canadians of Caribbean and African Heritage) which is devoted to tutoring and programming for diaspora students grades 1-12, an active member of Congress of Black Women, WAWT (When African Women Talk) CURC (Council of Union Retirees of Canada) and several other organizations. She has contributed to the ECAMP Virtual Museum “And Still I Rise: A Blace Presence in Alberta, Late 1800s to 1970s, The Jasper Place Project (jasperplacehistory.org), West Indian Diary and other community projects. Book chapters in several edited volumes also bear her name.
The recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal in 2022, Donna Coombs-Montrose is currently serving as Historian Laureate for the City of Edmonton for the 2024-2026 term and sits on the Board of the Edmonton Historical Council.
This event is presented in partnership with the Edmonton Heritage Council.
