Irwin Barker

MORE VIDEO LINKS
Just For Laughs - 2002

EVENTS
AGM meetings
comedy clubs
comedy festivals
community events
company parties
concert shows
conventions
corporate events
fundraisers
holiday parties
retirement dinners
sales seminars
trade shows

DESCRIPTION
after dinner speaker
celebriity impersonator clean comedian
corporate entertainment
inspirational speaker
keynote entertainer keynote speaker
motivational speaker
political humour

Irwin Barker holds a Master's Degree in Sociology, has taught at the University of Alberta and University of Manitoba. His comedic approach reflects his unique understanding of Canadian culture and politics.

Irwin Barker began his comedy career in Winnipeg in 1988. At the time, he was already successfully employed as a senior public policy researcher with the Angus Reid consulting firm, as well as working as a part-time lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manitoba and simply viewed comedy as a creative outlet.

Irwin's refreshing and analytical approach to life was evident in his comedy since the very beginning and quickly placed him in high demand, taking on an unexpected life of its own. By 1992, Irwin left consulting and teaching to purse a very successful second career.

Irwin has extensive experience in specialized comedy performing and writing for corporate functions, conferences, fundraising events and related after-dinner engagements. As a keynote speaker and entertainer, his client list is an impressive array of major corporations, financial groups, government departments, and national associations, demonstrating a remarkable talent for relating to corporate audiences.

Irwin has an impressive resume of comedy performing including the Just For Laughs comedy Festival in Montreal as well as several appearances at every Canadian comedy festival.

Irwin was part of a comedy team which traveled to Afghanistan to entertain the Canadian troops in 2007. The special, Stand-up in Kandahar was aired on CBC television.

Irwin's writing/performing credits include CBC Television's Western Alienation, Comedy Night in Canada and Comics, as well as CBC Radio's Madly off in All Directions. He is a regular performer on CBC Radio's hit series The Debaters and was also a staff writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes from 2002 to 2007. Irwin is currently a staff writer for The Rick Mercer Report.

In June of 2007, Irwin was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare type of terminal cancer. Since then, he has been actively involved as an inspirational speaker on how he has used humour as a vital coping mechanism in his personal fight against cancer.

Irwin's first year of cancer treatment was the subject of a CTV documentary entitled "That's My Time."