Charity Dinner in support of Canadian Blood Services

Financial gifts help our registered charity – Canadian Blood Services – to maintain a biological lifeline that all Canadians can rely on in their time of need. It helps to strengthen our national programs and initiatives for blood, plasma, stem cells, and organs and tissues; and also helps to fuel our research and innovation. With your support, we can help every patient, match every need, and serve every Canadian. Because of you, a fellow Canadian will have the opportunity to spend more time with their loved ones.
What happens when 2 Australians and 1 Canadian comic team up? You get the CommonWealth Comedy Tour! Festival Place is excited to host Ned Townsend, Lars Callieou and headliner Chris “The Bloke” Franklin as they make their way across Canada. These decorated comedians are sure to bring the laughs!

Doors for the dinner open at 5:30pm and is served buffett style.
Guest Speaker at 6:30pm

Tickets for the dinner are available directly through the Box Office, in person or over the phone at 780-449-3378

Chris Franlkin
Chris is one of Australia’s premier comedy stars. He’s an Aussie bloke, a yobbo or a bogan, from his flannelette shirt to his double plugger thongs. His ‘Hoganesque’ style of comedy appeals to every average Australian and touches on the delicate issues of beer, sport and relationships – he’s also had a number 1 hit single entitled ‘Bloke’. Not bad for someone who can’t sing.

Chris has performed with such comedy legends as: Jimeoin, Steady Eddy, Garry Who, Carl Barron, Anh Do, Dave Hughes, Elliot Goblet, Raymond J Bartholomew, Marty Fields, The Empty Pockets, Peter Rowsthorn, Bob Franklin, Ross Daniels, Tom Green, Jim Jeffries, Stevie Starr, Mr Methane, and rock bands, The Angels, Rose Tattoo, The Screaming Jets, Yothu Yindi and The Radiators. He has even worked with international music stars like Santana, Chris Isaak, Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Status Quo, Tony Joe White & Bonnie Raitt.

Chris has also done five ‘TOURS OF DUTY’, travelling to The Solomon Island, East Timor, Iraq and twice to Afghanistan, to entertain the Aussie troops and help keep their spirits high. Chris has also performed around the world, in Scotland, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, New Guinea, The United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and America. Chris has headlined and Mc’d every major comedy club in Australia and quite a few around the world. He is regarded by his peers as one of the best in the business. He is equally at home addressing a four course corporate function, A country football club, or the front bar of your local pub.

Ned Townsend is what happens when you photocopy Orlando Bloom and the printer runs out of ink. A comedian since his high school days, Ned has entertained across his island home state of Tasmania organising comedy nights and supporting some of Australia's best Comedians such as Nick Cody, Dave Hughes, and Chris "The Bloke" Franklin as well as writing 3 award nominated solo stand up shows. From his regular appearances at comedy nights across Tasmania, performances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, running and hosting Homebrew New Material Comedy Night monthly at Gunners Arms, Launceston, to Performing at Stand Up NYC in New York City, Ned has always lived by the same words: "It's better to shit in the sink than to sink in the shit."

Lars Callieou has appeared at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montréal and has a 1-Hour Comedy Special currently airing on The Comedy Network. He's been overseas to entertain the troops 5 times (Kuwait, IRAQ, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and is a 2-Time Canadian Comedy Award Nominee. He can be heard on CBC's Laugh Out Loud, CBC's The Debaters and on Sirius/XM.. Lars has toured with the likes of Miss Joan Rivers, Jeff Foxworthy, and Bob Saget . He's performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 5 times and has also appeared at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, the Boston Comedy Festival, the World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas and the Halifax Comedy Festival in… well… Halifax.

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