Comedy - The CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival was the brainchild of Al Rae and CBC Radio’s Tom Anniko. Twelve years later, the festival remains one of Winnipeg’s flagship cultural events. The Winnipeg Comedy Festival is proud to be the highest-rated comedy festival series on CBC Television.

 Steve Patterson - As host of CBC Radio One’s wildly successful The Debaters since 2007, Patterson has become a household name with more than half a million weekly listeners. In 2010, steady accolades for his work on that show earned him a third invitation to perform on one of Just For Laughs’ prestigious televised galas, hosted by Steve Martin. Every comic can tell a joke, but Steve Patterson is a triple threat of funny, combining skills as a stand-up comedian with over 15 years of touring experience, a successful radio and TV host and a published humour writer. www.stevepatterson.ca

Erica Sigurdson - Best known for her rapier wit on CBC Radio’s smash hit The Debaters, Erica Sigurdson is in high demand for radio, television and live appearances. In addition to her twenty-seven appearances on The Debaters, Erica has recorded five television specials and performed at multiple comedy festivals across the nation, including five times at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. www.ericasigurdson.com 

 Mike Macdonald - A Canadian stand-up comedian and actor, Mike Macdonald has written and/or starred in many movies including Mr. Nice Guy. In addition to his successful and well received live performances all over North America, Macdonald has appeared in such TV shows as the Late Show with David Letterman and The Arsenio Hall Show. Macdonald also holds the distinction of being the only comedian to perform at each and every Just For Laughs gala show.

Al Rae - Canada’s ‘Dark Prince of Comedy’ is the artistic director and founder of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Al is well known to Canadian fans as a regular contributor to CBC’s The Debaters, CBC's Comics! and Comedy Now. In 2000, he won the Just For Laughs National Homegrown Comic Competition. He is a Gemini Award winner for his writing on Little Mosque on the Prairie.