On March 11th, 2026 Nanaimo’s Port Theatre hosted Jokers Canada’s first stop of a multi-city Vancouver Island tour to Courtenay, Duncan and Campbell River. Organized by comedian and founder Aaron Arya, the show brought together multiple top-tier performers.
“We’re bringing four legitimate touring headliners, plus a host,” Arya said ahead of the event. “It’s going to be exciting and hopefully different than what people are used to seeing.” The typical stand-up format features a host, an opening act, and a single headliner.
This show featured:
- Damonde Tschritter
- Adam Christie
- Syd Bosel
- Ryan Williams
- Aaron Arya
For Syd Bosel, being part of this lineup was a privilege in itself. She described the group as “top drawer” ranging in age and comedy style. The show is intended for adult audiences, though performers emphasized it was not overly explicit.
“We’re not too vulgar, but at the same time, stand-up comedy is usually not meant for kids,” Arya said.
Bosel described stand-up as a collective experience, where audiences connected not only with the performer, but with each other. “People laugh at the same thing, but perhaps for different reasons,” she said, explaining that the shared experience creates a sense of unity.
Performing in smaller places like Nanaimo offer a different atmosphere than larger cities, often allowing for a more intimate connection with audiences. “It really is about bringing the city together and the community together and having just a great night of laughs,” Arya said.
Both Arya and Bosel also spoke to the role comedy played in offering relief from the everyday burdens of life and a chance to step away from daily stress and enjoy a night of hilarity. “Laughter is the best medicine,” Arya said. “The world is a pretty heavy place… sometimes people just want to lighten up and laugh.”
Bosel added that comedy could also help people process difficult topics, sharing that audiences often connected with her material about personal challenges. “People tell me how grateful they were to be able to laugh at things they had otherwise found difficult,” she said, noting that comedy created a shared emotional experience.
Bosel said her own comedy focused on everyday life, including family, relationships, and aging, blending humour with more serious topics like illness. “I can speak to some of these challenging things and find some humour in them,” she said. “It’s just silly fun, but it can also bring some light to those subjects.”
“This is a time for relief and a good night of being free of the heavy things that go on in the world,” Bosel added. “Just come and laugh and enjoy yourselves for a few hours.”
Bosel also emphasized the unique bond between comedians, due to the nature of the work. “Comedy is an art form that is somewhat alienating in that it’s a very strange way to make a living. It is a vulnerable thing to do” she said. “We spend a lot of time on the road… so the people that share that lifestyle have a bond.”
Visit Jokers Canada for a list of upcoming performances in Gibsons, Vancouver, Coquitlam, Vernon, Revelstoke, Hope, Port Moody, Mission, Squamish, Chilliwack, and points east and to buy tickets for upcoming shows.
