For access to The New Wave of Standup Season 7 sizzle reel, additional show information and photography, please click here: NWOS7 Artist Headshots
The New Wave of Standup is back, featuring another incredible roster of Canada's newest and brightest artists on the standup comedy circuit. Nominated for Best Comedy Special at the 2024 and 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, the series also earned several 2026 Leo Awards nominations, including Best Music, Comedy or Variety Series Program and Best Direction. The New Wave of Standup debuts its seventh season (14x10) of all-new episodes on CBC Gem on Friday, August 7, 2026. Filmed earlier this year at Guilt & Co in Gastown, Vancouver, as part of the Just for Laughs VANCOUVER Festival.
“Season after season, The New Wave of Standup has become an essential showcase for the next generation of Canadian comedians,” says Sylvain Parent-Bédard, President and CEO, Just For Laughs,
and Executive Producer, The New Wave of Standup. “Through our continued collaboration with CBC and Just For Laughs Vancouver, we're proud to give these exceptional performers a national platform to connect with audiences across the country and celebrate the remarkable depth and diversity of Canada's comedy scene.”
“This series continues to champion the brightest emerging talent in Canadian comedy. What began as a platform for rising comedians has grown into an anticipated annual series, and this year’s edition is poised to remain a fan favourite,” says Heather Wallace, Co-Founder and Festival Director, Just For Laughs VANCOUVER, and Executive Producer/Producer, The New Wave of Standup.
The New Wave of Standup Season 7 artists’ lineup includes:
● ABBAS WAHAB is a New York–based, Canadian comedian and actor. He's been featured at
the Just For Laughs and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, and is best known for his role as a SWAT
officer in M. Night Shyamalan's TRAP. Wahab has appeared in hit TV shows, including The
Boys, What We Do in the Shadows, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. He has opened for
comedy legends Tom Green and Brian Holtzman, and has built a loyal following of over 350k
fans on Instagram and TikTok: @abbaswahab.
● ALASDAIR TREMBLAY-BIRCHALL is a Canadian/Australian with 10 years of experience writing
jokes for TV, for shows such as The Roast of John Cleese and Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell.
Alasdair wrote and co-hosted the science comedy quiz show The Pop Test for Australia's Radio National;
hosted over 500 episodes of the comedy sketch idea podcast Two in the Think Tank with Andy Matthews,
and is the voice of the comedy guided meditation podcast Shusher Guided Meditations. He loves
standup, the nice Montreal comedy community and getting opportunities to work in Canadian film and
TV.
● ANDREW PACKER is known for his standout performances on the hit show Kill Tony and for
Man News, his comedy news series that has attracted over 1.2 million subscribers with over
one billion views on YouTube. Andrew has headlined in over 15 countries, with highlight
performances on Netflix is a Joke Radio, the Just For Laughs Festival and the Edinburgh
International Fringe Festival. His debut comedy special, On Guard, is available on YouTube,
amassing over 100,000 views in its first year. His next special, Never Call Her Crazy, is
scheduled for release by Dry Bar Comedy later this year.
● ANJELICA SCANNURA is a 2025 Just For Laughs New Face of standup, the first Canadian
woman to win the Boston Comedy Festival, and she also won the Jersey City Comedy
Festival. Her debut comedy EP with JFL Originals can be heard on SiriusXM, with a JFL Live
Sessions recording set for release later this year. She’s appeared on the Winnipeg Comedy
Festival and CBC’s Laugh Out Loud, and has opened for Shane Gillis, Joe List, Stavros Halkias,
Rachel Feinstein, Jay Pharoah, Tom Green and Cipha Sounds. She was also featured on Roast
Battle Canada at JFL Montreal.
● BITA JOUDAKI is a Toronto-based Iranian/Canadian TV writer and comedian, originally from
Vancouver, and has performed standup comedy at festivals across Canada and the United
States. Bita is currently writing on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes and has also worked as a
writer on the hit CTV series, Children Ruin Everything; the children’s animation series Caillou
and Peppa Pig, as well as the adult animation series, Doomlands. Bita landed a development
deal at CBC for her original tween animation series, Leila and the Zit, and is developing
several half-hour scripted comedy series.
● CASS FURMAN is a standup comedian based out of Vancouver who is thrilled to be included
in the seventh season of The New Wave of Standup. She has been featured on SiriusXM, Just
For Laughs Originals Album (2024), Comedy Here Often and graced the cover of the Georgia
Straight. She co-hosts and produces two frequently sold-out Vancouver shows, Pillow Talk
and Couples Clownselling, and also hosts the comedy/advice podcast, The PodCass.
● DUSTIN SEARCY was born with a cheeky attitude and obsession for the ridiculous, and is
damn fun to watch. His joke-packed storytelling feels playful yet cathartic, and has led to
critical success; Dustin has appeared on the Top Comedian showcase at the Monsoon Art
Festival, Just For Laughs Toronto, and Just For Laughs Northwest. Dustin has also delivered a
standout performance as ‘John’, the lovable but misguided love interest on the acclaimed
Apple TV sitcom, Our Big Punjabi Family.
● EMMANUEL LOMURO is a Sudanese refugee who was born in Cairo, Egypt before embarking
on a life journey that took him to the prairies of Winnipeg, Manitoba. As one of Canada’s top
young talents, his comedy reflects his journey from a young refugee to seasoned performer,
blending the poignant with the hilarious. Emmanuel has been featured as part of Comedy
Records Top Prospects album as well as the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Just for Laughs
Toronto and CBC’s Laugh Out Loud. As an actor, his skills have been showcased on CBC's hit
TV series, The Porter.
● HANNAH VELDHOEN has quickly become a rising star in Toronto’s robust comedy scene. She
performs at clubs and festivals throughout North America, including Just For Laughs Toronto
and has been featured on CBC. Originally from Oshawa, she shared the stage with Annie
Lederman and Stavros Halkias and was featured as part of Comedy Records’ Top Prospects
album that was released in the fall of 2025.
● MARK THOMSON is a gay ex-evangelical who loves a cream-filled pastry. Mark got his start in
Chicago as a regular performer at the famous iO Theater and has since performed standup
across Canada and the US. His standup performances have been featured on CBC and OutTV.
● NIKI MOHRDAR is a standup comedian based out of Vancouver. She has been featured at Just
For Laughs VANCOUVER, YVR Funny Season 2, OutTV's KillJoy, Just For Laughs Originals,
Comedy Here Often and the South Rock Comedy Festival. In 2025, she hosted the new
reality TV show, Fade Masters, featured on Telus Optik. She is also a co-host of Pillow Talk,
which has been featured on Just For Laughs' Best of the West and Vancouver Fringe.
● SAM BURNS is an electrifying standup comedian whose performances are a blend of
off-the-cuff silliness and relatable humour. Having toured across Canada, he has opened for
the renowned Michelle Wolf and has been featured on SiriusXM and Just for Laughs. Sam’s
comedic journey reached new heights with his debut standup special, LMNOP, now available
on YouTube. Audiences everywhere can’t get enough of his unique brand of comedy!
● SAVANNAH ERASMUS is an Indigenous comedian and writer based in Vancouver, from Kikino
Metis Settlement and Cold Lake First Nation, in Treaty 6 Territory. Her Indigenous
perspective, awkward confidence and storytelling create a unique standup persona that
audiences adore. Savannah co-hosts and co-produces Camp Comedy and Millennial Line and
has appeared at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Just For Laughs Toronto, and Just For Laughs
VANCOUVER and in the JFL Originals comedy compilation album.
● VIZA is Toronto’s Queen of Mean & Curator of Chaos. VIZA is an experience unlike any other.
Originally from Hamilton, ON, VIZA’s career spans over 17 years and she has been featured on
CRAVE, CBC Gem, SiriusXM and the Just For Laughs Toronto 2025 lineup, where she recorded a standup
comedy set for JFL Live Sessions. She has had the privilege of opening for several major touring acts,
including Caroline Rhea and Tim Murray, and last spring, released her debut comedy album VIZA: A
(Semi) Legend In The Making.
Sylvain Parent-Bedard (President and CEO, Just For Laughs), Heather Wallace (Owner, NorthWest
Comedy and Co-Founder and Festival Director, Just For Laughs VANCOUVER), Nick Brazao (VP of Talent
and Programming, Just For Laughs), and Spencer Griffin (Former Executive Producer and VP of Television
and Creative Strategy, Just For Laughs) serve as the Executive Producers For The New Wave of Standup
Season 7, with Trish Neufeld as Director.
To Follow on Social Media:
@jflvancouver
@justepourdivertir
@justepourrire
@justforlaughs
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ABOUT JUST FOR LAUGHS
Sylvain Parent Bédard founded his entertainment group in 1997 which went on to acquire the Just For Laughs assets in 2024. Today, the Group stands as a major Canadian Québécois cultural institution, internationally recognized for its mission: “Spreading laughter across the globe”. A global leader in comedy, Just For Laughs produces the world’s largest comedy festival, held in Montréal since its inaugural edition in 1983. The Group also extends its expertise through a series of festivals in Québec City, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore, Sydney, and Bermuda, strengthening its worldwide footprint.
Driven by passion, innovation, and excellence, the Just For Laughs team collaborates with top talent and partners across the entertainment industry. Each year, the Group entertains over 100 million fans through its digital platforms and media channels, which collectively have surpassed 100 billion views. Just For Laughs creates, produces, distributes, and broadcasts comedic content in all its forms: films, television series, theatre, musicals, solo shows, multi-artist shows, festivals.
The Group also produces ComedyPRO as part of the Just For Laughs Montreal Festival every year: the world’s leading comedy industry marketplace, which has for decades helped launch and propel the careers of numerous renowned artists through its landmark initiatives.
ABOUT NORTHWEST COMEDY
NorthWest Comedy has been a cornerstone of Vancouver’s vibrant comedy scene for over a decade. The company has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality events, and excels in event production, management, business development, and strategic partnerships. The company is behind Western Canada’s largest comedy festival, Just For Laughs VANCOUVER, offering a platform for both local and international talent to shine. NorthWest Comedy’s comprehensive expertise has been integral to the festival’s success, ensuring it continues to grow year after year.
NorthWest Comedy’s influence extends beyond live events. In recent years, the company has expanded into TV and audio production, with seven seasons of the critically acclaimed and award-nominated series The New Wave of Standup for CBC Gem, as well as the production of 9 standup comedy albums. This expansion into digital and broadcast content underscores NorthWest Comedy’s forward-thinking approach and its dedication to shaping the future of comedy in all its forms. At the heart of NorthWest Comedy’s continued success is its organic growth and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of the comedy industry, ensuring that both established and emerging talent have the opportunity to perform on some of the biggest stages in the province all year round.
ABOUT CBC/RADIO-CANADA
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı ̨ chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet Canadians’ needs in a digital world.
