Capital City is Comedy Central of the West

Canada has exported more than a few of the world's most famous comedians: Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Howie Mandel, Caroline Rhea, Rich Little & Dan Akroyd to name a few. However, traveling west of Montreal's Just for Laughs Comedy Festival to the lonesome prairies of oil-country Alberta, one might be surprised to find a hilarious hot-bed for Canadian comedy.

Much to the surprise of many a visitor, Edmonton has a long history of laughs, boasting much funnier fare than hockey and a giant mall. In the 1970s, Edmonton was filming location for SCTV - arguably one of the best sketch comedy shows to grace Canadian television, the launch pad for beer-drinking bumblers Bob & Doug Mackenzie, and where Eugene Levy, Martin Short, John Candy, Catherine O'Hara cut their comedy teeth. Today, local Edmonton clubs are drawing A-list talent to their stages and cultivating the next generation of comedy talent to hit the big screen. Look for your favorite comedians at The Comic Strip on Bourbon Street in West Edmonton Mall. The Comic Strip's acts have been featured on Leno, Letterman, The Daily Show, Comedy Central, The Comedy Network, Last Comic Standing, HBO and more. Get stand-up comedy and variety acts straight off the production line at The Comedy Factory. Located at Gateway Entertainment Centre just off Calgary Trail North and 34th Avenue, the Comedy Factory set a Guinness record for the longest non-stop comedy performance. Yuk Yuk's, Canada's National Comedy Chain and the "birthplace of Canadian stand-up comedy", found a home in the province's capital city. Currently under construction, the new location promises more laughs than you can shake a mic at.