Alex Mackenzie credits his mother for the idea of a comedy show that leaves audiences laughing while benefiting the communities at large through local non-profits.

Mackenzie鈥檚 Comedy For A Cause tour will be making its way through the Okanagan-Shuswap, with stops in Penticton (Cleveland Theatre, May 5), Vernon (Performing Arts Centre, May 6), Salmon Arm (Salmar Classic Theatre, May 12) and Revelstoke (Revelstoke Community Centre, May 13). Joining Mackenzie on the tour are fellow comedians Chris Griffin, Sophia Johnson and Efthimios Nasiopoulos.

鈥淎lex Mackenzie鈥檚 Comedy for a Cause Tour is a world-class comedy show featuring the best comedians in the world,鈥� reads a media release for the show. 鈥淭hese acts have been featured on Netflix, Sirius XM, Just for Laughs, CBC鈥檚 LOL and so much more.鈥�

What makes this comedy tour unique is the mission behind it, to support local non-profit organizations. As Mackenzie explains, the net profits made from the shows 鈥� anything after the cost of production 鈥� is donated. Non-profit recipients have already been selected for the Vernon, Penticton and Revelstoke shows. Mackenzie said the non-profit that will benefit from the Salmon Arm show will be announced soon.

Mackenzie鈥檚 charitable comedy tours began in 2019 with Hunger for Laughs, which were stand up shows benefiting local food banks. He started a second tour line, Comedy For A Cause, to help other non-profit organizations. Mackenzie explained this charitable approach to comedy was spurred by his mother, Coral.

鈥淲hen I first started doing stand-up comedy, I rented a theatre in my hometown (Prince George) and was performing there and my mom said I had a good job at the time still, I was working at the pulp mill鈥� as a power engineer,鈥� Alex explained. 鈥淢y mom said with the ticket sales, I should be giving back to the community.鈥�

Alex said he and Coral chose to give back to the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society. That was the first charity to benefit from one of his shows, and he said it鈥檚 grown from there.

鈥淢y mom鈥檚 idea is always to be of service; you鈥檝e got to give back to other people and think about them more than yourself when you鈥檙e doing anything in your life,鈥� said Alex, adding Coral now oversees his company, ECL Productions.

鈥淪he鈥檚 like our travel agent, our team mom when we鈥檙e on tour, she鈥檚 backstage and bringing everyone snacks and drinks and she plans all of our hotels and flights and travel. She does all the dealings with the venue rental contracts and stuff. I鈥檓 very lucky I have a very good mother.鈥�

Alex said the transition from pulp mill worker to comedy was driven, in part, by struggles he experienced with his own mental health. This is one of the reasons why in Vernon, proceeds from his shows, and more, have gone to the Canadian Mental Health Associations鈥� Vernon and District Branch.

鈥淚鈥檝e gone there and taught joke writing seminars to the participants of the mental health association, because I struggled with mental health, that鈥檚 kind of how I ended up here (in comedy) 鈥� I was very sad and depressed in my old life, trying to figure out a path forward to get out of that,鈥� said Alex. 鈥淐omedy seemed to be the way, and then I was like, if can give these people a tool to help them deal with their struggles 鈥� that felt really good.鈥�

Alex said the Vernon CMHA recently held a talent show that was inspired by him.

鈥淭hey asked me if I would do a video for them they could play at the beginning of the talent show, speaking to the participants, giving them some advice,鈥� said Alex. 鈥淪o anytime I鈥檓 going through Vernon when I鈥檓 on any of my tours鈥� I always drop in at the CMHA and see everyone there. I鈥檓 always greeted with a big smile and hugs鈥�

鈥淚t just fills that sense of community, that love and belonging. I don鈥檛 know 鈥� you can鈥檛 put a price on that.鈥�

Alex said he loves to make people laugh, and believes the world would be a better place if everyone did comedy.

鈥淚 think everyone is funny 鈥� I think everyone just has to find their funny,鈥� said Alex. 鈥淎nd I think everyone can do it and I think it would make the world a better place if everyone was out there telling jokes and performing.鈥�

For more information about Comedy For A Cause, and/or tickets, visit eclproductions/comedy-for-a-cause.

for our newsletter to get Salmon Arm stories in your inbox every morning.