Irwin Barker - Keynote Speaker

Background
    Keynote speaker Irwin Barker is definitely no ordinary comedian.  He combines a solid academic background and understanding of today’s diverse workplace with an insightful blend of clean and clever comedy material.  Irwin started performing stand-up comedy in 1988 and has quickly become one of Canada’s top headliner acts, with a wealth of original and clean comedy material.  At the time he started his comedy career, Irwin was already very successfully employed as a research consultant and University lecturer in Sociology.  The comedy, which began as a creative outlet, gained rapid momentum and placed Irwin in considerable demand as a comedy performer for comedy festivals and after-dinner speaking.

Corporate Speaking

     Irwin Barker has extensive experience in specialized comedy performing and writing for corporate functions, conferences, fundraising events and related after-dinner engagements. As a keynote speaker, his client list is an impressive array of major corporations and national associations. He has also published in the area of “Managing humour in a Diverse Working Environment.” This rather unique blend of theoretical and practical approaches to humour provides Irwin with a very flexible offering to corporate clients, ranging from straight stand-up comedy to serious reflection on the meaning and application of humour as a learning and living tool.

     While he continues to perform in comedy clubs across Canada, Irwin has become increasingly involved in the area of corporate comedy, in response to a growing demand for clean, clever and topical material suitable for conferences, special events and corporate functions. Irwin clearly has a remarkable talent for relating to this type of audience. Recent speaking engagements have included the American Marketing Association, Canadian Bar Association, Canadian Evaluation Society, Canadian School Psychologists Association, Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Geographers Society and the Canadian Broadcasters’ Association. Corporate clients have included major corporations such as Kraft Foods, The Southland Corporation, Rice Financial, Canada Life, Investor’s Group, Royal Bank, Scotia Bank, Bank of Montreal and Great West Life.

Style of Humour

     Irwin Barker’s approach to humour can be described as an analytical and unexpected approach to everyday life and work. Early in his comedy career, Irwin’s success on stage emerged with the development of a unique stage persona which is very much a reflection of his academic and professional experience. His comic persona has been described as “cleverly thought out introspection... a delightfully analytical approach to life and work.” Combined with a friendly and noticeably relaxed stage manner, Irwin has delighted audiences wherever he performs. Audiences from all walks of life have responded positively to his refreshing style and material.