canadian
character
the
by MICHAEL GREGSON
S
itting across from Ron James as he samples
his lunch and adjusts his vintage, Samuel L.
Jackson-style Kangol hat, you get the impression
that he is your average, everyday Canadian — with
a slight twist. Warm-hearted with surprising intensity, James honed his craft on numerous stages
through a 30-year career in show business. Today,
his success comes as a result of his struggles — not
in spite of them. The result is a rhythmic style of
hard hitting, honest comedy that uses the Canadian
cultural landscape as its backdrop. Why should we
care? It’s simple. With numerous awards and accolades, Ron James is arguably this country’s greatest
comedian. With the success of his fifth season of
The Ron James Show on CBC, he can only get better.
NOTHING HAPPENS OV ERNIGHT. James’ journey
began in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, a small town on the
eastern shores of Cape Breton Island. This harsh environment, plus the guiding hands of caring parents,
laid the groundwork for a strong work ethic, and
what he terms “the organic assimilation of character
and attitude.” When he was eight, James moved to
Halifax, where this idea of perseverance was ingrained and became his mantra. The lilt in James’ accent, although barely detectable, harkens back to his
Maritime memories of quick-witted banter around
the kitchen table; to a time and place where storytelling was a passion and conversation was an art.
THE ROAD TAKES NO PRISONER S, COMEDY
DOESN’T SUFFER FOOL S. After graduating
from Halifax’s Acadia University, James’ original
plan to become a teacher gave way to his love
of theatre. He moved west to Toronto where he
joined the vaunted Second City comedy troupe. For
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Fall 2014 1961 Magazine
a 20-year-old from the furthest reaches of Cape
Breton Island, this was fantasyland — one step
away from landing that sitcom, that film role, that
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