Russell Peters to Host The 2008 JUNO Awards, April 6 on CTV

Friday, Feb 29 2008, 02:00

-- “Global comic superstar” to host Canada’s Music Awards --

Internationally renowned comedian Russell Peters will host The 2008 JUNO Awards broadcast, CTV and the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) confirmed today. The announcement was made by Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc., during the JUNO Award Nominees Announcement in Toronto. The 2008 JUNO Awards will air Sunday, April 6 on CTV from the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.

Peters returns to the network that broadcast his 2003 CTV Comedy Now! special which propelled him into an international phenomenon when it was posted anonymously on the internet and made its way around the globe. The Brampton, Ontario native now sells out theatres and arenas around the world including England, Australia, Singapore and Dubai – and last week became one of only a handful of comedians to ever headline and sell-out New York City’s Madison Square Garden. In June, 2007, Peters became the first comedian to sell-out Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, performing to over 30,000 fans over two nights. Later this month, Peters is scheduled to perform before a sold-out audience at the Sydney Opera House.

"I'm excited to be hosting The Juno Awards - a show which I never would have watched... until now,” said Peters.

Peters has made his reputation by speaking to immigrant communities – Indian, Arab, Caribbean, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, and other South and Southeast Asian audiences around the world. He’s performed in China, South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Jamaica, St. Maarten, Trinidad, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. In 2007, he was the first North American comic to tour India. During his recent tour of Dubai, tickets sold at a rate of one ticket every two seconds, eventually crashing the computer systems and causing near riots at ticket outlets.

“The 2008 JUNO Awards is a national television homecoming for this multi-talented comedian who has taken the world by storm,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “He’s a huge ‘get’ and we know he will bring a whole new element to the broadcast.”

“The JUNO Awards is thrilled to have Russell Peters join the growing list of talented Canadians who have hosted the show over the years,” said Melanie Berry, President of CARAS and an Executive Producer of the broadcast. “Meshing the best in music and Russell’s comedic flavour will make for one of the most entertaining celebrations of Canadian music.” In December, 2007, Peters landed a deal to develop his own sitcom for FOX. The new project will be based on his own family. "Basically, it's a snapshot of my family 10 years ago. My brother and I are both still living at home with our parents," said Peters. "I come from a working-class South Asian family and this show is about exactly that.”

Recently voted the No. 1 fan favourite performer of the past 25 years at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival, Peters has been doing stand-up comedy for 18 years and has built an impressive body of work. He has been featured at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival, the Edinburgh Comedy Festival and many others across the globe.

Peters has been nominated for four Gemini Awards. His TV appearances include two, one-hour Comedy Now! specials on CTV and The Comedy Network as well as CBC’s Comics! He had a recurring role in the Gemini-nominated Canadian sitcom Lord Have Mercy! and hosted his own BBC chat show Network East Late, where he interviewed both South Asian and mainstream artists and personalities. His movie credits include the comedy Quarter Life Crisis, My Baby’s Daddy and the martial arts flick Tiger Claws III.

Peters’ current DVD and CD, Outsourced, was taped before a sold-out audience at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco and has gone ten-times platinum in Canada. YouTube videos of his comedy segments have been seen by over seven million individual viewers. His website, www.russellpeters.com, gets over 10,000 hits a day.

2007/08 Brampton Business Plan Competition
The Brampton Business Plan Competition (Biz Plan) is being offered again for the 2007/08 school year, and is open to all students from all high schools throughout Brampton and Caledon. It is an opportunity for students to showcase their entrepreneurial talents and enhance their business skills through a written business plan competition.

The purpose of the Competition is to give students and young entrepreneurs the opportunity to:

Develop business skills.
Develop presentation, networking, interpersonal and team building skills.
Receive guidance and feedback on the proposed venture idea, and gain an outside perspective on its viability.
Be recognized by local, organizations, teachers and peers within the community.
GRAND PRIZE - $1500 in Bramalea City Centre Gift Certificates
www.bramaleacitycentre.ca

FINAL DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS is Friday, May 23, 2008 @ 4:30 p.m.
For more information contact: Kelly Ballinger at 905-874-2650

Summer Arrives at the Small Business Enterprise Centre - 2008 PROGRAM NOW OPEN

The Brampton Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) will once again be delivering the SummerCompany (2008) program for the Brampton and Caledon areas. The Ministry has announced the eighth year for SummerCompany, a student entrepreneurship experience that will provide hands-on business training, mentoring - and awards of up to $3000 - to help enterprising young people start and run their own summer businesses. It's a great opportunity for students ages 15-29 to develop entrepreneurial skills and build the experience that comes with running a small business.

Through the summer of 2007, the SBEC and its team of volunteer mentors worked with four winners of the SummerCompany program. These high school and college students experienced the challenges and thrills of small business ownership. The Brampton SBEC looks forward to offering awards to creative and hard-working young people again this year.

Deadline for applications is April 30th. Spaces are limited so apply early.
For more information contact: Jennifer Vivian at 905-874-2650

Program Information for both BizPlan and SumCo can be found online at www.brampton-business.com/specialprograms