A trailblazing force in Canada’s comedy scene for more than three decades, Lara Rae is an orator and an entertainer, a teacher and an advocate.
Beloved for her ability to leverage her enthusiasm to bring about change in society, Rae is well-respected for her willingness to give of herself with openness, humour and grace, and invigorating others to do the same.
A longtime contributor, writer, columnist and director on CBC radio and television, Rae has written for programs such as Blackfly, Big Sound, What a Week, Definitely Not the Opera and Monsoon House. She is a three-time nominee of the Canadian Comedy Awards and a Gemini Award nominee from her work as one of the co-developers of the hit television series Little Mosque on the Prairie which ran for six seasons and aired across the globe.
Her autobiographical play, Dragonfly, which explores her “gender odyssey” and her journey becoming a transgender woman, won the 2020 Chris Johnson Award for Best Play by a Manitoba playwright. She was the first transgender women to host the CBC flagship news program The Current.
In addition to her cultural and creative works, Rae has been a prominent community activist for social justice. In 2019, Rae founded Pantry, a local food project that provides home-cooked meals, winter clothing and other essentials to her neighbours in Winnipeg’s West Broadway area who are struggling with food and shelter insecurities. The success of Pantry is fueled by the same energy she has shared throughout her life to create community, embrace change, celebrate inclusion and inspire action, both in Manitoba and far beyond. Rae was named one of the Nellie McClung Foundation’s 150 Trailblazers for this work, and for her longstanding contribution to Winnipeg’s cultural communities.
Come see Lara in action this Monday, January 20 at 8pm at the West End Cultural Centre!
The Fu Fu Chi Chi Choir 