From humble beginnings, growing up on a Manitoba farm as one of the only gay people in his town, to starring on MuchMusic’s Video on Trial, to touring stand up gigs and producing Big Brother Canada, comedian Trevor Boris is a busy, busy man.
And that’s just the start of it.
Boris is also headlining the Edmonton Paint the Town Red Gala on Friday, October 3rd, a fundraiser for The Pride Centre of Edmonton, an event he says he looks forward to.
"When I grew up there were no gay people around so, you know, it’s definitely very rewarding to do these shows and be a voice for gay people, and be the example that I never had when I was younger," Boris says. "I find it very rewarding to do these kinds of shows and I’m very excited for it.
"Pride fundraisers are always a blast and I have done a bunch. I feel like it’s always an event [where] you can let your hair down a bit and have fun, really let loose, so I always look forward to those. The crowd usually gets really into it and they are usually open to an edgier show."
Touted as a hip and quick on his toes comic, Boris is known to play with the events he does, testing out the audience to see just how far he can – or should – go.
"I think the fact I’m openly gay, that’s edgy to people, but I’m not trying to be cruel or mean. It’s just my job to push people out of their comfort zone and have some laughs. I’m not middle of the road boring; I may cross the line at times or dance on it, but that’s part of the fun and what makes it entertaining."
That is why Boris spends time feeling out the room and the audiences, getting a sense for which people are into it.
"I guess I’m fast-paced because I’m scared not to get laughs so I have lots of jokes – if they don’t like that one then maybe they’ll like the next one," Boris laughs. "I just want people to leave happy at the end of the night."
Boris has been busy producing the popular reality show Big Brother Canada, which is on season 3 now, and says he welcomes the touring gigs that come his way.
"I’ve been touring a lot, which has been crazy, but it’s good to be busy. I kind of have a short attention span so I like being busy with lots of stuff. There’s never really a dull moment."
While he starred in and produced MuchMusic’s Video on Trial for nine years, Boris says it has been nice to move on to other things – even stand up which, for a while, he was getting tired of doing because of the constant travel.
"It used to be all I did and now it’s more of the break from other stuff, which is good. It is something you have to do lots to stay sharp; it is kind of like a muscle. If you don’t use it then it gets weak. So I do enjoy it a lot more now because it keeps me on my toes."
