Irwin Barker is a comedy writer and performer. Originally from Winnipeg, he began performing standup comedy in 1988. At that time, he was a research consultant and University lecturer in Sociology, and had used comedy as a creative outlet. He quickly gained momentum through comedy and became one of Canada’s top headliner acts, delighting audiences with his clean and clever comedy style which has often been described as an analytical and unexpected approach to everyday life and work.

He has made several television and radio appearances including on CBC Radio’s “Madly Off In All Directions”, CBC’s “Comics”, Vancouver-based CBC TV special “Western Alienation”, and has appeared and written for CBC’s “Definitely Not the Opera”. Irwin has also performed on Comedy Night in Canada, The CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival and the Just for Laughs International Comedy Festival.

Now based in Vancouver, Irwin is currently working as a staff writer for the award-winning television show “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” and spends off-season as speaker and comedy entertainer. He has also been a winner of a National Screen Institute prize for his short children’s comedy, “North Grove”. In 2005, he was nominated for two Gemini Awards as a writer and standup performer, and a Canadian Comedy Award as part of the writing team for “This Hour Has 22 Minutes”. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology and is in the process of writing a book on the philosophy of humour.

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