Canadian comic Ron James reflects on 30-plus-year career ahead of Banff show

Comedian Ron James set to take the stage in Banff Ian White chats with Canadian comedian Ron James about his upcoming show in Banff and the state of comedy.

Comedian Ron James performs this weekend in Banff, one of dozens of Canadian communities where he’s honed his craft over a more than 30-year career.

The Nova Scotia-born comic said he’s done stand-up comedy “from Corner Brook to Courtenay-Comox.”

“I wouldn’t have traded it for the world,” James said in an interview with CTV News.

James said social media and political polarization have changed the landscape for him as a comedian.

“There’s aspects I miss about an analog world,” he said.

“For the most part, there was a civility. There was a civility in parliament. There was a civility in neighbourhoods. And the vitriolic nature of social media has changed everything.”

James performs at the Jenny Belzberg Theatre at the Banff Centre on Saturday, June 1.