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Jessica Holmes

Celebrated Comedian | Author | Mental Health Advocate

Beloved comedian Jessica Holmes has been a perennial favourite on Royal Canadian Air Farce for 15 years, and has brought the house down opening for giants such as Ellen DeGeneres, Russell Peters, Jerry Seinfeld, and Oprah Winfrey. Her hilarious take on life’s challenges as well as her unique knack for impersonating celebrities, including Shakira and Celine Dion, have audiences in stitches. Her customized emcee and entertainment presentations — which include motivation and wellness — are always a hit.

Behind the laughter though, Holmes, like millions of Canadians, has struggled both with post-partum depression and, as she puts it, “regular, run-of-the-mill, garden-variety depression”. Hoping to help end the stigma around mental health issues, she openly shares her personal stories with the humour she’s known for, bringing light — and laugh-out-loud laughter — to what can often be a dark topic. Holmes’ funny and inspiring book, Depression The Comedy: A Tale of Perseverance, takes readers deeper into her mental health journey with validation and warmth.

As a performer, Holmes’ productions have garnered her a Platinum Award at The Worldfest International Film Festival, and nominations for Gemini Awards and the prestigious Tim Sims Scholarship. She has starred in her own program, The Holmes Show, and also in the films Welcome to Mooseport, Citizen Duane, and Moonpoint. She also appeared in the pilot for The Communist’s Daughter, which won the JFL ComedyPro competition in 2018, and continues to perform comedy across the country.

La très populaire humoriste Jessica Holmes, personnage adoré parmi la troupe de l’émission Royal Canadian Air Farce, remporte toujours un grand succès sur scène avec ses monologues hilarants, ayant fait la première partie des spectacles de supervedettes comme Ellen DeGeneres, Russell Peters, Jerry Seinfeld et même Oprah Winfrey.

Mais derrière l’humour, Jessica – tout comme des millions de Canadiens – a été aux prises avec la dépression post-partum ainsi que, selon ses termes, de « dépression courante, bien ordinaire, votre dépression de tous les jours ». Dans l’espoir d’aider à éliminer la stigmatisation liée aux problèmes de santé mentale, elle partage ses expériences personnelles avec l’humour qu’on lui connaît, mettant en lumière – de façon absolument hilarante – un sujet qui peut souvent sembler très difficile.

Le nouveau livre de Jessica intitulé Depression: The Comedy (dont la sortie est prévue pour avril 2018) entraîne les lecteurs dans son parcours en santé mentale et témoigne des leçons qu’elle a apprises, notamment sur la façon de trouver l’équilibre entre vie personnelle et vie professionnelle et de redécouvrir nos passions.

À la télévision et au cinéma, Jessica est la vedette de sa propre émission, The Holmes Show, et elle a joué dans les films Bienvenue à Mooseport, Citizen Duane et Moon Point.

Sur scène, les productions de Jessica ont reçu un « prix Platine » au WorldFest International Film Festival, plusieurs nominations pour des prix Gemini ainsi que la prestigieuse bourse Tim Sims.

Elle vit à Toronto avec son mari et ses deux enfants.

Understanding Mental Health: The Good, the Bad, and the Funny

The negative stigma surrounding mental illness leads to more unnecessary suffering for the one in five working Canadians dealing with mental health conditions. And the stress and isolation of COVID-19 has led to higher rates of burnout and presenteeism. It’s time to talk but discussing mental health doesn’t have to be heavy or burdensome.

Comedian and Bell Let’s Talk ambassador Jessica Holmes breaks down the stigma by using heart and humour to share her experience with depression. She weaves comedy, characters, and music to bring understanding and hope to a serious subject, describing how she went from successful entertainer who opened for Oprah Winfrey to couch potato who slept more than the cat!

Holmes shares the lessons she wrote about in her heartwarmingly funny book Depression The Comedy to motivate your team to prioritize their well-being. Your team will learn:

  • Where to begin if they or someone they know is struggling.
  • How a small shift in perspective can increase their fulfillment and happiness at work.
  • Simple, achievable steps to improve mental health.
  • That no one is alone, and we’re all entitled to a sense of well-being.

Holmes’ story, which has a deeply happy ending, leaves your team with a better understanding of mental illness, more empathy and understanding for those suffering with it, and that wonderful feeling you get from belly laughs.

Power Laughs: Using Humour to Build Resilience

There’s no better way than humour to remind us we’re all in this together, so take a load off with some laughs! Stress is a part of life, especially with the triggers a pandemic brings, but we are more likely to live healthy, productive lives if we maintain our physical and emotional resilience. This touching, honest, and laugh-out-loud presentation offers simple, achievable steps to redirect our thoughts and take charge of our well-being.

Jessica Holmes proves that comedy is more than an entertainment form; it is a powerful filter through which we can navigate stressful situations, empower us to recover from setbacks, and face challenges more easily. She brings all the fun and energy of her comedy act, reminding us that while life is far from perfect these days, it’s easier with our sense of humour intact.

The 60-Minute Perspective Makeover: Proven Tips to Living an Awesome Life!

The secrets of success are the same no matter what business you’re in, and success begins with getting motivated. Inspiration and comedy unite in this 60-minute transformational presentation from “I should…” to “I will!”.

Energizing and funny, Jessica Holmes’ call to action combines her trademark character comedy with quirky anecdotes to deliver motivational insights into:

  • Finding greater meaning in your work.
  • Using positive psychology to be happier day to day.
  • Setting and reaching your goals.
  • Learning to laugh at life’s shortcomings.

Holmes gives quick, achievable “how to’s” about these topics and more, in a laugh-out-loud hour of fun. The audience receives introspective takeaways to guarantee that her presentation makes a meaningful impact.

Bring on the Joy! Building Resilience and Engagement in Times of Change

Years of flux and uncertainty have left people burnt out and many are still grappling with disconnection. It’s more important now than ever to foster a sense of well-being and engagement in the workplace.

Comedian and Bell Let’s Talk ambassador Jessica Holmes presents a moving, funny, and energetic talk that encourages positive mental health and reengages your sense of purpose. Drawing on inspiration from her own journey through depression, Holmes shares how she reconnected with her love of life and work, drawing parallels with this new chance we all have to thrive after setback.

Holmes’ call to action combines comedy with inspiration from the field of positive psychology. She delivers insights into:

  • Simple, sustainable steps to improve mental health.
  • Shifting perspective to increase fulfillment and happiness at work.
  • Moving forward with empathy for yourself and others (one of the most important parts of a successful team!).
  • Renewing your sense of purpose and energy by engaging with your values.
  • Reigniting your creativity.

This talk honours the courage it has taken to come this far and reconnects audiences with their greatest qualities to bring on personal and professional joy!

Hosting

Whether in English or a mix of English, French, and Spanish, Jessica Holmes brings her mix of comedy and celebrity impressions to liven up your event, in-person or virtually!

Through researching your company in advance of the big day, Holmes is able to custom tailor her show and incorporate your company’s needs into her performance, which includes a mix of comedy and celebrity impressions. For virtual events, she performs live segments and creates hilarious pre-taped segments, tailored to your audience, of her signature impressions that will be sent prior to your virtual event.

Weaving her comedy in and out, Holmes maintains a great pace throughout the event, never losing sight of the bottom line: it’s your special event, and it deserves to be extraordinary.

Celebrity Services

Jessica Holmes is represented by The Spotlight Agency for sponsorships, endorsements, public relations and media spokesperson campaigns, product launches, voiceovers, celebrity appearances, and more.  Please visit The Spotlight Agency for more details.