Windsor-Essex Pride Fest hosts a comedy event to raise money for their new scholarship

 

The Windsor-Essex Pride Fest has started raising money for its new scholarship.

The organization hosts two different comedy shows throughout the year. Their most recent show was called Fruit Punch Two and took place on Nov. 13. More than 60 people went out to the Walkerville Brewery to see six comedians perform over the course of the night. The proceeds from the show will go to the new George Hannah Red Scholarship. The scholarship will be presented to a St. Clair student and is presented in honor of George Hannah, who died this past July.

“St. Clair College is a priority for us, the students are very important,” said Mel Lucier, a local comedian who performed at the event. Lucier is also on the board of directors and the volunteer coordinator for the Windsor-Essex Pride Fest.

Windsor-Essex Pride Fest hosts a festival every summer and Lucier has been involved with the festival for about 10 years. She says it is the biggest event they hold and this year’s was the largest so far with 8,000 people.

“The summer Pride Fest funded about six or seven charities this year,” said Lucier. “We have booths set up that provide public education, we had firefighters come out to teach the kids about safety and we also have a family day. It’s just to support the community at large.”

There were comedians from many different cities who came out to help support Friday’s event with some making the trip from Toronto.

“It’s always amazing every time I get a new chance in comedy especially tonight when I get to perform for a cause like this,” said Chris Mallioux, 24, who was the opening act.

Lucier said Windsor Pride has not decided which student will receive the scholarship but she said it will be a fun and interesting process when the time comes.