Everybody loves Candy Comedian takes stand-up to a studio audience

Life is now a little sweeter for an Aboriginal comedian who is in the process of filming episodes for her new television show.

Candy Palmater of Halifax is on cloud nine now that she is living out her childhood fantasy of hosting a program that combines her love of music and her natural ability to make people laugh.

The Candy Show is now in production and will air on APTN in the fall. The half-hour variety show will feature everyone from visual artists and musicians to Aboriginal leaders.

Palmater describes the show as the perfect remedy for anyone who needs a break from the current bombardment of reality television. She also looks forward to giving Nova Scotia musicians a chance to share their talents with the rest of Canada.

“It’s a really cool way to show the rest of the country what is†happening here on the East Coast,” said Palmater.

The Mi’kmaq comedian will interview guests on a set that is a replica of the 41-year-old’s childhood bedroom; the same bedroom where the Candy Show was first conceived.

“I always had this thought in my mind about The Candy Show and about how these famous musicians would sit around and talk about their music,” said Palmater. She recalled spending hours in her bedroom as a young girl dreaming about the day she could hang out with the bands whose albums blared as the 16-year-old anticipated her future.

“I used to think I could be like those people in Rolling Stone magazine that interview the musicians.”

Palmater, who is the youngest of seven brothers and sisters, all raised in Point La Nim, N.B., is still in shock that the fantasy she refused to let go of has actually come to fruition.

Flash back to a decade ago and Palmater was graduating from Dalhousie University with a law degree. Earning the honor of class valedictorian in 1999, Palmater was on the path of beginning her career as a lawyer. It only took two years working in corporate law for the vivacious performer to realize it was time for a change.

The self-described activist made a career change in 2002 and decided to work with the government of Nova Scotia as a way to help her community.

“During the day I am the director of the Mi’kmaq liaison office at the Department of Education…and then at night I get to make people laugh,” said Palmater.

Ocean Entertainment President Johanna Eliot is someone who had no doubt in Palmater’s aspirations becoming reality. As the production company behind The Candy Show, Eliot was sure Palmater’s larger-than-life personality was something that made her the perfect person to stand in front of a camera.

“The cameras pick up on everything, so to have someone like Candy, with such a warm personality, the cameras just suck that up and it goes right through to the audience on the other side,” said Eliot. She is also the executive producer of the six episodes filmed during the last week of April at the Olympic Centre in downtown Halifax.

Letting perfect strangers have access to an unedited and proud Candy Palmater is something that has likely contributed to her genuineness.

Palmater isn’t shy about admitting her age, the fact that she’s gay, weighs 300 pounds and identifies as an Aboriginal woman.

Despite her ability to not take herself, or life, too seriously, Palmater said she has very clear standards when it comes to writing comedy for her show or for stand-up.

“You will never catch me selling out my race or gender for the sake of a laugh,” said Palmater.  “I am an activist first and foremost and I consider comedy just a different venue to do my activist work.”

Palmater is often sought out to speak at various events on issues such as gay and Native rights. Even though she adores arousing laughter from diverse crowds, she also wants people to feel comfortable and maybe even go home and think about what she had to say.

The first three episodes for the show will feature musical guests Katey Day, In-Flight Safety and The Whiskey Kisses.

The Candy Show is also the title of the 2006 CBC documentary that told the story of Palmater’s life growing up on a farm in Nova Scotia, which ultimately led to her living out her destiny centre stage.