Bria Hiebert Wins 2019 Tim Sims Encouragement Award

Bria Hiebert may have graduated from Humber only this spring, but she’s already making a name for herself as a stand-up comic, writer and actor. She’s performed in top venues in Canada and abroad, appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in both 2018 and 2019, and now she’s a recipient of the 2019 Tim Sims Encouragement Award. Established by Lindsay Leese in memory of Toronto performer-writer-director Tim Sims, the $2,500 award is presented annually to a promising Canadian comedian who is nominated by their faculty.

“I am very grateful to be this year’s Tim Sim’s recipient,” says Hiebert who also produces the pop-up stand-up show Kitchen Comedy. “I’m honoured to be in the company of many talented and hilarious past winners. As an artist, it is encouraging to encounter organizations that are willing to invest in creative pursuits, and I appreciate the opportunity to further develop my craft."

“Bria is an exceptionally talented, determined comedian,” says Andrew Clark, director of Humber’s Comedy: Writing and Performance program. But one of the things that sets Hiebert apart is the way she invests in the creative pursuits of her peers. “She’s a dynamic producer who encourages her peers,” Clark notes. “A very deserving Tim Sims Award recipient.”

Through the generosity of the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund at the Ontario Arts Foundation, young comedians have received over $65,000 since 1996. Since 2015, the Fund honours two recipients each year: one from the Humber College Comedy: Writing and Performance program and one from the Second City conservatory program. Recent Humber recipients include Glenys Marshall (2018), Jordanne Brown (2017), and Robbie Woods (2016).