Humber grad wins Tim Sims Encouragement Award

Recipient Meg MacKay honoured at Cream of Comedy

The funniest Canadians now count one more Humber College graduate in their ranks. Meg MacKay, a 2015 graduate of the Comedy: Writing and Performance program, was awarded the annual Tim Sims Encouragement Award at the 20th Cream of Comedy showcase. Established in memory of Toronto performer-writer-director Tim Sims, the award is presented annually to a promising Canadian comedian.

"It is an honour to have received the Tim Sims award, and to be counted among the many talented past recipients who have gone on to do so much for the comedy community,” says MacKay. “I value my time at Humber and am very humbled by the award. I hope that I am able to continue in the footsteps of the many wonderful people who have come before me, and that I am able to pay tribute to its namesake."

According to MacKay’s Humber College instructors, she’s well on her way to doing just that. “Megan MacKay is a very funny, very talented comedian, who, like Tim Sims, is very supportive and encouraging of her peers,” says Andrew Clark, director of the Humber Comedy program. “She’s a perfect example of the best in the wave of rising comedians working in this city.”

Though Humber alumni have frequently won this award since it was founded by Lindsay Leese in 1995, 2015 marks the first time a Tim Sims winner was selected directly by Humber Comedy faculty. Through the generosity of the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund, Humber now has a designated, annual Tim Sims Encouragement Award, with a second award earmarked for graduates of the Second City conservatory program.

From left: Alan Walker, Meg MacKay, Andrew Clark, Lindsay Leese

Photo credit David Leyes