CAM 2009 Awards & Wrap-Up

[David Acer]

In case anyone's interested, the Canadian Association of Magicians threw a great convention just outside of Montreal this past weekend, featuring Eric DeCamps, James England, Bob Fitch, Arthur Trace, Bob Friedhoffer, Alain Choquette, Cheng Lin, Ted & Marion Outerbridge, Nathan Kranzo, George Saterial, Vincent C, Michel Huot, Yannick Lacroix, Tyler Wilson, Eric Leclerc, Stphane Bourgoin, Spidey, Steve Duperr and Majinx. The association also presented a variety of awards. I was fortunate to receive Magician-of-the-Year honours (I think what put me over the top was the swimsuit portion of the competition), but that was just one of several commendations given out, including prizes for the close-up and stage contests. Here's a complete list:

CLOSE-UP

First Place: Marc-Andr Rayle
Second Place: Scott Strange

JUNIOR CLOSE-UP

Spencer Peterson

STAGE

First Place: Patrick Reymond
Second Place: Neil Croswell

JUNIOR STAGE

Neil Croswell

SORCEROR'S SAFARI SCHOLARSHIP

Spencer Peterson

ONE-HANDED CUT COMPETITION

Trent Tinney

SID LORRAINE AWARD

Phil Matlin

MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR

David Acer

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Joan Caesar

[DChung]

What David hasn't mentioned is how we couldn't have run this convention without him. He was a huge part in making the weekend the success that it was. The planning was a 2-year process and David was always there to help. Needless to say, it was an honour for me to be able to present the Magician of the Year Award to David, even though I did have to see him in a bikini.

Best,
Derrick

[Magic Mike]

Thanks, Guys.
It really was a great convention.

[David Acer]

Apologies for a typo above - I meant Jason England, the exceptionally gifted card worker from Las Vegas, not James England, a product of my overtired brain.

I also forgot to thank the organizing committee - James Chung, James McSorley, James Trudel and James Vachon.

[Bob Farmer]

There was a huge article on the convention with a great 1/4 page pic of Grant McSorley plucking a card out of a shower of cards in the Saturday Globe & Mail. The article is here:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... le1190341/

The Globe & Mail is the Canadian equivalent of the National Enquirer. It usually features articles on space aliens ate my children, so this was a small, but welcome, change.

[Eric DeCamps]

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Highlights of the 2009 C.A.M. Conference for me were:

Arthur Trace on stage and in close up
The Human Deck of Cards (Michel Huot & Yannick Lacroix) HILARIOUS
Bob Fitch's Close up coin act (INCREDIBLE)
George Saterial's stage act
Tyler Wilson's madness
Jason - the machine - England's card work
Patrick Raymond's contest winning performance
Guy Camirand receiving a Presidential Citation from IBM President Joan Ceaser for his Contribution to Magic
Phil Matlin's Lifetime Achievement Award
and let me not forget...
James Acer's performance in the close up, MC'ing the Saturday Gala/Contest but most importantly how smok'n HOT he looked in a bikini!

Congratulations to Sofie Anne Vachon, Marc Trudel, Derrick Chung and Grant -the dude- McSorely for a job well done!

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[Bob Farmer]

"Joan Ceaser for his Contribution to Magic"

--and, it would appear, for fooling us all on gender identification.

[Richard Kaufman]

Yeah, and you spelled HER name incorrectly. It's "Caesar."

[Grant McSorley]

I think I speak for the other organizers when I say that running a national convention was more work than any of us imagined, but we are thrilled with the support we got from all the performers, attendees and volunteers and are really pleased with the response we've received.

As far as press coverage goes, there's a great interview here with David Acer.

Also, on top of all the performers David already listed, Spidey Akkelian was part of the Canadian Lecture and presented some great material.

We'll be organizing more events over the next three years leading up to CAM 2012 (the next time it will come to Quebec). If you'd like to know what we're planning, just drop me a note at gmcsorley@gmail.com.

Grant McSorley

[Nathan Kranzo]

This convention was so much fun! Marc, Derrick, Sophie-Anne, Grant and everyone did an incredible job. SO many great moments. Made lots of new friends! : )

Later,

Kranzo

[Tim Ellis]

I thought Guy was a guy....

[Tim Ellis]

Ah, I see... "Guy Camirand receiving a Presidential Citation from IBM President Joan Ceaser for his Contribution to Magic" should have been GIVING and HER

[David Acer]

Ah, I see... "Guy Camirand receiving a Presidential Citation from IBM President Joan Ceaser for his Contribution to Magic" should have been GIVING and HER

Nope. Guy Camirand received a Presidential Citation from IBM President Joan Caesar, and Joan Caesar received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Canadian Association of Magicians. Surprisingly, Eric DeCamps got the Morrissey Magic Award for Spelling & Gender Identification.

[Eric DeCamps]

[size:14pt][font:Book Antiqua]In a reviewing my performance at the 2009 C.A.M. Conference in Montreal this past weekend, Sylvie St-Jacques of Montreals leading French newspaper La Presse said, New Yorks Eric DeCamps magic performance was mystifying.

Thanks to the C.A.M. 2009 organizers and photographer Cheng Lin, I've update my website with "live" pictures of my June 19 performance at C.A.M. 2009. Please check them out here: C.A.M. PIX
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