Arts and Culture

From Caribbean basketball to comedy in Kelowna

Local comedian ready to hit the stage again

  • Local comedian Randy Jernidier
  • Jokes are focused on stories about his life
  • Next headline show is March 4

Life in Guadeloupe and Kelowna are worlds apart, in more ways than one.

But for Randy Jernidier, the Okanagan is a place to grow creatively and try new things.

“If you want to put on a show, you can find a space, you can find the people that are going to come and support [you],” the up-and-coming comedian told Kelowna10.

Jernidier grew up in a small city on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. He found his way to Kelowna by route of a scholarship with the UBCO Heat in 2016. He said he quickly fell in love with the community and scenery.

“Everything is kind of possible in this city. Basketball got me here, but the community and the city kept me.”

After playing varsity basketball for a year, Jernidier wanted to transition to coaching. This is when he started to focus more on writing, acting, and more creative expressions.

One day, after cracking jokes with his friend, he was urged to try standup comedy, something that struck him as an interesting challenge.

“If you think you’re funny, are you going to be able to make these people laugh?” he said. “Are you going to have the courage to go in front of the people and try your stuff?”

Turns out he did.

His first standup gig was at an open mic session at Dakota's Comedy Lounge in 2017.

“Most of the things I’m talking about are straight from my life,” he said. “I love telling stories, so if there’s a story that’s compelling to me that I think needs to be told, I’m going to find a way to make it funny.”

Since then, he’s performed across the country at various comedy festivals and clubs.

But his career, like many other comedians, was battered by the pandemic, with a slew of shows being cancelled. However, Jernidier said it gave him more time to focus on research and hone his comedy skills.

“I feel like COVID made comedy more exciting, because it feels kind of illegal,” he said. “It’s been a curse and a blessing at the same time.”

After recently spending a few months in Montreal to finish up school, Jernidier, whose first language is French, decided to try comedy in his mother tongue.

“It’s a different culture. Some jokes will translate, some won’t translate as well,” he explained, saying that he enjoyed doing French comedy and hopes to put on shows for French immersion schools in the future.

His favourite part about comedy is the power of laughter and how it can be used as a way of bringing light to dark times.

“I believe laughter is the best medicine … If you’re laughing, you’ll feel better,” Jernidier said. “Laughter is like a surprise… that’s the only way your body can react. Laughter is important.”

His next show will be on March 4 at Dakota’s Comedy Lounge.

Published 2022-02-14 by Jordan Brenda

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