Ben Bankas is a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, producer, and podcast personality. Bankas gained attention for his satirical and humorous campaign as a mayoral candidate in the 2023 Toronto mayoral by-election. Bankas injected humor and satire into the race, presenting himself as an anti-woke candidate who challenged political correctness.
Born in Toronto, Canada, Bankas has gained recognition both nationally and internationally for his comedic performances in his teenage years. He frequently tours Canada and other countries, showcasing his stand-up comedy skills through performances with Yuk Yuk's International.
Bankas regularly sells out shows across Canada. Bankas is currently on tour across the country performing stand up comedy for sold out audiences from Victoria to Montreal.
Early life
editBankas was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and grew up there in the The Annex area. He is of Jewish descent. His parents divorced when he was young. As a result, he was mostly raised by his mother, who he said was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.[1]
Career
editBankas began his career in stand-up comedy at the age of 19. He developed his comedic skills during high school, where he played lead roles in two plays and received an acting award at the Sears Drama Festival in 2009. While studying at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Bankas started creating sketches and performing monologues for the University TV station.[2]. Through years of writing and participating in open mic nights, he established himself as a prominent figure in the Canadian and global stand-up comedy community.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when comedy clubs were closed, Bankas gained a devoted following by organizing comedy shows at Bickford Park and Christie Pits Park in Toronto, and was featured in the CBC[3]. Throughout this period, he focused on creating humorous videos that parodied and satirized authoritative figures, which he shared on various social media platforms.
Candidate for Mayor of Toronto
editBankas officially registered to run for mayor of Toronto in March, an office that had been vacant following the resignation of former mayor John Tory.[4]
Known for his comedic videos and sketches, Bankas brought his unique comedic style to the campaign, poking fun at various social and political issues. With over 80 candidates running for mayor, Bankas stood out with his light-hearted approach and unconventional promises.[5]
He joked about making the enjoyment of male sports illegal and replacing the NBA Toronto Raptors with WNBA teams named the "Toronto OnlyFans" and "Scarborough Six Buzz."[6] Additionally, Bankas teased banning Jordan Peterson from Toronto and implementing a Guaranteed Annual Income by bankrupting the city.[7]
The comedian aimed to create a carefree and joyful atmosphere in Toronto, encouraging a return to the happiness and humor he experienced during his upbringing in the Annex neighborhood.
Bankas's campaign videos, which mocked Toronto and the politically correct culture of 2023, gained significant traction on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, with thousands of shares and views.
Bankas provided insight into his motivation for entering the mayoral race, stating, "John Tory quit because he was found to have been cheating on his wife with a staffer, so we're like, let's run. So we're running a platform and just trying to take it to the extreme for the purposes of laughing our butts off."[8]
Although Bankas's mayoral campaign was characterized by humor and satire, his participation added a unique flavor to the race, challenging traditional political discourse and introducing levity into the campaign trail.
Following the election of Olivia Chow as Toronto's next mayor, Bankas created a video posing as her.[9]
Personal life
editBankas resides in Toronto and has one daughter with his fiance.[10][third-party source needed]
References
edit- ^ ReachCrowds (June 25, 2021). "Ben Bankas Official Biography". Ben Bankas Comedy. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Danielle Bengall (March 15, 2013). "Risky comedy business: Comedian Ben Bankas' humour seeks to offend, and succeeds". Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ CBC Comedy (September 11, 2020). "Comedians take shows outdoors to keep Canada laughing". CBC News. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Ben Bankas Comedy. "Ben Bankas For Toronto Mayor Gaining Momentum As He Formally Announces That He Is In The Race". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ CNW Group. "Ben Bankas For Toronto Mayor Gaining Momentum As He Formally Announces That He Is In The Race". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ David Menzies (May 24, 2023). "Toronto Mayoral candidate Ben Bankas vows to replace male pro sports teams (i.e., Maple Leafs, Raptors) with female pro sports teams— but there's a catch". Rebel News. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Joe Warmington (May 11, 2023). "Anti-woke mayoral candidate Ben Bankas aims to make Toronto fun again". Toronto Sun. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Mia Jensen (May 7, 2023). "Comedian Ben Bankas to stop in Sudbury on (fake) mayoral campaign". Sudbury Star. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Jonathan Bradley (June 28, 2023). "Canadian comedian does mock victory speech of Chow becoming Toronto mayor". Western Standard. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ "Cyst Male, Episode 011". The Bankas Show. January 2, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.