Trailblazing MONTRÉAL comedian Sugar Sammy made Canadian comedy history with his hugely successful bilingual You're Gonna rire – Le show franglais concerts, opening the doors to a new kind of comedy in Quebec, where people from both French and English linguistic backgrounds can go and enjoy a show together. That show, as well as his You're Gonna Rire: Illegal English Edition and En Français SVP concerts became a Quebec cultural phenomenon. The multi-lingual Sugar Sammy – who grew up in MONTRÉAL's Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood, went to French school and does comedy and is fluent in English, French, Punjabi and Hindi – has headlined concerts on five continents, everywhere from Australia to Kuwait and China, to America and Egypt. While he is moving to Paris in September 2016 to embark on the next stage of his career, Sugar Sammy says MONTRÉAL will always be home.

What is your favourite pastime?

Playing hockey and watching hockey.

How long have you been a Montrealer?

I was born here, so 39 years.

What is the coolest thing you've done so far this year?

Perform in Paris.

What is it you love most about stand-up comedy?

Just the feeling of working and hearing people laugh at the same time. I feel laughter is a gift. To make an audience laugh to me is the best feeling in the world.

Do you have a scary story about performing live?

It was in Sherbrooke last year. We had a death threat before one of my shows. Instead of cancelling the show, I continued on because the Sherbrooke police said everything was okay. They had checked the theatre, they searched everybody. But between every punchline I would check the audience!

What's the next big thing you're planning?

To build the market in France. I'm (already) there a few months of the year to build a new market from scratch. I'm starting small, in small clubs. But I will always come back to MONTRÉAL. I have to come back to pay my taxes!

What's your favourite MONTRÉAL memory?

There are so many. Mainly I think being a Montrealer is such a privilege. You notice it more when you see what goes on in the rest of the world. You come back here and there is a sense of comfort. I think Montrealers are very considerate to one another and towards tourists. You notice that the more you travel. There is also a lot of space compared to the rest of the world!

What's your favourite MONTRÉAL restaurant?

I have a bunch of hang-out places. There is Tavern on the Square, which is cozy, has high ceilings with a discreet little TV at the bar so you can watch the hockey game while you eat. I also love Lucille's Oyster Dive on Monkland. Japanese restaurant Biiru in the Quartier des Spectacles is one of my favourites before a show. Escondite is a great higher-end Mexican restaurant. And on the more casual-dining side, I like Grillades da Silva close to the Olympia Theatre – one of my go-tos because it's right next to work for me – and they have best Portuguese chicken in the city. For breakfast, I like Café Orange on Décarie.

Where do you like to go for drinks with friends?

I'm not much of a party guy anymore because that's what happens when you turn 40. But for cocktails, some of the restaurants I mentioned I'll just sit at the bar and order a bit of food.

What's the one thing anyone visiting MONTRÉAL should absolutely do?

Come watch my show!

Sugar Sammy has added new dates in 2016 for his You're Gonna rire – Le show franglais concerts at MONTRÉAL's Olympia Theatre, as well as You're Gonna Rire: Illegal English Edition and En Français SVP. For tickets and more information, visit sugarsammy.com.

Watch the video interview: http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/meet-a-montrealer-sugar-sammy/

Photo: Eva Blue