"When you're the producer, you don't have to be funny anymore because you own the show," says Ardell Brophy Fitzpatrick, founder and producer of the Laff Riot Girls comedy troupe.
She has made a lot of people laugh since founding the Laff Riot Girls in 1997. The troupe has performed 6,700 shows and is Canada's longest-running female comedy act.
Not only does Brophy Fitzpatrick make people laugh, she gives back while doing it. Brophy Fitzpatrick, a longtime labour activist, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars with the Laff Riot Girls for Metro Vancouver community causes and charities, including United Way of the Lower Mainland.
Brophy Fitzpatrick has worked with United Way for over 15 years.
"I've gotten involved with United Way because I've seen how it has benefited organizations both big and small, and that is really important to me," she says.
She began her relationship with United Way as a COPE 378 workplace campaign chair. Today, as vice-president of United Steelworkers Local 2009, she serves on the 2011 United Way campaign labour committee.
United Way and labour have shared a valuable partnership for more than 30 years. The Canadian Labour Congress and United Way developed this relationship in communities across Canada as one way of ensuring that workers and their families have access to important social services.
This fall marks the second comedy fundraiser Laff Riot Girls are performing on behalf of the United Way. The performance takes place Oct. 13 at Lafflines Comedy Club in New Westminster. In 2010, Brophy Fitzpatrick was awarded the New Westminster and District Labour Council Labour Community Service Award. She was also honoured in 2001 by the Government of Canada for her outstanding volunteer contributions. -United Way
