JANELLE NILES | Comedian | Nova Scotia/Ottawa
City: Sipekne’katik, Nova Scotia/Ottawa
Instagram: @janelle.niles
Previous work: New Wave of Standup Comedy (CBC Comedy)
Described as eccentric and captivating, Janelle Niles is a Black – Mi’kmaq comedian from Sipekne’katik, Nova Scotia. Drawing from life experience and politics of both her ethnicities, she launched her comedy career in January 2019 in Ottawa (where she now resides), after being encouraged to join the Ottawa Comedy Community on social media and honing her craft at open mics, including Swizzles Bar and Grill Monday comedy night where she continues to perform whenever she can.
Although she only ventured into comedy in her 30’s, her relationship with comedy started at a young age watching Just For Laughs and Comedy in order to heal through humour.
In her relatively short career she has achieved some impressive accolades. She will be making her Just For Laughs debut this September in Toronto, appeared on season two of CBC Gem’s New Wave Of Stand-up, performed at the Arctic Comedy Festival in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and appeared on APTN’s Indigenous Day Live 2022 on Lumi. But she has bigger goals on her radar, including performing at Just For Laughs in Montreal and one day touring Turtle Island.
She also started the Got Land? Indigenous Comedy Show, bringing Indigenous comedians together from across Canada.
More about Janelle Niles
What is your biggest professional achievement?
“Just for laughs! September 30th in Toronto. The biggest milestone of my career is happening soon! I was also featured on CBC GEM New Wave of Stand-up Season 2.”
What obstacles/challenges have you had to face to get to where you are today?
“My biggest obstacle is dismantling Canada’s preconceived notion that indigenous populations need to assimilate and this drives me to keep going and help others know we are still hear and regain our culture back.”
What’s something people should know about you?
“My big personality comes from a inherent need to be strong for my people and myself to tackle tough topics and face adversity. It gets me in trouble because I also have a big mouth!”
