Rick Mercer is without a doubt one of this country's most highly respected writer/actors, having garnered many awards and accolades since he burst on to the stage at the National Arts Centre in 1990. He has won numerous Gemini awards for his writing and performances, the Sir Peter Ustinov Award at the prestigious Banff Television Festival, and was the 2004 recipient of The National Arts Centre Award at the Governor General's Awards for the Performing Arts. He is also the only civilian to be awarded the Canadian Arms Forces Commander Land Force, Command Commendation—this in recognition of his ongoing support of Canada's armed forces, which has included several visits to Canadian troops in Afghanistan. But the awards only tell a small part of the story. Mercer has become Canada's most celebrated entertainer because of his ability to connect with ordinary Canadians. Nowhere is that better illustrated than in his historic one-hour CBC special, Rick Mercer's Talking to Americans, which attracted 2.7 million viewers across Canada, making it the highest rated comedy special in the history of Canadian television. The special drew rave reviews and media attention across North America and the world.

Hailing from St. John's Newfoundland, Mercer premiered his one-man show at Ottawa's National Arts Centre (NAC) in 1990. Show Me the Button, I'll Push It became a national hit and was performed from St. John's to Vancouver. His second one-man show, the critically acclaimed I've Killed Before; I'll Kill Again opened at the NAC in 1992. It played to sold-out houses across Canada. A third one-man show, A Good Place to Hide, premiered at the NAC in May 1995, and was met with critical praise and full houses. He has hosted the East Coast Music Awards, The Gemini Awards, The Juno Awards, the history series It Seems Like Yesterday, the annual Canada Day show from Parliament Hill, and the CBC Television special The Next Great Prime Minister. Time and Maclean's have published his work, and in June 1998, his first book, Streeters, was published by Doubleday and quickly rose to #1 on the Globe and Mail's National Best Seller List. Mercer currently hosts The Rick Mercer Report, one of the CBC's most popular and acclaimed shows. A book based on the show was released in September 2007; it went into its second printing even before hitting book stores.

Mercer understands what amuses, delights, and occasionally enrages Canadians about our politicians, our media elite, and our great neighbour to the south. Rick brings that same brand of humour to his live events. Drawing on the best moments from his hit television shows, he takes audiences behind the scenes of classic Canadian moments: his interview with Jean Chretien over lunch in a Harvey's restaurant, "Talking To Americans", and his visits with Canadian troops in Bosnia and Afghanistan. The result is a mesmerizing display of comedic satire that engages the mind and the funny-bone. An evening with Rick Mercer is one your audience will remember for a long time to come.

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