Zandra Bell, the woman behind the polyester

Portfolio | Click here to read Zandra's profile from Women of Vision

 

It took some time and life experience but somehow the girl with the successful 13 year government career, who became the youngest regional director in Canada in her specific department, found the courage to take a risk in 1994 and join the ranks of the self employed. That’s when Zandra Bell began her own business based on a hobby she had taken up several years earlier, comedy writing and performing.

And so “at wit’s end”, her customized comedy enterprise was born. She’s never looked back. Zandra is well known for her comedy stage shows, however, the vast majority of public speaking engagements she is involved in on a year round basis are for conferences and corporate events.

Working together with contact people from an organization Zandra does extensive research on their industry, profession or organization. She then creates and performs unique presentations designed to suit her clients’ needs. She is knowledgeable in a vast array of industries, having worked with a myriad of organizations (see Inspired Audiences).

Ms. Bell was one of the successful career women interviewed for the best seller by Barbara Thrasher and Madelon Smid, "Smart Women", and she was honored in the Edmonton business community as a Global Television "Woman of Vision". Her numerous and varied talents were showcased in a segment of CBC's "On The Road Again". She has also been featured on WTN's "She's So Funny" and CBC Radio's "Madly Off In All Directions". Ontario fans loved her recurring comedic role in the CBC Windsor evening news as "Shirley Best, Investigative Housewife. Rated twice by See Magazine readers as funniest Edmontonian, Zandra also played the comedy sidekick on the country music comedy series, Danny Hooper's Barn Satellite Network (seen on CMT Canada). Her life and her career have also been showcased in two different segments aired on ACCESS, The Education Station and CLT (Canadian Learning Television).

Zandra confesses, “It may sound a bit evangelical, but to me spreading laughter is really about spreading love. When an audience laughs at a punchline, they are all there together for that special moment in time, united in their realities and understanding, completely in sync with each other. For me there has to be truth and intelligence behind the humor. I want to touch not just the “funnybone” of my audiences but their hearts as well. My goal is to make a difference in their lives.”

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PORTFOLIO:

Zandra Bell - Comedian, Writer, Actor Comedy Writer and Performer
  • Proprietor since 1990 of "at wits end" Customized Comedy, a one woman "infotainment" business experienced in researching, writing and performing stand-up comedy in character for private and corporate events. Special emphasis on customizing to clients' information and events' themes.

Comedic Characters

  • Created a cast of "characters" for stand-up and walkabout comedy engagements. Contracted for private work and various festivals. Edmonton Street Performers Festival, Halifax Buskers' Festival, Fatcat Children's Festival - Kelowna, Vancouver Comedy Festival, Nelson BC Buskers' Festival, Calgary Children's Festival, Banff Buskers' Festival, Windsor Buskers' Festival, Waterloo Buskers' Carnival - participated in Edmonton's "Women in Comedy" show, McLab Theatre every year since its origin in 1992 - Director 1996.

Actor

  • Dinner Theatre

  • Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre - Edmonton, Alberta - portrayed various roles in interactive dinner theatre for five years - 1988-1993.

  • Professional Associations/Memberships:

  • Member of Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) (2006 – present)
  • National Speakers' Association (NSA) - USA (2006 – present)
  • International Federation for Professional Speakers (IFFPS) (2006 – present)
  • Edmonton Musicians' Association
  • Edmonton Arts Council
  • Alberta Arts Touring Alliance
  • Tourism Calgary, partnership (Oct 2007)

  • Training

  • Theatre Ontario Acting Courses, Kingston, Ontario Drama, Fanshawe College, London Ontario.

  • Stage

  • Why Can't They Make a Pair Of Pantyhose With The Crotch That Stays Where Yours Is?" her stage debut, played to sold out houses at Edmonton Fringe Festival. Click on Stellar Stage Shows for a complete anthology of subsequent greatest hits!

  • Television & Radio


  • Radio Interview with Greg Smith, The Strength Coach, 2007.

  • TV Interview with Access, CareersTV & HelpTV, 2006.

  • Co-star on "Barn Satellite Network" CMT.

  • Guest spot on WTN's Comedy Program "She's So Funny" 1999.

  • Featured on CBC's On The Road Again, Sept. 1997

  • Created & performed on going comedy spots for CBC News Windsor Ont. as "Shirley Best, Investigative Housewife" Co-starring character on "The Lonely Chef", a comedic cooking show filmed at Access Network, Edmonton, Broadcast in Canada, U.S. and internationally, Supervision Entertainment Inc., completed 49 episodes to date - 1995-1997.

  • Assorted commercials, Denny Andrews Ford, CFRN TV, Quickcard Dental Infomercial, ITV, "It's Ours" marketing campaign, NAIT/SAIT Lottery, 1995, Dance Party Mix 4 CD 1996.

  • Several comedy guest spots, "The Edge", Videotron Communications, 1996 – present.

  • Numerous comedy guest spots in connection with festivals, local art events, CFRN, ITV, Calgary 7.

  • Comedy bit on "Rough Cutz", CBC with host Neil Grahn - March 1995.

  • Featured performer, "Madly Off In All Directions", CBC Radio Broadcast - March 1996.

  • Numerous commercials for local events, FM 105 Radio, St. Albert, Alberta Named a "Canadian Achiever" in conjunction with the radio program, "The Canadian Achievers with Dick Drew", taped interview - June 1996.

  • Comedy spots for various programs, CBC Radio, Edmonton, MG 1200 Radio, Edmonton, Good Good Morning ITV, Edmonton, Breakfast Television, ASN, Halifax, Day by Day, CFRN, Edmonton, CBC Television Windsor.

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Various Highlights

  • Featured celebrity at Edmonton Women's Show 1995-1998
  • Comedy Co-host for Advertising Club of Edmonton Awards - February 1995
  • Victim Services Unit, Edmonton Police. Role play in crisis situations for the purpose of training victim services volunteers - 1991-1993
  • University of Western Ontario, London Ontario. Performed in video on sexual harassment for London Board of Educators, Ken Murch Productions - 1986
  • Customer Service Consulting - designed comedic presentations as a training tool for various organizations and their staff based on thirteen years experience as a Regional Manager in Federal Government

Selected Skills

  • Make-up Application and Facial Art

  • Employed as make-up artist for Joanne Sheskay Modelling agency, Montreal, Quebec - 1981
    Currently contracted as a facial artist for children and adults at various corporate events and festivals.
  • Model & Fashion Show Coordinator - Local fashion shows, Windsor, Ontario. An Evening of Magic - Edmonton, Alberta.


  • French Language Skills

  • Received BA in French language and literature, University of Windsor
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Women of Vision

April 2000 - Zandra Bell
Profile by Renee Beuckert. Between the Lines Inc.

Creativity, integrity, humour and courage - just a few words that describe Zandra Bell, out ITV Woman of Vision for April 2000.

This multi-dimentional woman motivates and entertains on the corporate stage, her customized performances being what Zandra has coined "infotainment."

As a young graduate with a major in French and a keen interest is fashion buying, Zandra left a slow-paced job in a Montreal modeling agency to work for the federal government in her home town of Windsor, Ontario. By the time she was 29 years old, she had soared up the ladder of success and moved to Edmonton becoming the youngest regional Director in her department.

But the creative bones in her body continued to rattle.

After eight years in her new position, Zandra leapt from the security of her full-time job to pursue her dream in acting.

But it wasn't easy, especially considering the catalyst for her career change was "getting out of an abusive relationship." As so many women can relate, she says, "I needed a total change of pace - I needed to build up my self-esteem." And it worked.

Today, Zandra travels abroad fascinating her audiences with her incredibly well-researched, inspirational performances.

With Humour in the Workplace as her main focus, Zandra draws on her experience of the business world. She successfully performs for employees of all walks - from dairy farming and oil industries, to geotechnical engineering firms.

She is authoring a comedy book entitled I Was A Middle-Aged Dating Machine, and in her spare time, she meets with a producer in preparation of her own television program! Success, she claims is "when you're in a place where the flow of the universe works for you as you learn to relax in to the magic of your being."

Congratulations Zandra for being a true Woman of Vision.

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