Michael Bourada, Magician in Ottawa, ON.

My magic career began right here in Ottawa, where I first discovered my passion for creating wonder and connection through performance. Growing up in this city gave me the perfect playground to hone my craft—from intimate gatherings at local cafes to community events in the ByWard Market. Even now, after decades of performing, there’s something…

I started performing magic in the late ’90s when I was just 14. Back then, it was magic at Ottawa birthday parties, local fundraisers, and community events—anywhere someone would hand me a mic and a small crowd. I didn’t care about the size of the audience. I just loved performing. There was something about connecting…

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, everything stopped. Live events vanished overnight, and with them, my entire calendar of magic shows. Like so many in the live entertainment world, I suddenly had no stage, no audience, and no idea what came next. For a few months, I just waited—hoping things would bounce back quickly.…

One of the toughest setups for any live performer, especially in a corporate setting, is walking onstage and seeing a wide, empty dance floor between you and the audience. That 20 to 30 feet of space might not seem like much on paper, but in reality, it creates a disconnect that’s hard to bridge. Laughter…

When the world shut down in early 2020, so did my live magic shows. Overnight, the bookings vanished. Like many performers, I was left with uncertainty and a lot of time. That’s when I turned to TikTok—not because I had some master plan, but because I needed a creative outlet. I started posting magic videos…