West Coast comedians took home hardware at the annual Canadian Comedy Awards, held on August 26 in Toronto.

The Sunday Service, featuring Ryan Beil, Taz VanRassel, Emmett Hall, Craig Anderson, Aaron Read, Caitlin Howden, and Kevin Lee, won for best improv troupe; Stop Podcasting Yourself, featuring Graham Clark and Dave Shumka, was the winner in the best podcast category; Victoria-raised Kristeen Von Hagen won best female standup; Vancouver’s Point Blank Creative won best web clip for Riverdale: The Archie Movie Trailer; while CBC radio’s goof on the news, This Is That, featuring Peter Oldring and Pat Kelly, took home best radio program or clip.

“It was nice Vancouver took home a bunch of stuff,” said VanRassel on the phone from Toronto. Nominated in the individual improv category six times over the past six years, he added: “It was pretty exciting. And not expected. I’m quite used to not winning.”

What does it all mean, besides a feather in their collective caps? “I don't know,” he said. “Maybe we start charging more at the door. I think there’s a bit of notoriety in Canada, at least, and maybe we can get ourselves some more touring next year.”