91原创鈥檚 Susan Thompson was part of 91原创 Fine Arts School鈥檚 very first graduating class.

And 25 years later, she鈥檚 continued in the performing arts industry.

鈥淎s soon as my mom said there鈥檚 a fine arts school, I said, 鈥業 want to go!,鈥欌�� she said.

The 43-year-old has spent the past eight years performing as a comedian.

Immediately out of high school, Thompson applied to Douglas College鈥檚 theatre program, but didn鈥檛 get in. After a few years, she ended up getting married, and having kids, but never let go of her performing arts dream.

鈥淚 was like, 鈥楴ope, this is a piece of me I can鈥檛 let go.鈥�

Some friends dared Thompson to try comedy, and her response was 鈥淚 got nothing to lose.鈥�

鈥淚 always gravitated to being the funny kid [in school], which was rare at the time for a girl. It wasn鈥檛 that popular for the girl to be the class clown, but I鈥檝e never really done things that would be considered the norm anyways.鈥�

鈥淚 love the business aspect of it [comedy], and how it鈥檚 always changing,鈥� she added.

Thompson said the point of the comic used to be to 鈥減oke fun at what鈥檚 happening in the world鈥� and added it鈥檚 more important than ever to have comedy today.

鈥淣owadays comedy is even more important because it forces dialogue. If someone鈥檚 at my show and they get offended, that has nothing to do with the comic on stage, that has to do with the individual.鈥�

Thompson emphasized it鈥檚 important to keep 鈥渇ree speech鈥� in comedy, and worries the industry may be becoming too censored.

鈥淚n order for something to be funny, it has to be well-written. If you start censoring comics, you鈥檙e not going to have the next big headliner,鈥� she explained.

Thompson described her comedy style as 鈥渃heeky鈥� and said she often talks about her children.

鈥淚 guess I鈥檇 be considered the 鈥榙isgruntled mommy.鈥� I can be saucy, and I鈥檒l put people in a direction, and then I鈥檒l flip them around. I鈥檓 not a filthy comic, but I鈥檓 not 100 per cent clean either. I鈥檓 not controversial.鈥�

One of the challenge鈥檚 during her comedy career is being a woman.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not the easiest for women. Most of the time I鈥檝e been very lucky, but some women haven鈥檛 been as lucky. It still can be a bit of a man鈥檚 world, but there are some changes being made. Women need to be strong and show your strength, and don鈥檛 let people push you around. If you鈥檙e funny and strong in your business sense, they will respect that. You command that respect,鈥� she elaborated.

During her comedy career, Thompson has worked and toured all over Western Canada, for companies such as Laffs on Tour, Callback Entertainment, and Yuk Yuks.

Currently Thompson works for the Jake Hirsch Entertainment Group as a show producer and talent specialist.

In the near future, Thompson is hoping to move to Los Angeles to work for Crave News 鈥� a digital platform that presents 鈥渞aw, non-corporate, and unbiased news.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檒l be a network that is sparking conversation,鈥� added Thompson.

She plans on being less in the spotlight, and taking on more of a backstage production role.