Meet Courtney Gilmour | Comedian & TV Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Gilmour and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, what is the most important factor behind your success?
My self-concept. I think everything I do is driven by how I view myself, what I believe I can do. and deserve. For every milestone I aim at in my career there are always well meaning people who advise me to be cautious about expectations or to have a plan B in place, and it has always been essential for me to be my own motivator. I have a ton of amazing support but during the lulls and the low points I’m the one who has to keep the engine running. I think that knowing yourself is the most rewarding thing you can do..

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a comedian and also a multiple limb amputee so I think I bring a unique perspective to stand up comedy that makes me stand out but also normalizes my existence. I’m able to explore my life through humor and share it with people, which is something I love to do. I threw myself into stand up without knowing exactly where I was going with it, which isn’t really how I had approached anything before. I suppose I had a sneaking suspicion I could make it work but it took a few years playing around, experimenting, a lot of trial and error with joke writing before I knew it was what I wanted to pursue full time.

My biggest obstacle has been my own fear of being seen, which I feel like I have only snapped out of recently, The industry I’m in can be fierce with competition and rejection but I think many of us stand in our own way., not really feeling like we can or should take up space. I’m in a solid place right now where I have a lot of exciting projects I’m working on and for once I feel like I can put my whole self into them without fear of perception.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Toronto so there’s so much to do here it’s overwhelming, but I would take a friend to my favourite sushi spot MIKU. We have a beautiful waterfront with amazing walking paths, gardens, and live entertainment during the summer. I was just in Atlanta so I think it’s only proper that I give a “Shout out” to the best meal I had there at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There were many comedians in my local scene who graciously showed me how to get to where I am. A colleague of mine who works at SiriusXM and has done so much for comedy encouraged me early on in my career and that really solidified my goals, having someone tell me that I’m on the right path. Jon Dore and Nikki Payne are other comedians who I look up to and who have given me great tips and been glowing examples of what being a skilled comedian and good human is.

Website: www.courtneygilmour.com

Instagram: @courtneyjgilmour

Youtube: youtube.com/courtneygilmourcomedy

Image Credits
Krissia Valiente (blue dress, holding mic) Hayley Elizabeth (blue shirt, black pants) Tim Leyes (two headshots in all black, red lips) Carlyle Routh (denim shirt headshot) Nicole Callender (CBC Debaters podium shot)