By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter NORTH SHORE NEWS

Mark Smith has had a lot of courage throughout his life.

He took a leap trying stand-up comedy to face his fears of public speaking. More than two decades later, Smith has toured festivals across the Lower Mainland spreading joy and laughter to people.

But the North Vancouver comedian also took courage in another way 乌鸦传媒� celebrating his recovery daily for the past 11 years.

He took his passion for comedy and recovery to create Stand Up For Recovery, a night of comedians and musicians bringing people together to celebrate recovery and healing, taking place this Saturday evening at the North Shore Alano Club.

乌鸦传媒淚f you put your recovery first, everything else will work out,乌鸦传媒� Smith said. 乌鸦传媒淐omedy is a passion of mine that I just love and enjoy, so it became a no-brainer to put together Stand Up For Recovery.乌鸦传媒�

Also a full-time carpenter, Smith will host Saturday乌鸦传媒檚 show. The night will start off with a dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. As more people trickle in, there will be 乌鸦传媒渨elcoming music,乌鸦传媒� with the night kicking off with rapper KeHill, who has been performing since the first showcase, Smith said.

Comedians from across the world will take this year乌鸦传媒檚 stage, including U.S. comedian Dino Archie, New Zealander Sophia Johnson and Canadian jokester Amber Harper-Young. Newcomer comedian Kevin Smith will also take part, following up his appearance at the 2024 show.

The show is open for all walks of life to attend, Smith said. More than 25 per cent of the seating will be alloted to local recovery home clients for free to give them a chance to check out the show.

乌鸦传媒淭he key factor for the show is to bring people that are new in recovery into a safe space where they can find joy and laughter, and be with the community that understands where they乌鸦传媒檝e been, and what they乌鸦传媒檙e going through,乌鸦传媒� Smith said.

乌鸦传媒淲hen you乌鸦传媒檙e in addiction, whatever it may look like, it乌鸦传媒檚 isolation,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a very dark place, and it乌鸦传媒檚 a very lonely place, and you feel like nobody understands you, and that can be devastating to the soul.乌鸦传媒�

The North Shore Alano Club, where the show will be, is a non-profit charity that focuses on supporting people in recovery through meetings and events since the early 1970s. The club holds more than 30 meetings a week.

He emphasizes it乌鸦传媒檚 important to take recovery one day or moment at a time.

Smith has seen the show grow from its first gig in February 2020, then moving online through Zoom before heading back in person last year. He乌鸦传媒檚 thankful to see how far it乌鸦传媒檚 come, he said.

But the show is not just for entertainment, there will be an opportunity for people from the crowd to take the stage and crack some jokes if they wish, Smith said.

乌鸦传媒淭hese shows give people a little glimmer of light. Laughter is .125an.375 amazing cure, laughter gives hope,乌鸦传媒� Smith said.

Moving forward, he hopes to expand his shows to other cities in the Lower Mainland.

乌鸦传媒淲hat we乌鸦传媒檙e sharing is a message to the community that this is possible. Not only is recovery possible, but a positive lifestyle and a healthy lifestyle can happen for anybody. Plus we乌鸦传媒檙e having fun doing it.乌鸦传媒�

Stand Up For Recovery happens at North Vancouver乌鸦传媒檚 North Shore Alano Club, 2nd Street East, Saturday, Jan. 25, 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $20 on Admitone