#FIRSTLOOK: SECOND CITY ANNOUNCE LAUNCH OF JOE FLAHERTY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Second City Training Center is proud to announce the launch of the Joe Flaherty Memorial Scholarship, a new initiative honouring the life and legacy of celebrated comedian, actor and writer Joe Flaherty. A beloved alumnus of The Second City’s storied stages in both Chicago and Toronto, Flaherty’s career helped define a generation of comedy. Before beginning that journey, he served four years in the United States Air Force, a meaningful chapter of his life that this scholarship seeks to recognize and celebrate.

Beginning in 2026, The Second City Training Center will award four full scholarships to veterans and active servicepeople in the United States and Canada, supported by a $5,000 USD endowment established in Flaherty’s name. One full scholarship will be awarded annually at each of The Second City’s Chicago and Toronto Training Centers in both 2026 and 2027.

Each scholarship recipient will receive full tuition for The Second City’s signature 5-level Improv Program, an intensive, 10-month training experience built on the foundations of unscripted performance. Through guided instruction in spontaneity, collaboration, and comedic storytelling, students gain the skills and confidence to create from a place of joy and play. The final two levels culminate in public performances, giving students the opportunity to showcase their growth on stage.

“Joe Flaherty’s body of comedic work is nothing short of iconic. He was also a mentor and teacher to so many who have gone on to become household names,” said Julie Dumais Osborne, VP, Second City Training Centers. “We’re honoured to help new voices begin their own comedic journeys in his name and to be able to offer this opportunity to folks who’ve dedicated their lives to the service of others.”

How to Apply

Veterans and active servicepeople from the U.S. and Canada are invited to apply online through the Second City Training Center website.

2026 Scholarship

• Application Deadline: January 31, 2026
• Recipients Notified: February 27, 2026

About Joe Flaherty

Joe Flaherty (1941–2024) began his comedy career at The Second City in Chicago, writing and performing in multiple Mainstage revues alongside talents like Brian Doyle-Murray, Harold Ramis, and later John Belushi, before moving to Toronto to help launch The Second City Toronto with Gilda Radner and other future stars. He went on to become a core cast member of SCTV with John Candy, Catherine O’Hara and Martin Short, earning nine Primetime Emmy nominations and two wins for Outstanding Writing, and creating memorable impressions and characters including Kirk Douglas, Richard Nixon, Guy Caballero, Big Jim McBob and Count Floyd. Beyond SCTV, Flaherty appeared in films and television series such as Stripes, 1941, Going Berserk, Back to the Future II, Happy Gilmore, Freaks and Geeks, and The King of Queens, and served as an advisory board member for the Harold Ramis Film School.

About The Second City Toronto

The Second City first brought its iconic improv and sketch comedy to Toronto in 1963 for a week of performances at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. After a decade of sold out shows at the 1200-seat theatre, The Second City established a permanent home in the city with the opening of “The Old Firehall” on Lombard Street. In 1976, The Second City Toronto further solidified its place in comedy history by creating the groundbreaking television show SCTV.

In December 2022, The Second City began an exciting new chapter by relocating to its state-of-the-art facility at One York Street. This move introduced three distinct theatres: The Mainstage, Theatre ’73, and The John Candy Box Theatre, each offering nightly performances that continue The Second City’s tradition of bringing laughter to audiences.

Since making a home in Toronto over 50 years ago The Second City has grown to become the most influential name in comedy launching the careers of countless Canadian comedy legends. Our illustrious alumni list includes names such as Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Mike Myers, Colin Mochrie, Bob Martin, Jerry Minor, Gavin Crawford, Kevin Vidal, Darryl Hinds, Chris Wilson, Lauren Ash, Ann Pornel, Alan Shane Lewis and so many more.

For more information on The Second City, visit www.secondcity.com and follow The Second City on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.