October 16, 2007 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The Chuckle Bros, a comic strip created by National Arts Centre Orchestra violinist Brian Boychuk together with his brother Ron Boychuk and illustrator Ronnie Martin, has been picked up for U.S. and worldwide syndication by Creators Syndicate. The popular panel/strip currently appears in 36 newspapers across Canada, including the Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, Victoria Times Colonist, Regina Leader Post, Calgary Herald, and Edmonton Journal.

The Chuckle Bros is distributed in Canada by Torstar Syndication Services. Torstar helped broker the deal that grants Creators Syndicate rights to distribute the strip in the United States. Starting on October 22 it will be available to thousands of newspapers across the continent.

Creators Syndicate represents over 100 of the most talented writers and artists in the world, including Robert Novak, Mike Luckovich, Bill O'Reilly, One Big Happy, BC, Wizard of Id, and Speed Bump. Its cartoonists have won countless awards, including Pulitzer prizes, Reuben awards, and many others.

"With Torstar Syndication Services covering the Canadian market and now Creators Syndicate on board for both U.S. and worldwide distribution, the stage is set for one heck of a ride," said Brian Boychuk. "The Chuckle Bros are as ready as we'll ever be."

"Chuckle Bros will make a great addition to our line-up and we're so excited to have them on board with their zany humour," said Margo Sugrue, National Sales Director, Creators Syndicate. "I first saw the panel in an editor's office at the Ottawa Citizen, and knew immediately that I'd love to have it."

Robin Graham, Managing Director of Torstar Syndication Services said, "The fabulous success of the Chuckle Bros Canadian launch was a great beginning, as editors found out what we already knew: this is a terrific little comic that people will love because it consistently delivers a solid punch line and outstanding art."

Brian Boychuk has been a violinist in the National Arts Centre Orchestra since 1978. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, he began his musical studies at six years of age under Dr. Howard Leyton-Brown, a former concertmaster of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Throughout his early career he won numerous festival and musical competitions and, in 1975, became one of the youngest concertmasters in the history of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. He was shortly after appointed to the post of concertmaster of the Regina Symphony and, in 1978, accepted the coveted position with the NAC Orchestra. Mr. Boychuk has been a faculty member at the Conservatoire du Québec, and is a past concertmaster of l'Orchestre de chambre de Hull and former long-time member of the internationally acclaimed ensemble Thirteen Strings of Ottawa.

Brian and his brother Ron dreamed of writing a comic strip for years, collecting and writing down hundreds of ideas. But it was not until they came across Ottawa artist Ronnie Martin doodling in a cafeteria that the Chuckle Bros at last came to life.

You can meet the three Chuckle Bros at a book signing of their compilation On the Road at Shirley Leishman Books in the Westgate Shopping Centre from 11:00 to 13:00 on Saturday, October 20.

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For more information please contact:
Jane Morris, Communications Officer,
National Arts Centre Orchestra
(613) 947-7000, ext. 335
jmorris@nac-cna.ca