Sam Breton, a 2013 graduate of the National School of Humor, is originally from Laurier-Station in Lotbinière County.
His mother Sylvie, a single mother, his brother Kaven, his sister Mélanie and he, who was only 4 years old, moved to Saint-Janvier-de-Joly. His mother met her future partner Daniel, with whom he has been together for 30 years and whom Sam considers like a father.
You lived on a farm.
Since I was the youngest in the family, I made hay and made stones. Even after the rather drunken Christmas party, which only ended in the early hours of the morning, my parents got up early in the morning to take the train to the farm and pull the cows.
You were cooking at the age of 12.
My mother taught me to cook as a child. It was important to her that I become independent.
You cleaned your room.
Every Saturday morning, to the sounds of Ginette Reno, Sylvain Cossette, Isabelle Boulay and Joe Dassin, Mom came to check my work, which had to be almost flawless if I wanted to play hockey.
You attended your first Nordiques game when you were 5 years old.
I proudly wore my Nordiques jersey and held the team pennant in my hands. I was touched by the freshness and smell of the ice, seeing the nets and hearing the skates. Even today, I am moved when I go to a hockey game in Florida with my parents.
You played mini hockey in the kitchen.
I loved playing mini hockey in the kitchen. Before and after my hockey league game, I played hockey in the basement of the house or in the backyard of the house. I played up to Junior A level.
You were a regular customer at the Marché Sports aux Puces.
I often wore my brother’s gear, including his skates. Sometimes I had to go to the Marché Sports aux Puces to equip myself.
Family holiday.
We loved camping in Quebec, but never went further than a two-hour drive from the farm in an emergency.
You worked at the Metro Grocery store in Laurier Station.
I was 14 and my parents wanted me to learn how to work under someone other than a family member. I started as a packer employee, then in the fruit department until the end of my studies at Cégep Beauce-Appalaches.
Did you have problems at school?
I would say a hard-working comedian who wanted to make my classmates, but especially my teachers, laugh. In fact, my teachers described me as a leader with “the nerds, the bums, and the cool ones.”
Their first appearance was that of Dominic and Martin.
My mother gave me tickets to the Dominic and Martin show at the Salle Albert-Rousseau. After the show, I searched within myself for an answer as to why I liked the show.
A few years later you got your answer.
During my school days, I played the role of a young Vietnamese man on stage in the film “La Guerre des tuques”. Hearing people’s laughter after I got on stage made me realize that I wanted to be a comedian.
Your parents’ reaction.
During intermission I entertained the crowd while we sold 50/50 raffle tickets. When I came home, my parents understood my desire to become a comedian.
They lived in a small apartment in CEGEP.
My girlfriend and I had the luxury of living in a 1 1⁄2 apartment. Luckily, I had learned these tasks at a young age: washing dishes, shopping for groceries and doing laundry.
Returning home was not easy after your CEGEP.
The walls of my personal foundation have collapsed. My girlfriend and I left each other. There was no way for me to live at home again. Luckily, a friend of mine had an apartment in his basement to rent to me.
A full-time return to Metro.
After my CEGEP studies, I returned to Metro as a warehouse manager for two years. I did comedy shows at weddings, bars and restaurants. A short 60-hour week without forgetting my hockey games.
December 31, 2010 at midnight.
I didn’t want to celebrate the start of the new year with my friends. Suddenly at midnight I realized that life only helps you if you want to help yourself. I decided to enroll at the National School of Humor in Montreal.
Once again a friend helped you look for an apartment.
I was on Dufresne Street, near Ontario, east of Montreal. I loved the neighborhood, although I also discovered the other neighborhoods thanks to the paper map of the city I left on the kitchen table.
On your first day at the National School of Humor you are very emotional.
The choice of my life was before me. The little guy from Laurier Station started living his dream. I was very emotional but also happy to be taking on a career that I loved.
The Four Musketeers of the School of Humor.
Jay Du Temple, David Beaucage, Katherine Levac and I were like the Four Musketeers. They allowed me to discover Montreal. We gave comedy shows at receptions, bars and restaurants. More than once we went to bars to watch shows and have fun.
Your parents instilled great values in you.
In good times or in sad and difficult times, love, humor and laughter have been the foundation of my family.
