As a writer and
columnist, Marla’s credits include CBC radio with such shows as Dayshift with
Erika Ritter, Basic Black with Arthur Black and The Vicki Gabereau Show. On
Saturday mornings you can hear Marla’s voice on The Care Bears Cartoon series
as Good Luck Bear.
In July of
1998, Marla was suddenly diagnosed with breast cancer that had spread to her
lymph nodes. She had a lumpectomy and lymph node removal, which was followed by
an aggressive course of chemotherapy and daily radiation treatments. Marla
completed her treatments in January of 1999. Since then, she has written a
memoir and a collection of short stories and poems describing her experiences.
In them, she talks proudly about her life with cancer with honesty, frankness,
and humor.
Marla is
currently doing inspirational speaking engagements across the country,
entertaining and informing people of her personal cancer journey in hopes that
it may help others. “If I can touch even one person, and make them feel that
they are not alone, then I have succeeded.”
Marla's Profile
• A veteran of television, Marla’s
credits include A&E’s ‘Evening at the Improv’, ‘The Alan Thicke Show’, and
CBC’s Nationally acclaimed show, Midday with Valerie Pringle,
where she appeared as the popular "Last Word" commentator. She has
been referred to as" Canada’s answer to Andy Rooney
-- without the whine".
• Marla is not only a funny lady and
writer but also an accomplished actor with appearances on ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘Seeing
Things’, ‘Doc’, and the feature film ‘Honeymoon’, where she starred with
France’s Nathalie Baye and American actor John Shea. You can find this movie in
your local video store in the horror section -- but not because it’s scary.
• She was a proud member of the Second
City Touring Company for one WHOLE month until they realized that she wasn’t
Andrea Martin and asked her to leave.
Presentation Titles
• Life with Cancer -- Marla’s presentation
offers insight into the mind of someone going through one of life’s worst
nightmares. She confronts her disease head-on and makes funny and unexpected
jokes about the disease that has changed her life as well as her relationship
with friends and family members- some for the worse, and some for the better.
Simply put, it’s about a brave and funny woman facing huge fears and
challenges. Marla offers her own personal experience with breast cancer and
approaches this tender subject with humour and sensitivity along with simple,
tangible instructions and suggestions. Friends and loved ones are often
confused as to what to say, what to do, to phone or not to phone, to visit and
be involved or not to bother the cancer patient at all. Many people feel awkward
and uncomfortable at the very sound of the word "cancer" let alone
having a relationship with someone who has it.