Dawn Xanklin is a bold, daring, and authentic voice.

Born in Dominica and based in Ottawa, Canada, she’s been lighting up stages since 2017 with comedy that’s sharp, heartfelt, and unapologetically real.

Dawn draws her humor from life as a wife, mom, and proud Black nerd (“Blerd”), blending clever observation with cultural honesty. Her stand-up has been described as “funny, relatable, punchy” and “high energy”. Whether she’s performing TV-clean sets or diving into mature material, Dawn’s superpower is connection, finding the human truth inside every laugh.

Since her start, Dawn has become a recognized force in Ottawa’s arts scene. She’s performed across Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal, earned a nomination in CBC Comedy’s Next Up, and performed in three editions of the Underground Comedy Railroad Tour — Canada’s longest-running, all-Black comedy showcase. In 2021, she was named Ottawa’s Best Comedian by FACES Magazine and was a finalist the following year.

Beyond stand-up, Dawn’s storytelling roots run deep. She’s hosted Ottawa StoryTellers’ popular (un)told series, performed in Rockabilly Heartbreaker, and written award-nominated original works. Her first play, Blurred Life, debuted with a staged reading at San Antonio’s Overtime Theatre. In 2024, she was selected for the Ottawa Fringe “under development” residency and received an ARTicipate Project Grant. This grant provided support in the production of her largest stand-up comedy showcase, “In the Black” — a sold-out celebration of Black excellence in comedy at the Shenkman Arts Centre (March 2025). That success inspired her next creative venture, RECLAIMED!, a storytelling-meets-comedy hybrid exploring voice, identity, and healing through humor.

Onstage or off, Dawn believes comedy can do more than entertain. Comedy can connect, challenge, and uplift. Her work celebrates Black voices, centers authenticity, and reminds audiences that laughter is both resistance and release.