She’s an accomplished fundraiser and storyteller, advocating for Edmontonians while making them laugh
Age: 39
Medicine cures, but art has always generated some healing power. “We’ve heard many times, laughter is medicine,” says Brooke Rose. Before diving headfirst into the world of stage, Rose was a driving force fundraising $16 million for the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and $45 million during her time at the University of Alberta. “I was a hype woman for medical research,” she says. She has since stepped down from that role and taken the position of executive director of development with Edmonton and area Partners in Affordable Housing.
“It all comes down to the people,” she says. “You can’t uplift a city without uplifting its people.”
Her commitment to her work followed her on stage. An improv comedian at locations around town and a performer for the Grindstone Theatre Society, Rose gives Edmonton audiences a comforting, funny persona to connect with.
She knows that how you tell a story will make it memorable or not. “If people are laughing, they’re listening,” she says. That belief led her to launch the series Irrational Women and Irrational Science at Irrational Brewing Company. The events are designed to educate people and combat misinformation. She believes scientific data shouldn’t be trapped in lecture halls, but enjoyed with a nice cold beer.
Rose never misses an opportunity to combine her love for science and the arts. “People are hungry for dialogue and connection,” she says. She has spent her career using storytelling and human connection to make people care about something. And her projects have become catalysts for conversations in our city.
“On stage I share stories that bring laughter and joy during times of despair. It is a gift to serve this city.”
This article appears in the November-December 2026 issue of Edify
