That was 16 years ago. Today, Leclerc still opens his magic show with the very same silk scarf trick while describing his first “magical” experience to his audience.

At only 25 years of age, Leclerc is quickly gaining a reputation in the magic community and beyond for his crisp technique and his amazing showmanship. At the recent Canadian Association of Magicians Convention in Kitchener the former Louis Riel student became the first magician in the organization’s history to win both the Close Up Magic competition and the Stage Magic championship. He won the latter award in 2003 at the ripe old age of 21.

In Kitchener, Leclerc competed against eight other magicians as more than 300 of their peers acted as the judges, Each competitor had to perform their routine three times in front of a different group of 100 judges who were sitting or standing about 10 feet away.

Leclerc routines consisted of two tricks – making the sleeves of his bathrobe rise and turning a razor into a pack of matches.

“It’s great because they all knew what was going on so you had to impress them more with your showmanship and how you present the trick than the actual trick itself,” says Leclerc.

Leclerc’s entertaining combination of jaw dropping effects and master showmanship is in high demand. He has performed across Canada and in the United States.

On July 1 he’ll perform in front of his biggest crowd yet, when he takes to the main stage during the Greater Orléans Canada Day Celebration on Petrie Island.

For Leclerc, magic is an all consuming passion. But what drives him to continue to improve his show is the audience and their reaction.

“Everywhere I go I’m thinking magic and how can I do something better or different. Magic is the only art form that produces wonder in an audience. That sense of ‘Wow, how did he do that?’,” says Leclerc.