[2] At York University, Sparks contributed humorous articles and reviews for the student newspaper The Vandoo and was promoted to an editor, but quit after frequent complaints by Vanier College administration led to tighter guidelines.

Sparks first began performing comedy regularly with York University's Vanier Improv Company as a student,[5] where he became a standout and met his sketch troupe mates The Minnesota Wrecking Crew.

Sparks was a member of the sketch troupes Rocket 9, Gazebo Pals[9] and the CCA-nominated Shoeless, and has also hosted Comedy Bar's Sunday Night Live more than any other guest.

[10] After performing on the show with the Wrecking Crew a few times, he began working the door for Toronto's legendary ALTdot COMedy Lounge at the Rivoli in 2002.

He has opened for such comedians as Kyle Kinane, Moshe Kasher, Russell Peters, Kevin Pollak, Marc Maron, Janeane Garofalo, Norm Macdonald, Joan Rivers, Brian Posehn, Mike Wilmot, David Cross, Andy Kindler, Tom Green, Doug Stanhope and Todd Barry.

Other TV credits include NBC's The Firm, The Beaverton, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Meet the Family, Straight Man, Clumsy & Shy, Dark Rising: The Savage Tales of Summer Vale, The Jon Dore Television Show, Sox in a Box and The Invasion Report.

In 2006 Sparks offered to fight Uwe Boll, who had challenged his critics to a series of boxing matches leading up to the release of his movie Postal.