My schedule of events at Ad Astra Science Fiction Convention, at the Sheraton Parkway North Toronto Hotel in Richmond Hill, Ontario:
Friday, April 29,
2016, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm:
Diversity
and Equality in Cosplaying - Markham B
What
are some important considerations to take into account when cosplaying to
recognize diversity and equality? In recent years, cross-race or gender
costuming has become more common, but it can have many pitfalls. Learn how to
avoid the most common mistakes that lead to problematic cosplaying and be respectful,
but also how to think outside the box in ways that challenge notions of
traditional cosplay. With: Lady Di, Todd Clark.
Saturday, April 30,
2016, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Star
Trek: The First Fandom - Markham A
These
days it's easy to forget that there's one science fiction and fantasy
property that you can trace the entirety of fandom - convention culture,
fanfiction, message boards and online discussion, and celebrity
worship, among other things - back to. It's Star Trek, which is this
year celebrating it's 50th anniversary. What was it about Star Trek that
drew fans into it's orbit in a way that no other science fiction or
fantasy universe had before? Why has Star Trek seemed to have lost it's
centrality to fan communities even as fandom itself has begun to
dominate mainstream media and lifestyles? Let's talk about and celebrate
Star Trek and it's place in fandom history. - See more at:
http://adastra.shdlr.com/grid#sthash.pxEkOugd.dpuf
These
days it's easy to forget that there's one science fiction and fantasy property
that you can trace the entirety of fandom - convention culture, fanfiction,
message boards and online discussion, and celebrity worship, among other things
- back to. It's Star Trek, which is this year celebrating it's 50th
anniversary. What was it about Star Trek that drew fans into it's orbit in a
way that no other science fiction or fantasy universe had before? Why has Star
Trek seemed to have lost it's centrality to fan communities even as fandom
itself has begun to dominate mainstream media and lifestyles? Let's talk about
and celebrate Star Trek and it's place in fandom history. With: Anatoly Belilovski, Cathy Hird, Derwin Mak
Saturday, April 30,
2016, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Diverse
SFF Islamophobia and the War of the Worlds - Newmarket
World
governments are lining up to intervene in Syria; the refugee crisis in the
Middle East and North Africa has provoked a surge in Islamophobia in the West;
and veterans and victims of the 'war on terror' are contending with
life-changing injuries. This panel discusses the role SFF can play in
disrupting the media myth of a 'clash of civilizations'. Can SFF help challenge
the way race and religion are used to demonize others and perpetuate
geopolitical conflicts? When human rights concerns over disability, gender and
sexual orientation are marshaled as arguments to go to war, can - or should -
SFF reflect and re-frame these debates? With: Cathy Hird, Jane Ann McLachlan, Naomi Foyle
Saturday, April 30,
2016, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Saturday
Evening Science Fiction Reading - Oakridge
Hear me read an excerpt from my new story "Songbun". I share this time slot with Alyx Dellamonica, Kelly Robson, and Madeline Ashby.
Sunday, May 1,
2016, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
What Can
Your DNA Tell You? - Newmarket
So
companies like 23andMe now offer average Canadians the ability to better
understand their own genetic information, to learn something about themselves
from their DNA. But how is this useful? Healthcare professionals have expressed
concerns about decisions people could make based on risks of diseases or
illnesses that lie in their genetic information. Others are fascinated by what
it can tell us about family lineages and history. This panel is a place to
discuss the implications of what our DNA can teach us and the value in knowing,
and the things that this technology might offer us in the future. With: JF Garrard.
