Events
The Friends of the Merril hold several public events a year. Events are generally held at the Merril Collection, 239 College Street, Toronto, unless otherwise stated. Events are free unless otherwise stated.
If you wish to be added to an announce-only email list (low traffic) for our events, please contact Lorna Toolis.
You may also join our Facebook group for event announcements by clicking on the “F” symbol at the top of the page.
Scheduled Events for 2013
(additional events will be added as they are confirmed)
Jan 31st – Annual General meeting. At the AGM our board will report on the past year’s activities, give a financial statement, answer any questions from the floor, and hold elections for 2013. Members old and new are welcome to attend (memberships for 2013 will be available for purchase at the meeting). 7 – 9 PM.
We will also be having a book swap at the event. Attendees are encouraged to bring some SF and fantasy books and to go home with some “new” ones, so to speak.
Feb. 15th – Brandon Sanderson. Reading and talk by the SF/Fantasy author. This event is FREE and will be held in the downstairs meeting room at the Lillian H. Smith library, 239 College St. Doors open at 6 PM, the event will start at 7 PM.
Thanks to all the Memory Keeper volunteers for helping out with this event!
March 1st – Cory Doctorow. The SF author and prolific blogger returns to Toronto. Cory will be talking about HOMELAND, his follow up to LITTLE BROTHER, and whatever else he feels like talking about that evening. This event will be held in the downstairs meeting room at the Lillian H. Smith library, 239 College St. Doors open at 6 PM, the event will start at 7 PM.
March 23rd – Filking. Presented in conjunction with FilKONtario, the Friends of the Merril present an evening of filk (SF/Fantasy folksinging). The event will feature some prestigious local filkers and a donation of recorded music to the Merril Collection. The event will begin at 7 PM and run to 9:30 PM.
April 2nd – Ray Bradbury’s Legacy. A panel discussion on the life and works of one of the giants of field. Our participants will be Michael Rowe (author), Chris Szego (bookseller), Sandra Kasturi (publisher), Bruce McDonald (film-maker), and Andrew Specht (collector). The event will begin at 7 PM.
May 11th – Pulp Show. Our annual Pulp Show. Come check out our vendors of vintage pulp magazines and paperbacks (and some reprints). The day will feature a slideshow at 1 PM of classic pulp magazine cover art and talk by Neil Meecham. Admission will be $3. Basement meeting rooms, 10 AM – 5 PM
June 7-8th – Academic Conference on Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy. The Merril Collection is pleased to once again host the Academic Conference, organized by Dr. Allan Weiss of York University. and For further information, submission deadlines for papers, etc., please go to http://www.yorku.ca/accsff/Introduction.html.
June 25th – LGBT Issues in SF / Fantasy. A panel discussion on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues as explored by science fiction, fantasy, and comics. The panel will be chaired by Chris Szego of Bakka-Phoenix books, and will include authors Gemma Files (The Hexslinger Trilogy) and J.M. Frey (Triptych), Christopher Butcher of the Toronto Comics Arts Festival, and others TBA.
July 13th to Sept. 22th - Flight: The Thrilling History of an Idea. A special exhibit of images of flight presenting the real and fantastic, the possible and the impossible. The exhibit will feature many rarely or never seen books and art from the Merril Collection, as well as items from the Osborne and other TPL Special Collections. This exhibit will be ongoing at the Toronto Reference Library.
Sept 14th – SF/Anime Flea Market. Our annual Flea Market of genre merchandise. We’ll have books, DVDs, collectibles, games, costume supplies, comics, and more. Free admission. Held from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Beeton Auditorium, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street. General questions and inquiries for table space should be emailed to Donald Simmons.
Oct. 5th – Dr. Who 50th Anniversary Event: Panel discussion on the science fiction roots of Doctor Who and how the series uses science fiction tropes to such popular effect. Panellists will include author J.M Frey and Who fans Cameron Dixon and Mike Doran. Unfortunately our special guest Lance Parkin is now unavailable due to publishing commitments. The discussion will be held at the Merril Collection starting at 7 PM.
Nov. 6th – Terry Brooks. Reading and talk by one of our biggest and best-selling fantasy writers (Sword of Shannara). This event is FREE and will be held in the downstairs meeting room at the Lillian H. Smith library, 239 College St. Doors open at 6 PM, the event will start at 7 PM.
Nov. 28th – Seanan McGuire. Winner of the John W. Campbell award and author of the October Daye and InCryptid series, she is also an accomplished filker and appears at the Collection thanks to SFContario. This event is FREE and will be held in the Collection at the Lillian H. Smith library, 239 College St. Doors open at 6 PM, the event will start at 7 PM.
Dec. 7th – Friends of Merril Xmas Tea. Come for the tea and scones. Starting at 1 PM in the basement meeting room. More details TBA.