2009 Canada Day Parade

[Grga]

For next year, I would like to have a joint parade entry for as many fan groups as are willing to join in. We've got an extremely high number of fan groups in the Lower Mainland (far more than I have been able to find -- online, at least -- in any other part of Canada), so I think it would be cool to strut our stuff for the mundanes.

(In fact, I have joked about carrying protest signs with slogans like "Why Be Normal?" or "Repudiate Mundanity" or whatever.)

So, I have started this thread to plan next year's parade in advance, and to let you know which other groups have agreed to join in with the effort.

Grga

[Grga]

What I'm thinking (at this point, anyway) is that it would be cool to have people marching in clusters by fandom. (For example, in last year's parade, I was a Man In Black, but there really should have been two of us, so people would have "gotten" it. In the same way, people might not "get" Laura Roslin or Gaius Baltar, since they essentially wear civvies, but if Laura Roslin were flanked by Admiral Adama and Tori, and Gaius Baltar had Number 6 by his side, people are far more likely to "get it."

So, what I'd really like to see is a cluster of people representing each of the shows we love, enough so that we could have a row of characters stretching right across the street for each:

So, I have extended invitations to the 501st Legion for Star Wars, the 13th Colony for BSG, the Vancouver Browncoats for Serenifly, the Grey Havens for all things Tolkien, NW-B5, and the Doctor Who, Farscape, Harry Potter, and Stargate Meetup Groups. Trekkies are of course welcome, too, or any other fandom, for that matter. Or, if you have (or can come up with) a costume for any of the shows represented, feel free to come out in that, even if you're not in the related club.

So please post a message here, stating what you plan to wear, and which show it's from.

[Danielle]

VCON would like to help promote this event, so if you'd like to post or like us to post a call for volunteers on the VCON members list, let us know. Much of the concom will be attending, but I don't think any of us have worked out costumes yet. To be added to the VCON members list, get your VCON membership and make sure you include your email address on the reg form. www.vcon.ca. If you'd like to contact a member of the concom directly, links are also on the website.

[Grga]

That's cool, Danielle. Chilam and Keith were at the planning meeting, and I trust that they will be reporting to you.

[Grga]

Ten terrific BIFFegates turned out for the planning meeting this week, as we started planning ahead for the North Shore Canada Day Parade. Between us, we had representatives from FRED, Monster Attack Team Canada, NW-B5, the Royal Swiss Navy, the 13th Colony, and VCON, with regrets from the Doctor Who and Stargate Meetup groups. Among other things, we decided that, rather than making the entry in BIFF's name, we would call ourselves "Combined Science Fiction Clubs of Greater Vancouver" (or preferably something punchier to the same effect, like "Vancouver Fandom", or "Sci-Fi Vancouver", or something along those lines.) We're also thinking of holding a Post Parade Party, if we could just think of a suitable party venue near the parade route. So far, it looks like we have a good start. All we have to do is get the word out to local fans just how much fund it is marching in a parade.

[Grga]

The North Shore Canada Day Parade is coming inexorably closer, and I'd like to try to get a few things nailed down for our joint entry:

1. Just a reminder that the discussion thread for planning the parade entry is this page right here.

2. I would like to make it clear that I'm not attempting to steal any participants from RenFest's entry in the Canada Day parade in Steveston. Please let your group members know that the invitation to take part in the North Shore parade is only intended for those who aren't taking part in the RenFest entry.

3. I'm planning on using "Science Fiction and Fantasy Clubs of Greater Vancouver" for an entry name. If anybody has an objection to that, speak now or forever hold your pieces.

4. The parade rules have changed this year. Now we can have up to two vehicles, if we like. I know that at last month's meeting, there were several possibilities raised besides borrowing Chilam's brother's Buick which was using in shooting the pilot episode of The X-Files, but now I can't remember any of them. I would like to get this aspect of the entry settled as soon as possible, because the number and description of the vehicles is on the parade entry form. So if you can remember any of the ideas thrown around at the last planning meeting (or have a new idea), please bring it up.

5. Would you please RSVP to the parade's entry in the calendar if you're planning to come out? The number of people in the parade entry is also on the entry form, so I'd like to take the number of people who RSVP in the next week or so, and put that on the form as "X to 2X" people. (Note: if you're planning to dress up in something from a show which has a group in town (Meetup, NW-B5, etc.), please RSVP through that group. What I'd like to see is the maximum number of costumes per "fandom" as we can manage, with no duplication of characters.

6. There is NO point 6.

7. Val suggests that we have another meeting to discuss planning this next month. Open dates are the 15th, 22nd, and 29th. Do you have a preference?

[Chris]

> 2. I would like to make it clear that I'm not attempting to steal any
> participants from RenFest's entry in the Canada Day parade in Steveston.
> Please let your group members know that the invitation to take part in
> the North Shore parade is only intended for those who aren't taking part
> in the RenFest entry.

AH honey. Did someone accuse you of doing so? All of my cast and my command team know that we do the Steveston Parade and a large entry makes for an incredible promo op. As far as I know my whole team is there for me. If they are with us then they should be taking part at Steveston as that is our last chance to do any promotion (With the renfest just a few weeks after that it is, truly, our last chance) and if they slept through that indication for the last three years then honey, there is nothing I can do about it. To be honest there is not much fresh blood in the group this year and those who are are actors not part of the sci-fi community and their costumes belong to BCRF and after some very expensive mishaps and issues with loaning out costumes they are either with us at a promo op (or at the renfest) or not in one of our costumes.
Part of me wishes I was with you guys though. I haven't been in my archers outfit in ages and miss the whole sci-fi fantasy parade thing. It was so wonderful walking on either side of you (Greg) in your Gandalf outfit. Martin and I truly felt like we were part of our own little personal fellowship. I guess once the renfest is fully staffed with folks who get it and can do the jobs, and maybe our finances level our as well, we'll be able to breath again and return to fan life on top of Ren life. Man I miss you guys. And I miss BIFF.
>
> 5. Would you please create the parade as an event for your respective
> groups? What I'd like to be able to do is tell people to RSVP to the
> group they're planning to wear a costume from..

Have you thought of using the evite service? It has been very handy for us in the past. With their reply they can include the group or any other info as well as be able to invite others. I love the darn thing.
>
> 6. There is NO point 6.

Aw shucks. And I was so looking forward to it.

All right. Have to go back to work now.

Miss you all.
Christina

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[COL Joe "Magilla" Fuller]

Greetings from Region 5, STARFLEET, Int'l,

Please forgive this ignorant Yank... when is Canada Day? (ducking his friends to the north as they hoot and toss pizza crust in his direction)

We would like to attend if at all feasible!

Joe Fuller
Vice Regional Coordinator
Region 5, STARFLEET

[Grga]

Oh, yeah. Sorry, Joe. Canada Day, aka Dominion Day, is July 1st, in observation of the British North America Act (which brought what is now Quebec, Ontario, New Bunswick, and Nova Scotia together to form Canada) coming into force on July 1st, 1867.

[COL Joe "Magilla" Fuller]

Thanks! I think we will plan on helping out then!

[Grga]

So far, the groups which have set up RSVPs for the parade are The 13th Colony (for Battlestar Galactica characters) and the Vancouver Stargate Meetup Group (for... oh, never mind. Too obvious.) I will add more links here as more Meetup groups make the parade into Meetup events.

[Grga]

I just got word that Star Trek Vancouver has made the parade an event, so any Trekkies/Trekkers who plan to come out should RSVP there.

[Gwen]

Grga,

We had a great Stargate meetup today, and actually started talking about the Canada Day parade and the 4th of July Parade in Pt. Roberts. Our creative juices started flowing and we started planning a "puddle jumper going through the gate" entry. We need to know if it is possible to have a vehicle in the parade, or if we've waited until it is too late. Let me know.

Gwen