When: Thursday, May 21, 2026 (Doors open at 6:00pm, talks start at 7:00pm)
Where: Dickens (1000 9th Ave SW MAP)
Tickets: $15 plus fees – tickets
Join us at Dickens. Order yourself a drink or two (and you can order yourself dinner) while you sit back and listen to us talk nerdy to you. Dickens allows our patrons to order food from their full menu, and of course, the full bar. Street parking is available in the area (free after 6pm) as well as pay lots nearby. Dickens is also located two blocks from the downtown West-Kerby C-train station.
Presentations (not in order)
Talk #1
Title: Design of a Qamutik: why it works so well
Presenter: Thomas Hadlari, Dr., He/Him
Talk teaser: Design features of a Qamutik ᖃᒧᑏᒃ
About: Dr. Thomas Hadlari has a mixed Indigenous heritage from Arctic Canada. When he was very young his Gwich’in birth father died and he was raised by his adopted father who was Inuit from the central Arctic. He attended one of the last residential schools, Akaitcho Hall, in the early 1990s when he was 14-17 years old. He did an undergraduate degree at the University of Saskatchewan and completed a PhD in Geology at Carleton University in 2005. He presently works as a researh scientist at the Geological Survey of Canada and conducts research and field work along the Arctic coast of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and throughout the Arctic Islands in Nunavut.
Talk #2
Title: Broken Patterns
Presenter: Adam Hemeniuk, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Mount Royal University
Talk teaser: Math is about patterns, but what happens when seemingly nice patterns suddenly break? Does the universe have a sense of humour about this?
About: Adam teaches math and does math research at Mount Royal University, and is a volunteer with the Prison Mathematics Project. (Also pictured: Francesca.)
Talk #3
Title: Being Good Art Neighbours
Presenter: Jess and Rich Theroux
Talk teaser: Creativity, Community and Chaos. We learned a lot running a street level space in calgarys downtown west end for more than ten years, what’s needed in our changing world? How do you build a critical mass of love? How does neurodivergence play a role in creating safe spaces.
About: Jess and Rich Theroux both teach art to middle and high schoolers in the day and for 12 years ran an inclusive art space downtown Calgary in the evenings. Both are published authors, TEDx Calgary speakers and puppeteers. Rich is releasing a new book in the fall and they continue to host weekly art making events online now, continuing the practice of being good art neighbours.
Dickens is a wheelchair accessible venue. If you require to use the elevator please notify us by email before the event so we can arrange for it to be used. Or you can call Dickens directly upon arrival at 403-233-7550.
This is an 18+ event.
REFUND NOTICE: We have always tried to accommodate refunds as requested but it’s not always possible to accommodate last minute requests. To that end going forward, refunds will only be issued by us 48 hours before the event and the Eventbrite fees have to be paid still. After that if tickets are not needed, the purchaser is responsible for finding a buyer.