Upcoming
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Past
41st Toronto International Festival of Authors
TIFA Kids! Our Little Kitchen: Jillian Tamak
Virtual
Sunday November 1 2020 at 11AM
A morning (Reading and Q&A) with illustrator, Canadian-cartoonist and winner of the Governor General’s Award and Caldecott Honour, Jillian Tamaki. Tamaki is the author of the lively food and community picture book, Our Little Kitchen. When a crew of neighbours come together to cook a meal, fun, adventure and new lessons are learned. Ages 4-8.
Interviewer: Ardo Omer
Word on the Street
Great Books Marquee, Harbourfront Centre
Sunday September 22 2019 at 1PM
Stephanie Cooke, Jason Loo and Andrew Stevenson discuss comic artistry in Toronto with moderator Ardo Omer.
Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF)
I’ll be at TCAF again for the seventh year in a row and will be moderating 3 panels again. I’ve listed them below and they’re all free events with one of them needing advance registration. I’ll be there as a pro and will also help table at the Zine Terrace with Megan Purdy! (Table deets to come).
Creator Resource’s Short Stories & Zines Panel & Social
The Pilot (22 Cumberland Street)
Wednesday, May 8 2019
Panel: 6:30 – 8PM
Networking: 8 – 11:59PM
When trying to find your footing in comics and build a portfolio, the answer is often “just make comics!” but what does that entail? We dive into the world of short stories and zines to help teach you to hone your craft, try different genres, and create comics with no barriers.
Panelists: Jason Loo, Victor Martins and Cleopatria Peterson
Moderator: Ardo Omer
Been There Dundas: Fives Years of Toronto Comics
High Park Ballroom 2 & 3 at the Marriott Hotel (90 Bloor St E)
Saturday, May 11 2019 at 1:30PM
We’re used to seeing superheroes save New York, but what about the heroes (and wizards, robots, and monsters) right here in Toronto? In this panel, moderated by Ardo Omer, Pitiful Human-Lizard creator Jason Loo and Toronto Comic Anthology editors Steven Andrews, Stephanie Cooke, and Allison O’Toole will discuss how Toronto has influenced their own work, and has fostered some of the best talent and stories in comics.
Queer YA Comics from First Second
Masonic Temple (888 Yonge St.)
Sunday, May 12 2019 at 12:30PM
All events at the Masonic Temple need advance registration. Click on panel name.
First Second have made a move this year, boasting four big books that centre young people exploring gender and sexuality for YA audiences. Featuring the creators behind Bloom (Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganuchaeu), The Breakaways (Cathy G Johnson), Kiss Number 8 (Ellen T Crenshaw & Colleen AF Venable), and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me (Mariko Tamaki & Rosemary Valero-O’Connell), and moderated by Ardo Omer.
The Storyteller Tour
Sunday, February 17, 2019 at 2PM
Chapters Brampton
“Join Ardo Omer as she welcomes bestselling YA authors, E.K. Johnston, Kristen Ciccarelli, and L.L. McKinney to discuss their latest novels. Book signing to follow.”
2018 Cybils: Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards
2019
I’m one of the round two judges for the graphic novels category. The finalists will be announced on January 1, 2019 and round two judges will be reading the shortlisted titles before submitting our winning choices (Elementary/Middle Grade and Young Adult) on February 12.
Check out the winners of the 2017 middle grade and young adult graphic novels here.
Canadian Comics Open Library’s Storytelling in Comics Panel
Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 12PM
I was invited to be on a panel as part of the Canadian Comics Open Library launch. It was about storytelling in comics and was moderated by Dr. Brooke Winterstein. It was the second time I’ve been on a panel and it was great especially because my fellow panelists were Ryan North, Jason Loo, Georgia Webber, Stephanie Cooke and Hana Shafi. You can watch the panel in its two parts here.
It’s a great project and you can help them meet their funding goal on Indiegogo.
Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2018
Summer Camp Comics
Saturday, May 11 at 4PM
“Summer! It’s almost everyone’s favourite season! It’s got sunburns, it’s got bugs, it’s got the endless sweating. Wait…why does everyone love summer? Oh right, SUMMER CAMP! Come and hear from some of the summer loving-est creators as they explain why summer camp is the perfect place for learning and adventure! Featuring Vera Brosgol, Mariko Tamaki, Brooklyn Allen, and Melanie Gillman. Moderated by Ardo Omer.”
Adventure Teens!
Sunday, May 12 at 2PM
“What do teens get up to when no adults or kids are around? If you ask these authors, a whole heck of a lot! Join Hope Larson, Alexander Forbes, Molly Ostertag, and Dylan Edwards as they discuss the wild and amazing tests of courage they put their young characters through, and what it helps us learn about the most mysterious demographic. Moderated by Ardo Omer.”
More Life: Coming of Age Comics
Sunday, May 12 at 3:30PM
“Coming of Age stories work best when they connect readers to the eureka moments that come with growing up. So how do cartoonists learn these lessons for themselves? Have they? Featuring the stellar line-up of Michael DeForge, Hope Larson, Hartley Lin, Max de Radigues, Melanie Gillman and Kevin Czap, this panel will explore what it’s like to grow up in and with your comics. Moderated by Ardo Omer.”
2018 Cybils: Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards
Chosen in 2019
I returned as a round two judge for the graphic novels category. As a judge for this category, you’re picking two winners: one for Elementary/Middle Grade and one for Young Adult. The winners for graphic novels published in 2018 were The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag (Elementary/Middle Grade) and Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Young Adult).
2018 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids’ Comics
I had the pleasure of being a judge for the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids’ Comics. I loved working with Edith Donnell, Dan Mishkin, and my fellow judgesAlenka Figa and Shayauna Glover. It was an intense (I read almost 100 comics!) but great experience. I’m happy with the comics we had on our shortlist (image above) and really glad that Katie O’Neill‘s The Tea Dragon Society was declared the winner!
2017 Cybils: Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards
Chosen in 2018
I was one of the round two judges for the graphic novels category. As a judge for this category, you’re picking two winners: one for Elementary/Middle Grade and one for Young Adult. The winners for graphic novels published in 2017 were Where’s Halmoni? by Julie Kim (Elementary/Middle Grade) and Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld and Alex Puvilland (Young Adult).
Ardo Omer 