Save the date for Saturday, November 29. Toronto’s grand tradition of celebrating all and yet none of the traditional holidays continues. We have three great talks brewing, and this time we might source a Festivus pole.
We’ll be back at our favourite haunt, the Tranzac Club.
Ticket info and event details coming soon!
Nerd Nite Toronto: Pi(e) Day!
Tranzac Club – 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto, ON M5S 2M7
Saturday, March 8, 2025
7:00 Doors open, 7:30 Start
Tickets here https://www.register2meet.com/nerdnitemar2025 – $15 including HST
It’s true, we changed our minds and decided to continue Nerd Nite in Toronto. For now, we’re looking at twice a year.
On March 8 we’re celebrating the holiday that combines pastry and periphery… Archimedes and à la mode. Pi Day! We’ll have lots of pies available for a reasonable price per slice. You’re welcome to bring one! We’re insured!
Presentation 1: “The Toronto Circus Riot: A True Tale of Sex, Violence, Corruption and Clowns” by Adam Bunch
The strangest riot in Toronto history broke out in the summer of 1855, sparked by a brawl at a King Street brothel. When some rowdy clowns picked a fight with a battle-hardened crew of firefighters, they would quickly learn they’d made a terrible mistake. The circus performers found themselves facing off against Toronto’s powerful Orange Order in a bloody clash that revealed the fault lines that once violently divided our city.
Adam Bunch is the author of The Toronto Book of the Dead and The Toronto Book of Love, the host of the Canadiana documentary series, and the creator of the Toronto Time Traveller newsletter, the Festival of Bizarre Toronto History, and the Toronto Dreams Project. He teaches Toronto history at George Brown College and the LIFE Institute and his work popularizing Canadian history was recognized with the Governor General’s History Award for Popular Media — the Pierre Berton Award.
Presentation 2: “Healthcare at the End of the World: An evidence-based approach” by Dr. Ted Morris
When the apocalypse finally hits us, who will you turn to for your healthcare needs? Dr Ted Morris presents compelling evidence for including a veterinarian in your party as civilization crumbles all around you.
A veteran of the Canadian comedy scene, Dr. Ted Morris started his comedy career while looking for a way to blow off steam during veterinary school. His most recent achievements include the release of his long-awaited debut comedy album “Dawn of the Ted” , being insulted by Simon Cowell on “America’s Got Talent”, his 6th appearance at the Halifax Comedy Festival, 3rd appearance at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, a stand-up set and interview on Comedy Night with Rick Mercer on CBC, continuing his undefeated streak on CBC Radio’s “The Debaters”, a Gala taping at Just for Laughs Montreal which was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award and a Canadian Comedy Award nomination for Best Stand-up Comic.
He’s pretty funny. Even his cat patients think so.
Trivia will be presented by Nerd Nite Toronto regular and former speaker, Daniel Moneta
**If you’re interested in coming on board as an organizer, let’s talk! Email . To be clear, there’s no monetary profit involved — just the satisfaction of being the dot-connectors between a curious and engaged audience and delightfully nerdy content.**
March is always a weird and tough month (gotta love smarch weather and Daylight Savings Time!), but this one is particularly notable: we have a full year of the pandemic behind us. But, not everything is terrible! Look forward to Nerd Nite on March 25th and celebrate a little with two great talks!
Talk # 1: A fearful risk of explosion: Technology and failure in the British Empire by Dr. Ryan Patterson
The British Empire was not as universally competent as we tend to remember it (or fans of empire tend to claim). In this talk, historian Ryan Patterson will introduce you to the 1873 Anglo-Asante War, Britain’s first big push into West Africa, without discussing any fighting at all. The British forces brought an impressive array of cutting-edge technology on the expedition, believing that it would give them the edge over their non-industrial African enemies. Yet, one-by-one, each marvel of technology failed to work in the jungle.
About Ryan:
Dr. Ryan Patterson is a lecturer in history and research associate in disability studies at Carleton University. He studies race, environment, and technology in the British Empire, particularly the central roles that Victorian climate science and exhibition culture played in Britain’s conquest of African states. His publications include The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, the open access Carleton University exhibit Transnational Representation, and the forthcoming book Queen Victoria’s Wars.
Talk # 2: Star Trek vs Star Wars: Modern Perspectives on Past Future and Future Future Technologies by Shyaporn Theerakulstit
Fan fave Shy is back!
As the Singularity approaches, it is important to examine the technological and socio-economic patterns bringing it about. From Empire to Federation, we will compare the scientific advances of far away civilizations from a long time ago, with those exploring the final frontier. Pew pew
About Shy:
Shyaporn Theerakulstit is an actor, writer, YouTuber, cosplayer and general “nerd about town.” He has given talks on subjects such as Godzilla biology and how to become Batman at Nerd Nite, TEDx and the Smithsonian Institution. He has written and produced for Dark Horse Comics and is also the host of the science lecture series “Real/Fake Science.” His YouTube channel has over 5 million views.
Join us for another virtual Nerd Nite!
On February 25th, we’ll be live from Sam’s house!
Talk # 1: Resilience in the time of COVID by David Donaldson
Building on my TEDx, how do we remain resilient during a long-term, systemic disruption.
In October 2019 I delivered a TEDx on resilience. In it, we examined a bit of the brain science and looked at the 7 Resilience Muscles model as defined by The Resilience Alliance.
We are approaching 1 year of lockdown, 1 year of disruption, 1 year of needing to draw on our resilience muscles. Sprint vs. Marathon, in this Nerd Nite talk, we will look at how we need to approach a long term, systemic disruption differently than a short term, event disruption.
David is a professional facilitator and amateur nerd. An important arrow in his quiver is resilience. A certified Resilience Practitioner since 2017, these skills are essential both personally and professionally. While only working in the world of resilience a short time, David is proudly a long term nerd.
Talk # 2: To Nerds, With Love: An Elementary Teacher’s Reflection on Pop Culture and Fandom in the Classroom by Stephanie Cooper
Throughout Stephanie’s- aka Miss Cooper’s- 17-year-old teaching career, she has never failed to inject her fangirl enthusiasm into her lessons and extra-curricular activities with her students. In this talk, she will explain how she has observed a change in the nearly two decades since she began educating young minds on what fandoms are a hit with students, and how her multicultural bunch has responded to the diversification of characters in comics and movies. And as she is often known to do in everyday conversation, demonstrate how being a nerd is changing in its label and what activities have helped the next generation with understanding subjects and improving their self-esteem in performances from a Star Wars club and superhero group.
Stephanie is a teacher and nerd.
It sucks but due to COVID-19, we’re on hiatus until further notice. We love all of you nerds and can’t wait until we can see you again safely and in-person.
In the meantime, follow us on Facebook & Twitter for your fix of nerdiness!