Boréal
Encyclopedia
Boréal is an annual French-language science fiction and fantasy convention
in Canada
, held in a number of different cities since its founding in 1979, though all of them, save Ottawa in 1989, were located in the province of Quebec
. Major events of the convention include the panel discussions, the Guest of Honour presentations, the dealer's room, and the awards ceremony. Other events on the convention program typically include a writing contest, readings and videos, as well as book, magazine, and fanzine launches.
in five categories. Boréal has also hosted on several occasions the awarding of the Grand Prix de la Science-Fiction et du Fantastique québécois, now known as the Prix Jacques-Brossard.
and then, from 1996 to 1999, by Con-Cept in Montreal
. However, smaller events were held in the interval, in Laval in 1990 and 1991, in Rimouski in 1991, and in Montreal in 1992, 1993, and 1994 in order to announce the winners of the Prix Boréal. Starting in 2000, Boréal has once again been held annually as a standalone convention, most often in Montreal
.
The convention has occasionally served as host for other conventions. Canvention
24 was held as part of Boréal 21, in 2004, and the 24th French National Convention was organized in conjunction with Boréal 24 in 2007. Boréal was also a partner of the 67th World Science Fiction Convention
held in Montréal in 2009.
In previous years, guests have included prominent Canadian writers including Élisabeth Vonarburg
, Nalo Hopkinson
, Patrick Senécal, Geoff Ryman
, Guy Gavriel Kay
, Yves Meynard
, William Gibson
, Peter Watts
, Karl Schroeder
, etc., as well as internationally renowned authors including Samuel Delany, Ted Chiang
, Michael Swanwick
, Jean-Claude Dunyach
, James Morrow
, Valerio Evangelisti
, Laurent Genefort
, and others. Boréal is focused on literary science fiction and fantasy, but remains open to other art forms, including film, bande dessinée, and media.
Science fiction convention
Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, held in a number of different cities since its founding in 1979, though all of them, save Ottawa in 1989, were located in the province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Major events of the convention include the panel discussions, the Guest of Honour presentations, the dealer's room, and the awards ceremony. Other events on the convention program typically include a writing contest, readings and videos, as well as book, magazine, and fanzine launches.
Programming
Over the years, Boréal programming has been held either exclusively in French or with the occasional bilingual event. In recent years, however, a small programming track has been devoted to panels exclusively in English. The panels cover various topics of interest to science fiction and fantasy fans, with an emphasis on science fiction and fantasy written in French in Canada. Editors, writers, critics, and artists are often part of the attendees.Awards
Since 1980, Boréal has been the main venue for the Prix Boréal awards ceremony. The Prix Boréal are awarded in a number of categories to science fiction and fantasy authors, artists, and fans working in French in Canada. The awards have been given out every year, except in 1985. Starting in 2011, the Prix Boréal have been twinned with the Aurora AwardsAurora Award
The Prix Aurora Awards are given out annually for the best Canadian science fiction and fantasy literary works, artworks, fan activities from that year, and are awarded in both English and French...
in five categories. Boréal has also hosted on several occasions the awarding of the Grand Prix de la Science-Fiction et du Fantastique québécois, now known as the Prix Jacques-Brossard.
History
Boréal first ran in 1979 and was held each following year until 1989. From 1981 onwards (with the sole exception of Boréal 11 in 1989), it has been organized by a non-profit society incorporated in the province of Quebec, SFSF Boréal Inc. In 1990, Boréal went on hiatus until 1995 when it restarted as a con hosted first by Can-Con in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and then, from 1996 to 1999, by Con-Cept in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. However, smaller events were held in the interval, in Laval in 1990 and 1991, in Rimouski in 1991, and in Montreal in 1992, 1993, and 1994 in order to announce the winners of the Prix Boréal. Starting in 2000, Boréal has once again been held annually as a standalone convention, most often in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
The convention has occasionally served as host for other conventions. Canvention
Canvention
Canvention is the Canadian national science fiction convention, where the Prix Aurora Awards are presented. Normally it is held as part of an existing convention.-Conventions:...
24 was held as part of Boréal 21, in 2004, and the 24th French National Convention was organized in conjunction with Boréal 24 in 2007. Boréal was also a partner of the 67th World Science Fiction Convention
67th World Science Fiction Convention
The 67th World Science Fiction Convention , also known as Anticipation, was hosted in Montréal, Québec, Canada, on 6–10 August 2009, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal...
held in Montréal in 2009.
In previous years, guests have included prominent Canadian writers including Élisabeth Vonarburg
Élisabeth Vonarburg
Élisabeth Vonarburg is a science fiction writer. She was born in Paris and has lived in Chicoutimi , Quebec, Canada since 1973....
, Nalo Hopkinson
Nalo Hopkinson
Nalo Hopkinson is a Jamaican science fiction and fantasy writer and editor who lives in Canada. Her novels and short stories such as those in her collection Skin Folk often draw on Caribbean history and language, and its traditions of oral and written storytelling.Hopkinson has...
, Patrick Senécal, Geoff Ryman
Geoff Ryman
Geoffrey Charles Ryman is a writer of science fiction, fantasy and surrealistic or "slipstream" fiction.Ryman currently lectures in Creative Writing for University of Manchester's English Department. His most recent full-length novel, The King's Last Song, is set in Cambodia, both at the time of...
, Guy Gavriel Kay
Guy Gavriel Kay
Guy Gavriel Kay is a Canadian author of fantasy fiction. Many of his novels are set in fictional realms that resemble real places during real historical periods, such as Constantinople during the reign of Justinian I or Spain during the time of El Cid...
, Yves Meynard
Yves Meynard
Yves Meynard is a science fiction and fantasy author. He began writing fiction in 1986. He has won the Aurora Award for best book in French once and for best short story in French five times. He has also written in English.-External links:*...
, William Gibson
William Gibson
William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
, Peter Watts
Peter Watts
Peter Watts is a Canadian science fiction author and marine-mammal biologist.-Career:His first novel Starfish reintroduced Lenie Clarke from his 1990 short story, "A Niche"; Clarke is a deep-ocean power-station worker physically altered for underwater living and the main character in the sequels:...
, Karl Schroeder
Karl Schroeder
Karl Schroeder is an award-winning Canadian science fiction author. His novels present far-future speculations on topics such as nanotechnology, terraforming, augmented reality and interstellar travel, and have a deeply philosophical streak...
, etc., as well as internationally renowned authors including Samuel Delany, Ted Chiang
Ted Chiang
Ted Chiang is an American speculative fiction writer. His Chinese name is Chiang Feng-nan.He was born in Port Jefferson, New York and graduated from Brown University with a Computer Science degree. He currently works as a technical writer in the software industry and resides in Bellevue, near...
, Michael Swanwick
Michael Swanwick
Michael Swanwick is an American science fiction author. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he began publishing in the early 1980s.-Biography:...
, Jean-Claude Dunyach
Jean-Claude Dunyach
Jean-Claude Dunyach is a French science fiction writer.-Overview:Dunyach has a Ph.D. in applied mathematics and supercomputing. He works for Airbus in Toulouse in southwestern France....
, James Morrow
James Morrow
James Morrow is a fiction author. A self-described "scientific humanist", his work satirises organized religion and elements of humanism and atheism....
, Valerio Evangelisti
Valerio Evangelisti
Valerio Evangelisti is one of the most popular Italian writers of science fiction, fantasy, historical novels and horror. He is known mainly for his series of novels featuring the inquistor Nicolas Eymerich and for the Nostradamus trilogy, all bestsellers translated into many languages...
, Laurent Genefort
Laurent Genefort
Laurent Genefort is a French science fiction writer. He was born in 1968. Considered one of the great writers of Space Opera, he wrote more than 30 novels and was quickly noticed for his ability to create realistic alien worlds and civilizations...
, and others. Boréal is focused on literary science fiction and fantasy, but remains open to other art forms, including film, bande dessinée, and media.