SF Canada
Encyclopedia
SF Canada was founded as an authors collective
circa 1989 under the title Canada’s National Association of Speculative Fiction Professionals. Several Canadian science fiction
authors have made public claim to be “founding members” of the organization, notably Phyllis Gotlieb
, Candas Jane Dorsey
, Karl Schroeder
and Yves Meynard
, but documentation from this early period is sparse, apart from the self-report of the participants on their official websites.
SF Canada in its present form was Incorporated by Letters Patent with the Government of Canada on Sept. 21, 1992 with three signatories, Candas Jane Dorsey
, Michael Skeet and Diane Walton, with the stated goals to: “foster a sense of community among Canadian writers of speculative fiction, improve communication between Canadian writers of speculative fiction through such means as the publication of a regular newsletter, foster the growth of quality writing in Canadian speculative fiction, carry out lobbying activities on behalf of Canadian writers of speculative fiction, encourage the translation of Canadian speculative fiction, and to promote positive social action.” (copied from the original document held on file by the Royal Bank of Canada.)
The complete Bylaws of the corporation are publicly available in both Canadian languages on the official website of the Association.
Presidents of SF Canada in order of succession have been: Candas Jane Dorsey
, Karl Schroeder
, Jean-Louis Trudel
, Hugh Spencer, Mark Shainblum
, Candas Jane Dorsey
, Derryl Murphy, Colleen Anderson, Edward Willett, Steve Stanton
.
SF Canada awards $1000 annually in support of the Aurora Award
and Aurora-Boréal Award, $500 each to the winners of the Best Novel in English and le Meilleur Roman en Français.
Collective
A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project to achieve a common objective...
circa 1989 under the title Canada’s National Association of Speculative Fiction Professionals. Several Canadian science fiction
Canadian science fiction
A strong element in contemporary Canadian culture is rich, diverse, thoughtful and witty science fiction.-History of Canadian science fiction:Possibly the first recorded Canadian work of science fiction is the 1896 Tisab Ting, or, The Electrical Kiss, a pseudonynous first novel by a Ida May...
authors have made public claim to be “founding members” of the organization, notably Phyllis Gotlieb
Phyllis Gotlieb
Phyllis Fay Gotlieb, née Bloom BA, MA was a Canadian science fiction novelist and poet.Born of Jewish heritage in Toronto, Gotlieb graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in literature in 1948 and 1950 .The Sunburst Award is named for her first novel, Sunburst...
, Candas Jane Dorsey
Candas Jane Dorsey
Candas Jane Dorsey is a Canadian poet and science fiction novelist.Born and still living in Edmonton, Alberta, Dorsey became a writer from an early age, and a freelance writer since 1980. She writes across genre boundaries, writing poetry, fiction, mainstream and speculative, short and long form,...
, 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...
and 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:*...
, but documentation from this early period is sparse, apart from the self-report of the participants on their official websites.
SF Canada in its present form was Incorporated by Letters Patent with the Government of Canada on Sept. 21, 1992 with three signatories, Candas Jane Dorsey
Candas Jane Dorsey
Candas Jane Dorsey is a Canadian poet and science fiction novelist.Born and still living in Edmonton, Alberta, Dorsey became a writer from an early age, and a freelance writer since 1980. She writes across genre boundaries, writing poetry, fiction, mainstream and speculative, short and long form,...
, Michael Skeet and Diane Walton, with the stated goals to: “foster a sense of community among Canadian writers of speculative fiction, improve communication between Canadian writers of speculative fiction through such means as the publication of a regular newsletter, foster the growth of quality writing in Canadian speculative fiction, carry out lobbying activities on behalf of Canadian writers of speculative fiction, encourage the translation of Canadian speculative fiction, and to promote positive social action.” (copied from the original document held on file by the Royal Bank of Canada.)
The complete Bylaws of the corporation are publicly available in both Canadian languages on the official website of the Association.
Presidents of SF Canada in order of succession have been: Candas Jane Dorsey
Candas Jane Dorsey
Candas Jane Dorsey is a Canadian poet and science fiction novelist.Born and still living in Edmonton, Alberta, Dorsey became a writer from an early age, and a freelance writer since 1980. She writes across genre boundaries, writing poetry, fiction, mainstream and speculative, short and long form,...
, 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...
, Jean-Louis Trudel
Jean-Louis Trudel
Jean-Louis Trudel is a science fiction writer. He was born in Toronto, Canada and has lived in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal before moving to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, in 2010. He currently teaches part-time at the University of Ottawa....
, Hugh Spencer, Mark Shainblum
Mark Shainblum
Mark Shainblum is a Canadian writer who lives in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Though he has worked as a journalist and editor, Shainblum is best known as a science fiction and comic book writer....
, Candas Jane Dorsey
Candas Jane Dorsey
Candas Jane Dorsey is a Canadian poet and science fiction novelist.Born and still living in Edmonton, Alberta, Dorsey became a writer from an early age, and a freelance writer since 1980. She writes across genre boundaries, writing poetry, fiction, mainstream and speculative, short and long form,...
, Derryl Murphy, Colleen Anderson, Edward Willett, Steve Stanton
Steve Stanton
Steven David Stanton, is a Canadian author, editor and publisher.He founded Skysong Press in 1988 and published the Christian fanzine Dreams & Visions for twenty years, as well as the Sky Songs anthology series, 2002-2005...
.
SF Canada awards $1000 annually in support of the Aurora Award
Aurora 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...
and Aurora-Boréal Award, $500 each to the winners of the Best Novel in English and le Meilleur Roman en Français.