Along with the Galt Museum & Archives’ usual line-up of programs and events for all ages — Saturdays at 1:00, Wednesdays at the Galt, Café Galt, Galt Workshops, Archives Programs and the annual Scotch & Burns event — as well as several intriguing exhibits — Uncovering Secrets: Archaeology in southern Alberta [to January 13] and the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame [February 2 to May 19], the Galt is putting on a three-day Nerd Fest [March 21-23] oriented towards post-secondary students which will see two big names come to Lethbridge: leading comic theorist, historian and author Scott McCloud and Canada’s first female astronaut, Dr. Roberta Bondar.

 Scott McCloud

Scott McCloud has been writing and drawing comics since 1984. His books Understanding Comics, Reinventing Comics and Making Comics are available in 16 languages. McCloud has lectured and/or consulted for Google, MIT, Pixar, Harvard, and the Smithsonian Institution. Sin City creator Frank Miller called him "just about the smartest guy in comics."  His online comics and inventions like the 24 Hour Comic can be found at scottmccloud.com.

 Dr. Roberta Bondar

The world’s first neurologist in space, Dr. Roberta Bondar is globally recognized for her contributions to space medicine. On the space shuttle Discovery mission STS 42 in 1992, Dr. Bondar conducted scientific experiments in the First International Microgravity Laboratory. A cross-discipline thought leader with groundbreaking insights on the environment, innovation, discovery and leadership, Dr. Bondar is one of North America's most sought-after and respected presenters. More information on Dr. Bondar is available at robertabondar.com

 “We are excited to be bringing this festival to the Galt Museum especially during the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame exhibit,” says Chris Roedler, Resource Development/Volunteer Coordinator at the Galt. “We’re looking forward to celebrating nerd culture by linking it to the upcoming exhibit through comic books, guest speakers, and a fantastic line-up of programs.”

 Full details will be released in January, but in the meantime, a Nerd Fest schedule is included below, as well as a January schedule at a glance. The January – April 2013 calendar is attached, and also available online.

nerd fest
MAR 21-23.13 | where marked with a * = regular admission rates apply

Nerd Fest kicks off with the history of comic books, followed by a two-day workshop with leading comic book artist Scott McCloud, a pop culture movie trivia night, and an all night games tourney.  Also on the calendar during the Festival are a talk by Canada’s first female austronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar, and a Superheroes Dinner. Get the scoop online!

Comic Book History *

Thu MAR 21 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm

 Scott McCloud’s 2-Day Comic Book Workshop

Fri MAR 22 + Sat MAR 23 | 9:00 – 4:00 pm | $100/person | MAX 30 people | pre-registration required, starts FEB 01 at 10:00 by phone or in person | payment required at time of registration | must be 16+

 Science in Space: Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada’s first female astronaut

Fri MAR 22 | 4:00 – 6:00 pm | 200 TICKETS, include exhibit access: $15 general | $10 students, seniors and annual pass holders | available at the Galt Museum Store starting FEB 22 at 10:00 am

 Pop Culture Trivia Night *

Fri MAR 22 | 8:00 – 10:00 pm | $3 bar [ID required]

 All-night games tournament *

Fri MAR 22 – Sat MAR 23 | 10:00 pm – 10:00 am | must be 14+ | $3 bar [ID required]

 Superheroes Dinner & Dance

Sat MAR 23 | 6:00 cocktails 6:30 pm dinner, followed by dance | 150 TICKETS $30/person, available at the Galt Museum Store and online starting FEB 25 at 10:00 am | cash bar

 JANUARY 2013 SCHEDULE

EXHIBITS
to JAN 06  Alberta Women’s Institutes: For home and country – Celebrating 100 Years of Community Service Exhibit developed by Provincial Archives of Alberta Lower Level Gallery

to JAN 13  Uncovering Secrets Archaeology in Southern Alberta Come marvel at the secrets hidden in your backyard! The land of southern Alberta is full of stories about our past - fortunately, there are people who know how to interpret what they find. Discover fifteen locations, the finds and the archaeologists who have shed light on the stories.

to FEB 18  Stories of Irene McCaugherty Main Level Hallway

to feb 20  Archives Exposed… Henderson Lake: 100 Years of History Main Level Meeting Rooms

 Programs

Wed 02 | 1:00 - 4:00 pm drop-in anytime Wednesdays at the Galt + TOP 10 of 2012: Felted Ear Warmers for seniors and families Enjoy some intergenerational fun at our family felting program. Come alone, with your children or grandkids, for a lesson in making the oldest textile in the world, and take home an ear warmer to keep yourself warm this winter. 

Thu 03 | 1:00 - 4:00 pm drop-in anytime TOP 10 of 2012: Topsy Turvy Dolls Use our historic doll pattern to make a doll that is both happy and sad, or awake and asleep. Volunteers have pre-sewn the doll bodies, your job is to decorate them - no sewing experience required 

Fri 04 | 1:00 - 4:00 pm drop-in anytime TOP 10 of 2012: Marionettes Ever wondered about the history of marionettes?  Come make one of your own and try your hands at performing in a puppet show. 

Sat 05 | 1:00 - 4:00 pm drop-in anytime TOP 10 of 2012: Jr. Archaeologist Learn how an archaeologist uncovers history and identify their findings in this hands-on program.  Dig for buried artifacts and make a cast of an arrowhead. 

Sun 06 | 1:00 - 4:00 pm drop-in anytime TOP 10 of 2012: Paper Making Have fun creating hand-made paper from recycled fibres as you make images of weather patterns or create paper cloud mobiles!

 Thu 10 | 7:00 pm Café Galt: The Glenbow Town and Quarry A Hundred Years On with Brian Vivian for adults Located within the recently created Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park west of Calgary, the Glenbow Quarry is a well know historical sandstone quarry dating to ca. 1909-12.  In 2009, the Archaeological Society of Alberta Calgary Centre initiated a multi-year project to map what remains of the town and quarry, document the site and further understanding of this early historical settlement. Brian Vivian reports on the project’s success.

Sat 12 | 1:00 pm Saturdays at 1:00 for families returns: Flip Books Make your own flip book and learn about the history of animation. 

Wed 16 | 2:00 pm Wednesdays at the Galt: Hollywood Tours Alberta for seniors  Enjoy films from the 2012 Provincial Archives Film Festival featuring Trigger Fingers [starring Tim McCoy as ‘Lightning’ Bill Carson], News Parade of the Year, and Woodland Cartoon.

Thu 17 | 7:00 pm Archives Program: Archives 101 for adults People know museums, people know libraries, but archives often remain a mystery. This is the chance to get introduced to the fantastic historical resources at the Galt Archives. Tour the archival facility, learn the rules and procedures, and find out how to search for records through our easy-to-use online database.

Sat 19 | 1:00 pm Saturdays at 1:00: Owl Pellets for families Dissect an owl pellet as you learn about our ecosystem. 

Thu 24 | 7:00 pm Café Galt: Chop Suey on the Prairie with Linda Tzang for adults There are more Chinese restaurants in North America than fast food outlets. They range in size and grandeur from upscale banquet halls serving over 500 people to family-run hole-in-the-wall cafés. While the families that have run them may have changed over the years, the restaurants remain and have become indispensable centres of small town life. The exhibit by the same name opens at the Royal Alberta Museum in April.

Sat 26 | 1:00 pm Saturdays at 1:00: Dinosaur Models for families Create your own dinosaur model as you learn about the intersection of art and science in the museums. 

 SPECIAL EVENTS

Scotch & Burns

Sat JAN 19 | Scotch Tasting starts at 6:30 pm | All Ages Program 7:00 pm
Tickets/person at the door on the night of the event: $3 public | $1 Annual Pass Holders | free for children 6 and under

It’s our annual birthday celebration for the Scottish poet Robbie Burns. Starting at 7:00 join in the piping in of the haggis, odes to the bard, a sing-along with the Golden Mile Singers, as well as performances by the Lethbridge Highland Dancers and Lethbridge Legion Pipe Band. Scotch Tasting [tickets at the event] with Kyle Baines from Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits lasts until the Scotch runs dry. Oh, and try haggis too... you don’t have to be Scottish to attend!