Guests of Honour
Katarina Ziervogel – Film Guest of Honour
Katarina Ziervogel is an Anishinaabe/Mohawk/German Deaf woman from the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. She was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, but moved to Winnipeg at age ten. She graduated from TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University) with a Bachelor’s in Media Production. Katarina is known for her acting debut in Marvel Studio’s Echo and co-wrote her first feature film, Finality of Dusk, with Emmy award winning director Madison Thomas, which had its Canadian premiere at the Whistler Film Festival. She was part of the 2022 Accessible Writers’ Lab and Whistler Film Festival’s Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship Lab. Her passion is to increase the visibility of Deaf and Indigenous representation on screen.
C. S. Friedman – Author Guest of Honour
Born in New York City in 1957, Celia inherited the writing bug from her father, technical writer Herbert Friedman. She discovered science fiction at the age of 12, and has been creating her own worlds ever since. Celia’s original career as a costume designer left little time for writing, but she managed to squeeze in enough time between dress rehearsals to complete her first novel, In Conquest Born, making her a finalist for the John Campbell Award. She has published many novels for DAW Books, including her best-selling Coldfire Trilogy (Black Sun Rising, When True Night Falls, Crown of Shadows). In August 2022, Deadline reported that Bohemia Group, a global management firm, was shopping a potential television series based on The Coldfire Trilogy, which was a finalist for NPR’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Vote in 2011. Her SF novel This Alien Shore was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and its sequel This Virtual Night was on the Washington Post’s list of “25 Must-Read Books” of 2020. She has also published a collection of short stories (The Dreaming Kind) and a sourcebook for White Wolf’s Vampire game. In 2011 she launched Tridac Publishing, to reprint historical works of interest to writers and designers. She lives in Virginia with one very spoiled cat who likes to help with the typing.
Bear Sailor Moon – Media Guest of Honour
Bear Sailor Moon is a Master level cosplayer from Toronto. His love for the classic anime and iconic take on the character has made him a cosplay staple in the Toronto cosplay scene! Bear Sailor Moon sends a message of love and body positivity through his cosplay and always wants his cub scouts to “Let their star seeds shine bright”. He is known for hosting “Bear Sailor Moon’s Lip Sync Extravaganza” at conventions and has crowned over 13 winners! Bear Sailor Moon is also known for his vocal talent and you can catch him singing live at a convention or just hang around Disney karaoke long enough! Keep up to date with BSM by following him on all social media platforms @Bearsailormoon
Phynix L. Caskey – Artist Guest of Honour
So much can be said about Phynix, her career, and her life with art over the years. For many years, Phynix had to learn all she knew the hard way; being completely self taught from the get-go. She always knew that selling artwork that she made was the life and job that she was born to do.
Starting from completing artworks for her classmates allowing them to pass it off as their own work in her junior high school, should we mention she wasn’t taking art at the time but was in band. She did apply for the art course in high school and was kicked out in the first week by the professor when she questioned his teaching techniques. It is an interesting story, ask her all about it at her Art Jam Panel. She will happily tell you all about it!
After high school, Phynix got a rare opportunity as a colourist with a company with a love of storytelling. From there she became an emergency colourist for quite a few different well-known comics, unfortunately she is still under Do Not Disclose clauses for them and even though she would love to tell you all about them, she should not at this time.
Today she sells her artwork through the convention circuit. She has long lost count of the events she has attended, as she now has over 100 conventions that she has exhibited at worldwide. Outside of conventions, she is working hard with her girlfriend on creating a video game. Phynix is the main artist of the project, and her girlfriend aims to prove that Phynix’s gorgeous watercolours would be the perfect graphics for a cozy game. A personal goal she wishes to do is to become the main artist for a board game. Do you have one you’re working on and looking for an artist?Over the years she has helped other artists improve and help them progress in their fields. Encouraging them and helping them anyway she can. Watching young artists make it in the business and loving every moment of watching them grow. Phynix will encourage you to go the distance.
Phynix has been a part of the Keycon family since 2002 when she was but a wee little artist. Through the years Phynix has received much love and help from her Keycon family, especially in regards to her artwork. When asked to be the Artist Guest of Honour a few years back she didn’t know what to say and excitedly included the people that helped her make it in the art industry; Keycon’s past guest: Kitty Cat Collective.
Website: https://fireandicedesignswpg.ca/