Nerd Nite #85

Death, Drive, & Drums

Join us for a night that moves from the “final” frontier to cutting-edge engineering and cultural rhythm. Kick things off with Gina Vliet as she unpacks the surprising intricacies of organ, tissue, and body donation in Alberta. Then, get an inside look at the magic behind Variable Frequency Drives with Rhonda Shand, whose electrifying insights reveal how these devices power light rail transit. Finally, tap into the dynamic world of Japanese drumming with Carley Okamura, as she explores the rich history and modern pulse of Taiko.

When: Thursday, February 27th, at 7:30pm
(Doors & bar open at 7pm, with drinks available all night)
Where: Studio Theatre at Fringe Theatre Adventures

Gina Vliet: How to Dispose of a Body in Alberta: the intersection of organ, tissue, and body donation

Learn how organ, tissue, and body donation intersect and impact each other. Discover what you, your loved ones, caregivers, and your executor need to know to ensure your wishes can be met.

Gina Vliet is your friendly neighbourhood death educator and a bit of a polymath. With her certification as an Executor Advisor, education in funeral services, and skills as an instructional designer and facilitator, Gina makes talking about mortality both practical and fun.

A graduate of the University of Alberta, Gina’s insights have been featured on CBC and in the U of A’s New Trail magazine. She’s also hosted over 60 Death Cafés, where people come together to chat openly about death and dying. She also contributed to the creation of Compassionate Alberta, a project dedicated to raising awareness about palliative care and advance care planning across the province.

Rhonda Shand: Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) in Light Rail Transit

Ever wondered how the hum of a light rail train transforms into the smooth acceleration that whisks you across the city? The secret lies in a technological marvel called the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)—a device so versatile it’s not just revolutionizing Light Rail Transit, but also powering everything from industrial factories to your neighborhood HVAC systems. In her talk, Rhonda Shand will pull back the curtain on these unsung heroes of modern engineering, revealing how VFDs blend physics, innovation, and a dash of magic (or, well, electrical wizardry) to keep our world moving.

Rhonda Shand is an electrical engineering graduate from the University of Alberta and describes herself as a transgendered, Wiccan, moonshining electrical engineer. Her friends describe her as the “Enchantress of all things electron.” One of her specializations is power electronics having spent many years as a design, implementation, and field service engineer with that type of equipment (she often gets mistaken as an electrician which she considers a compliment). She has spent time on the Edmonton Valley Line South East presently in operation, and is involved as a Lead Systems and Integration Engineer with Parsons and is presently engaged with Edmonton Valley Line West presently being built.

Carley Okamura: Taiko and Why it’s Cool

Learn about the artform and history of Japanese drumming, and how it is practiced in current times. Learn why it is growing in popularity around the world and is one of the most intersectional places you may experience.

Carley Okamura is a mixed race, fourth-generation Japanese Canadian. She is the president of Kita no Taiko, Alberta’s oldest Japanese drumming group, and Chair of the Taiko Community Alliance, an American non-profit serving the larger taiko community. Carley formed her own company, Rabbits Three Cultural Connections, to create works through a socio-cultural lens.

• Nerd Nite
• $30.00 inc $4.00 fee
• February 27, 2025
• 180 minutes
• 19:30
• Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Studio Theatre
• 18A