Nerd Nite #87

Architecture, Solar Power, and Smashing the Patriarchy

Thanks to all of you for coming to the sold-out February and March shows! This April, we’ve got three more great speakers lined up. You’ll learn about violence prevention via video games, solar energy, and architecture. Check out our speakers and buy tickets below. See you soon!

When: Thursday, April 24th, at 7:30pm

(Doors & bar open at 7pm, with drinks available all night)

Where: Backstage Theatre at Fringe Theatre Adventures

Fringe Theatre Arts Barn, 10330 84 Ave NW, Edmonton

How much: $30

Kenzie Gordon: Video games for gender-based violence prevention

Kenzie will give a brief overview of some of the research she has been doing in her graduate program on violence prevention in video games. This includes serious games about gender-based violence, but more excitingly, the patriarchy-undermining potential of commercial games like Horizon Zero Dawn (which is the focus of her dissertation).

Kenzie Gordon (she/her) is a social worker and PhD candidate in Media & Cultural Studies and the Digital Humanities at the University of Alberta. Her research examines the intersections of gender-based violence in games, as well as equity issues in the game industry, alternative game development studio structures, and community archiving practices of police violence. She has two kids, too many pets, and sometimes even plays video games for fun!

Bluesky: @kenzitronic.bsky.social

Dan Rose: Arch Madness: Edmonton’s Annual Architectural Bracket Tournament

Have you ever found yourself wishing you could share in the fever, drama and magic of March Madness but you can’t stand basketball? Good news. There’s Arch Madness: like March Madness but with fewer balls and more bricks where citizens choose the GOAT by vote.

Dan Rose was a born, raised and still in Edmonton. From 9-5 he works in Product Marketing for a local tech company, from 5-9 he advocates for the preservation of historic architecture and design in Edmonton. He was previously the Chair of the City of Edmonton Historical Board, a member of HeritageForward and the Old Strathcona Foundation, and has worked for a number of local heritage and cultural organizations.

Instagram: @dan.unsupervised

Heather MacKenzie: A Sunlight Speed Intro to Solar in Alberta

In this presentation, Heather will briefly describe the growth of solar in Alberta. She will then review how rooftop solar installations typically work in Alberta, what the impacts of solar are on utility bills, how to find a solar installer, and how to finance a solar project. This presentation focuses on grid-tied solar projects on homes and businesses.

Heather MacKenzie is the Executive Director of Solar Alberta, where she and her team are working hard to accelerate Alberta’s transition to a just and sustainable energy future. She is a seasoned leader, community organizer, and green business advocate. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of Solar Alberta, she worked as a government relations professional, ran her own business, and served as an elected Trustee on the Edmonton Public School Board. She is in the final month of her Masters in Public Administration, has a Masters in International Development, and has undergraduate degrees in both Sociology and History. She believes that investing in solar is a very concrete way that everyday Albertans can take meaningful action on climate change.

Instagram: @solaralberta.ca
Bluesky: @solaralberta.ca
Facebook: @solaralberta.ca

• Nerd Nite
• $30.00 inc $4.00 fee
• April 24, 2025
• 180 minutes
• 19:30
• Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Backstage Theatre
• 18A