ONTARIO Orgs

CAFP

— Sources vary as to what it means. According to Harry Warner Jr., Jack Bowie-Read, & John Robert Columbo, it stands for ‘Canadian Amateur Fantasy Press’, but CANADIAN FANDOM #22 has the heading ‘Canadian Amateur Fan Publishers’ flanked by tiny mapleleafs with the letters CAFP inside the outline of each leaf. As well, several issues of CANFAN make reference to this or that zine as being a member of the ‘Canadian Amateur Fan Publishers’. Perhaps the meaning of the initials was adjusted or reinterpreted at some point in the history of the CAFP.

In any case the CAPF was founded by Fred Hurter Jr. in 1942 and originally consisted of just 3 publications: LIGHT – ( Faned: Leslie A. Croutch ), CENSORED – ( Faned: Fred Hurter Jr.), and, beginning in 1943, CANADIAN FANDOM – ( Faned: Beak Taylor ). The purpose of CAFP was to unite and promote Canadian fanzines and its emblem was indeed the Maple leaf. By 1948 the CAFP was affiliated with the Canadian Science Fiction Association, and added the Montreal SF Society publication MOHDZEE (Faned: Fred Hurter Jr.).

Jack Bowie-Reed noted in his history that the CAFP “which at its peak in 1949 had seven member fanzines, had dwindled back down to its original three…” by 1951. Four of the seven are listed above. I wonder what the other three zines were?

“In fact, the CAFP never amounted to more than a notice on the covers or in the colophons of all 3 fanzines. There was no formal organization at all. Though I have come across references to printing a small press edition of something or other, it was never done as far as I can tell. Curiously enough, some years after the CAFP faded from the picture, Gerald Steward took over CANFAN and re-established the CAFP logo in his personalzine GASP!, but not in CANFAN… Quite clearly the CAFP is a pretense by a small number of friends who saw each other regularly, not the organization of national scope that Jack Bowie-Read makes out” (in his HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN SF ASSOCIATION). (TW)

However, by 1954 the roll of publication members had expanded again to include: A BAS – ( Faned: Boyd Raeburn ), DAMN! – ( Faned: Norman G. Browne ), DEJU VU – ( Faned: P. Howard Lyons ), ESCAPE – ( Faned: Fred Woroch ), FIE – ( Faned: Harry Calnek ), FILLER #2 – ( Faned: Norman G. Browne ), GASP! – ( Faned: Gerald A. Steward ), IBIDEM – ( Faned: P. Howard Lyons ), & MIMI – ( Faned: Georgina Ellis ).

It should be noted that ESCAPE’s publication was aborted, and that FILLER #2 probably never appeared either. (Sources: Jack Bowie-Reed, Harry Warner Jr. & John Robert Columbo.)

THE CANADIAN SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION (CSFA)

— The Canadian Science Fiction Association, founded in 1948.

GO TO:  CSFA

FANTASTELLAR ASSOCIATION

— A Science Fiction Correspondence Club based in Deep River, Ontario, on the West bank of the Ottawa river just a few miles north of Chalk River (where Canada’s first nuclear reactor came on line toward the end of WW II as part of the joint British-Canadian-American Manhattan project).

The club was founded in 1948 during a meeting of the Canadian Science Fiction Association at Torcon I in Toronto. The idea was that fans isolated in small communities would remain in continual contact with each other, and as a group would be able to affiliate with the CSFA for the greater purpose of uniting fans across the country in a common gestalt.

The Northern Fantasy Fan Federation, likewise a correspondence club, was founded at the same meeting.

The Fantastellar Association lasted until 1950, at which point its correspondence secretary Alastair Cameron moved (to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) and the activity of the fen involved slowly faded away. (JBR)

[ See CANADIAN SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION, NORTHERN FANTASY FAN FEDERATION ]

HYDRA NORTH

— A loose-knit unorganized social gathering of SF writers, editors & such to meet & discuss various aspects of their genre. Founded in 1984. Members included Judith Merril, John Robert Colombo, Robert Sawyer (who was appointed sole exec at the first meeting), Bob Hadji & others.

Wrote John Robert Colombo in MAPLE LEAF RAG #9 (Oct 1984): “It is a social group that brings together people interested in discussing… ‘fantastic literature’. There is no programming. It was decided right from the beginning that as fans had their own scene, and con-goers their venue, writers & editors should have theirs, albeit in each other’s homes. It is a centripetal group, meant to offset the centrifugal forces in a city the size of Toronto.”

In the same issue of MLR, Judith Merril commented: “Authors organize: by no means. Authors meet, yes…. Professional writers’ group: no. Professional-level involvement in SF, yes: writers, artists, booksellers, teachers, librarians, editors, etc…. People invited to attend… included everyone I knew of at that time professionally involved in the field in the Toronto area… credit the idea of a social club for people with certain SF interests, a club with no power-game goals, and no plans to host, publish, or sway opinions. At this stage, at least, that is precisely what Hydra North is.”

THE KLINGON KOMEDY KORPS (KKK)

— Formed circa 2000? Toronto based Klingon comedy troop which has performed various times, including opening ceremonies at Toronto Trek 14 (2000) and as KBS comedy/variety show at Toronto Treks 14, 16, & ?

Lou Israel of Toronto writes: “A few years ago, I formed the KKK (Klingon Komedy Korps, of course, what else could those letters possibly stand for?), performing as Captain/Lt./Col. Chancellor Klu’LeS (pronounced Klueless). In the last couple of years, I have discovered a perfect co-star, the very able Ker’Plunk, and his lovely consort Kr’Splat, who have become the comic and harmony geniuses to my writing genius (which is ironic, since most of the comic material is written by another who wishes to remain anonymous).”

“Having performed at several conventions, we can safely say that we are the Klingons NOBODY takes seriously. If you ever get the chance to see our show live (what, as opposed to dead?), do yourself a favour and catch our act. It is a combination of comedy and music, including the news from KBS, the Klingon Broadcasting service, where any and all versions, and characters, of Star Trek are equally savaged. Find out if Bajor gets an NHL franchise. Be the first on your block to hear the brand new Rules of Acquisition! We even have our own top ten list! Not to mention celebrities being assimilated by various Borgs, including Robin of Borg (‘Holy futility, Batman!’). George H. W. Bush (‘Resistance would not be prudent at this juncture’), and Maxwell Smart (‘You will be assimilated. Would you believe it? Assimilated! Would you believe….?’).”

“We host the series of Episodes and Movies that Never Quite Made it, including ‘Where No Man Has Gone Before — Story of A Teenage Virgin’, and ‘Star Trek IV: The Long and Winding Road Home’. And of course, our (becoming) well-known Trek parody songs (don’t call me a ‘filker’!) such as ‘Let’s Hear It For McCoy’, ‘Another Boring Day Aboard The Enterprise’, and the hugely popular ‘Walk Like A Ferengi!’ So if you’re in town, come by and see us. You’ll never look at Klingons the same way again!” (LI)

NORTHERN FANTASY FAN FEDERATION

— A Canadian Science Fiction Correspondence Club which arose from first-time contact between previously isolated fans who took part in the first Canada-wide Canadian Science Fiction Association meeting held at the Torcon 1 Worldcon in Toronto in 1948. The idea was to keep these fans in constant communication with one another despite their geographical isolation. It was part of a larger CSFA scheme to gather fans living in communities where there were no other fans (thus making it impossible to create local clubs) into organized collective entities capable of affiliating with CSFA.

At the same meeting a similar Correspondence Club, the Fantastellar Association, was created as well.

Leslie A. Croutch (LIGHT) served as the NFFF’s Corresponding Secretary till the organization’s demise in 1951. (JRC) & (JBR)

[ See CANADIAN SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION, FANTASTELLAR ASSOCIATION ]

 SPACED-OUT LIBRARY

— Original name of what is now referred to as “The Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy” portion of the Toronto Public Library system. First located at 566 Palmerston Avenue on the 2nd floor of the Boys and Girls House, it began with a 5,000 SF book & magazine collection donated in 1970 by Judith Merill (who had moved to Canada in 1968, becoming a citizen in 1976). By 1980 it had reached the 20,000 title mark, at which time a group of supporters, known as The Friends of the Spaced-Out Library,’ was created, headed by John Millard. In these early days members of OSFIC, the Ontario SF Club, often met there. (Detail to be added.)

SPO

— Stands for the “Society of Pollyanas and Optimists”, a spoof organization proposed by Canadian fan Leslie A. Croutch in #3 of THE VOICE (March 1946).

“Requirements are that you believe in the continued existence of the human race… concrete proof of your belief is plans for the future.”

This leads into an essay in which Croutch insists: “This abject terror of the future is darned dangerous… Cripes fellows, if you can’t be optimistic, can’t you be courageous?” The essay was evidently triggered by a report by E.E. Evans of a Los Angeles SF Society meeting at which much doom & gloom had been expressed, the futility of any and all, what with the advent of the atomic bomb & such.

Wrote Croutch: “I admit the coming of another war…. I am building up my little business. I’m building a dandy shop here that will also house a den when it is finished…. I don’t excuse my stand… Maybe I am nuts… Everything might go smash tomorrow but if it doesn’t then I will be a damned sight bigger fool for not having the plain unadulterated guts to take a chance and believe things might have been different. Now who else will join me and Evans in the S.P.O.?”

SPWAO

— This is the ‘Small Press Writers & Artists Organization’ founded by Charles Saunders & Howard E. ‘Gene’ Day (Faned of DARK FANTASY). Basically an organization that encouraged the development of semi-pro magazines rather than genre fanzines (in order to open up markets for its members), and possibly North American in membership, it nevertheless included many Canadian artists & writers active in the SF fanzine field. Probably formed in the late 1970’s and existed for a number of years into the 1980s, maybe longer. Offered a series of annual awards as part of its mandate.

[ See DARK FANTASY ]

STELLAR FOUNDATION

— An organization, or at least a concept, created by High School student Henry Argasinski circa 1976. In his own words, as revealed in a flyer titled COSMIC CIRCLE IS ALIVE AND WELL:

“Today’s modern COSMIC CIRCLE, now known as the STELLAR FOUNDATION, is not unlike the original COSMIC CIRCLE started nearly forty years ago by Claude Degler; many of the goals are the same. It is, however, a bit closer to reality. STELLAR FOUNDATION has one of North American Fandom’s most rapidly growing active memberships. Its annual budget spending amounts to nearly twice the combined amount spent in one year by both the Ontario Science Fiction Club and the British Columbia Science Fiction Association. But don’t let this fool you; the main emphasis is to have a relaxed fannish club. A rundown of their activities looks like this:”

“COSMICON (COSMIC CIRCLE COMMENTATOR) is their monthly bulletin which usually averages a dozen pages. The STELLAR FOUNDATION also pubs zines CELESTIAL ALMANAC, TRANQUILIUM, DOPPLEGANGER and GRIMALKIN, plus many PAPERCHIPS.”

“TRAWNACON is their annual Relaxicon held in Southern Ontario; this year it’s at Erindale College, June 18-20, featuring guests like Spider Robinson, Mike Glicksohn and Dennis Prophet.”

“FANFEST, SF ERINDALE and FANCON are their one-day regional cons.”

“TORONTO IS FREE FOR ’83 is their Worldcon bid for 1983.”

“NORTHERN FAN FUND (NorFF) sends one lucky fan from Midwest fandom to the Worldcon or Eurocon.”

“COSMIC CITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. is designed to bring into existence a city for SF fans + convention center on Long Pt. in Lake Erie.”

Not bad for a tiny high school club, except that some of the above were put on by entirely separate organizations, and the rest is pure fantasy. Henry Argasinski was a self-proclaimed heir to Claude Degler’s Cosmic plans, and that seems about right. In fact he believed he was in touch with Degler himself who spurred him on, but the locs he was receiving from the great Cosmic Mind were actually written by Taral Wayne in a highly successful hoax. Apparently, when Taral revealed the truth about the authorship of the letters, Argasinski decided the only hoax was the ‘revelation’ and carried on as before in Degler’s name. As far as I am aware, Argasinski is the only known fan to deliberately and consciously follow in Degler’s footsteps. Well, at least he had fun.

[ See DEGLER, CLAUDE & PAPERCHIPS ]