Vancouver Poly Panel: April 11, 2011

In conjunction with the closing arguments of the British Columbia Supreme
Court hearing on the Constitutionality of Polygamy in Canada, as it relates
to Section 293 of the Criminal Code, the Vancouver Polyamory Society and the
Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association will be hosting a Panel Discussion
on the aspects and realities of Polyamory .

The Panel Forum will take place at The Junction Pub, 1138 Davie Street, 7pm.
Vancouver, BC, on April 11th, 2011, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.*

With this court hearing generating a significant amount of discussion
regarding the validity and constitutionality of the lifestyle choice of
Polyamory within Canada’s society, this forum will allow present
practitioners of Polyamory and those interested in learning more, an
opportunity to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of this growing lifestyle
approach to consensual conjugal unions.

Presenters from North America have been gathered to speak at this
informative forum:

*Janet W. Hardy* is a writer and sex educator, and founder of Greenery
Press, living in Oregon, USA.  She has also been published as Catherine A.
Liszt and Lady Green. She is the author or co-author of ten books, including
what is commonly referred to as the Polyamory Bible: *The Ethical Slut*. She
frequently collaborates with Dossie Easton.

*Terisa Greenan* has a sharp wit and impeccable comedic timing. Based in
Seattle, she is a writer, having penned numerous short stories and two
adapted screenplays with much original content. In addition, Terisa has
directed and produced for both stage and screen. She formed Petal Films in
2007. In the fall of 2008 Terisa launched 3 Dog Pictures to showcase her new
episodic web series "Family", a series depicting a Polyamorous Triad.

*John Ince* is a lawyer, politician, an erotic arts enthusiast, and the
controversial author of a book called The Politics of Lust. He founded The
Erosha School of Erotic Massage and The Art of Loving, a sexuality center in
Vancouver, British Columbia. He is also the leader of a political party, the
Sex Party (British Columbia).

*Kiki Christie* is the founder and facilitator of Victoria Poly 101, a
polyamory discussion group in Victoria, British Columbia of over 150
members.  She's been a bi/kinky/poly educator and activist for over 6 years
and has given workshops for various poly groups in British Columbia as well
as in Washington state and Austin, Texas. She is a member of the Canadian
Polyamory Advocacy Association and she is currently the Director for
Vancouver Island Polycamp.

Contact: R.Billard, karoavga@gmail.com, 604-619-0529

Victoria Poly 101 monthly discussion: Polyamory in different cultures

Thursday, March 24 · 6:30pm - 9:30pm
University of Victoria (UVic), Clearihue A202

Does poly exist in other cultures, or has it in the past? How easy/difficult are poly relationships when your partner has a different cultural background? What does polyamory look like in other countries today? Come join in our discussion at UVic, same room as last month!

Ready, set... Valentine's Day compersion check-in!

Hi polyfriends! With perhaps the BIGGEST holiday dedicated to couple-dom just around the corner, and a plethora of Valentine's advertising, merchandise and internets-hype telling us we should be reveling in the L-word with our Special Significant Other, I wanted to do a little check-in to find out how my friends in poly-land are coping with the mixed signals Valentine's Day brings.

Some of the feelings V-Day brings up for me are decidedly mixed, including:

- desire
- loneliness
- anxiety
- greed (for chocolate and/or sex and/or cuddles)
- compersion (hey, I *am* poly, after all)
- gratitude
- confusion
- guilt
- shame
- irony

Additionally, for those of us dating or relating to more than one special person, V-Day can be a scheduling nightmare.

This year, like the last few years, I am living alone and I anticipate V-Day will be a quiet affair. I will work, send some texts to my sweeties, and treat myself to a bubbly bath and some chocolate.

What are your V-Day poly plans? Will you spend it with a partner, or several of them? Will your partners be spending it with their other partners? Will you be sitting at home wondering why it feels twice as bad to be single AND poly on Valentine's Day? Will you ignore the whole thing on the grounds that it's a commercially-driven ploy designed to prey upon our need for love in order to sell merchandise and promote a heteronormative, couple-oriented agenda?

While I'm inclined to play down the romance and play up the compersion and caring, I, for one, will not object if you send me chocolate. ;)

~K

Victoria Poly 101 monthly discussion: polyamory and asexuality

Thursday, February 24 · 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: University of Victoria, Clearihue A202 (*please note: this is a different room number from last month's discussion*)

Special Guest Cole Brown from Vancouver will speak about AVEN (Asexual Visibility and Education Network).

Cole Brown is a local asexual activist, volunteering her time to help bring awareness and visibility to the general public on behalf of those who identify as asexual. She has been giving lectures on asexuality for four years up and down the west coast.

The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) was founded in 2001 to help bring asexual individuals together from all around the world. It is the largest asexual resource on the web and a source of information and support for asexual individuals and their friends and loved ones.

Read more about asexuality on the AVEN website and forum here:
http://www.asexuality.org/home/

Discussion about asexuality and poly will follow Cole's presentation.

**A small donation would be appreciated to help cover Cole's travel costs. :)