Programming Schedule
In addition to all the incredible exhibitors tabling at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, TCAF offers a thought-provoking weekend of panels, exhibitions, workshops and creator spotlights throughout the venue.
Exhibits
These installations will be displayed throughout the Mattamy Athletic Centre for the entire weekend.
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
The Bunker ⋅ 3rd Floor
Saturday, June 6
10:00-10:50AM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
Comics & Parenthood
Moderator: Amy Noseworthy
Panelists: Chad Anderson, Elisabeth Belliveau, Pascal Girard, Alison McCreesh, Rachael Smith
Ah, the life cycle of a comics artist; the circle of life at its finest. They are born, at some point in their development they start reading comics, they grow and mature, they start creating comics of their own, and then the arguably just as impressive feat of rearing little comics artists of their own. Join this panel of artists as they discuss exploring families and parenthood in their work, and how they’re raising the next generation of comics artists and fans.
10:00-10:50AM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Disability in Comics
Moderator: Mariam Elsawy (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions)
Panelists: Georgina Chatterton, Vincy Lim, Veronica Post, Emilia Strilchuk
Everyone’s lives are touched by disability, whether individually, someone you know and love, or both; comic and graphic novel creators are no different. Even the term “disability” covers a range of life experiences too broad to capture in a single piece of media but every story hopefully works towards creating a more safe, caring and accessible world. Join a panel of comics creators as they explore the way visual mediums can offer a unique and empathetic glimpse into the lives of people with disabilities (and the people who love them).
10:30-11:30AM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
The Bunker ⋅ 3rd Floor
Concrete & Ink:
Mythologizing the City
Moderator: Mark Askwith
Panelists: Joe Ollman; Seth; Chris W. Kim; Robert Sikoryak
Street for street, block for block, more life is packed into the average city than almost anywhere else. Let’s get into how cities are examined, demonized, romanticized, mythologized and depicted in comics.
11:15 AM-12:05 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
Memory Mini Comics Workshop (All Ages)
Create a mini comic based on your unique lived experience! Using evocative and sensory storytelling techniques, we explore a memory through sight, sound, feeling, and mood. Attendees will leave with a 6-panel mini comic they can share and creative skills applicable to future projects.
11:15 AM-12:05 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Spotlight on Joana Mosi x Arizona O'Neill
Moderator: Matthew Noe
Comics have a special way of leaving you quietly devastated as heartbreak, pain and loss unfolds panel after panel. In The Mongoose (Éditions Pow Pow), Portuguese visual artist and cartoonist Joana Mosi crafts the tale of a woman haunted by grief, loss and a garden-destroying pest. Montreal-based author and illustrator Arizona O’Neill’s Opioids and Organs (Drawn & Quarterly) is a heartwrenching graphic novel memoir of a daughter grappling with the loss of her father alongside her family’s story and the macabre history of organ transplantation. Join these two prodigious artists in conversation as they excavate the hardest emotions and why comics offer such a singular way to explore them.
12:30 - 1:30PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
The Bunker ⋅ 3rd Floor
Dangerous Cartooning:
Politics & the Personal in a Perilous Age
Moderator: Ho Che Anderson
Panelists: Nick Maandag, Tokushige Kawakatsu, Chad Anderson, Megan Kearney
Genocide! The rise of fascism! Thought crime! Trade and culture wars! In 2026 being a cartoonist can mean putting your career and possibly your freedom on the line. Are cartoonists embracing their inner censor or leaning into their convictions? A conversation on the precarious state of global politics, and the dangers of speaking out, through comics, social media, or a mic.
12:30 -1:20 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
Indian Comics 101 with Jatin Varma & Sumit Kumar
Moderator: Jatin Varma
Panelist: Sumit Kumar (BAKARMAX)
A quick tour through one of the world's least-told comics histories. Jatin Varma (founder of Comic Con India and The Comic Book Trust of India) joins TCAF featured guest Sumit Kumar of Bakarmax to trace the rise of comics in India, the indie scene, and Sumit's own satirical, political work.
12:30 - 1:20 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Spotlight on Tillie Walden x Lee Lai
Moderator: Hazel Newlevant
From the rolling hills of 19th-century Vermont to weekend playdates with weirdo aunties, from pockets of civilization among the stars to the ruins of a Montreal restaurant, from New Jerseyan ice competitions to Sylvan cavorting, join American cartoonist prodigy Tillie Walden and award-winning Asian-Australian cartoonist Lee Lai in conversation exploring their prolific careers. Celebrating the release of Charity & Sylvia (Drawn & Quarterly), a biographical story of an openly Lesbian couple surviving and thriving in 19th century Vermont, and Cannon (Drawn & Quarterly), Lai’s deeply relatable portrait of queer friendships and complex family dynamics. Join Walden and Lai in an intimate conversation on two outstanding lives in comics, and examining their extraordinary craft.
1:45 -2:35 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
Drawing Together (All Ages)
Presenter: Maureen Burdock
Join cartoonist Maureen Burdock for a special TCAF edition of Graphic Medicine's Drawing Together, a welcoming, community-centered drawing session open to all ages and experience levels.
This workshop invites participants to visually map an existing project or begin mapping a new comic idea rooted in graphic medicine or lived experience—no drawing background required.
The session will begin with a brief introduction and a guided prompt, followed by time to draw together. Whether you’re picking up a pencil for the first time or returning to an ongoing project, this is a space for curiosity, presence, and connection through drawing. Materials will be provided.
1:45 - 2:35 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Spotlight on Conundrum Press: 30x30
Moderator: Andy Brown
Panelists: Creators from the Conundrum Press roster.
Mi’kma’ki/Nova Scotia-based Conundrum Press has become a powerhouse of alternative comics, publishing some of the giants of indie Canadian comics—Joe Ollmann, Jillian Tamaki, Shary Boyle, amongst otherse—and platforming countless up-and-comers. Conundrum began exclusively publishing literary graphic novels in 2010 and have now reached a monumental 30 years in the industry. Join publisher Andy Brown and the Conundrum roster to celebrate, commiserate, and contemplate the future of alternative comics in Canada.
2:30 - 3:30PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
The Bunker ⋅ 3rd Floor
Four Colour Magic:
Design & Process in the Age of AI
Moderator: Megan Halsband
Panelists: Rachael Smith, Camila Abdanur, Mari Costa, Lee Lai
For many, the creation of comics is like some kind of magic trick. But it isn’t a trick, it’s a meticulous process thousands of cartoonists use to great effect every day of every year. With the addition of AI to the toolkit the necessary requirement of mastering that process has been stripped away. In this panel practitioners of the craft tell us how they achieve their daily personal magic and discuss the implications of artists and hobbyists using artificial intelligence to create their works.
3:00 - 3:50 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
Ask a (Comics) Librarian
Moderator: Allie Landy
Panelists: Joa and Tori Dimas-Bowler, Rotem Diamant, Julie Fiveash, Cassy Lee
Did you know that comics librarianship is over 50 years old? Or that libraries have championed graphic novels as 'real reading' for just as long? Hear from comic creators who have worked in a variety of libraries about their professional and creative practice, tips and tricks for starting, growing, and evolving graphic novel collections, and what comics - for kids, for teens, and for adults - librarians are reading and recommending.
3:00 - 3:50 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Spotlight on Hugo Canuto
Moderator: Bruno Porto
Olhe no céu! É um pássaro! É um avião! É o… Canuto! Soaring into Toronto to save the world with the power of comics, illustrator and graphic novelist Hugo Canuto’s work, including Contos dos Orixás (Tales of the Orishas, Abrams ComicArts), combines Afro-Brazilian myth and religion with the golden age of superhero comics into a lush and epic adventure. Join Canuto in conversation with graphic designer and educator Bruno Porto to explore cultural empowerment and the visual language of Brazilian graphic novels.
4:15 -5:05 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
The Black Bar:
Adult (18+) Comics & Censorship
Moderator: MJ Lyons
Panelists: Mel Vargas, Garth Graham, Christine Wong (Hello Boyfriend)
Do anti-sex politicians, payment processor discrimination and generative slop leave you screaming “[censored]”? You’re not alone! Adult media artists and creators have always been part of the visual medium—some artists make it their financial bread and butter—but their work is often treated as a dirty little secret (at best), or something to censor out of existence, exacerbating precarious finances and often targeting the livelihoods of historically marginalized creators. Join a panel of adult comics creators as they discuss working in the landscape of adult (18+) comics.
4:15 - 5:05 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Alternative Manga with the MINT Project
Moderator: Deb Aoki
Panelists: Battan, Marco Kohinata
Explore the radical, genre-defying tradition of alternative manga. Registration required.
4:30 - 5:30PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
The Bunker ⋅ 3rd Floor
A Drop of Colour on a White Page:
Being "the Other" in Comics
Moderator: Nehal El-Hadi
Confirmed Panelists: Zeta Paul, Keita Katsushika, Shreya Davies
Traditionally comics were a game played by white men, but lately the playing field has opened up to other members of society, a transition that hasn’t been without its share of friction. Let’s have a discussion about the intersection of race, class, and culture, and how they’re depicted on the page and navigated in real life.
Sunday, June 7
11:00-11:50 AM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
Presenter: Laura Terry
Make your own comic book with a single sheet of paper and your imagination! This workshop teaches how to make a mini-comic by hand, then using the basic building blocks of plot structure, you can fill it with your very own story.
One Sheet Wonder:
Make Your Own Mini-Comic From Start to Finish (All Ages)
11:00-11:50 AM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Queer Romance in Comics: Fandom Edition
Moderator: MJ Lyons
Panelists: Tillie Walden, Hazel + Bell, Adeline Kon, Ky Lawrence
Many baby queers cut their teeth on fandom—manga and anime, BL and yuri, fanfiction and fanart, cons and artist alleys, forums, social media, memes. To many of us it's how we first found community as we took those tentative LGBTQ steps. Now many of these fandoms have grown up, their fans turned media creators themselves. Join five fan favourite comics creators as they explore fandom influence in their work.
11:30AM -12:30 PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
The Bunker ⋅ 3rd Floor
The Comic Book Gig Economy
Moderator: Ho Che Anderson
Panelists: Sumit Kumar, Ryan North, Hugo Canuto, Keita Katsuhika, Kirin Inoue
Comics defined the gig economy before the term was even invented, with creators making a living, sometimes successfully, sometimes less so, never knowing for certain if they’d ever work again once their current assignment was completed. This reality makes branding and promoting more important to a cartoonist’s bank account than it’s ever been. In this panel we’ll get into the highs and lows of getting those gigs and keeping them coming.
12:15-1:05 PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
Introducing The Alice Journal:
A Journey to Your Wonderland (All ages)
Presenter: Demi Naito
In comic book author and illustrator Demi Naito's newest publication, The Alice Journal: A Journey to Your Wonderland, her guided journal offers a new way to draw inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. She will discuss the making of The Alice Journal, how it came into existence, and how it can be used to pursue your dreams or get clear on your life direction. Each attendee will be able to fill in a sample page during the journaling session. Or if you have purchased the journal, you can bring it along. Also, feel free to bring your favorite writing and coloring supplies. Some art supplies will be freely available in the workshop room.
12:15-1:05 PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Filipino Komiks Creators
Moderator: Motzie Dapul
Panelists: Jeff Estrella, Keet Geniza, Arley Nopra, Chelsea Oleta
With so many Filipino stories in the spotlight for the last few years, it's time to focus on one of the most underrated yet powerful mediums of storytelling that revolutionized Filipino representation: komiks, and its amazing creators, the "Komikeros". Featuring artists from the Philippines and Canada and representing multiple comic book genres, with Jeff Estrella (BALIKBAYAN), Keet Geniza (Kimiko Does Cancer, Arsenal Pulp Press), Arley Nopra (The Baby-Sitters Club, Scholastic) and Chelsea Oleta (The Graveyard Shift), moderated by award-winning queer Pinay-Can showrunner and artist Motzie Dapul (The Hi Nay Podcast, The Pinoy Monster Lover Anthology comic series).
1:30 - 2:30PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
The Bunker ⋅ 3rd Floor
Moderator: Megan Halsband
Panelists: Arizona O'Neill, Cole Degenstein, Maureen Burdock, Emily Yoshimoto
Whether it’s our own life or the lives of people we’ve never met, there is something immensely satisfying about the marriage of comics and the depiction of a life well-lived. A lively discussion on the pros and cons of sharing one’s existence on the page and the challenges of recreating someone else’s.
Biopics on Bristol:
The World of Biographical & Autobiographical Comics
1:30 - 2:20PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
BD Québécoise d'Aujourd'hui
Moderator: François Vigneault
Panelists: Cathon, Pascal Girard, Cassandra Calin
Ce sera une séance en français.
La scène de la BD québécoise s'impose aujourd'hui comme l'un des milieux les plus vibrants et créatifs de la bande dessinée internationale. Vous êtes curieux·se de découvrir la BD québécoise? Vous aimeriez lire davantage de bandes dessinées du Québec, en français ou en anglais? Vous voulez en apprendre plus sur les multiples univers de la BD québécoise? Venez assister à une table ronde en français avec Cassandra Calin (La Nouvelle), Cathon (Fruit Salad) et Pascal Girard (Pastimes), animée par François Vigneault! Pas besoin d’être parfaitement bilingue — les questions en anglais, en français, ou même en franglais sont les bienvenues!
English Translation:
This will be a French-language session.
The Québec comics scene is establishing itself as one of the most vibrant and creative hubs in international comics. Curious about Québec BD? Interested in reading more stories from Québec, in French or in English? Want to learn more about the many worlds of Québec comics? Join Cassandra Calin (La Nouvelle), Cathon (Fruit Salad) and Pascal Girard (Pastimes), along with moderator François Vigneault, for a lively round-table discussion en français! Audience questions in English, French, or even “Franglais” are warmly welcome too!
1:30 - 2:20PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Spotlight on Jay Odjick
Moderator: Ho Che Anderson
Wham! Bam! Kaboom! Zack Commonda may be the newest superhero on the block, but he’s ready to make some noise battling the insidious forces of colonialism and ecological destruction alongside the heroes of F.U.S.I.O.N (First Universal Secret Indigenous Operatives Network). Join iconic writer, artist and television producer Jay Odjick to discuss his life in comics, championing Anishinaabemowin, and crafting stories to inspire the next generation of indigenous superheroes.
2:45 - 3:35PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
Publishing for the Revolution
Moderator: Lucia Cedeira Serantes
Publishers: Liz Frances (Street Noise), Archie Sarjeant (Gytha), Dylan Box (Diskette Press), Amanda Meadows (Andrew McMeel Publishing), Felicia Low-Jimenez (Difference Engine)
It's 2026, and we're dealing with genocide, war, and a global rise in authoritarianism. Things are very bad out in the world. Can comics help change hearts, minds, lives, and politics? Four publishers whose mandate is to make the world better talk about their radical mission, and the activist power of comics dissidence.
2:45 - 3:35PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Exploring Graphic Medicine
Moderator: Matthew Noe
Panelists: Jeff Lemire, Shreya Davies, Rachel Thomas, Jon Claytor
Aging. Addiction. Mental health. Cancer. Just some of the countless health topics that touch each of our lives, in ways both unique and universal, and when explored through comics, all under the umbrella of graphic medicine. Join this panel to hear from creators working in this genre as they discuss their recent work, the power of comics for sharing nuanced health stories, and the challenges in bringing these difficult topics to light.
3:30-4:30PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
The Bunker ⋅ 3rd Floor
Moderator: Ho Che Anderson
Panelists: Hazel & Bell, Hanna Schroy, Marco Kohinato, Yuki Yamaguchi, Nathan Fairbairn and Michele Assarasakorn
Between dividing the workload, navigating copyright, credit, and percentages, not to mention how the attention the work generates is directed, comic book collaboration can be a minefield. But they can also yield creative and financial rewards that make the whole endeavour worthwhile. Let’s have a conversation about them.
Craft & Commerce:
The Art & Business of Comics Collaboration
3:50 -4:40PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
The Lookout ⋅ 3rd Floor
Kids Comics!
Moderator: Owen Heitmann
Panelists: Georgina Chadderton (Oh Brother), Ben Clanton (Narwhal and Jelly), Faith Erin Hicks (Inbetweens), Frances Lee (Ami Moon and the Galactic Peacekeepers)
As every young reader knows, comics aren’t just a gateway to reading, they’re one of the most fun ways to get some reading done! Join some of the coolest kids and young adult comics creators to find out where they get their ideas from, hear about some of their exciting new stories, and find out their tips for making comics of your own.
3:50 -4:40PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Jet Ice Lounge ⋅ 4th Floor
Using Colour to Tell a Story
Moderator: Paterson Hodgson
Panelists: Michael DeForge, Audra Stang, and Heather Loase
How does a comic’s colour palette impact the way we read it? In life as in art, it’s not so black and white! Join cartoonists Michael DeForge (All the Camera in My Room), Heather Loase (The Boy and the Worm), and Audra Stang (Valley Valley/Idella Dell) as they talk to Paterson Hodgson (Mitch and Paterson are Dead) about how to use colour effectively on the page.