NEWS RELEASE
KLINGON ASSAULT GROUP TIMMINS
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Since the creation of Star Trek and Star Wars, the two science fiction giants have enjoyed a friendly rivalry. In Timmins however, fans of the two franchises have put aside their differences in order to be a force for good in the community.
The Klingon Assault Group and the Mandalorian Mercs are international costuming clubs which center around the rambunctious warrior races of their respective universes, making cooperation between them as natural as their traditional banter. So after a staged battle on the floor of the Northern Ontario Expo for the benefit of cameras and onlookers, they did precisely that.
Each group had come to the NOE separately, intending to raise funds for a local charity; the Klingons for Science Timmins’ Science Village, and the Mandalorians for the Timmins and District Humane Society.
As the Klingon collected donations in exchange for being able to dress up in Klingon armour, ridges and pose with prop weapons alongside the cosplayers for photos at one end of the NOE’s Cosplay Corner, the Mandalorians ran a Nerf gun shooting range at the other. On the second day the groups traded which charity they collected for in order to ensure both groups received the best support possible.
“We can do more together,” said Karen Hutchison, founder of the Crimson Dawn, the Timmins branch of the Klingon Assault Group.
Together, the groups raised more than $175 for Science Village, and $180 for the Humane Society. “By partnering with worthwhile community organizations like these ones,” Hutchison said, “we are helping to bring about a better future like the one Star Trek promises.”
Science Village is a community centre operated by Science Timmins and is located in the basement of St Mary’s Gardens, where the old hospital’s emergency section had been. They run a wide assortment of programs for all ages that aim to make science and technology education available to everyone in Timmins.
Their facility includes a maker space with a wood shop, a technology centre including computers, robotics and a 3D printer, an astronomy wing with an inflatable planetarium, and a hydroponics section for botany to name but a few of their amenities. You can find out more about them by visiting www.sciencetimmins.com
The Timmins and District Humane Society provides very different, but no less important services to the community. Empowered by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of cruelty to Animals, they investigate claims of animal cruelty in the community. Since no funding is available for this, they rely on donations in order to provide Timmins with this service.
The Humane Society also operates the city pound, provides shelter to animals without a home, and finds suitable families to care for them. If there is an emergency involving an animal, whether it is aggressive or injured, you can call the Humane Society at 705-365-7225 any time of day.
Since the Northern Ontario Expo first opened, the costuming community has has been becoming more active and more involved in the community. The Timmins Klingons have been operating for over two years are amongst the most active branches of their international club.
With the addition of Derrick Pellerin representing the Mandalorian Mercs in the city, Timmins can expect even more sci-fi bad guys doing good deeds for our community.
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