COMICCON WARMUP: Cindy Harper plays dress-up for charity in Star Wars gear
Going Out

COMICCON WARMUP: Cindy Harper plays dress-up for charity in Star Wars gear
BY Ottawa Magazine
POSTED May 9, 2013 10:30 am

By ROGER COLLIER

I’m dating myself, but I’m one of the very few people in my organization who has been to see every movie at the theatre on original release.” Photography by Luther Caverly.

The Jedi

Name: Cindy Harper 
Age: 46
Occupation: Public servant
Moved to Ottawa from: Brockville

Affiliations:

Member of the 501st Legion (bad guys) and the Rebel Legion (good guys), both international Star Wars costuming organizations.

Local group Capital City Garrison is officially part of the 501st, but Rebels are considered “associated” members.

Love at first sight: Watched the first movie with her father in 1977 at the age of 11. “I was awestruck. In a daze. I would have seen it over and over if I could.”

Movie ranking: 1. Revenge of the Sith 2. Attack of the Clones 3. A New Hope 4. Return of the Jedi 5. The Empire Strikes Back 6. The Phantom Menace  

Favourite characters: Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Han Solo

Costume in the works for Ottawa Comiccon: Lego Slave Leia and Ewok

Bucket-list costume: Stormtrooper, Darth Maladi, Shaak Ti, Battle Decoy Sabe. “Making a trooper costume will run you $1,000. Minimum.”

Charities supported by Capital City Garrison: Children’s Wish Foundation, Max Keeping Foundation, Make-A-Wish Canada, Ottawa Food Bank, Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation. “The parents who see us have almost as much fun as the kids do.”

Favourite of her 200 or so Star Wars novels: Tatooine Ghost

Memorabilia collection: Voice-activated R2D2, giant Darth Vader Pez dispenser, Wookie coat, Stormtrooper Commander Sideshow Collectible, Darth Vader toaster (burns Vader’s face into bread)

Best thing about fandom: “The friendships. I really threw myself into this whole thing. My best friends are part of it. We work on new costumes and go out for coffee.”