A Simcoe County library is hosting an Ontario actor from the hugely popular LGBTQ hockey show Heated Rivalry. The Innisfil ideaLAB & Library’s next author talk will feature Harrison Browne, an actor from Oakville who appeared in an episode of Crave’s breakout hockey drama. Joining him is Rachel Browne, an award-winning investigative journalist and documentary producer, who also happens to be Harrison’s sister. The two siblings have co-authored a book called ‘Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes,’ which is about the inclusion of gender diverse people in sport and the fight for human rights and equality. The author talk will take place at the library’s Lakeshore Branch in Alcona on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. “This special event invites audiences into an honest dialogue about progress, challenges, and the power of visibility in sport and storytelling,” the library says on its website. Harrison had a minor role in the episode ‘Rose,’ where he played the character Connors, a member of main character Ilya Rozanov’s hockey team. In addition to being an actor, Harrison is an advocate for the LGBTQ community, a filmmaker, author and former professional hockey player. He came out publicly as a transgender man in 2016 and was the first openly transgender athlete in a professional team sport during his career. Before transitioning, Browne played for the Metropolitan Riveters, a professional women’s hockey team in New Jersey. Rachel’s work has appeared in The Walrus, Texas Monthly and Maclean’s magazine. She also produced feature documentaries, such as the Crave original Rat Park in 2019. While the event is free, registration is required through the library’s website.
