check Boolean.TryParse Method（String，Boolean）（System） [ ^ ]

check Boolean.TryParse Method (String, Boolean) (System)[^]

bool isActive = false;
          if (bool.TryParse(rdr["Is_Active"] + "", out isActive)) {
              emp.IsActive = isActive
          }
          else
          {
             // show the error message to the user
          }