CAN-CON (convention)
Encyclopedia
CAN•CON, or more completely "CAN•CON: The Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature", is a periodic science fiction and fantasy convention
in Ottawa
put on by The Society for Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature. Founded in 1991 by James Botte and Farrell McGovern in response to a perception that there were no dedicated public venues that featured primarily Canadian speculative fiction writers, editors, and artists. In addition to the focus on Canadian content
, it was also an attempt to bring a focus on the book back to Ottawa
science fiction and fantasy events
. It ran from 1992 through 1997, and again in 2001 before it took a long hiatus when the founders had to leave the country to find work when the dot-com bubble
burst. It was restarted in 2010 by the same co-founders after James returned to Ottawa in 2009, but this time with Farrell as Chairperson instead.
Over the years, CAN•CON has had as guests or attendees the cream of Canadian English and French speculative fiction
writers and artists (with the notable exceptions of Spider Robinson, Margaret Atwood, and William Gibson). As such, it became a meeting place for Canadian writers and artists and their fans, and provided a natural venue for the national meetings of various related Canadian organizations. This caught the notice of TOR Books' senior editor David Hartwell, who came to CAN•CON and signed deals with many Canadian science fiction
and fantasy
writers. Of this he said, "I did more business at CAN•CON than I did at Worldcon". This informal access to large numbers of Canadian writers enabled him to spearhead TOR's Canadian publishing initiative.
with its Aurora Awards, the Boréal Congress
, a private label CAN-CON Wine, Virtual Reality gaming, and Co-Hosting the launch with the National Library of Canada of their exhibition "Visions of Other Worlds", Hosting Canada Post
's Canadian Superhero Stamp Series Unveiling, to name a few of the notable events.
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Science fiction convention
Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
put on by The Society for Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature. Founded in 1991 by James Botte and Farrell McGovern in response to a perception that there were no dedicated public venues that featured primarily Canadian speculative fiction writers, editors, and artists. In addition to the focus on Canadian content
Canadian content
Canadian content refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requirements that radio and television broadcasters must air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from...
, it was also an attempt to bring a focus on the book back to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
science fiction and fantasy events
Science fiction convention
Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...
. It ran from 1992 through 1997, and again in 2001 before it took a long hiatus when the founders had to leave the country to find work when the dot-com bubble
Dot-com bubble
The dot-com bubble was a speculative bubble covering roughly 1995–2000 during which stock markets in industrialized nations saw their equity value rise rapidly from growth in the more...
burst. It was restarted in 2010 by the same co-founders after James returned to Ottawa in 2009, but this time with Farrell as Chairperson instead.
Over the years, CAN•CON has had as guests or attendees the cream of Canadian English and French speculative fiction
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
writers and artists (with the notable exceptions of Spider Robinson, Margaret Atwood, and William Gibson). As such, it became a meeting place for Canadian writers and artists and their fans, and provided a natural venue for the national meetings of various related Canadian organizations. This caught the notice of TOR Books' senior editor David Hartwell, who came to CAN•CON and signed deals with many Canadian science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
writers. Of this he said, "I did more business at CAN•CON than I did at Worldcon". This informal access to large numbers of Canadian writers enabled him to spearhead TOR's Canadian publishing initiative.
Programming
CAN-CON has had some of the most diverse programming SF conventions have ever had, while retaining a focus on Canada, it's writing environment, and uniqueness. It has also hosted events such as book launches, CanventionCanvention
Canvention is the Canadian national science fiction convention, where the Prix Aurora Awards are presented. Normally it is held as part of an existing convention.-Conventions:...
with its Aurora Awards, the Boréal Congress
, a private label CAN-CON Wine, Virtual Reality gaming, and Co-Hosting the launch with the National Library of Canada of their exhibition "Visions of Other Worlds", Hosting Canada Post
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
's Canadian Superhero Stamp Series Unveiling, to name a few of the notable events.
Event history
- 1992
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- Venue: Market Square Holiday Inn
- Location:
- Guests: Writers: Guy Gavriel KayGuy Gavriel KayGuy Gavriel Kay is a Canadian author of fantasy fiction. Many of his novels are set in fictional realms that resemble real places during real historical periods, such as Constantinople during the reign of Justinian I or Spain during the time of El Cid...
, Donald KingsburyDonald KingsburyDonald MacDonald Kingsbury is an American–Canadian science fiction author. Kingsbury taught mathematics at McGill University, Montreal, from 1956 until his retirement in 1986.- Books :...
; Multimedia Artist: Jeff GreenJeff Green (multimedia artist)Jeffrey Stuart Green is a Canadian author, playwright, producer, and director, who has worked in a variety of media including radio, television, computer, DVD-based multimedia, and in live nightclub settings. His work has earned him critical acclaim and a number of awards...
; Artists: Meghan Dunn, Jan Scott; Fan: Paul Valcour. First year of convention. Chairperson was in absentia due to having to move to France for work-related reasons. He tried to resign, but it was refused, and the event was managed by the Vice-Chairperson with input from the Chairperson over email and via phone.
- 1993
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- Venue: Delta Hotel
- Location:
- Guests: Writers: Robert J. SawyerRobert J. SawyerRobert James Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 20 novels published, and his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, Nature, and many anthologies. Sawyer has won over forty awards for his fiction, including the Nebula Award ,...
, Karen Wehrstein, Shirley Meier; Editor: Greg Ioannou; Fan: Bink. Saw the launch of the bi-annual publication The Journal of Canadian Content in Speculative Literature by CAN•CON's organizing group The Society for Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature.
- 1994
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- Venue: The Talisman Hotel
- Location:
- Guests: Writers: S.M. Stirling, Donald KingsburyDonald KingsburyDonald MacDonald Kingsbury is an American–Canadian science fiction author. Kingsbury taught mathematics at McGill University, Montreal, from 1956 until his retirement in 1986.- Books :...
, Tom Henighan, Bertrand Desbiens, Ron Holla; Editor: Cath Jackel; Fan: Paul Valcour. Included a Computer Expo that featured the just released Doom game — networked on multiple machines with VRVirtual realityVirtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
head-tracking helmets, interactive multimedia from Jeff GreenJeff Green (multimedia artist)Jeffrey Stuart Green is a Canadian author, playwright, producer, and director, who has worked in a variety of media including radio, television, computer, DVD-based multimedia, and in live nightclub settings. His work has earned him critical acclaim and a number of awards...
, hands-on access to the newly released MosaicMosaic (web browser)Mosaic is the web browser credited with popularizing the World Wide Web. It was also a client for earlier protocols such as FTP, NNTP, and gopher. Its clean, easily understood user interface, reliability, Windows port and simple installation all contributed to making it the application that opened...
web browser, and discussions by technical experts (Paul Wilson, San Mehet) and a sociologist (Síân Reid) on how to connect to and the future of the InternetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
- 1995
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- Venue: The Talisman Hotel
- Location:
- Guests: Writers: Dave DuncanDave Duncan (writer)David Duncan is a Canadian fantasy author. He was born in 1933 in Scotland, and educated there at the High School of Dundee and at the University of St Andrews. After graduating in 1955 he moved to Canada where he lived in Calgary, Alberta, and is currently situated on Vancouver Island in Victoria,...
, Élisabeth VonarburgÉlisabeth VonarburgÉlisabeth Vonarburg is a science fiction writer. She was born in Paris and has lived in Chicoutimi , Quebec, Canada since 1973....
, Candas Jane DorseyCandas Jane DorseyCandas Jane Dorsey is a Canadian poet and science fiction novelist.Born and still living in Edmonton, Alberta, Dorsey became a writer from an early age, and a freelance writer since 1980. She writes across genre boundaries, writing poetry, fiction, mainstream and speculative, short and long form,...
, Tanya HuffTanya HuffTanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science-fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood...
, Judith MerrilJudith MerrilJudith Josephine Grossman , who took the pen-name Judith Merril about 1945, was an American and then Canadian science fiction writer, editor and political activist....
, Phyllis GotliebPhyllis GotliebPhyllis Fay Gotlieb, née Bloom BA, MA was a Canadian science fiction novelist and poet.Born of Jewish heritage in Toronto, Gotlieb graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in literature in 1948 and 1950 .The Sunburst Award is named for her first novel, Sunburst...
, Joël ChampetierJoël ChampetierJoël Champetier is a French-Canadian science fiction and fantasy author.-Biography:...
, Jean-Louis TrudelJean-Louis TrudelJean-Louis Trudel is a science fiction writer. He was born in Toronto, Canada and has lived in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal before moving to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, in 2010. He currently teaches part-time at the University of Ottawa....
, Robert J. SawyerRobert J. SawyerRobert James Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 20 novels published, and his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, Nature, and many anthologies. Sawyer has won over forty awards for his fiction, including the Nebula Award ,...
, Donald KingsburyDonald KingsburyDonald MacDonald Kingsbury is an American–Canadian science fiction author. Kingsbury taught mathematics at McGill University, Montreal, from 1956 until his retirement in 1986.- Books :...
, Yves MeynardYves MeynardYves Meynard is a science fiction and fantasy author. He began writing fiction in 1986. He has won the Aurora Award for best book in French once and for best short story in French five times. He has also written in English.-External links:*...
, Karen Wehrstein, Shirley Meier; Artist/Poet: Heather SpearsHeather SpearsHeather Spears is a Canadian poet, novelist, and artist living in Denmark. Educated at the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver School of Art, Spears emigrated to Denmark in 1962 where she also studied at the University of Copenhagen....
; Artist: Jean-Pierre Normand; Editors: David G. HartwellDavid G. HartwellDavid Geddes Hartwell is an American editor of science fiction and fantasy. He has worked for Signet , Berkley Putnam , Pocket , and Tor Books David Geddes Hartwell (b. July 10, 1941) is an American editor of science fiction and fantasy. He has worked for Signet (1971–1973), Berkley Putnam...
, Cath Jackel; Fan: Robert Runté. Hosted CanventionCanventionCanvention is the Canadian national science fiction convention, where the Prix Aurora Awards are presented. Normally it is held as part of an existing convention.-Conventions:...
15 (the Prix Aurora Awards convention), Le Congrès Boréal 12 (held as a convention for the first time in 6 years, and where the Prix Boréal were given out), the 1st Annual Academic Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Literature (now the Academic Conference on Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy (ACCSFF) in ), and a Computer Expo (hands-on VRVirtual realityVirtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
, workshops, and seminars). Partnered with the National Library of Canada to launch their Out Of This World! exhibit on CanadianCanadian science fictionA strong element in contemporary Canadian culture is rich, diverse, thoughtful and witty science fiction.-History of Canadian science fiction:Possibly the first recorded Canadian work of science fiction is the 1896 Tisab Ting, or, The Electrical Kiss, a pseudonynous first novel by a Ida May...
Science FictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and FantasyFantasyFantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
with a wine and cheese gala (with a specially branded wine for the occasion), and Canada PostCanada PostCanada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
for the launch of their Canadian Superhero stamp series, where the design for the Fleur de Lys 45¢ stamp was unveiled with comic bookComic bookA comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
artist, and creator of the Fleur de Lys character, Mark ShainblumMark ShainblumMark Shainblum is a Canadian writer who lives in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Though he has worked as a journalist and editor, Shainblum is best known as a science fiction and comic book writer....
in attendance.
- 1996
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- Venue: National Museum of Science And TechnologyCanada Science and Technology MuseumThe Canada Science and Technology Museum is located in Ottawa, Ontario, on St. Laurent Boulevard, to the south of the Queensway .-Mission:...
- Location:
- Guests: Writers: Robert Charles WilsonRobert Charles WilsonRobert Charles Wilson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.Wilson was born in the United States in California, but grew up near Toronto, Ontario. Apart from another short period in the early 1970s spent in Whittier, California, he has lived most of his life in Canada, and in 2007 he...
, Charles de LintCharles de LintCharles de Lint is a Canadian fantasy author and folk musician. He is also the chief book critic for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction....
, Robert J. SawyerRobert J. SawyerRobert James Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 20 novels published, and his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, Nature, and many anthologies. Sawyer has won over forty awards for his fiction, including the Nebula Award ,...
, Hal ClementHal ClementHarry Clement Stubbs better known by the pen name Hal Clement, was an American science fiction writer and a leader of the hard science fiction subgenre.-Biography:...
, Donald KingsburyDonald KingsburyDonald MacDonald Kingsbury is an American–Canadian science fiction author. Kingsbury taught mathematics at McGill University, Montreal, from 1956 until his retirement in 1986.- Books :...
, Elizabeth Batten-Carew, Patricia Wall, Bertrand Desbiens; Editors: David G. HartwellDavid G. HartwellDavid Geddes Hartwell is an American editor of science fiction and fantasy. He has worked for Signet , Berkley Putnam , Pocket , and Tor Books David Geddes Hartwell (b. July 10, 1941) is an American editor of science fiction and fantasy. He has worked for Signet (1971–1973), Berkley Putnam...
, Lorne Anderson, Chris Krejlgaard; Scientist in Residence: David Stephenson; Multimedia Artist: Jeff GreenJeff Green (multimedia artist)Jeffrey Stuart Green is a Canadian author, playwright, producer, and director, who has worked in a variety of media including radio, television, computer, DVD-based multimedia, and in live nightclub settings. His work has earned him critical acclaim and a number of awards...
. Host to the 2nd Annual Academic Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature, and the annual general meeting of the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Foundation. Hosted another Computer Expo, featured talks by the resident astronomer at the museum about the search for extraterrestrial life, a tour of the museums restored 15" refracting telescope, and sponsored a sleepover at the museum.
- Venue: National Museum of Science And Technology
- 1997
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- Venue: Chimo Hotel
- Location:
- Guests: Writers: Tanya HuffTanya HuffTanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science-fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood...
, Robert J. SawyerRobert J. SawyerRobert James Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 20 novels published, and his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, Nature, and many anthologies. Sawyer has won over forty awards for his fiction, including the Nebula Award ,...
, Fiona PattonFiona PattonFiona Patton is a Canadian fantasy author.Born in Calgary, Alberta, Patton moved to the United States in 1966. In 1975, she returned to Canada with her family, settling in Toronto. In 1992, she moved with wife Tanya Huff to rural Ontario...
, Derryl Murphy, Phyllis GotliebPhyllis GotliebPhyllis Fay Gotlieb, née Bloom BA, MA was a Canadian science fiction novelist and poet.Born of Jewish heritage in Toronto, Gotlieb graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in literature in 1948 and 1950 .The Sunburst Award is named for her first novel, Sunburst...
, Terence M. GreenTerence M. GreenTerence Michael Green is a Canadian science-fiction and fantasy writer. He has published short stories and novels, among the best received of which is Children of the Rainbow . His works focus on characterization and explore the complexity of social relationships.-Early life and education:Green...
, Yves MeynardYves MeynardYves Meynard is a science fiction and fantasy author. He began writing fiction in 1986. He has won the Aurora Award for best book in French once and for best short story in French five times. He has also written in English.-External links:*...
, Jean-Louis TrudelJean-Louis TrudelJean-Louis Trudel is a science fiction writer. He was born in Toronto, Canada and has lived in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal before moving to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, in 2010. He currently teaches part-time at the University of Ottawa....
, Bertrand Desbiens, Mark Lefebvre, Mark ShainblumMark ShainblumMark Shainblum is a Canadian writer who lives in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Though he has worked as a journalist and editor, Shainblum is best known as a science fiction and comic book writer....
, Valerie Kirkwood, Eric Choi, Dale L. Sproule, Kathryn CramerKathryn CramerKathryn Elizabeth Cramer is an American science fiction author, editor, and literary critic.- Life :Cramer grew up in Seattle, and currently lives in Pleasantville, New York with her husband David G. Hartwell and their two children. She is the daughter of physicist John G. Cramer...
, John Park, Carol Weekes; Poet: Carolyn Clink;Editors: David G. HartwellDavid G. HartwellDavid Geddes Hartwell is an American editor of science fiction and fantasy. He has worked for Signet , Berkley Putnam , Pocket , and Tor Books David Geddes Hartwell (b. July 10, 1941) is an American editor of science fiction and fantasy. He has worked for Signet (1971–1973), Berkley Putnam...
, Candas Jane DorseyCandas Jane DorseyCandas Jane Dorsey is a Canadian poet and science fiction novelist.Born and still living in Edmonton, Alberta, Dorsey became a writer from an early age, and a freelance writer since 1980. She writes across genre boundaries, writing poetry, fiction, mainstream and speculative, short and long form,...
, John Dupuis, Paul Recchia, Sally McBride; Scientist in Residence: David Stephenson; Multimedia Artist: Jeff GreenJeff Green (multimedia artist)Jeffrey Stuart Green is a Canadian author, playwright, producer, and director, who has worked in a variety of media including radio, television, computer, DVD-based multimedia, and in live nightclub settings. His work has earned him critical acclaim and a number of awards...
; Fan: Paul Valcour. Writer and software developer Steve Rimmer was also supposed to be a guest; however, he had to cancel at the last minute due to an injury. Tanya HuffTanya HuffTanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science-fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood...
published "The First 300 Words of An Untitled Contemporary Fantasy", and Robert J. SawyerRobert J. SawyerRobert James Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 20 novels published, and his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, Nature, and many anthologies. Sawyer has won over forty awards for his fiction, including the Nebula Award ,...
published "Frameshift: The Lost Opening Chapters" in the event's programme book.
- 2001
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- Venue: Chimo Hotel
- Location:
- Guests: Writers: Robert J. SawyerRobert J. SawyerRobert James Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 20 novels published, and his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, Nature, and many anthologies. Sawyer has won over forty awards for his fiction, including the Nebula Award ,...
, Julie E. CzernedaJulie E. CzernedaJulie E. Czerneda is a Canadian science fiction and fantasy author. She has written at least 9 SF novels, including the Prix Aurora winner In the Company of Others, a number of short stories; and has edited several anthologies....
, Terence M. GreenTerence M. GreenTerence Michael Green is a Canadian science-fiction and fantasy writer. He has published short stories and novels, among the best received of which is Children of the Rainbow . His works focus on characterization and explore the complexity of social relationships.-Early life and education:Green...
, Alison Sinclair, M.D. Benoit, Norma McPhee; Editor: David G. HartwellDavid G. HartwellDavid Geddes Hartwell is an American editor of science fiction and fantasy. He has worked for Signet , Berkley Putnam , Pocket , and Tor Books David Geddes Hartwell (b. July 10, 1941) is an American editor of science fiction and fantasy. He has worked for Signet (1971–1973), Berkley Putnam...
; Poet: Carolyn Clink; Artist: Larry Stewart (aka "The Doctor"); Musician: Kurt SwinghammerKurt SwinghammerKurt Swinghammer is a Canadian singer-songwriter and visual artist.A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, Swinghammer joined the band Vital Sines in the 1980s before launching his solo career...
. Hosted the "First Annual Action Figure Video Contest", where amateur videos were being solicited for judging. Programme book included fiction by Julie E. CzernedaJulie E. CzernedaJulie E. Czerneda is a Canadian science fiction and fantasy author. She has written at least 9 SF novels, including the Prix Aurora winner In the Company of Others, a number of short stories; and has edited several anthologies....
entitled "'Ware the Sleeper", and an essay by Robert J. SawyerRobert J. SawyerRobert James Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 20 novels published, and his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, Nature, and many anthologies. Sawyer has won over forty awards for his fiction, including the Nebula Award ,...
titled "The Future Is Already Here: Is There A Place for Science Fiction in the Twenty-First Century?".
- 2010
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- Venue: Travelodge Hotel Ottawa (former Talisman Hotel)
- Location:
- Guests: Writers: Marie Bilodeau, Jean-Louis TrudelJean-Louis TrudelJean-Louis Trudel is a science fiction writer. He was born in Toronto, Canada and has lived in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal before moving to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, in 2010. He currently teaches part-time at the University of Ottawa....
, Hayden Trenholm, Matthew Johnson, Eric Choi; Special: Larry Stewart (aka "The Doctor"). Theme: Steampunk. Writer Karen Dales also was supposed to come, but personal events (such as a lost job) prevented it. Hosted Book Launches for Marie Bilodeau and Hayden Trenholm, along with a showing of an indie filmIndependent filmAn independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
named M-Theory produced by Lloyd Deane.
- 2011
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- Venue: Travelodge Hotel Ottawa (former Talisman Hotel)
- Location:
- Guests of Honour: Writer: Julie E. CzernedaJulie E. CzernedaJulie E. Czerneda is a Canadian science fiction and fantasy author. She has written at least 9 SF novels, including the Prix Aurora winner In the Company of Others, a number of short stories; and has edited several anthologies....
; Comics/Graphic Novel: Leonard KirkLeonard KirkLeonard Kirk is an American-born comic book artist living in Canada. He has worked on such properties as Supergirl, JSA, Star Trek, Batman, and Witchblade...
; Media: Liana KLiana KLiana Kerzner , better known by her stage name, Liana K, is a Canadian television entertainer who co-hosted the talk show Ed & Red's Night Party and is a well-known cosplayer.-Biography:...
and Ed the SockEd the SockEd the Sock is a puppet, created and voiced by Steven Kerzner, that became a Canadian television personality in the 1990s, best known for his appearances hosting programming on MuchMusic and his own talk show, Ed's Night Party, later renamed Ed & Red's Night Party...
; Special Guests: Marie Bilodeau, J.M. Frey.