Hal-Con Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Comic Festival, commonly known as Hal-Con, was founded in the 1970s and revived in the 2010s. It is traditionally an annual weekend event held in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

 in Atlantic Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 and held at the end of fall.

Originally showcasing comic books, games, science fiction/fantasy and film/television, and related popular arts. It has grown to encompasses the full-spectrum of geekdom, including Comic Books, 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...

, 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...

, Gaming

Gaming

Gaming is the act of playing a game.Gaming may also refer to:* A synonym for Gambling; playing games of chance for money.* Playing a role-playing game, in which players assume fictional roles....

, Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...

, Steampunk

Steampunk

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...

, Renaissance

Society for Creative Anachronism

The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international living history group with the aim of studying and recreating mainly Medieval European cultures and their histories before the 17th century...

, Anime

Anime

is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

, Furry, Cyber goth, Cosplay

Cosplay

, short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and science fiction...

, and anything else of the fantastical while still having enough appeal for even the most casual fan. The gathering includes entertainment for most tastes from music, stage show, and small social gaming circles, and the chance to rub elbows with the famous and infamous of geek pop-culture.

Hal-Con 2011 is returning November 12–13, 2011 at World Trade and Convention Centre

World Trade and Convention Centre

The World Trade and Convention Centre is a convention centre/office complex in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is adjacent to the Halifax Metro Centre....

.

Comic Authors/Artists

• Geof Isherwood
• Darwyn Cooke
  Darwyn Cooke
  Darwyn Cooke is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer, artist, cartoonist and animator, best known for his work on the comic books Catwoman, DC: The New Frontier, The Spirit and Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter.-Career:...
  
  
• Conor McCreery
  Kill Shakespeare
  Kill Shakespeare is a twelve-issue comic book limited series released by IDW Publishing. It is being produced by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, who also act as co-writers, alongside Andy Belanger as head-artist, Ian Herring as colourist and Kagan McLeod as cover artist...
  
  
• Anthony Del Col
  Kill Shakespeare
  Kill Shakespeare is a twelve-issue comic book limited series released by IDW Publishing. It is being produced by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, who also act as co-writers, alongside Andy Belanger as head-artist, Ian Herring as colourist and Kagan McLeod as cover artist...
  
  
• Faith Erin Hicks
  Faith Erin Hicks
  Faith Erin Hicks is a Canadian webcomic and comic artist and writer and animator living in Halifax, Nova Scotia.She is best known for her webcomic Demonology 101.-Biography:...
  
  
• Steve McNiven
  Steve McNiven
  Steven "Steve" McNiven is a Canadian comic book artist. He first gained prominence on CrossGen's Meridian, before moving onto books such as Ultimate Secret, New Avengers and Civil War.-Career:...
  
  
• Mark Oakley
• Tim Larade
• Mike Holmes
• Jordyn Bochon
• Tim Carpenter
• Dave Howlett
• Kate Leth

Authors

• Kelley Armstrong
  Kelley Armstrong
  Kelley Armstrong is a Canadian author, primarily of fantasy works.She has published sixteen fantasy novels , set in the world of the Women of the Otherworld and the Darkest Powers series, also two crime novels in 2007 and 2009...
  
  
• Robert Louis Smith
• Matthew LeDrew
• Ellen Curtis
• Nina Munteanu
• Darren Hann
• Chantal Boudreau
• David C. Rhind
• John Hillman

Things to do

Apart from the media guest Q&A’s, autographs and photo sessions, there are many other programming options and things to do during the convention...

• Celebrity Guest Lectures
• Authors Readings
• Anime and Video Rooms
• Artist Alley
• Charity Auction
• Specialty Vendors
• Discussion Panels
• Masquerade Dance
• Costume Contest
• Dressing in Costume
• Gaming demonstrations & play
• Munchkin Tournament - The winners face off against Munchkin creator Steve Jackson (US game designer)

Pre-Events

Hal-Con is active in the HRM community. They hold mini-events throughout the year leading up to the conventions. As Hal-Con is a largely homegrown and unfunded event, the volunteers hold fund-raising events such as board game tournaments, video game days, trivia nights,and Laser Tag events at Alpha Strike. Hal-Con co-hosts the local comedy show Geeks Versus Nerds.

Movies

Hal-Con has, in association with Empire Theatres

Empire Theatres

Empire Theatres Limited is the second-largest movie theatre chain in Canada, and the only major circuit operating in Atlantic Canada. A subsidiary of Empire Company Ltd., the family-owned parent of the Sobeys supermarket chain presently owns and operates 51 locations in 8 of 10 provinces, from...

, been bringing "fan favourite" movies to back to the big screen, such as Star Trek 2: Wrath of Kahn, Starship Troopers, The Wizard

The Wizard (film)

The Wizard is a 1989 adventure dramedy film starring Fred Savage, Luke Edwards, and Jenny Lewis...

 (with help from the local Thrillema group) and the "Can't Stop the Serenity

Serenity (film)

Serenity is a 2005 space western film written and directed by Joss Whedon. It is a continuation of the short-lived 2002 Fox science fiction television series Firefly, taking place after the events of the final episode. Set in 2518, Serenity is the story of the captain and crew of a cargo ship...

" event.

Charity

Hal-Con, independently and with Let It Roll, Geeks Versus Nerds and Gelatinous Dudes, has participated in numerous charity fund-raising events with the funds going to local children groups, special needs camps, and Japan Disaster Relief. Each Hal-Con has a charity auction using merchandise donated by the guests, vendors and celebrities. At Hal-Con 2010 the charity was Child's Play (charity)

Child's Play (charity)

Child's Play is a charitable organization founded by the authors of the popular computer and video games-based webcomic Penny Arcade that organizes worldwide toy drives to children's hospitals. Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins founded Child's Play in 2003 to improve the lives of sick children by...

 and the final item showcased and auctioned off was a vintage Bird of Prey (Star Trek)

Bird of Prey (Star Trek)

"Bird of Prey" is a common name for various makes of Romulan and Klingon warships in the Star Trek fictional universe. It is suggested within the series that this commonality derives from interactions between the two groups....

 model signed by both Walter Koenig

Walter Koenig

Walter Marvin Koenig is an American actor, writer, teacher and director, known for his roles as Pavel Chekov in Star Trek and Alfred Bester in Babylon 5. He wrote the script for the 2008 science fiction legal thriller InAlienable.-Early life:...

 and Denise Crosby

Denise Crosby

Denise Michelle Crosby is an American actress best known for portraying Security Chief Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation...

.

In 2011, the charity auction comprised a number of corporate and personal donations. The amount raised was approximately $5500 CAD.

Mascot

The mascot is Nelson, a small purple alien (from the planet Teebius) named Nee who lives in, and operates, a robot shaped like the Halifax Town Clock

Halifax Town Clock

The Town Clock, also sometimes called the Old Town Clock or Citadel Clock Tower, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the historic urban core of Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality....

. Nee plus the LSON (Liveable Space Operating Node) Robot make up Nelson. The mascot is seen at promotional material and appears at every event, wearing appropriate attire.

The Old

Hal-Con has a long history in Halifax, and was running annually for many years in the 1970s and 1980s.

Here is a representative picture of Halcon from the 1980s. It shows Spider Robinson and two unknown female barbarians.

Spider and the Barbarians.

The Return

In 2010 Hal-Con underwent a revival. The new Hal-Con took the meaning of the old convention, the want to bring like minded people together for fun, but did it under entirely new management and with a modern convention practises. The official organizing committee is made up of volunteers who want nothing more than to make a successful festival in Atlantic Canada. In 2011, the Maritimes continued to show their support for the event, nearly doubling attendance at the new venue - which was more than twice as large. This proves Hal-Con is here to stay.

Event History

Events	Dates	Location	Attendees	Guests	Notes
Hal-Con 1 (2010)	-	Lord Nelson Hotel Lord Nelson Hotel The Lord Nelson Hotel is a grand hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located on the corner of Spring Garden and South Park Streets across from the Halifax Public Gardens. It was built in 1927 by a consortium of investors led by the Canadian Pacific Railway who wanted a Halifax anchor to...	Est. 3500	Walter Koenig Walter Koenig Walter Marvin Koenig is an American actor, writer, teacher and director, known for his roles as Pavel Chekov in Star Trek and Alfred Bester in Babylon 5. He wrote the script for the 2008 science fiction legal thriller InAlienable.-Early life:... , Denise Crosby Denise Crosby Denise Michelle Crosby is an American actress best known for portraying Security Chief Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation... , Kevin Murphy Kevin Murphy (actor) Kevin Wagner Murphy is an American actor and writer best known as the voice and puppeteer of Tom Servo on the Peabody Award-winning comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000.- Early career :... , Bill Corbett Bill Corbett Bill Corbett is an American writer and performer for television, film and theatre. He was a writer and performer on the cult television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 , for which he voiced the robot Crow T. Robot during the show's later seasons on the Sci Fi Channel and played the character... , Coner McCreery Kill Shakespeare Kill Shakespeare is a twelve-issue comic book limited series released by IDW Publishing. It is being produced by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, who also act as co-writers, alongside Andy Belanger as head-artist, Ian Herring as colourist and Kagan McLeod as cover artist... , Drakaina Muse, Kenneth Tam Kenneth Tam Kenneth Tam is a Canadian science-fiction author. His best-known works include The Equations Novels and the Defense Command series. He is the son of fellow Canadian author Jacqui Tam. He is a graduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University, in Waterloo, Ontario... , Ajay Fry, Teddy Wilson, Matthew LeDrew, Ellen Curtis, Sandra Staple, Nina Munteanu, David Rhind	The first convention was well attended, with more people than expected coming through the doors. The venue was a bit small for the event, due to selling out, however most of the attendees and special guests were in high spirits. Actor and wrestler Robert Maillet Robert Maillet Robert Maillet is a Canadian professional wrestler and actor. He is known for his tenure in the World Wrestling Federation, as a member of the Truth Commission and the Oddities, wrestling under the name Kurrgan....  was also in attendance during the convention. He spent the weekend signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans while enjoying the events at the convention.
Hal-Con 2 (2011)	-	World Trade and Convention Centre World Trade and Convention Centre The World Trade and Convention Centre is a convention centre/office complex in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is adjacent to the Halifax Metro Centre....	Est. 5000	Nicholas Brendon Nicholas Brendon Nicholas Brendon , is an actor best known for his character Xander Harris in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer .-Early life:... , Erin Gray Erin Gray Erin Gray is an American actress, perhaps best known for her roles as Kate Summers in the situation comedy Silver Spoons and as Colonel Wilma Deering in the science fiction television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.... , JG Hertzler, Robert Maillet Robert Maillet Robert Maillet is a Canadian professional wrestler and actor. He is known for his tenure in the World Wrestling Federation, as a member of the Truth Commission and the Oddities, wrestling under the name Kurrgan.... , Steve Jackson (US game designer), Faith Erin Hicks Faith Erin Hicks Faith Erin Hicks is a Canadian webcomic and comic artist and writer and animator living in Halifax, Nova Scotia.She is best known for her webcomic Demonology 101.-Biography:... , Coner McCreery Kill Shakespeare Kill Shakespeare is a twelve-issue comic book limited series released by IDW Publishing. It is being produced by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, who also act as co-writers, alongside Andy Belanger as head-artist, Ian Herring as colourist and Kagan McLeod as cover artist... , Anthony Del Col Kill Shakespeare Kill Shakespeare is a twelve-issue comic book limited series released by IDW Publishing. It is being produced by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, who also act as co-writers, alongside Andy Belanger as head-artist, Ian Herring as colourist and Kagan McLeod as cover artist... , Drakaina Muse, Kenneth Tam Kenneth Tam Kenneth Tam is a Canadian science-fiction author. His best-known works include The Equations Novels and the Defense Command series. He is the son of fellow Canadian author Jacqui Tam. He is a graduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University, in Waterloo, Ontario... , Ajay Fry, Teddy Wilson, Matthew LeDrew, Ellen Curtis, Darren Hann, Chantal Boudreau, David Rhind,Fat Apollo	The finalist in the Munchkin tournament will be playing their final match against Munchkin creator Steve Jackson (US game designer)