CAN-CON (convention) explained

CAN-CON
Status:Active
Genre:Science fiction and Fantasy
Venue:variable
Location:Ottawa, Ontario
Country:Canada
First:1992
Website:http://www.can-con.org/

CAN-CON, stylized 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.[1] It ran from 1992 through 1997, and again in 2001 before taking a hiatus of several years due to the two founders moving out of Canada for employment reasons; it was then relaunched in 2010 after they had both returned to Canada.

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.[2]

Programming

CAN-CON has had some of the most diverse programming SF conventions have ever had, while retaining a focus on Canada, its writing environment, and uniqueness. It has also hosted events such as book launches, Canvention with its Prix Aurora Awards,[3] the Boréal Congress,[4] 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.The tenth Conference, which took place on September 21–23 of 2012, focused on introducing emerging and aspiring writers and artists to agents, editors, publishers and fans. The eleventh Conference, which took place at Minto Suites Hotel on October 4–6, 2013, had the theme of "The Cutting Edge"; it also hosted Canvention and the 33rd Aurora Awards. The seventeenth and most recent Conference occurred at the Ottawa Sheraton Hotel on October 18-20, 2019.

History

Event history

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. CAN•CON '95/CANVENTION 15 Winter Programming Session backgrounder, W. Paul Valcour. March 2, 1995.
  2. [David Hartwell]
  3. Web site: Histories. Aurora Awards official website. 2010-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20110720214424/http://www.prix-aurora-awards.ca/English/AuroraHistory/awardWinners.htm. 2011-07-20. dead.
  4. Web site: Culture des futurs. Jean-Louis Trudel's Blog. 2010-04-17.
  5. Book: CAN-CON: Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Literature 1992 Programme Book. Ottawa High-Tech Buyer's Group. May 1992.
  6. Book: CAN•CON '93 Programme Book. Society for Canadian Content in Speculative Literature. May 1993.
  7. The Third Annual Conference On Canadian Content in Speculative Literature: CAN•CON '94 Flyer.
  8. Web site: Trudel. Jean-Louis. Culture des futurs. 17 April 2010. 2 May 2010.
  9. Web site: The History of ACCSFF. 2 May 2010.
  10. Book: CAN•CON '95 Progress Report #1. Society for Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature. January 1995.
  11. Book: CAN•CON '96 Programme Book. Society For Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature. May 1996.
  12. Book: CAN•CON '97 Programme Book. Society For Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature. May 1997.
  13. Book: CAN•CON 2001 Programme Book. Society For Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature. August 2001.

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