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.
In 1991, James Botte and Farrell McGovern founded CAN•CON 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.
CAN•CON ran from 1992 through 1997, again in 2001, and was relaunched in 2010 after a long hiatus. It 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.
CAN•CON has hosted events such as book launches, Canvention 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.
Their acceptance of me, little old me, who felt like a massive fraud walking amongst all these actual writers, that gave me the confidence to call myself a writer. They have been and continue to be the best of people.
In short, I love Can-Con, and I have since I first attended. It really is all about fantastic Canadian speculative fiction, and it's an absolute blast.
If you are interested in speculative fiction, and you want to meet some great Canadians who are great at it (and have the chance to sit in on a slew of fascinating, funny and brilliant panels), you must register. If you are not, 1. what the hell are you doing reading this blog? and 2. you still must register. Yup.
You can do that HERE.
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD, DON'T MISS OUT. You will regret it.
Why are you still here? What the hell? Go register!
Back? Sweet. Here it is:
Ciao!