Hal-Con

Hal-Con Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Comic Convention
Status Active
Genre Multigenre
Venue

Lord Nelson Hotel (2010),
World Trade and Convention Centre (2011–2016),

Scotiabank Centre (2015, 2016)
Location(s) Halifax, Nova Scotia
Country Canada
Inaugurated October 29–31, 2010
Attendance Est. 8000
Organized by HAL-CON Sci-Fi Fantasy Association
Filing status Not-For-Profit
Website
http://www.hal-con.com

Hal-Con Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Comic Convention, 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 in Atlantic Canada and during the middle of Fall.

Originally showcasing comic books, games, science fiction/fantasy and film/television, and related popular arts, it has grown to encompass the full spectrum of geekdom, including Comic Books, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Gaming, Cyberpunk, Steampunk, Renaissance, Anime, Furry, Cyber goth, Cosplay, 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.

Activities and events

Community involvement

Year round events

Hal-Con is active in the HRM community, promoting both the convention and Geek Culture. They hold events throughout the year leading up to the convention. These events include BBQs, dances, movie nights, game days, and they even participate in local parades and zombie walks with the help of fans.

Charity

Hal-Con is active in charity events. Each year they host a live charity auction at the convention as well as numerous silent auctions with profits going to the IWK Children's Hospital and Kids Help Phone. They also participate with local groups such as Let It Roll, The Board Room Game Cafe, Cape and Cowl Collectibles, Geeks Versus Nerds and Gelatinous Dudes, to help with numerous charity fund-raising events with the funds going to local children groups, IWK Children's Hospital, Kids Help Phone, special needs camps, and Japan Disaster Relief.

In the first five years (2010–2015), they have raised over $45,000 for charity.

Mascot

The Hal-Con mascot is named Nelson, which is a robot shaped like the Halifax Town Clock. The mascot is seen on Hal-Con promotional material and appears at every community event possible, as well as at the convention itself. Since the introduction of the mascot costume Nelson has appeared in numerous parades, played Laser Tag, avoided the undead in the Halifax Zombie Walk, and even ran a 10k marathon for charity.

An origin story for the mascot of Nelson explains how an alien from the planet Teebius named Nee comes to Earth, befriends a mouse named Zipper, makes a home with Zipper in a "Liveable Space Operating Node" (LSON) Robot, and decides to combine his name with the Robot's to become "Nelson".[1]

In 2015 the Hal-Con website was redesigned, and the origin story was not included with the new website. However, on the new website is an entry for Nelson on the Hal-Con About Us web page, which provides a smaller description for the mascot:

Nelson, originally named Nee, is the robot of fun. Hailing from Teebius, Nelson decided his time would be better spent as Hal-Con’s mascot because the world on our side of the galaxy intrigued him more than his own. He grew up watching our TV shows and can quote every line from the gone-too-soon series Seaquest DSV. In his down time, Nelson likes to share a bowl of cereal with his BFF and roommate, a mouse named Zipper.
— "Our Board - Hal-Con"

Hal-Con history

The Old

Hal-Con has a long history in Halifax, and was running annually for many years from the late 1970s through the 1980s. The convention began at Dalhousie University's School of Library Service as HalyCon I, and it was held on March 17, 1977. Then in 1978, the Halcon Science Fiction Society was launched by Bob Atkinson, John Bell, and Alain Chabot and the convention was renamed "Halcon" for Halcon II held March 9–11, 1979.[2] Since Halcon came about as a result of Halycon, the numbering continued from the original event. Halcon II featured Ben Bova and Spider & Jeanne Robinson as guests. Then Halcon 3 was held in 1980, and the convention continued to be held annually until 1987. Halcon 10 was held in 1987 at The Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, and it would be the last Halcon until 2010.

The New

In 2010 the Halcon convention underwent a spiritual revival. The new Halcon, now called "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 modern convention practices. The official organizing committee is made up of volunteers who want nothing more than to make a successful convention in Atlantic Canada. Planning for the 2010 convention began in 2008, and was able to bring in nearly 1500 attendees to the Lord Nelson Hotel in Halifax. Since 2010 the convention has grown steadily, having had to move its venue after its first year, and is currently being held at the World Trade and Convention Centre and Scotiabank Centre in downtown Halifax.[3]

Event history

Year Dates Location Attendees Guests Additional Info
2010 October 29–31 Lord Nelson Hotel Est. 1500 Walter Koenig, Denise Crosby, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett, Conor McCreery, Drakaina Muse, Kenneth Tam, 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. Actor and wrestler Robert Maillet 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.
2011 November 12–13 World Trade and Convention Centre Est. 3500 Nicholas Brendon, Erin Gray, JG Hertzler, Robert Maillet, Steve Jackson (US game designer), Debbie Rochon, Faith Erin Hicks, Conor McCreery, Anthony Del Col, Drakaina Muse, Ajay Fry, Teddy Wilson, Matthew LeDrew, Ellen Curtis, Darren Hann, Chantal Boudreau, David Rhind, Fat Apollo The venue expanded to nearly 30,000sqft and was two floors. Attendance more than doubled, despite the change to a 2-day format. The finalist in the Munchkin tournament will be playing their final match against Munchkin creator Steve Jackson (US game designer). The annual KAG Kanada Grand Assembly was hosted at Hal-Con.
2012 October 26–28 World Trade and Convention Centre Est. 4700 John Rhys-Davies, René Auberjonois, Nicholas Briggs, Brian Downey, Manu Intiraymi, John Dunsworth, Richard Donat, Ajay Fry, Debbie Rochon, Paul and Storm, Nerd Army, R. A. Salvatore, Geno Salvatore, Brandon Sanderson, Rachel Caine, Alex Bledsoe, C.S. Maccath, Matthew LeDrew, Ellen Curtis, David Rhind, Gail Simone, Steve McNiven, Darwyn Cooke, Conor McCreery, Nick Bradshaw, Larry Hama, Mark Oakley, Geof Isherwood, Francesco Francavilla, Ramón Pérez, Faith Erin Hicks, Mike Holmes, Tim Larade, Andrew Power, Hal Hilden, Joel Duggan, J.R. Faulkner, Jay Paulin, David Cullen, Drakaina Muse, Howard Nash, Fat Apollo The venue expanded to a third floor and moved back to the 3 day format. Gaming aspect of convention is largest in the Maritimes. There was a concert and a small scale film festival. There was a renewal of wedding vows that was overseen by John Rhys-Davies.
2013 November 8–10 World Trade and Convention Centre Est. n/a Billy Dee Williams, Jewel Staite, Peter Davison, Garrett Wang, J. August Richards, David Nykl, Richard Hatch, Vic Mignogna, Ajay Fry, Robert Maillet, Pete Williams, Terry Brooks, Robert J. Sawyer, Shawna Romkey, Matthew LeDrew, Ellen Curtis, David Rhind, Julia Phillips Smith, Christopher Jones, Ty Templeton, Ian Boothby, Tom Fowler, Lar deSouza, Nick Bradshaw, Christopher Torres, Rob DenBleyker, Troy Little, Brenda Hickey, Kelly Tindall, Faith Erin Hicks, Peter Chiykowski, Joel Duggan, Hal Hilden, Robert Bailey, Danica Brine, Jay Paulin, Monte Cook, Wordburglar, Yaya Han, Drakaina Muse, Fat Apollo The attendance surpassed 2012 numbers, but overcrowding led to the Office of the Fire Marshall to step in and shut down entry, trapping hundred of people and denying entry to hundreds more. Refunds were issued at that time. The cause was due to confusion of the daily passes as the passes themselves were not defined on which day they were for.[4]
2014 November 7–9 World Trade and Convention Centre Est. 6400 Mark Sheppard, Michelle Forbes, Morena Baccarin, Kristian Nairn, Colin Ferguson, Johnny Yong Bosch, Ross Mullan, Garrett Wang, Jacqueline Carey, Kat Kruger, Shawna Romkey, Dan Parent, J. Torres, Doug Savage, Kate Leth, Kalman Andrasofszky, Richard Comely, Fadi Hakim, Marco Rudy, Nick Bradshaw, Hope Nicholson and Rachel Richey, Gisèle Lagacé, David Lumsdom, Peter Chiykowski, Danica Brine (KARIBU), Riki LeCotey (Riddle), Chris Tulach, Jaqueline Carey, Fat Apollo A successful fifth year without any overcrowding issues by switching to specific day passes for single day tickets. Chosen by Wizards of the Coast to host an exclusive scenario through the Adventurers League program for the first time called ‘Tyranny in Phlan.’[5]
2015 October 31- November 1 World Trade and Convention Centre and Scotiabank Centre Est. 8000 Enver Gjokaj, John de Lancie, John Rhys-Davies, Alaina Huffman, Amber Benson, Destiny Nickelsen, Emily Perkins, Kris Holden-Reid, Paul Amos, Kirby Morrow, Lenore Zann, Kelley Armstrong, Jacquelyne Frank, Diane Duane, Peter Moorwood, Joelle Jones, Mike Rooth, Toy Little, Brenda Hickey, Rob DenBleyker, Jeph Jacques, Vitaly S. Alexius, Richard Comedly, Fadi Hakim, Gavin Buhr, Nathan DeLuca, Fat Apollo This year expands to add another 20,000+ sq ft to the existing 50,000+ sq ft to the event space. This brought in more artists/exhibitors in addition to increased space for gaming and special activities on site. Ticket prices remained the same, despite the increase in space.
2016 November 4–6 World Trade and Convention Centre and Scotiabank Centre Est. 8500 Gates McFadden, Toby Proctor, Linda Ballantyne, Jeremy Bulloch, local cosplayer Becky Mailman. This year is the last planned for this venue before moving to the new Halifax Convention Centre, ready in 2017.

References

  1. ↑ "Internet Archive, Hal-Con, Nelson". 2015-05-02. Archived from the original on May 2, 2015. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  2. ↑ "Halcon Science Fiction Society fonds - Archives Catalogue and Online Collections". findingaids.library.dal.ca. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  3. ↑ "About Us - Hal-Con". Hal-Con. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  4. ↑ http://globalnews.ca/news/957442/long-lines-at-hal-con-leads-to-refunds-apology/
  5. ↑ http://thechronicleherald.ca/community/halifax/1239824-basements-and-buddies

External links

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