VCON 41: Full Schedule

Welcome to the VCON 41 Online Schedule!

VCON is the oldest general-interest science fiction, fantasy, and games convention in Canada and the Pacific Northwest. This 100% volunteer fan-organized convention has promoted the interests of science fiction and fantasy culture in Vancouver BC and its environs since 1971, offering events and exhibits focused on a variety of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom interest areas such as literature, art, media, music, costumes, comics, tabletop games, electronic games, etc. For more detailed information visit our website: www.vcon.ca.

VCON 41 will be held Sep 30 - Oct 2, 2016, at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford hotel. The convention’s main theme is "Muppets, Puppets & Marionettes" with a secondary theme of "The Small Press Cabal".

Please take a moment to check out the "Sponsor" tab to see who has helped support this year’s event.
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SESSIONS ARE ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

SEPTEMBER 17, 2016: The schedule is now as "final" as it ever gets! Which means that, yes, there will probably still be changes here and there, but generally only to resolve when we’ve accidentally placed one panelist on two panels at the same time, or if a panelist has to cancel.)

-Jenni Merrifield, VCON 41 Programming Coordinator
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18:00 PDT

Whose Line Is It Fandom?

Based on the improv show "Whose Line is it Anyway?", this is the nerdy improv show where everyone can laugh, dance, and boldly go where no nerd has gone before.

Panelists

Philip

Mr Phil Guy

Philip and Colin Amor are brothers born and raised in beautiful Vancouver. In 2007, they began visiting different conventions in Vancouver, Victoria, and Seattle, experiencing all kinds of communities and fandoms. In 2012, Phil inherited a panel from a friend and was hooked. Now... Read More →

Friday September 30, 2016 18:00 - 19:20 PDT
01 - Large Programming 1 (with AV) Tynehead 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Interactive, Live Show

21:00 PDT

Poker Chip Bardic Filk with Dara

It's a song circle! Come perform fan music (filk), or request fan songs from people who have come to play.

Friday night’s circle is Poker Chip Bardic style. This means we'll take turns, except when the chips are down - then we _don't_.

What does that mean? Not enough space to tell you here, come out to find out!

Panelists

Dara Korra'ti

Crime and the Forces of Evil

Being a supervillain means being able to do a bit of everything, because, gods know, you can't trust anyone _else_ to do it. So after learning propaganda in professional radio and publishing, creating new techniques in genetics manipulation, getting _pretty good_ at DIY electronics... Read More →

Friday September 30, 2016 21:00 - Saturday October 1, 2016 00:00 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Music Dance & Performance, Interactive

Session Type Interactive

11:00 PDT

Pallahaxi Players Reader Theatre Presents 'Deep North' by Carlos Lozano

Come listen as the readers of the Pallahaxi Players will thrill you with the words and sounds of a tale of a rescue mission to the Canadian Arctic gone terribly wrong. Themselves in need of help, they come face to face with an ancient evil.

Panelists

Eileen Kernaghan

Eileen Kernaghan lives in New Westminster. Her nine historical fantasy novels reflect her fascination with other times and places, from the prehistoric Indus Valley to Victorian England. Her most recent YA/teen novel, Sophie, in Shadow, shortlisted for a Sunburst Award for literature... Read More →

Carlos Lozano-Gilabert

Carlos Lozano is a writer of flash-fiction and screenplays. He has a solid a solid background in science and psychology. His flash-fiction revolves around horror and love stories. His screenplays reflect his love of adventure. He writes both in English and in Spanish.

Rhea Rose

Rhea's first story was selected by Judith Merril for the very first Tesseracts anthology and nominated for an Aurora Award. Her latest works appear in Clockwork Canada and Pulp Literature. She has her MFA in creative writing from UBC.

Casey J. Wolf

Casey June Wolf is a writer of occasional poems and speculative fiction stories that range from moody slipstream to hard science fiction. Upcoming publications include “Fog” in The Nettle Tree: Strangely Different Western Stories and several poems in Your Death Full of Flowers... Read More →

Saturday October 1, 2016 11:00 - 11:50 PDT
03 - Interactive Programming Tynehead 1 (2nd Floor)

Music Dance & Performance Writing & Publication

Session Type Live Show, Reading

13:00 PDT

Kinderfilk

Everybody is welcome to come listen to songs geared toward younger fans. We'll see if we can't find a few muppet, puppet and marionette songs to throw into the mix.

Panelists

Creede Lambard

Creede Lambard first encountered filk in 1981. He learned to play the banjo in 2003. He started combining the two in 2005 and things haven't been the same since.

Saturday October 1, 2016 13:00 - 13:50 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Kid Stuff Muppets Puppets & Marionettes Music Dance & Performance

Session Type Interactive, Live Show

15:00 PDT

Beatles Sing-Along

A VCON tradition for many years, Spider Robinson, TAM Gordy and Steve Fahnestalk bring back their Beatles singalong. If you like singing and/or playing Beatles tunes, please join us!
(1.5 hrs)

Panelists

Steve Fahnestalk

President and CEO, Retired

Steve Fahnestalk's been in fandom for more than 40 years. That somehow qualifies him to spout off about SF/F subjects. Which he does regularly in his Amazing® Stories Online column (www.amazingstoriesmag.com). He's also known for singing Beatles with Spider Robinson, T*A*M* Gordy... Read More →

TAM Gordy

Old enough to remember when Michael Jackson was black. Saw the first show with the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, when it happened. Loves music, writing and when the Boss cooks for me. Takes everything seriously, except myself. Peace. Out.

Spider Robinson

Cheap Executive Offficer, Tottering-on-the-Brink

Spider Robinson is renowned as one of Canada's most popular science fiction writers. Born in New York, NY, he has lived in Canada for nearly 40 years, mostly in Halifax and Vancouver. He wrote his first SF short story, "The Guy with the Eyes" (published in 1971) to escape the boredom... Read More →

Saturday October 1, 2016 15:00 - 16:20 PDT
05 - Medium Programming 1 (with AV) Green Timber 2 (2nd Floor)

Music Dance & Performance

Session Type Interactive

17:00 PDT

Belly Dance 101 with Varvara

Registration: Drop-in
Recommended minimum age: All ages welcome
Materials Fee: NONE
Workshop Duration: 1.5 hrs

Workshop description: Learn an ancient dance with a geeky twist as the beautiful Varvara, belly dancer extraordinaire, demonstrates and then teaches you the graceful movements and steps used in traditional belly dance. By the time your session with her is done, you'll be able to dance your belly and shimmy your hips to any middle eastern dance beat you encounter.

• • • • •
Varvara (aka Barbara Hanson) has been cosplaying for over 10 years, having played with many different costumes, both hero's and villains. She loves to see and work on different costumes and see what others also can create, spreading the joy of costuming whether at cons or dance. She has also been dancing for 15 years, teaching for 5.

(Image borrowed from Limber Tree Studios website)

Panelists

Barbara Hanson

Barbara has been cosplaying for over 10 years, having played with many different costumes, both hero's and villains. She loves to see and work on different costumes and see what others also can create, spreading the joy of costuming whether at cons or dance. She has also been dancing... Read More →

Saturday October 1, 2016 17:00 - 18:30 PDT
03 - Interactive Programming Tynehead 1 (2nd Floor)

Music Dance & Performance

Session Type Interactive, Workshop

19:30 PDT

Kaiju Konfessions

It’s time to get down with your bad Kaiju self! Traditional kaiju movies all have musical numbers, songs, and dances . . . and nothing is more fun than singing and dancing together. So let’s show everyone that we’ve got the moves like Zilla! Monsters let’s sing and dance the classics! From “Save the Earth,” to “The Words Get Stuck in My Throat” to Blue Oyster Cult’s “Godzilla,” we’ll make some noise. (May go to 9:30 PM if everyone is having a good time!)

Panelists

Stan Hyde

Stan is a model builder and artist, retired English literature, film and drama teacher, and a bona fide Godzilla expert (he has more than 200 models of Godzilla, each one different and can look at a photo of Godzilla and identify the movie the still came from by the shape of the ear... Read More →

Saturday October 1, 2016 19:30 - 20:50 PDT
04 - MAT Programming Green Timber 1 (2nd Floor)

Session Type GoH Panelist, Interactive

21:00 PDT

Poker Chip Chaos Filk with Dara

It's a song circle! Come perform fan music (filk), or request fan songs from people who have come to play.

Saturday night's circle is Poker Chip Chaos style, which means anything can happen when the chips are down!

And what does that mean? Not enough space to tell you here, come out to find out!

Panelists

Dara Korra'ti

Crime and the Forces of Evil

Saturday October 1, 2016 21:00 - Sunday October 2, 2016 00:00 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Music Dance & Performance

Session Type Interactive

22:30 PDT

Whose Sassy Line Is It Fandom?

This is the adult-oriented version of "Whose Line Is It Fandom" based on the improv show "Whose Line is it Anyway?" and there is only one thing to remember: There are no dirty minds, just sexy imaginations. And if you have a silly, sexy, nerdy imagination, then come laugh and play at this improv show!

As adult themes will be front and center, this is officially an 18+ event. However, those under 18 may be allowed to attend if we receive explicit permission from a parent or guardian.

Panelists

Philip

Mr Phil Guy

Saturday October 1, 2016 22:30 - 23:50 PDT
01 - Large Programming 1 (with AV) Tynehead 3 (2nd Floor)

Late Night (18+) Media & Popular Culture Music Dance & Performance

Session Type Adult, Interactive, Live Show

22:30 PDT

VCON Crosswise Cabaret

Come relax! Enjoy! Participate!

The cabaret is a new tradition where VCON attendees can come, relax, socialize, dance, and be entertained by.... more VCON attendees! All the classic dance tunes, plus your media favourites remixed into the ultimate fan favourites, liberally mixed with YOU! We’re open for improv comedy, skits, all manner of short acts throughout the night... if you have an idea, let us know. There will be a cash bar, so if the offerings at Hospitality are not quite what you’re looking for, there will be premium beer, wine and highballs at the Cabaret!

Panelists

Chris Sturges

President, Fired Up Events

Chris Sturges is Special Effects technician, Business owner, event manager, social engineer, long time VCON supporter and volunteer and a bunch of other things as well...

Saturday October 1, 2016 22:30 - Sunday October 2, 2016 02:00 PDT
03 - Interactive Programming Tynehead 1 (2nd Floor)

Music Dance & Performance

Session Type Live Show
Tags featured

10:00 PDT

The Art of Finishing

One of the biggest challenges as a creator is taking something out of the sexy early development stages and into being a finished product. Members of this panel will share their experience, tools, and advice on getting things done.

Moderators

Devon Boorman

Devon Boorman is the Director and Master Instructor for Academie Duello, the world's largest centre for the study of European Swordplay and Martial Arts, based in downtown Vancouver.

Panelists

Katrina Archer

Author & Editor, Ganache Media

Katrina Archer is the author of dark fantasy The Tree of Souls and YA fantasy Untalented. A professional engineer, she lives on her sailboat in Vancouver, BC, and has worked in aerospace, video games and film.

Brenda Carre

Brenda Carre writes in a variety of genres. Her short fiction can be found in the Magazine of F&Sf, Fiction River Anthologies and in many other venues. Brenda's WIP is a Dark Fantasy paralleling Canada's mythic West Coast during the age of sail.

Stephanie Johanson

co-owner, assistant editor, art director..., Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine

VCON 41 Art Director Guest of HonourStephanie Johanson is the art director, assistant editor, on-staff artist, and co-owner of Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine. How the heck do you start up a science fiction magazine?The idea came to Stephanie around 4:00 AM one Sunday morning in... Read More →

Karl Johanson

Editor, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine

VCON 41 Editor Guest of HonourKarl Johanson is not just an exceptional editor of a marvelous magazine, he is—behind his unassuming exterior—a mad genius whose team is, against all logic, constantly pulling off these completely astounding projects.During the 1990s, Karl co-edited... Read More →

Isaiah Sweigard

I am a young aspiring filmmaker who went to film school, graduating with an expertise in Producing and Directing. After film school I then worked in the Vancouver film industry for 2 years, before quitting and pursuing my own creative outlets.

Sunday October 2, 2016 10:00 - 10:50 PDT
02 - Large Programming 2 Tynehead 2 (2nd Floor)

Art Craft & Making Games & Game Design Music Dance & Performance Writing & Publication

Session Type GoH Panelist, Moderated Panel

13:00 PDT

How To Choose Your Instrument (Or How It Chooses You)

Looking to choose a musical instrument? Our opinionated panel will tell you why they chose theirs, or why their instrument chose them. A musical petting zoo included at no extra charge (try before you go out and buy).

Moderators

Creede Lambard

Creede Lambard first encountered filk in 1981. He learned to play the banjo in 2003. He started combining the two in 2005 and things haven't been the same since.

Panelists

TAM Gordy

Dara Korra'ti

Crime and the Forces of Evil

Robert Luis Rabello

Robert Luis Rabello is the author of the Deveran Conflict Series, a unique human wave science fiction series.

Sunday October 2, 2016 13:00 - 13:50 PDT
05 - Medium Programming 1 (with AV) Green Timber 2 (2nd Floor)

Music Dance & Performance

Session Type Moderated Discussion

14:30 PDT

Filk, Folk, Rock and More

Come out to listen to a variety of musical performances by a talented cadre of our musically inclined panelists

Panelists

TAM Gordy

Dara Korra'ti

Crime and the Forces of Evil

Creede Lambard

Creede Lambard first encountered filk in 1981. He learned to play the banjo in 2003. He started combining the two in 2005 and things haven't been the same since.

Claire McCague

Simon Fraser University

Claire McCague is a research scientist, musician and writer. She performs regularly with the Sybaritic String Band and her other worldly plays have been featured in festivals across Canada. Her humorous first contact novel, The Rosetta Man, published by EDGE, is her first novel.

GregRobin Smith

Managing Director, Washington Shakespeare Festival

Poet, Playwright, Historical 1st person presenter, Musician, Shakespearean, Educator & Fundraiser, GregRobin keeps many irons glowing in the fires of creativity from his Seattle home. where he plots world dominance through the works and thought processes of William Shakespeare & Dr... Read More →

Sunday October 2, 2016 14:30 - 16:30 PDT
01 - Large Programming 1 (with AV) Tynehead 3 (2nd Floor)

Music Dance & Performance

Session Type Live Show