VCON
Ursula K. Le Guin at VCON 1 in 1971.
Statusactive
GenreScience fiction, Fantasy, Literature, Tabletop game
FrequencyAnnual
Venue49°16′58″N 123°07′15″W / 49.2827°N 123.1207°W / 49.2827; -123.1207
Location(s)Vancouver, British Columbia
CountryCanada
Websitehttp://vcon.ca/

VCON is a fan run fantasy, gaming, and science fiction convention held annually in the metro Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada. It has been hosted by the West Coast Science Fiction Association (WCSFA) since 1993,[1] and by the Western Canadian Science Fiction Convention Committee Association (WCSFCCA) before that.

History

VCON is the oldest fan run science fiction convention across Canada and in the Pacific Northwest,[2] spawning other fan run conventions in these regions (especially the Pacific Northwest) including Norwescon, OryCon, Con-Version and KeyCon. The first "VCON" (which was actually called the Vancouver SF Convention) was held April 9 and 10, 1971 at the Hotel Georgia in Vancouver with Ursula K. LeGuin as Guest of Honour. Its sponsoring organisations included the University of British Columbia Science Fiction Society (UBC SFFEN), the B.C. Science Fiction Association (an offshoot of the UBC club) and the Simon Fraser University Science Fiction Society (SF3).[1]

Although 2011 was the 40th anniversary of the first VCON event, the event held in that year was VCON 37. This oddity in numbering occurred as a result of two things:

  1. For several years in the mid-1990s no official VCON event was held (though it was sometimes replaced by another WCSFA sponsored event without the VCON name, such as "The Science of Murder" in 1994 and "The Science of Survival" in 1995)[3]
  2. Due to various time and resource constraints there were two VCON events that were deliberately organized to be smaller and more intimate and which were given the "half numbers" of 18.5 and 19.5.[3]

VCON has hosted Canvention, Canada's national science fiction convention several times: VCON 14/Canvention 6 in 1986, VCON 26/Canvention 21 in 2001, VCON 32/Canvention 27 in 2007, and VCON 39/Canvention 34 in 2014. VCON has also hosted two Westercon, the travelling science fiction convention for Western North America, with Westercon 30/VCON 7 in 1977 and Westercon 44/VCON 19 in 1991.[3]

Schedule

VCON is held on the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend (the observed Canadian Thanksgiving holiday is always the second Monday in October). The registration desk and the member hospitality room opens at noon on Friday, with programming starting in the mid-afternoon, and the event continues until early Sunday evening.

Features

Highlights include discussion panels, an art show, dealers’ tables, authors’ readings, game room, book launches, workshops, crafts, and a costume contest.[4]

VCON features a large art show, with original 2-D and 3-D work and prints by both professional and fan artists, as well as workshops and demonstrations by featured artists. Since the 1990s, there have also been two or more rooms devoted to tabletop and console (video) gaming.

The VCON spoof award, the Elron, is presented and selected passages of science fiction are publicly read. R. Graeme Cameron, president of the British Columbia Science Fiction Association (BCSFA), has stated that the name "Elron" is not an allusion to science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. The awards are reported each year in the BCSFA's science fiction fanzine BCSFAzine.[5]

During the Turkey Readings, panelists read selections from the worst published science fiction and fantasy fiction. Volunteers act out the story being read, and artists make a poster. Audience members can bid to make the reading stop or bid higher for the reading to continue. Funds raised go to CUFF, the Canadian Unity Fan Fund.[2]

VCON has hosted the Aurora Awards ceremony six times, most recently in 2018.[6]

VCON has a hospitality bar, room parties, and a Dead Dog party to celebrate the end of the convention.[2]

Guests of Honour

VCON Guests of Honour[7]
Last Name First Name Guest Type VCON # VCON Date More Info
AbbeyLynnGoH26 (Canvention 21)2001-05-05Lynn Abbey
AckermanForrest JFan GoH151987-05-23Forrest J Ackerman
AlexanderRobArtist GoH201993-05-29Rob Alexander
AndersonJamieSupermarionation GoH412016-09-30Jamie Anderson
ArmstrongKelleyAuthor GoH332008-10-03Kelley Armstrong
BarrDonnaArtist GoH171989-05-27Donna Barr
BeaglePeter S.Author GoH322007-08-20Peter S. Beagle
BenfordGregoryScience GoH372012-09-29Gregory Benford
BerryJohn D.GoH131985-05-25John D. Berry
BetzAl "Mr. Science"Toastmaster
Fan GoH		25
26 (Canvention 21)		2000-05-27
2001-05-05		Al Betz
BeveridgeJamesArtist GoH352010-10-01James Beveridge
BigelowBettyFan GoH
Costuming GoH		22
26 (Canvention 21)		1997-05-26
2001-05-05		Betty Bigelow
BigelowDavidCostuming GoH26 (Canvention 21)2001-05-05David Bigelow
BlaylockJames P.Author GoH272002-10-12James P. Blaylock
BlochRobertAuthor GoH131985-05-25Robert Bloch
BovaBenAuthor GoH101982-05-22Ben Bova
BromGeraldArtist GoH272002 -10-12Gerald Brom
BrustStevenAuthor GoH221997-05-26Steven Brust
ByrneJohnAuthor GoH081980-05-24John Byrne (comics)
CameronR. GraemeToastmaster
Fan GoH		21
41.5		1996-05-17
2017-10-27		Cameron R. Graeme
CarrTerryGoH051976-05-21Terry Carr
CharishKristiAuthor GoH41.52017-10-27Kristi Charish, Author
CherryhC.J.Author GoH19 (Westercon 44)1991-07-07C. J. Cherryh
ChoiEricEditor GoH402015-10-02Eric Choi
ChuEricFilm Design GoH412016-09-30Eric Chu
ClementHalAuthor GoH161988-05-28Hal Clement
ConeyMichaelToastmaster201993-05-29Michael Coney
CookMonteGame Design Special Guest272002-08-12Monte Cook
CramerJohn G.Science GoH161988-05-28John G. Cramer
CrispinA.C.Author GoH241999-05-22A.C. Crispin
DaleHeatherMusic GoH352010-10-01Heather Dale
de LintCharlesAuthor GoH201993-05-29Charles de Lint
DeBrandtDonAuthor GoH19.51992-05-23Don DeBrandt
DelanySamuel R.Author GoH121984-05-26Samuel R. Delany
DesjardinsShaneGoH252000-05-27Shane Desjardins
deSouzaLarWebcomic GoH342009-10-02Lar deSouza
DickPhilip K.GoH021972-02-19Philip K. Dick
DockreyMichelle "vixy"Music GoH322007-08-20Michelle Dockrey
DorseyCandas JaneCanvention GoH26 (Canvention 21)2001-05-05Candas Jane Dorsey
DuncanDaveAuthor GoH
Author GoH		18
29		1990-05-26
2004-10-08		Dave Duncan (writer)
DuncanMelissa MaryCanvention Artist GoH39 (Canvention 34)2014-10-03Melissa Mary Duncan
DysonGeorgeScience GoH26 (Canvention 21)2001-05-05George Dyson (science historian)
El-MohtarAmalCanvention Author GoH42 (Canvention 38)2018-10-05Amal El-Mohtar
ErnestJamesGaming GoH
Game Design Special Guest		26 (Canvention 21)
27		2001-05-04
202-10-11		James Ernest
FabrisTonyMusic GoH322007-08-20Tony Fabris
FahnestalkLynne TaylorArtist GoH302005-08-08Lynne Taylor Fahnestalk
FahnestalkSteveToastmaster
Toastmaster		19 (Westercon 44)
36		1991-07-05
2011-09-30		Steve Fahnestalk
FinkbinerBethGoH14 (Canvention 6)1986-05-24Beth Finkbiner
FinkbinerMikeGoH14 (Canvention 6)1986-05-24Mike Finkbiner
FortySteveFan GoH402015-10-02Steve Forty
FriesnerEstherAuthor GoH282003-10-11Esther Friesner
GajdeckiJohnMedia GoH272002-10-12Gajdecki Visual Effects
GerroldDavidAuthor GoH231998-05-16David Gerrold
GibsonWilliamAuthor GoH
Fan GoH		19 (Westercon 44)
21		1991-07-05
1996-05-18		William Gibson
GiguèreGeorgesToastmaster111983-05-20Georges Giguère
GreenNancieArtist GoH41.52017-10-27Nancie Green
GreenwoodEdGame Design GoH402015-10-02Ed Greenwood
GustafsonJonAuthor GoH091981-05-23Jon Gustafson
HaberKarenAuthor GoH302005-10-08Karen Haber
HaldemanJoeAuthor GoH402015-10-02Joe_Haldeman
HamblyBarbaraAuthor GoH302005-10-08Barbara Hambly
HiebnerConstantineGoH18.51991-02-16Constantine Hiebner
HendricksAaronPodcasting Special Guest342009-10-02Hendricks
HeardBruceGame Design GoH39 (Canvention 34)2014-10-03Bruce Heard
HerbertFrankGoH
GoH
GoH		03
07
11		1973-02-22
1979-05-25
1983-05-20		Frank Herbert
HoganJames P.Author GoH161988-05-27James P. Hogan (writer)
HopkinsonNaloAuthor GoH282003-10-11Nalo Hopkinson
HowesKatherineGoH14 (Canvention 6)1986-05-24Katherine Howes
HuffTanyaAuthor GoH332008-10-03Tanya Huff
HughesMattAuthor GoH322007-10-20Matt Hughes (writer)
HuntTarol———see Stephens, Ellipsis
HydeStanArtist GoH
Godzilla Fan GoH		22
41		1997-05-26
2016-09-30		Stan Hyde
JacksonMichaelMedia GoH231998-05-16Michael Jackson (actor)
JacksonSteveGaming GoH19 (Westercon 44)1991-07-05Steve Jackson (US game designer)
JohansonKarlEditor GoH412016-09-30Karl Johanson
JohansonStephanieArt Director GoH412016-09-30Stephanie Johanson
KareJordinScience GoH28Jordin Kare
KaufmannJerryGoH19 (Westercon 44)1991-07-05
KernaghanEileenSpecial Guest
Author GoH		14 (Canvention 6)
18.5		Eileen Kernaghan
KingMatt YangPodcasting Special Guest342009-10-02Matthew Yang King
KleinbergenAdrianArtist GoH28Adrian Kleinbergen
KovalicJohnArtist GoH382013-10-04John Kovalic
LaffertyMurAuthor/Podcasting GoH382013-10-04Mur Lafferty
LassekLisaMedia GoH362011-09-30Lisa Lassek
Le GuinUrsula K.GoH011971-10-3Ursula K. Le Guin
LockwoodToddArtist GoH
Special Guest		29
30		Todd Lockwood
LynnElizabeth A.Author GoH18Elizabeth A. Lynn
MackenzieAshleyArtist GoH42 (Canvention 38)2018-10-05Ashley Mackenzie
McCharlesRandyFan GoH30
McIntyreVondaGoH09Vonda McIntyre
MarshallDonPodcasting Special Guest342009-10-02GeeksOn Podcast
MatthewsJaymieScience GoH
Science GoH		29
33		2008-10-03MOST Satellite
Goodwill Moon Rock History
MattinglyDavid B.Artist GoH39 (Canvention 34)2014-10-03David Burroughs Mattingly
MetzgerGeorgeArtist GoH08George Metzger (artist)
MoskowitzSamFan GoH15Sam Moskowitz
NgJamesArtist GoH372012-09-29James Ng Art
NicholsonRyanMedia GoH27Ryan Nicholson
Nielsen HaydenPatrickEditor GoH19 (Westercon 44)1991-07-05Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Nielsen HaydenTeresaEditor GoH19 (Westercon 44)1991-07-05Teresa Nielsen Hayden
NivenLarryGoH
Author GoH		05
36		1976-05-21
2011-09-30		Larry Niven
NormandJean-PierreArtist GoH362011-09-30
NotkinDebbieGoH12
OddssonWarrenArtist GoH19 (Westercon 44)1991-07-05
PenneyLloydFilk GoH25
PenneyYvonneFilk GoH25
PohlFrederikAuthor GoH14 (Canvention 6)Frederik Pohl
PowersTimAuthor GoH27Tim Powers
PriestCherieAuthor GoH352010-10-01Cherie Priest
RauppRogerArtist GoH18Roger Raupp
ReichardtRandyGoH14 (Canvention 6)
RobinsonFrank M.Author GoH12Frank M. Robinson
RobinsonJeanneAuthor GoH17Jeanne Robinson
RobinsonKim StanleyAuthor GoH21Kim Stanley Robinson
RobinsonPeterPodcasting Special Guest342009-10-02GeeksOn Podcast
RobinsonSpiderAuthor GoH
Toastmaster		17
41		2016-09-30Spider Robinson
RothfussPatrickAuthor GoH332008-10-03Patrick Rothfuss
RuntéRobertGoH10
SawyerRobert J.Author GoH
Toastmaster
Author GoH		25
26 (Canvention 21)
41
2016-09-30		Robert J. Sawyer
ScarboroughElizabeth AnnAuthor GoH18Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
SchomburgAlexArtist GoH15Alex Schomburg
ShawBobAuthor GoH17Bob Shaw
SheckleyRobertAuthor GoH17Robert Sheckley
SilverbergRobertGoH
Author GoH		04
30		1972-02-21
2005-09-30		Robert Silverberg
SingerJonGoH09
SledgeSharreeGoH13
SmedmanLisaGaming GoH
Gaming Special Guest		29
32		Lisa Smedman
Smith TrestrailVernaGoH19 (Westercon 44)1991-07-05
SnellingsLisaArtist GoH332008-10-03
SohmerRyanWebcomic GoH342009-10-02Ryan Sohmer
SpringettMartinArtist GoH32Martin Springett
StephensEllipsisCanvention Author GoH39 (Canvention 34)2014-10-03Goblins (webcomic) (as Tarol Hunt)
SternbackRickArtist GoH402015-10-02Rick_Sternbach
StrossCharlesAuthor GoH42 (Canvention 38)2018-10-05Charles Stross
TevesMilesArtist GoH342009-10-02Miles Teves
TompkinsSuzanneGoH19 (Westercon 44)1991-07-05
TurnerPatArtist GoH26 (Canvention 21)Pat Turner Art & Illustration Studios
TweetJonathanGame Design Special Guest27Jonathan Tweet
van VogtA. E.GoH06A. E. van Vogt
VanceJackGoH07Jack Vance
WalshMichaelToastmaster
Toastmaster
Toastmaster
Toastmaster
Fan GoH
Toastmaster		10
13
15
30
31
32		Michael Walsh (film critic)
WarrenBillFan GoH11Bill Warren (film historian and critic)
WarrenElizabethFan GoH11
WeberDavidAuthor GoH39 (Canvention 34)2014-10-03David Weber
WellsDanAuthor/Podcaster GoH382013-10-04Dan Wells (author)
WhiteTedGoH08Ted White (author)
WickhamSandraToastmaster39 (Canvention 34)2014-10-03Sandra Wickham, Author
WillesChristineMedia GoH342009-10-02Christine Willes
WillisConnieAuthor GoH372012-09-29Connie Willis
WoodSusanFan GoH06Susan Wood (science fiction)
ZelaznyRogerGoH08Roger Zelazny

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Emanuele, Matisse (September 30, 2012). "Vancouver Convention draws science-fiction fans back year after year". The Ubyssey. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Cameron, Graeme (June 1, 2016). "Soap Box Radio". Co-op Radio (Interview). Interviewed by Victor Schwartzman. Vancouver: CFRO-FM.
  3. 1 2 3 Cameron, Graeme (April 27, 2019). "V from Vancouver". Canadian SF Fanzine Archive. WCSFA. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  4. ↑ Conner, Shawn (September 26, 2012). "VCON September 28". Inside Vancouver. Tourism Vancouver. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  5. ↑ Cameron, Graeme (April 27, 2019). "Elron Awards". Canadian SF Fanzine Archive. WCSFA. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  6. ↑ Trombi, Liza (October 28, 2018). "Aurora Awards". Locus Online. Liza Groen Trombi. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  7. ↑ Olson, Mark (March 17, 2019). "V-Con". Fancyclopedia 3. FANAC. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
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