VCON


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 since 1993, and by the Western Canadian Science Fiction Convention Committee Association before that.

History

VCON is the oldest fan run science fiction convention across Canada and in the Pacific Northwest, spawning other fan run conventions in these regions including Norwescon, OryCon, Con-Version and KeyCon. The first "VCON" 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, the B.C. Science Fiction Association and the Simon Fraser University Science Fiction Society.
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
  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.
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.

Schedule

VCON is held on the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend. 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.
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 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, 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.
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 , the Canadian Unity Fan Fund.
VCON has hosted the Aurora Awards ceremony six times, most recently in 2018.
VCON has a hospitality bar, room parties, and a Dead Dog party to celebrate the end of the convention.

Guests of Honour

Last NameFirst NameGuest TypeVCON #VCON DateMore Info
AbbeyLynnGoH 2001-05-05Lynn Abbey
AckermanForrest JFan GoH1987-05-23Forrest J Ackerman
AlexanderRobArtist GoH1993-05-29'
AndersonJamieSupermarionation GoH2016-09-30'
ArmstrongKelleyAuthor GoH2008-10-03Kelley Armstrong
BarrDonnaArtist GoH1989-05-27Donna Barr
BeaglePeter S.Author GoH2007-08-20Peter S. Beagle
BenfordGregoryScience GoH2012-09-29Gregory Benford
BerryJohn D.GoH1985-05-25
BetzAl "Mr. Science"Toastmaster
Fan GoH
2000-05-27
2001-05-05
BeveridgeJamesArtist GoH2010-10-01
BigelowBettyFan GoH
Costuming GoH
1997-05-26
2001-05-05
BigelowDavidCostuming GoH 2001-05-05
BlaylockJames P.Author GoH2002-10-12James P. Blaylock
BlochRobertAuthor GoH1985-05-25Robert Bloch
BovaBenAuthor GoH1982-05-22Ben Bova
BromGeraldArtist GoH2002 -10-12Gerald Brom
BrustStevenAuthor GoH1997-05-26Steven Brust
ByrneJohnAuthor GoH1980-05-24John Byrne
CameronR. GraemeToastmaster
Fan GoH
1996-05-17
2017-10-27		'
CarrTerryGoH1976-05-21Terry Carr
CharishKristiAuthor GoH2017-10-27'
CherryhC.J.Author GoH 1991-07-07C. J. Cherryh
ChoiEricEditor GoH2015-10-02'
ChuEricFilm Design GoH2016-09-30
ClementHalAuthor GoH1988-05-28Hal Clement
ConeyMichaelToastmaster1993-05-29Michael Coney
CookMonteGame Design Special Guest2002-08-12Monte Cook
CramerJohn G.Science GoH1988-05-28John G. Cramer
CrispinA.C.Author GoH1999-05-22A.C. Crispin
DaleHeatherMusic GoH2010-10-01
de LintCharlesAuthor GoH1993-05-29Charles de Lint
DeBrandtDonAuthor GoH1992-05-23Don DeBrandt
DelanySamuel R.Author GoH1984-05-26Samuel R. Delany
DesjardinsShaneGoH2000-05-27
deSouzaLarWebcomic GoH2009-10-02Lar deSouza
DickPhilip K.GoH1972-02-19Philip K. Dick
DockreyMichelle "vixy"Music GoH2007-08-20
DorseyCandas JaneCanvention GoH 2001-05-05Candas Jane Dorsey
DuncanDaveAuthor GoH
Author GoH
1990-05-26
2004-10-08		Dave Duncan
DuncanMelissa MaryCanvention Artist GoH 2014-10-03'
DysonGeorgeScience GoH 2001-05-05George Dyson
El-MohtarAmalCanvention Author GoH 2018-10-05Amal El-Mohtar
ErnestJamesGaming GoH
Game Design Special Guest
2001-05-04
202-10-11		James Ernest
FabrisTonyMusic GoH2007-08-20
FahnestalkLynne TaylorArtist GoH2005-08-08
FahnestalkSteveToastmaster
Toastmaster
1991-07-05
2011-09-30
FinkbinerBethGoH 1986-05-24
FinkbinerMikeGoH 1986-05-24
FortySteveFan GoH2015-10-02Steve Forty
FriesnerEstherAuthor GoH2003-10-11Esther Friesner
GajdeckiJohnMedia GoH2002-10-12Gajdecki Visual Effects
GerroldDavidAuthor GoH1998-05-16David Gerrold
GibsonWilliamAuthor GoH
Fan GoH
1991-07-05
1996-05-18		William Gibson
GiguèreGeorgesToastmaster1983-05-20Georges Giguère
GreenNancieArtist GoH2017-10-27'
GreenwoodEdGame Design GoH2015-10-02Ed Greenwood
GustafsonJonAuthor GoH1981-05-23
HaberKarenAuthor GoH2005-10-08Karen Haber
HaldemanJoeAuthor GoH2015-10-02Joe_Haldeman
HamblyBarbaraAuthor GoH2005-10-08Barbara Hambly
HiebnerConstantineGoH1991-02-16Constantine Hiebner
HendricksAaronPodcasting Special Guest2009-10-02'
HeardBruceGame Design GoH 2014-10-03Bruce Heard
HerbertFrankGoH
GoH
GoH
1973-02-22
1979-05-25
1983-05-20		Frank Herbert
HoganJames P.Author GoH1988-05-27James P. Hogan
HopkinsonNaloAuthor GoH2003-10-11Nalo Hopkinson
HowesKatherineGoH 1986-05-24Katherine Howes
HuffTanyaAuthor GoH2008-10-03Tanya Huff
HughesMattAuthor GoH2007-10-20Matt Hughes
HuntTarol———see Stephens, Ellipsis
HydeStanArtist GoH
Godzilla Fan GoH
1997-05-26
2016-09-30
JacksonMichaelMedia GoH1998-05-16Michael Jackson
JacksonSteveGaming GoH 1991-07-05Steve Jackson
JohansonKarlEditor GoH2016-09-30'
JohansonStephanieArt Director GoH2016-09-30'
KareJordinScience GoH28Jordin Kare
KaufmannJerryGoH19 1991-07-05
KernaghanEileenSpecial Guest
Author GoH		14
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.GoH1971-10-3Ursula K. Le Guin
LockwoodToddArtist GoH
Special Guest		29
30		Todd Lockwood
LynnElizabeth A.Author GoH18Elizabeth A. Lynn
MackenzieAshleyArtist GoH42 2018-10-05Ashley Mackenzie
McCharlesRandyFan GoH30
McIntyreVondaGoH09Vonda McIntyre
MarshallDonPodcasting Special Guest342009-10-02'
MatthewsJaymieScience GoH
Science GoH		29
33		2008-10-03MOST Satellite
Goodwill Moon Rock History
MattinglyDavid B.Artist GoH39 2014-10-03David Burroughs Mattingly
MetzgerGeorgeArtist GoH08George Metzger
MoskowitzSamFan GoH15Sam Moskowitz
NgJamesArtist GoH372012-09-29'
NicholsonRyanMedia GoH27Ryan Nicholson
Nielsen HaydenPatrickEditor GoH19 1991-07-05Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Nielsen HaydenTeresaEditor GoH19 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 1991-07-05
PenneyLloydFilk GoH25
PenneyYvonneFilk GoH25
PohlFrederikAuthor GoH14 Frederik Pohl
PowersTimAuthor GoH27Tim Powers
PriestCherieAuthor GoH352010-10-01Cherie Priest
RauppRogerArtist GoH18Roger Raupp
ReichardtRandyGoH14
RobinsonFrank M.Author GoH12Frank M. Robinson
RobinsonJeanneAuthor GoH17Jeanne Robinson
RobinsonKim StanleyAuthor GoH21Kim Stanley Robinson
RobinsonPeterPodcasting Special Guest342009-10-02'
RobinsonSpiderAuthor GoH
Toastmaster		17
41		2016-09-30Spider Robinson
RothfussPatrickAuthor GoH332008-10-03Patrick Rothfuss
RuntéRobertGoH10
SawyerRobert J.Author GoH
Toastmaster
Author GoH		25
26
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 1991-07-05
SnellingsLisaArtist GoH332008-10-03
SohmerRyanWebcomic GoH342009-10-02Ryan Sohmer
SpringettMartinArtist GoH32Martin Springett
StephensEllipsisCanvention Author GoH 2014-10-03Goblins
SternbackRickArtist GoH402015-10-02Rick_Sternbach
StrossCharlesAuthor GoH42 2018-10-05Charles Stross
TevesMilesArtist GoH342009-10-02Miles Teves
TompkinsSuzanneGoH19 1991-07-05
TurnerPatArtist GoH26 '
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
WarrenBillFan GoH11Bill Warren
WarrenElizabethFan GoH11
WeberDavidAuthor GoH39 2014-10-03David Weber
WellsDanAuthor/Podcaster GoH382013-10-04Dan Wells
WhiteTedGoH08Ted White
WickhamSandraToastmaster39 2014-10-03
WillesChristineMedia GoH342009-10-02Christine Willes
WillisConnieAuthor GoH372012-09-29Connie Willis
WoodSusanFan GoH06Susan Wood
ZelaznyRogerGoH08Roger Zelazny