Next month will present various opportunities to acknowledge what makes this continent special with its look at what its F1RST settlers have done when they settled this land.
Visitors to Victoria, British Columbia might want to plan if they want to take part at F1RST: A Celebration of Aboriginal Film while here. This short movie marathon run by the folks from the Victoria Film Festival is now in its second year. It may well be replacing Feast Food+Film, an event that may have ended when the pandemic hit.
In this follow-up to last week’s post, this introduction provides more information about this sophomore event and what to expect next. After this show is Free-B Summer Nights screenings at Beacon Hill Park.
When a lot of events, operations, and festivals, including this blog, makes our home in this region, we are all honoured to be based on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of the Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nation, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
When Greater Victoria is home to Island Fancon, can this event grow to replace the huge gap that nerds living in this region need?
When Island Fancon becomes the event for pop culture enthusiasts to congregate in the Greater Victoria region, let’s hope this show will keep on going. The convention takes place in Langford, British Columbia, and chief organizer Lonnie Eckardt is committed to keeping this celebration going. He is aware of the challenges and will do his best to make it work.
After last year’s news from Capital City Comic Con that they cannot continue, no other party with similar offerings exists. And I discussed the problems this city faces in a separate editorial. In a nutshell, this region has trouble with keeping a convention going after three or so years.
As Fan Expo Vancouver continues to get sell-out crowds, what’s the future going to be like? While part of the experience is always great, plans must be made if they want more people coming.
After looking into how other Fan Expos manage their floor plan to mitigate crowding, and spending time on various platforms like Reddit to ask around, this show has a similar map structure. Nearly everything is crammed into a single space! The delay in getting this report about Fan Expo Vancouver 2025 (FXV) is because I need to make sure my information is current. I also spoke to a few vendors who have attended this brand of shows in other cities to find out just how different it is. After a solid ten years, I’ve made friends who run booths too!
In this write up, I have lots to say. And thus, have broken up my thoughts into sections:
Overall Impressions (The Crowding Problem)
During Fan Expo Vancouver‘s busiest day, the crowds were thicker than molasses! Saturday is traditionally the busiest, and while I have the experience of knowing how to get from one end to the other reasonably fast, other folks may not. It’s best to identify where the slow and fast lanes are. It’s like driving on the highway.
Although the convention center layout determines the best placement for the various sections–the main stage, photo booths, and panel rooms–it’s also true that not all shows can use the building at its utmost. The upcoming Calgary Fan Expo will use the BMO Centre’s newly added space, and I will pay attention to reports when it starts! In the meantime, I’ll be fondly remembering the best years when the Terminal City show used two floors of the West Convention Center Building. I feel those were the best FXV years.
I wish coat check, a feature of past events, had been brought back. On rainy days, no one has the backpack space to store or wants to wear their jacket indoors; The organisers really need to spend the money to rent a room for this offering and tell staff to only accept coats. That way, this offering to lighten the load can’t be abused.
Will Fan Expo Vancouver Change Dates?
While the early years often saw FXV shift dates around a lot, I doubt anyone noticed this year was not on a holiday weekend. Technically, there was Valentine’s and BC Family Day on the same weekend, but no explanation was ever announced. In 2026, they will return to their traditional date.
No matter what, the event will always take place two weeks before Emerald City Comic Con. I’ve heard from one representative from Tsukino Con who says some folks skip their show in favour of the big city one. There are better opportunities for fun. I can vouch for that as I saw the ferry terminal filled with youths coming home on a late Sunday night, with expectant parents there to pick them up!
Comic Con or Carnival?
Back when these shows were about comic books, the focus was awesome. But ever since San Diego Comic Con defined this century’s popular culture landscape because of the huge entertainment media presence, it’s tough to call some events a comic con at all. Not every publisher wants to market outside where their headquarters are based. Also, some writers and artists who live in Vancouver are more interested in promoting themselves at a proper Comic Arts Festival instead.
For Fan Expo Vancouver to bring that comic book vibe back with an after event party with three artists (out of the dozen who attended) got to graffiti an art board, not even I was particularly excited. Although it went off okay, when one of them admitted to me he’d rather draw than attend (he was in the billing), that’s an issue. While they do not entertain on the same level as William Shatner and Rhys Davies, it’s still worth checking out.
But for main events, the organisers stick to inviting who are popular. Both Q&As, featuring the Supernatural supporting cast and Hazbin Hotel group of voice talents discussing their on-set experiences, were packed!
I also got a good seat to check out the Avatar: The Last Airbender partial cast team up and enjoyed this Q&A the most. Aside from the excitement that Michaela Jill Murphy (Toph from the cartoon) expressed about going to meet her live-action counterpart, all this event offered for news is that season two is deep into filming and fans can expect great things when it finally debuts.
Exhibit & Merchandise Floor
It’s possible to find something cool, but when I’ve been collecting for over two decades, trying to find something new at a generalized pop culture convention is tough. While nothing surprises me these days, the fact there were five vendors selling nearly exactly the same stock of lightsabers was numbing. I wanted to get an upgrade, but am glad I waited. Next week, I will post a guide on how to shop for one, and my advice is to not always buy at conventions. It’s not just about haggling, but knowing exactly if you like what you impulse bought.
By luck, I found Studio Ghibli (mostly Totoro) merchandise. While I could’ve gone for broke, I instead risked hoping to get a particular Stitch in the mystery Cosbi Box. I had no luck, but I at least got the baby fuzzball with a huge drink mug as a picture!
I think this toy line is way cooler than Funko by miles because they resemble anime versions of various popular franchises! I’m sick and tired to seeing these dotty eyed statues. They’re neat to have, but honestly, there’s no long term safe investment value at all. As for Hottoys, the parent company who manufactures Cosbi, the variety is miles above what the Washington based company offers! They catering to those rich nerds who can afford those life-size models to place in their man (or woman) cave!
Final Thoughts
Unlike other North American Fan Expos, these events don’t all squeeze every activity zones into one arena. These events space put certain aspects of the program to another area, and the dining options remain the same. The Calgary show fully uses the space; its larger size makes navigation easier. Also, it was an independent operation before being acquired by Informa. I suspect this company had to sign a contract with the previous operators who insisted some aspects of the celebration must not change in before they took over.
In Toronto, which had always been with the brand, Fan Expo Toronto uses both the North and South Buildings. However, crowding is still a problem, and people still say they feel like they’re trapped in a sardine can. It’s a persistent problem no matter what the spectacle, and while some folks get used to it, others claim to never want to return. While being stuffed into a vast place is no different at San Deigo Comic Con, folks either have to live with it or not.
While VP Andrew Moyes said FXV will stay in the West building, in order to use the full space will mean still looking at final attendance numbers and what the profit margin is. Whatever that number is, I believe it’s time to consider either changing dates or booking space at the hotel next door. Since having it in the same building is not possible because there is another event happening (I asked building security about that this year), someone has to budge.
Changes are always expected for comic book / pop culture shows l ike Fan Expo Vancouver. Attendees just have to go with the flow or make their voice heard if they want things set in stone.
Yesterday, Fan Expo Vancouver announced last-minute changes to their line-up of guests. This news is not surprising because celebrity guests often get information that they have to be on set or health issues. As a result, the changes include not having some major headliners not able to appear. While I’m sad, I just have to go with the flow after being a regular for over ten years.
Although Peter Cullen and Frank Welker expressed their regrets more than a week ago, I hoped the other names would not disappear. Sadly, Donny Cates, Corbin Bleu, Catherine Tate, Jenna Coleman and Claudia Gray aren’t able to make it. It’s disappointing, but any seasoned pop culture / comic book convention goer knows every announcement is a gamble up to the week of the event.
On the good news side, this event always has a backup, and will announce talents to save the day. I expect some information to happen around noon of today, and will update this article if they are made.
At the time of writing, this event is making a push for Chris Britton, who voiced Mr. Sinister, and Adrian Hough aka Nightcrawler in X-Men 97!
Feb 19, 2025 Update: replace the many voice actor appearances is most of the cast from the anime, Death Note! Brian Drummand (Ryuk), Shannon Chan Kent (Misa-Misa), Vincent Tong (Touta).
For this winter convention season, to decide whether one can attend them all can be a strain on the finances, and we offer a quick roundup on what each show offers, a partial guest lineup and much more!
Throughout the Pacific Northwest, the winter convention season for pop culture enthusiasts is shaping up to be huge. The Fan Expo brand is certainly ramping their guest list up this year. Not only are they running two events in this region with a similar round up of guests appearing, but also it seems Creation Con no longer holds the monopoly on certain names! It’s about time, as I’m not fond of that organisation, since they are a for-profit business. They cater to fans who are willing to spend massive amounts of money for a show dedicated to just one series.
I favour the more open ones. Sometimes, if it doesn’t sell out, people can find tickets last minute. And while I can’t say what the shopping experience is like between both, I imagine the exhibit hall is only as good when these broad spectrum shows allow for anyone interested in vending to advertise their wares.
Just what the Outpost Board Game Café aims to offer is a place for locals to relax without having to drive into the big city.
Located at 2830 Peatt Rd Unit 109
Existing outside the municipality of Victoria, BC is the appropriately named Outpost Board Game Café! Joshua and Elijah Driver run this operation, and they said to Goldstream News Gazette the idea came about when they realized the city was lacking options for evening entertainment.
While Everything Games cater to the miniatures war-gaming, role playing and trading card game crowd, this place aims to fill the missing niche of board games like Settlers of Catan and even the classic Monopoly. Both venues are located close to this area’s downtown strip. There’s also Hang and Play Videogames and Curious Comics satellite operation.
Folks don’t have to go far to satisfy their craving. And just like Island Fan Con, the emergence of options to keep locals entertained without having to visit the City of Victoria proper is growing. As the area is a gateway to other parts of Vancouver Island, to have this place as a stop is perfect and welcoming based on the response so far has been very positive since opening November 1, 2024!
Visitors to Victoria, British Columbia might want to plan if they want to take part at F1RST: A Celebration of Aboriginal Film while here. This short movie marathon run by the folks from the Victoria Film Festival is now in its second year. It may well be replacing Feast Food+Film, an event that may have ended when the pandemic hit.
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