SFContario Frequently Asked Questions
- Where will the convention be held?
- The Ramada Plaza Hotel in downtown Toronto.
- How much will the convention cost?
- Charter memberships are currently available for C$60. Charter members will have voting rights at general meetings up until the first convention. The at-the-door attending rate will be a bit higher.
- Why does Toronto need another convention?
- Toronto's convention calendar is concentrated from March to July. Many people want to attend a convention in the fall, between the summer and spring conventions. Other cities may have multiple general science fiction conventions throughout the year, and we believe Toronto can support at least one more.
- We are not in competition with any other convention. Some committee members work on other conventions in Toronto, and others do not. We hope that everyone happy with other conventions will continue to work at and attend those conventions; our goal is to expand the community of fandom, not divide it. In addition to the regular local fan community, we hope to attract members who have fallen away from the current selection of conventions in Toronto, as well as members from other cities who often travel to other conventions across the continent but who don't currently come to conventions here. We have a thriving community of local authors and fans, and we intend to put Toronto back on the map of the international fan community.
- How will SFContario be different from other conventions?
- First and most important, we're going to be downtown. This will be much easier for commuting members and much more attractive to travelling members. People will be able to make side trips to the Merril Collection, Bakka, or the Harbord Street rare book district, they might easily attend the theatre, or even a hockey or basketball game, and they will have a much wider selection of interesting restaurants, shopping, and other activities than one can find at a suburban location.
SFContario intends to use many established best practices:
- The program will include a large proportion of novelists and award-winning writers.
- Program participants (pro and fan) will be selected on the basis of their qualifications to discuss or present on a given subject.
- The convention will have some children's programming, making it easier for families to attend the convention (and to recruit a new generation of fans!).
- Convention activities will focus more on creativity, both content (books, art, and media) and fan activity (filking, costuming, gaming, etc.)
- The convention hospitality suite will offer hospitality (drinks and light snacks) without requiring members to pay an additional fee.
- The green room will be a place for program participants to prepare for panels and other program items.
- The convention will follow a standard model of non-profit corporate governance, abide by provincial and federal laws (on corporate filings, liquor serving, etc.), and generally apply transparency (providing information to members and to the public) where practical. By-laws, AGM minutes, and financial statements will be posted to our web site.
- Committee meetings will be open to the public.
- What conventions have the organizers worked on before this?
- Ad Astra, Anime North, Anticipation, Bloody Words, ConComCon, ConFusion, Con*Cept, Ditto, FilKOntario, International Space Development Conference, Mensa Canada Annual Gathering, Minicon, Norwescon, Pandemonium, Penguicon, Polaris ("Toronto Trek"), Primedia, Smofcon, Windycon, World Fantasy Convention, World Horror Convention, and several World Science Fiction conventions.
- How do we contact the convention?
- Email Us!
Land mail:
SFContario
151 Gamma Street
Toronto, Ontario
M8W 3G4
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