FanCon returns, expands Fort Erie’s access to creative careers

FanCon put working artists, writers and game makers within arm’s reach of Fort Erie teens Saturday at Greater Fort Erie Secondary School (GFESS).

The volunteer-run pop culture convention marked its ninth year Saturday with a sharper focus on career access for youth in a small community where paths into books, games, film, music and design can seem distant. The free Garrison Road event featured 22 vendors, 11 exhibitors, guest speakers and a larger student role in running the day.

Marcus Antaya, FanCon guest liaison and organizer, told Fort Erie Radio the convention is built around education first, not paid celebrity access or retail sales.

“We want people to have the accessibility–that’s what this whole convention is about–accessibility for people to meet the kind of people that they might want to be in the future,” said Antaya.

Antaya has previously helped run larger conventions in Toronto, including Toronto Trek, Polaris and Ad Astra, and Fan Expo. He said larger fan events have become costly commercial shows where visitors often pay admission before they spend more money inside.

FanCon keeps entry free through volunteers, fundraising and guests who agree to take part without the event becoming a paid autograph stop.

Antaya sharply criticized the modern paid-admission model at some larger events.

“I absolutely despise that business model, because it’s a business model. We used to do it for fun,” said Antaya.

Keeping FanCon free matters more in Fort Erie, he said, because students may know they like writing, movies, art, games or performance before they know how those interests can become a realistic career choice.

“People need to know that that’s an option,” said Antaya. “We’re helping kids get ideas and put those ideas into reality and move it forward.”

Cameron Sutcliffe, a GFESS graduate and author of the upcoming fantasy novel ‘The Magisters of Araboda,’ returned to FanCon to show younger students a local writer can break into publishing.

This year’s guests and exhibitors also included author Jen Frankel, comic artist Lar deSouza, musician Michael McCormick of the Arrogant Worms, prop and costume maker Chris Warrilow of Fantastic Creations, Niagara College Game Development and Southern Ontario Game Developers.

GFESS student Gabrielle Cudmore, who recently won an NTS Outstanding Director award for her one-act play ‘High School is Killing Me,’ demonstrated her baking abilities by preparing Welsh cakes for an upcoming Skills Ontario competition.

Ben Featherston, an art teacher at GFESS, told Fort Erie Radio the event has grown in both guest range and student involvement, with many students working booths and helping run programming.

Featherston said the event also pulls people into Fort Erie from outside the town, especially from the FanCon’s gaming tournaments.

The 2026 schedule listed a Catan national qualifier, Pokémon card, video game and Pokémon Go events, Star Wars Unlimited tournaments, a Magic: The Gathering draft and a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament.

The event also offered a board game café, video game challenges, a kids zone, a scavenger hunt, live chess, cosplay programming, a masquerade and demonstrations from exhibitors.

Antaya said, Fort Erie’s first FanCon started at Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School, originated by librarian Matthew Vandervoet before a committee of volunteers helped build it further.

COVID-19 closures broke the event’s momentum, but the convention has since been working to rebuild its reach.

FanCon’s 2027 mascot contest asks students to redesign Flick the Frog to fit a history theme for the event’s planned 10th year. Entries are due October 20, with a winner to be announced November 1.

Stay Informed

Events, offers, contests, and breaking news, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Subscribe