The Ottawa Comiccon is a multi-genre fan convention with focus on comics, science fiction and fantasy, horror, anime and manga, films, television, games, and other aspects and genres of contemporary pop culture. It was launched in 2012 as a spin-off of the Montreal Comiccon. Both events are organized by the same team. The Ottawa Comiccon runs for three days each May.
As a fan convention with multi-genre content, the Ottawa Comiccon shares many common traits with the famous San Diego Comic-Con International and Fan Expo Canada, an annual fan convention held in Toronto, Ontario. However, Ottawa’s convention has a smaller scale. While both the SDCC and Fan Expo Canada attract over 100,000 attendees every year, the attendance of the Ottawa Comiccon is 42,000, partially due to the venue’s limitations.
As with most other fan conventions, the program of the Ottawa Comiccon features a range of exhibits, activities and other attractions. The programming includes a large dealers’ area where one can find anything and everything pop culture-related, celebrity Q&As, autograph sessions and photo ops, costuming and Masquerade, gaming tournaments, panels and workshops, an Artist Alley, concerts, special events, and more.
Each edition of the Ottawa Comiccon features a line-up of media guests, primarily actors known for their roles in sci-fi and fantasy films and television series. For example, guests at the 2016 edition included Karen Gillan (Doctor Who), Ming-Na Wen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who, Legends of Tomorrow), Eliza Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), John de Lancie (Star Trek: The Next Generation), and others.
Similarly to the Montreal Comiccon, the Ottawa Comiccon has a smaller sister convention called the Ottawa Pop Expo. Running for two days in November or December, it offers a smaller selection of events, exhibitors and guests.
Photo: ottawacomiccon.com
