Convention Spotilight: Hal-Con

The Roundup of Convention ideas is here.

Hal-Con is a convention in Halifax Nova Scotia.  It's got a diverse set of guests and events, and when I talked to the staff, I found the diversity applied to their profan events.

Hal-Con's approach is to be open about new panels of all kinds, and seek a balance of fun and practical.  When I say open-minded, I'm quite serious - Hal-Con looks for and encourages diversity, and you'll find everything from your typical events to serious discussion of lightsaber handling.  They like to see what the fans and guests will suggests and have the courage to try.

This diversity also affects their profan panels in a delightful way.  Among their upcoming offerings:

• Multiple writing panels, playing to the author's strengths.
• A panel with model Drakaina (warning, some NSFW content) whose fannish interests led to her modeling for fantasy and SF works.
• Multiple filmmaking groups discussing their efforts, and even a filmed "nerd debate."

Hal-Con's open-mindedness looks to be their strength in producing pro-fan events.  This is certainly the first convention I've talked to with a discussion of modeling, and I somehow get the impression Hal-Con will find a way to top this in the years to come.

Over in Novia Scotia?  A fan?  Sounds like you owe yourself a trip to Hal-Con!

- Steven Savage