CAN*CON is a periodic science fiction and fantasy convention in Ottawa put on by The Rocket Words Society. Can*Con supports diverse, emerging and established speculative fiction authors in honing their craft, expanding their professional networks, and accessing tools and resources to further their artistic careers.
Can*Con particularly supports youth, emerging artists, and under-represented/equity-deserving groups, especially in science fiction and fantasy writing. It also connects with other genre writers in Ottawa and Canada, convening broader discussion on the field and facilitating relationship-building between emerging and established authors. At all levels, conference participants focus on deepening their knowledge of the craft and its business, while strengthening professional networks to support their writing careers.
Can*Con also advocates for strong science literacy in all works of genre fiction, and connects authors to reputable experts and research sources to enhance their artistic work.
Can*Con prioritizes offering a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for all its participants, through solid and enforced accessibility policies, health and safety policies, and a code of conduct.
Our Roots
In 1991, James Botte and Farrell McGovern founded Can*Con in response to a perception that there were no dedicated public venues that featured primarily Canadian speculative fiction writers, editors, and artists. In addition to its focus on Canadian content, Can*Con was also intended to reintroduce an emphasis on the literary arts to Ottawa science-fiction and fantasy events.
Can*Con ran from 1992 through 1997, again in 2001, and was relaunched in 2010 after a long hiatus. Since relaunching, it has focused on diversifying its programming and guests to be more representative, while retaining a focus on Canada, its writing and artistic environments, and uniqueness.
Can*Con has hosted events such as book launches, Canvention and the Aurora Awards (premiere SF literary awards), the Boréal Congress (French Canadian speculative fiction genre convention) and, in partnership with the National Library of Canada, co-hosted the launch of the “Visions of Other Worlds” exhibition: Canada Post’s Canadian Superhero Stamp Series. A successful “Virtual Can*Con” online event was developed and implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that the conference could continue to offer its community and service offerings in a safe and uninterrupted manner.
Can*Con has also been nominated eight times for the Aurora Awards, Canada’s premiere speculative fiction awards, and won three times. It has been featured across Ottawa media, including CBC’s All in a Day and the Ottawa Citizen.
In 2022, the board formed a non-profit organization (The Rocket Words Society).
Can*Con remains entirely run by community volunteers, representing a broad spectrum of diverse lived and living experiences.
Can*Con 2023 Con Com
