Future of Steel City NerdCon in question
A popular event in Sault Ste. Marie may not return next year. Organizers of Steel City NerdCon say with plans for a bigger event in 2023 fell through, coupled with the loss of its usual venue, the future of the event is in question.
Michael Turcotte, organizer and owner of Vintage Games N' Junque, said he was hoping to pair Nerdcon with another popular summer tourism draw, Poutine Feast.
"We found that it would be a great idea to try and combine the two at the GFL and make the biggest event we could, and unfortunately it didn’t really work out for some reason," said Turcotte.
The Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Association, which is involved with Poutine Feast, says a venue change cannot be accommodated due to agreements that are in place.
"Poutine Feast is a joint venture between us and the Ermatinger Clergue Historical Site, and they've been a founding partner," said the associations’ executive director, Salvatore Marchese.
"So, the location it is in benefits both us and them. So, it's just a matter of not being able to shift the location to honour our partnership."
Marchese says the Downtown Association is still willing to work with NerdCon to find an appropriate venue. In the meantime, Turcotte said the event is not likely to return to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.
"We had booked July 2nd, 2023 with Edie Suriano," said Turcotte, referring to the former event coordinator at the heritage centre.
"Unfortunately, she’s not there anymore and Jamie Hilsinger took over. And Jamie just chose to cancel our event."
Hilsinger told CTV News July is in the thick of prime tourism season, and she wants the venue open to bus tours and other visitors who pass through.
"We want to make sure they get the full Bushplane experience," said Hilsinger.
"The event (NerdCon) itself is excellent, we love it. We just don't feel it's necessarily appropriate at that time."
Hilsinger said other dates were suggested to the organizers.
Turcotte, in the interim, said while booking the GFL Memorial Gardens is not possible with NerdCon's budget.
Turcotte said he is not entirely ruling out an event in 2023, adding that other agencies and city councillors have reached out offering support.
"If we have any way of making it work, we’re going to try and make it work."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.