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- Con-Version was an annual science fiction and fantasy convention held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Since its beginning in 1984, the convention hosted many authors such as Robert J. Sawyer, Larry Niven, and J. Michael Straczynski; it also hosted the judging for the Robyn Herrington Memorial Short Story Competition. Appearances had also been made by Jeremy Bulloch and Dirk Benedict. Con-Version held programming on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the form of panels, both round table and instructional, based on all areas of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. There was a costume contest, masquerade, con-suite, dance, art show and auction, gaming, and vendors room. Con-Version focused on all aspects of the genre, from the written word to art and graphics, and from big screen and television to costuming. In recent years, a musical performed by members of IFWA, the Imaginative Fiction Writers Association, had been a fixture. In 1996, Con-Version was the Canvention—the Canadian National Science Fiction Convention, at which the Prix Aurora Awards were presented. In 2002, Con-Version was again also but also . In 2005, Con-Version held a mini-convention, Con-Version 21.5, in conjunction with that year's Westercon, which was also in Calgary. The convention originally started when a group of those that were running left the con-com and sought to start their own con "version". Or so the lore says.It then became the Con-Version Science Fiction and Fantasy Society and was registered as such and continued that way till the later years.It then rebranded the society and became known as the Calgary Science Fiction and Fantasy Society.Later the convention was operated by the non-profit Calgary & Area Fandom Enhancement Society. The convention was originally held on the third weekend of July. This happened from Con-Version One till 16. At Con-Version 17 it moved to the third weekend of August. After previously cancelling their 2011 event, the group cancelled its 2012 convention and all foreseeable future events in September 2011. As with many other fan run conventions, Con-Version was met with the popularity of Fan-Expo comic and entertainment expositions that it could not compete with. Other conventions have had some luck within Calgary such as the When Words Collide Writer's Conference which has been growing over the years. (en)
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