Con-Version
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 CanVention but also ConSpec. 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 Non-Con 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. Past Conventions. Here are the  past conventions that have been held. There are some missing information regarding guests, places and times. Guest(s) of Honour = GoH Jack McDevitt - GoH, Rebecca Bradley - Science GoH, EDGE - Guest Publisher, Kirstin Morrell - Chair Larry Niven - GoH, David Weber - Author Guest, R.Scott Baker - Author Guest, Derek France, Raelyn MacKay - Chairs. Mini-Con Guests:, Robert J. Sawyer - GoH, Karen Sim- Artist GoH, Phil Bacon- Fan GoH, Paul Bushell- Fan GoH, Derek France- Chair. Westercon 58 Guests: SM Stirling- Author GoH, Mark Ferrari- Artist GoH, Cliff and Eileen Samuels- Fan GoH, Dave Duncan- Canadian Author GoH, Tom Doherty (TOR) - Publisher GoH, David  Hartwell (TOR) - Editor GoH, Dr. Phil Currie- Science GoH, Randy McCharles, John Mansfield- Co-Chairs George RR Martin- GoH, James Beveridge- Artist GoH, Spider Robinson and Jeanne Robinson- Canadian GoH, The Arrogant Worms- Special guests, Lisa Reinhardt- Chair Terry Brooks- GoH, Writers Workshop, Tania Diatalevi-Hodges- Artist GoH, Robert J. Sawyer- Canadian GoH - Special Guest, Dr. Phil Currie- Science GoH, Esther Friesner- Toastmaster, Lisa Reinhardt- Chair Guy Gavriel Kay- GoH, Lar deSouza- Artist GoH, James Alan Gardner- Canadian GoH, Geoffrey A. Landis- Science Guest, Robert J. Sawyer- Toastmaster, ConSpec Guests: Allan Steele, Michael Bishop, Peter Watts, Jeff de Boer, Paul  Bushell- Chair David Drake - GoH, Jean-Pierre Normand - Artist GoH, Dr. Bill Brooks - Science Guest, Cliff Samuels- Toastmaster, Dirk Benedict- Special Media Guest, Patrick Sweson and Honna Swenson- Writers Workshop Guests, Paul Bushell- Chair Mike Resnick - GoH, Julia Lacquement - Artist GoH, Candas Jane Dorsey - Canadian GoH, Thor Osborn - Science Guest, Mike Dale - Media Guest, Michael McAdam - Toastmaster/ Fan GoH, Paul Bushell- Chair Moves to the third weekend of August. Ben Bova - GoH, Tanya Huff - Canadian Guest, Gregory Bennett - Science Guest, L.E.Modesett Jr. - Special Fantasy Guest, Brenna Toblan- Chair Joe Haldeman - GoH, J. Michael Straczynski - Special Guest, Bridget Landry - Science Guest , Clifford Samuels - Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Phil Currie - Science Guest, J. Brian Clarke - Canadian Guest, Dave Duncan - Canadian Guest, Brenna Toblan - Chair (?) Kim Stanley Robinson - GoH, Connie Willis - Toastmaster, Robert J. Sawyer - Canadian Guest, Chair - unknown C. J. Cherryh - GoH, Mel Gildon - Toastmaster, Elisabeth Vonarburg - Canadian Guest, Dr. Phil Currie - Science Guest, Robert J. Sawyer - IFWA (writers workshop) Guest, Gary Frei- Chair Lois McMaster Bujold - GoH, Greg Bear - Toastmaster, Len Wein - Comic Author Guest, Bruce Hallenback - Media, Veronica Carlson - Hammer Films, Ryah Deines - Chair Frederik Pohl - GoH, David Gerrold - Toastmaster, Sean Russell - Canadian Guest, Dr. Phil Currie - Science Guest, L.  Sprague de Camp and Catherine Crook de Camp - GoH, Ed Bryant - Toastmaster, Ken Macklin - Artist Guest, Dave Duncan - Canadian Guest David Brin - GoH, Peter David - Toastmaster, Michael Coney - Canadian Guest Stephen R. Donaldson - GoH, George R.R. Martin - Toastmaster, Dean Ing - Writers Workshop Guest, J. Brian Clarke - Special Guest, Leslie Gadallah - Canadian Guest, Real Musgrave - Artist Guest Jack Vance - GoH, Mike Resnick - Toastmaster, Spider Robinson and Jeanne Robinson - Canadian Guests, William Hartmann - Science Guest Harry Harrison - GoH, Barry Longyear - Toastmaster, Guy Gavriel Kay - Canadian Guest Robert Silverberg - GoH, Karen Haber Silverberg - GoH, Ed Bryant - Toastmaster, William Gibson - Canadian Guest, Crawford Killian  - Writers Workshop Guest, L. Sprague de Camp and Catherine Crook de Camp - Special Guests, Patricia Rose Deignan - Industrial Light & Magic - Media Joan Vinge - GoH, Jim Frenkel - Toastmaster, Jack Williamson - Special Guest, Crawford Killian - Canadian Guest Jack L. Chalker - GoH, Phyllis Gotlieb - Toastmaster, Mike Grell - Comic Guest, Julia Lacquement - Comic Guest, Bjo Trimble - Fan Guest, Sonni Cooper - Fan Guest Poul Anderson and Karen Anderson - GoH, Frank M. Robinson - Toastmaster L. Sprague de Camp - GoH, Catherine Crook de Camp - GoH