When you're on the launch pad of a new enterprise...
When you're T-minus seven months to ignition...
When you're shooting for the stars...
When you're boldly going where no event has gone before...
You need the right captain on the bridge.
Northern FanCon just commissioned its top officer and it is none other than Captain James Tiberius Kirk, the most respected name in the history of Starfleet, the most steadfast and fair-minded explorer the universe has ever known.
Prince George's Romulan population is quivering in its boots, today, and Prince George's green alien women have set their phasers to swoon. We have been hailed by the U.S.S. Enterprise. William Shatner has asked for permission to come aboard.
"Affirmative... permission granted," replied Northern FanCon co-organizer Norm Coyne, first mate of Citizen Special Events, the organization creating Northern FanCon in partnership with the B.C. Northern Exhibition.
On May 8-10, the city's very first conference and trade show dedicated to comics, sci-fi books, film franchises, television takeoffs, fantasy themes, and anything that puts the pop-cult in pop-culture, will open its doors.
The organizing team knew it needed star power in order to proudly wear the cape of the comicon/fancon movement.
Coyne said the initial personalities interested in attending were exciting, but along the way someone on the team leaned on the warp speed button and the event leapt into hyperspace. The opportunity suddenly came on-screen to host none other than Shatner.
"I know Northern FanCon is legitimately going to be one of the biggest events in P.G. ever. What better way to kick that off than with one of the biggest icons of science fiction - The Shat himself," said Coyne.
So how did the king of sci-fi come to know about Northern FanCon and how did Coyne get him to say yes? Because Prince George is a cool place full of worthy people, he replied. Celebrities can perhaps see that when local eyes have a hard time believing what's right in front of them.
"We've booked lots of people into Prince George and other places in the area through Citizen Special Events, but William Shatner was the grand marshal at the Calgary Stampede, one of the biggest events in North America. He did a fantastic monologue at the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics. How do you get bigger than that? But for too long people around here have boxed themselves in with the mentality that interesting people won't come to P.G., so they don't ask and don't show what we have to offer. People like Glen Mikkelsen at CN Centre and Alex Huber at the BCNE have shown that we can attract those major-caliber performers and personalities, so when we thought about what we wanted at FanCon we shot for the moon, and got a Starfleet commander."
Citizen Special Events and the BCNE have been brotherly in the building of Northern FanCon.
Coyne and Huber worked together to bring Sons of Anarchy cast member Kim Coates to Pine Centre Mall in spring, then they brought Hellboy/Sons of Anarchy star Ron Perlman to the fair, along with celebrity chef Bob Blumer at the BCNE's Northern Taste Pavilion.
"Alex is an integral part of having Northern FanCon happen. We are so happy with the working relationship we've developed with the BCNE," Coyne said. "Together we have attracted other key partners and that group effort is why William Shatner and so many other stars are on their way to see us."
For those who are not Star Trek fans, Shatner also offers up other notable characters over his blazing stage, television, film and literary career: he was TJ Hooker on that cop show, he was Denny Crane on both The Practice and Boston Legal. He was also Ed the Father on the short but loved show $h*! My Dad Says.
And Shatner is just the first.
Many more names will be announced shortly for the inaugural Northern FanCon event, said Coyne. Watch for more information on the Northern FanCon page on Facebook.
