It wouldn't be a con without last minute updates.

[lance_sibley]

I just got off the phone with dx4 and chanilye, tying up last-minute scheduling loose ends. It wouldn't be a con if we weren't still making changes at the last minute...



TCON-NEWS
The official e-mail newsletter of
the TCON Promotional Society
Featuring information on
Polaris 22
AND
The 2008 Constellation Awards

Information Line: (416) 410-TCON (8266)
E-MAIL: info@tcon.ca WEB: http://www.tcon.ca/

July 11-13, 2008
DoubleTree by Hilton - Toronto Airport
655 Dixon Road
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

In this issue:

1. URGENT GUEST SCHEDULE UPDATE: RACHEL LUTTRELL WILL BE PRESENT ON SATURDAY, NOT SUNDAY
2. NEW ACTOR GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: RAINBOW SUN FRANCKS ("STARGATE ATLANTIS")
3. COME SEE ACTRESS KAREN CLICHE AND OTHER CELEBS AT THE CONSTELLATION AWARDS
4. HOTEL ROOMS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE DOUBLETREE FOR OUR EVENT!
5. JULIE CZERNEDA SENDS HER REGRETS
6. AN IMPORTANT NOTE TO ANY OF OUR ATTENDING MEMBERS IN WHEELCHAIRS
7. WELCOME TO OUR HOSPITALITY SUITE - SPONSORED THIS YEAR BY SLEEMAN BREWERIES
8. PLEASE JOIN US FOR A RECEPTION IN HONOUR OF OUR NEW CHARITY - GILDA'S CLUB GREATER TORONTO
9. A NOTE FROM PROGRAMMING PART ONE: STILL SPACE AVAILABLE IN OUR WORKSHOPS!
10. A NOTE FROM PROGRAMMING PART TWO: LIVE COMMENTARIES BY OUR AUTHOR GUESTS OF HONOUR!
11. CONTESTS AT OUR INFO DESKS

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1. URGENT GUEST SCHEDULE UPDATE: RACHEL LUTTRELL WILL BE PRESENT ON SATURDAY, NOT SUNDAY

Due to a change in her filming schedule, Rachel Luttrell will now be appearing at Polaris on Saturday, July 12th - NOT Sunday, July 13th as previously scheduled. We apologize for any inconvenience, but given the late change in her availability, this unfortunately became the only way for her to be able to attend our event at all this year. We remind all members that guest appearances are always subject to professional commitments.

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2. NEW ACTOR GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: RAINBOW SUN FRANCKS ("STARGATE ATLANTIS")

Polaris 22 is pleased to announce that Rainbow Sun Francks has accepted our invitation to be one of our Actor Guests this year (Sunday ONLY).

A former MuchMusic VeeJay and Electric Circus host, Toronto-born Rainbow Sun Francks played Lieutenant Aiden Ford in the first two seasons of Stargate: Atlantis. Some of his past film appearances include "Love Come Down", Johnny, and "Alien vs. Predator: Requiem". Off-screen, Mr. Francks is a comic book fan and he writes and produces songs for a hip-hop group called "The Oddities".

Mr. Francks will be signing autographs, appearing onstage, and participating in our photo sessions.

All guests appearance subject to professional commitments. All event times are subject to change.

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3. COME SEE ACTRESS KAREN CLICHE AND OTHER CELEBS AT THE CONSTELLATION AWARDS

You already knew that actor/comedian Rick Green will be hosting this year's Constellation Award ceremonies at Polaris. But did you know that we'll also have various celebrities acting as presenters? Some of the celebrities already planning to attend include:

* Canadian actress Karen Cliche, from "Mutant X" and the upcoming "Flash Gordon"
* CP24 Anchor/Reporter/Traffic/Weather presenter, Pooja Handa
* Canadian actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, from "Dresden Files", "Train 48", and the upcoming horror/thriller, "The Echo"
* CTV News Anchor/Reporter Paul Bliss
* From "American Pie: Beta House", Canadian actress Athena Lebessis
* Christopher Bond, director of "Evil Dead - The Musical"

And several others... PLUS who knows who might show up to accept an award!

For more information, keep checking the Constellation Awards website at: http://constellations.tcon.ca

The ceremonies will take place on Saturday night at 7pm on the Polaris main stage.

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4. HOTEL ROOMS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE DOUBLETREE FOR OUR EVENT!

We've been informed by our host hotel, the DoubleTree By Hilton - Toronto Airport, that a number of non-smoking single queen bedrooms with pull-out sofa-beds are now available during our event weekend!

So if you were hoping to get a room at the hotel but thought they were sold out - good news! Just call (416) 244-1711 for pricing and to make your booking.

For more info on our hotel, just visit http://hotel.tcon.ca

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5. JULIE CZERNEDA SENDS HER REGRETS

Due to a family emergency, Julie Czerneda has informed us that she will unfortunately be unable to attend Polaris this year. She has sent us the following letter to share with all of you:

"Dear Concom and Attendees of Polaris,

"Please accept my sincere apologies, but I'm unable to join you at this year's convention.

"Polaris is a highlight of the year for me and for Roger. I was honoured to be invited as guest and looked forward to meeting all of my friends, old and new! Nothing other than a family emergency could keep me away, but alas, that's what we have. My father was badly injured in a fall a couple of weeks ago. Don't worry. He's doing much better and is expected to make
a full recovery, but at 86, that takes a while. He's been released from hospital into our care. I waited until now to be sure, but he needs both of us here all the time. I can't see that changing before the convention.

"If any of you were bringing me used stamps for my Poppa, thank you! He'll love them. If you don't have my mailing address, please give them to any of the concom, who will make sure they get to me. (Thank you in advance for this.)

"Enjoy the convention. I know it will be fantastic!!!! And check out the Charity Auction. I've sent you a little something.

"Julie E. Czerneda
"July 6, 2008"

We will of course miss Julie's participation this year, and we send her father best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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6. AN IMPORTANT NOTE TO ANY OF OUR ATTENDING MEMBERS IN WHEELCHAIRS

Please note that due to construction, the southermost entrance to the hotel is currently not accessible via wheelchair. This is the entrance to the back parking lot, which leads to the South Lobby of the hotel (closest to our registration areas).

The next closest accessible entrance is the one on the west side of the hotel, by the International Foyer (closest to our Dealers Room area). We apologize for the inconvenience.

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7. WELCOME TO OUR HOSPITALITY SUITE - SPONSORED THIS YEAR BY SLEEMAN BREWERIES

Looking for a place to relax? Come visit us in our Hospitality Suite (aka Ten Forward) which is being generously sponsored by Sleeman Breweries for the second year.

Located in room 1157 Ten Forward offers a place to sit and relax, catch up with friends or meet new people. You can kick back and enjoy a drink and some snacks while you discuss life, the universe or the really great guest you meet while getting their autograph.

Check us out After Dark, starting at 8:30pm, where beer will be available including a selection of Canadian brewed Sleeman beers. All members over the age of 19 (except those with a 2 hour trial membership) are welcome to join us.

Hours of Operation
Friday: 4:00 pm - 2:00 am
Saturday: 10:00 am - 2:00 am
Sunday: 10:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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8. PLEASE JOIN US FOR A RECEPTION IN HONOUR OF OUR NEW CHARITY - GILDA'S CLUB GREATER TORONTO

The Polaris Hospitality Team (which includes our Ten Forward Hospitality Suite and our Staff Lounge) will be holding a reception to show support for our charity "Gilda's Club Greater Toronto". We invite you to stop by Ten Forward After Dark (Located on the 11th floor of the hotel - follow the signs) on Friday at 9:00 PM, and have some refreshments in honour of our new charity before heading down to our "Step into Darkness" event.

For more details, feel free to contact tenforward@tcon.ca.

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9. A NOTE FROM PROGRAMMING PART ONE: STILL SPACE AVAILABLE IN OUR WORKSHOPS!

Some spaces are still available for the both our Theatrical Fighting workshops and Screenwriting workshop. Please check at our main registration desk for information on how to attend. The workshops are exclusive to TCON Promotional Society members and you must have a valid membership for the day of the workshop. Each workshop is two hours long and has an entry fee of $25. Spaces are limited, so sign up early to avoid disappointment. Workshops include:

Theatrical Fighting: Things That Make You Go "Eeeewwwww" (Saturday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
This two hour workshop looks at the dirty tricks and icky bits of stage combat. Using safe, effective, exceptionally squirm-worthy techniques, we'll teach you some of the dirty little secrets that make a fight go from violent to vicious,from eye gouges to neck snaps and a host of other dirty tricks to make the strongest squirm and all of us go "EEEEWWWWW!!!!"

Martial Arts: Instant Kung Fu (Sunday, 3p.m. to 5 p.m.)
You could spend a lifetime perfecting your martial arts skills. Or you can take two hours and learn to fake it! Instant Kung Fu is a high speed course in martial arts fakery for the stage and screen. Kicks, punches, strikes, blocks stances and most important of all, ATTITUDE all come together to make you look like a martial artist long enough to get through a fight scene.

Screenwriting:
Have you ever wondered what it takes to write for television or film? Learn all about it at the screenwriting workshop, conducted by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens at Polaris 22. Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens are Canadian writers whose credits include five episodes of "Star Trek: Enterprise", fifteen episodes of "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World", and several best-selling novels including the Star Trek novel "Federation". They also served as Co-Producers during the fourth and final season of "Star Trek: Enterprise". In addition to five other Star Trek novels and four acclaimed nonfiction volumes chronicling the franchise's production history, Judith and Garfield are William Shatner's co-writers for an ongoing bestselling series of novels based on the character of Captain Kirk.

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10. A NOTE FROM PROGRAMMING PART TWO: LIVE COMMENTARIES BY OUR AUTHOR GUESTS OF HONOUR!

Do you like to know the behind the scene details from your favourite television shows? Better than a DVD commentary track, Polaris 22 has scheduled some live commentaries in our video room. Come get the scoop! Commentaries include:

Enterprise, Season 4, Episode 11: "Observer Effect"
Commentary by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Saturday, 1 p.m.

The Dresden Files, Season 1, Episode 8, "Storm Front"
Commentary by Jim Butcher
Saturday, 5 p.m.

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11. CONTESTS AT OUR INFO DESKS

If you're looking for some extra fun at Polaris this weekend, why not stop by either of the Info Desks and enter one of our contests? We have some wonderful prizes and some really fun things to do:

* The Polaris 22 Photo Contest - Bringing your camera? Enter your photos in one (or all) of our categories for your chance to win memberships to next year's convention!

* The Reaper Contest - Come get your post-it notes! Reap the most souls over the weekend to win!

* The Write-On-A-Card Contest - We'll give you a word or phrase, you write a full story - on an index card!

* Guess The Past Guest Contest - We'll show you some photos, you guess who they are. Not as easy as it sounds!

* The Geek-Offs! - Planning on entering one of the Geek Off panels this year? Here's your chance to practice!

* We also have a colouring contest for the kids with prizes, as well as lots of things for them to do over the weekend.

International Foyer/Plaza Foyer
Friday 2:00 - 9:30 pm
Saturday - 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sunday - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Come on by and see what we have for you!

Comments

[hoskie.livejournal.com]

RSF! Wow. I'm going to need even more money for autographs now, aren't I? ;P

Well. No. I want to get Gareth David-Lloyd's autograph. And maybe Rachel Luttrell. And maybe Cliff Simon. But yeah. Gareth is my priority.

*squirms*

Can't wait.

[omahastar.livejournal.com]

OMG ... Rainbow's gonna be there? Dang. I really liked his character, before they screwed him over (seems to be a recurring theme with that show).

You wouldn't want to maybe get his auto for me and bring it to D*C, would ya?

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

OMG ... Rainbow's gonna be there? Dang. I really liked his character, before they screwed him over (seems to be a recurring theme with that show).

Despite owning all of the DVDs - and I will be buying S4 when it comes out next week - I haven't watched much past the first half of S1 (and occasional episodes here and there if I just happen to be in front of the TV when it's on). So I like what I've seen so far. (He's a cutie, too. :) )

You wouldn't want to maybe get his auto for me and bring it to D*C, would ya?

I can try. :)

[travellingone.livejournal.com]

I've got my Torchwood DVDs ready to go.

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

Excellent. :)

[legostargateman.livejournal.com]

Ok, I know that schedule Jenga isn't fun, but seriously - why on Earth would you put Rachel on stage the hour immediately *before* she's signing autographs? You are basically forcing people to choose - see her on stage OR get her autograph.

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

Our Guests department sets the schedule for the actors - once that's done, we don't change it. In this particular case, Rachel had to be slotted into whatever timeslots were available. (We'd scheduled a one-hour break in the main room at the request of dealers who want people to be able to come into the room, but that's gone now.)