To the Hal-Con community,
We want to update you on our 2020 plans given the COVID-19 global pandemic. We’ve seen a lot of other conventions both in Canada and across the world cancel in 2020. As convention planners, we know how difficult and heartbreaking—although necessary—those decisions must have been. We also know that those cancellations are causing people to wonder if Hal-Con Sci-Fi and Fantasy Convention will happen in 2020.
Our number one priority is keeping our attendees safe. In the six weeks since our last statement the situation has been evolving rapidly, and the Hal-Con board has been meeting weekly via video chat to talk about COVID-19 developments and what they mean for the convention.
Although we don’t have a definite answer today, we are committing to making a final decision by July 31st at the latest. By that date, you will know whether or not Hal-Con 2020 will go forward. We will not sell tickets until the decision is made. We are going ahead with planning for 2020 in the interim so that if we can have a convention, it will be the same high-quality event you’ve come to expect from us.
In our last statement, before public gathering restrictions were announced by the province, we said that our Community Squad would not attend any events before the end of April. The Community Squad’s hiatus will, of course, continue while public gatherings are banned.
We will be opening volunteer applications for Hal-Con 2020 on May 4th. We encourage interested people to apply with confidence, knowing that they will only be called upon to volunteer if it’s safe to proceed with the convention.
We hope members of the Hal-Con community are staying safe, staying home, and helping to stop the spread.
Sincerely,
The Hal-Con Board of Directors