ThunderCon is a pop culture convention in Thunder Bay, and this year they’re celebrating their 10th anniversary with a focus on the imagination that fuels the entertainment industry. Held Sept. 20-21, special guest Doug Jones, (Pan’s Labyrinth, Shape of Water, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Hellboy, etc.), is just one example of how creativity can shape a storied career, and ThunderCon continues to shine a spotlight on regional makers who combine art with craft to help imagination take flight.
Take Jamie Young of J&K Creations, for example. Young has been working on industry-related props for much of his life, and one of his projects (a movie accurate AT-AT) was featured in Star Wars Insider magazine. That validation encouraged him to take his prop-making ‘hobby’ more seriously and a move from Atikokan to Thunder Bay helped install him as ThunderCon’s Prop Master. In the last 10 years he’s made the Iron Throne, a 14-foot Stargate, a life-sized Dalek from Dr. Who, and a huge dwarven statue (called Thunder Axe) from Lord of the Rings.
Robotics creator Rick Strickland set himself a huge task when he decided to make a life-sized, fully functioning R2-D2 unit, one of the stars of the Star Wars universe. It was a labour of love, and now, R2 brings his own star power to ThunderCon as he strolls around via remote control, chatting to guests and fans alike.
“R2 is truly the star of the con,” says guest lead Heather Dickson. “People just light up when they see him wheeling around by himself, buzzing, whistling, and beeping at them. In fact, he’ll carry on a great conversation (in ‘Droid) and he’s just so good with kids of all ages. He’s truly a friendly, humble ‘droid.”
Cosplay is a huge part of the ThunderCon scene, with not only a fantastic cosplay contest that runs over the weekend, but with a variety of cosplay guests on hand every year to help fans get immersed in the ‘out of this world’ experience. Two fandoms constantly represent—Star Wars and Star Trek. The Star Wars Costuming Club features Mandalorians, Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers, Rebels, and diverse aliens, whose clothing/costumes have all been hand-made and vetted. This group also brings large handmade sets for fan photos, and ThunderCon is quickly becoming a destination event for Star Wars cosplayers from all across North America who join in the festivities.
Star Trek is represented by Crimson Dawn and Crimson Fox, the Klingon Assault Groups based in Northeastern Ontario. Anywhere from four to nine Klingons and Romulans make the ‘trek’ and they are instrumental in bringing fun, immersive programming to the con. Their costume work with fabric and foam is impressive, as is their skill in hair, makeup, and prosthetics to achieve the distinctive ridged look of recent Star Trek Klingons.
Another variety of ‘maker’ is Countdown Escape Rooms, a local Thunder Bay business that specifically creates and runs new Escape Rooms for ThunderCon each year. The creative work that goes into not only planning and writing an Escape Room but the implementation of it on site is an impressive feat of organization and skill. Because of their dedication to the craft of puzzles and solutions, fans at ThunderCon can enjoy another immersive experience without leaving the convention.
ThunderCon also features an exciting Artists’ Alley, with local artists and crafters bringing their work to the public, some for the first time. Jewelry makers, painters, digital artists, authors, textile artists, sketchers, etchers, and 3D printers; all manner of creative art can be found over the weekend and there are also panels devoted to many different kinds of creation. This year, ThunderCon is pleased to welcome Heartberry Moon Art, DeepRoots Design and Woodwork, and Alfonso Espinos of StudioComix Press as guest artists who will host panels on Blending Pop Culture with Indigenous, Sculpting with 3D Printers, and How to Create Your Own Comic Book.
In the words of Maya Angelou, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have,” and ThunderCon is proof of that. With artistry and talent bursting from within its walls, the 10th Anniversary weekend looks to be an event with something for everyone who loves creativity and imagination. In fact, ThunderCon 2025 will be Out of This World. Tickets are available online at: thundercon.ca.
