Pemmi-Con 2023

Pemmi-Con, the 15th North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC 15) was held July 20-23, 2023, at Delta Hotels Winnipeg and the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Philip John Currie, Julie E. Czerneda, George Freeman, John Mansfield, Waubgeshig Rice, Nisi Shawl, and katherena vermette (absent) were guests of hon­our; Tanya Huff was toastmaster; Lorna Toolis was ghost of honour. Cana­dian Unity Fan Fund (CUFF) delegate Garth Spencer and Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund (TAFF) delegate Sandra Bond were also in attendance. There were 857 memberships, with 567 in-person attendees. Programming of­fered 235 items, including 37 readings, 30 kaffeeklatsches, and 19 concerts, as well as panels, autograph sessions, open filk circles, and workshops.

Panels included topics like ”The Value of Dystopian Futures in a Dystopian Present” with Helen Umberger, Eli K.P. William, John G. McDaid, and Gerald Nordley; and ”Knowing the Roots: Representation in the Genre” with Nisi Shawl, Cheryl Morgan, and Sandra Bond. The Opening ceremonies featured First Nations drumming performed by Heather Bjorklund, and the Closing Ceremonies featured bagpiping by Mark O’Rourke. Other highlights included a Masquerade, and a Manitoba Social-style party with social gaming.

The art show featured 16 artists and 101 items were sold. The dealer’s room had 12 vendors. A number of awards were presented, including the First Fandom Hall of Fame Awards, which went to Michael Moorcock and Will Murray; the Posthumous Hall of Fame Award, which went to artist Ken Kelly and printer Conrad H. Rup­pert; and the Sam Moskowitz Archive Award, which went to John L. Coker III. Fundraising efforts included the Freya’s Birthday Bash Party, which raised more than CAD $1,350 for Win­nipeg’s pet rescue center. There were reports of significant miscommunications with attendees and participants regarding digital and on-site programming.

NASFiCs are held in years when Worldcon takes place outside North America. NASFiC 16 is planned to be held at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo in Buffalo NY from July 18-21, 2024, with Kaja Foglio, Phil Foglio, Alan Dean Foster, Suford & Tony Lewis, and Nilah Magruder as guests of honor, and more details to come. More info at <buffalonasfic2024.org>.

Photo by Kevin J. Grummett

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