CACE -- June 23 to 25, 2006

Closing down this LJ in a few weeks

2007-06-28T02:22:35Z

Hi, everyone. In the past few weeks since CACE, there hasn't been much activity here. Typically, the community has been inactive except in the months right around the yearly convention, and with no new convention planned, I don't see anything to revive it. So my plan was to delete the cace_discuss community in about two to four weeks, once everyone has had a reasonable chance to comment. If you'd like to say anything about the convention or to any of the staff past or present, or even to give a shout out to friends, this is the chance.

I guess that the community could just hang around indefinitely. But then Niall and/or myself (I'm still the community maintainer even though I haven't been on staff for a couple of years) have to monitor it, and it just takes up space on people's friends lists and in LJ's database. I think if there are to be spin off discussions regarding Ottawa fandom (either furry or SF), those are better served in a place like ottfur or ottawa_sf, where they will be on topic and can reach a wider audience.

Thanks for your interest and participation in CACE over the past number of years!

Thanks!

2007-06-13T03:10:27Z

I know that I haven't said much about CACE recently, but I thought as the founder of the convention, I should add a few closing thoughts.

The main thing I'd like to say is thanks. In particular, I'd like to thank those who worked with me from 2002 to 2004, and those who carried on after I was no longer actively involved with the convention. Niall deserves an extra round of applause for being the main force keeping the convention afloat these last few years. I felt that this year's CACE was smoothly and professionally run as always. I'd also like to thank all of our guests, volunteers, and attendees. Without all of you guys, it would have been just a few of us standing around an empty hotel. The radios would have been quiet, but it wouldn't have been much fun. ;) It was nice to get so much positive feedback for a convention that many believed would not last beyond one year.

With so many memorable years to look back on, it's kind of sad that the convention eventually came to an end. But I also believe that the decision to bow out gracefully was the right one. I decided not to do any kind of extensive analysis, but over the last couple of years CACE had the misfortune of facing a lot of issues. Many of these were actually external factors the convention had little control over -- border regs, rising dollar, increased competition, changing tastes within the fandom, etc., along with ... perhaps ... a decision to branch out to a wider audience that proved more difficult to execute than expected.

But to sum up ... I'm glad I started the convention; I'm glad I met all of you. And I hope to see you again! :)

C-ACE Con Report

2007-06-12T17:01:38Z

Got my con report all typed up! If you'd like to give it a read, here's the link:

http://hollyannvix.livejournal.com/1225869.html

spotter backup

2007-06-07T19:07:50Z

ok all who are going to C-ACE

im still trying to contact me orignal spotter i was going to have go to the con with.. after calling and no answer for a few days now..

is anyone on this forum going to c-ace willing to be a spotter for me?
either that or im going to try to have to chance this.

Programming Grid is Online!

2007-06-07T02:49:24Z

Well, the convention is 2 days away, and just in time I present to you the official 2007 C-ACE Programming Guide!

set your browsers to: http://programming.c-ace.org or http://schedule.c-ace.org

ADVISEMENT:
Panels are subjec to to change with little or no notice. However this is the most up-to-date (current as of 10:45pm on June 6th) information that we can provide. Carry-out copies will be made available at the convention.

Artists at C-ACE

2007-05-24T01:27:14Z

I was just wondering what artists will be at C-ACE for this final year? :)

Chocolates :)

2007-05-16T20:17:57Z

Preparations are going full-tilt behind the scenes as we speak.

And the Opening Ceremonies/Chocolate Social is shaping up to be a blast. Current goal is to have over 250 chocolate pieces, not counting the bars. :D

Many favourites will return, such as the goat cheese and raspberry, strawberry and tarragon, chai (black tea, ginger, black pepper, star anise, cardamom), thyme and lemon, gianduja habanero, Riopelle soft cheese ganache, Masala (curry, pepper and coconut milk), several types of caramels, several types of maples... and a few new flavours, kept secret until the unveiling. One of which will have half the audience recoil and the other lean forward in curiosity, more than probably. :)

So get here on time on Friday... ;)

Last call for C-ACE presenters

2007-05-14T23:03:22Z

Last call for anyone who is thinking of hosting a workshop or panel at C-ACE 2007.

If you're interested, please contact me by IM or by email.

C-ACE Pre-Registration is closed!

2007-05-08T14:14:13Z

We thank all of you who have pre-registered for the con this year! The draw for the lucky winner will be made this coming Saturday - check the forums and this LJ for details.

Also, the hotel room block is now open to the public; you can still try calling the hotel (613-567-7275 or toll-free 1-800-465-7275) and quote Group Reservation #195936, but now the rate or availability is not guaranteed.

We still have our Program Book cover contest going on! Deadline is May 12, and you don't have to attend the con to send in an entry.

Watch this space for Programming information soon!

Last Day for C-ACE Pre-reg!

2007-05-04T15:45:25Z

Today, Friday May 4, is the last day to:

- send in your pre-registration by mail, or

- pre-register online with paypal.

You can still book spaces in the dealers room and art show.

Remember that Monday is the last guaranteed booking rate day with the hotel. After that date, rooms will be released for general public booking, and if you wait too long, they may sell out, or not have a room left at our rate. Remember to quote Reservation Code #195936 to be on our room block.

C-ACE 2007: June 8-10 - one month away!

showing up for one last bash

2007-04-29T03:23:35Z

ok well i decided to show up this year one day only to show everone a costume i had for some time.

i will also be looking for a spotter since i don't want anyone touching hugging or pulling this one. alot of work went in both the mask and the costume.

so anyone willing to act as a spotter is welcomed.
it might be a saturday that i go there. so i'll be around all over the place.. depending how hot it gets in there.

if you want to see pictures of the costume go to my journal.. not many was taken of it since it was out around halloween and such only.

C-ACE Author Guest, Pre-Reg Deadline Extensions, & other news

2007-04-26T17:55:14Z

We have lots of little updates you can see on our main website, but here's the quick version:

- Our second Progress Report is now up for viewing

- Fantasy author Fiona Patton will be our Author Guest this year! We'll also have a visit by author Violette Malan.

- Pre-reg deadline has been extended to May 4, 2007 - see the online and mail-in registration pages.

- The Program Book Cover contest deadline has also been extended, to May 12, 2007.

- We are still accepting suggestions for programming panels - workshops, demos or social/discussion panels! Get in contact with programming@c-ace.org for details.

- We still have spaces for the Dealers Room and Art Show, but don't delay!

- The deadline for booking hotel rooms at a guaranteed rate is May 7, 2007 after which they will be released to the general public for booking. Remember to quote Reservation Code #195936 to be on our room block.

A more detailed list of preliminary programming will be available soon.

Feel free to link to the con's page in your own blogs and spread the word!

June 8-10 - it's coming soon!

C-ACE 2007 is still on

2007-04-10T22:40:15Z

We're still going ahead with the con, despite what some may think...

Out of curiosity, are many people waiting a little longer than usual to pre-register? Or only intending to register at the door? The deadline IS coming soon (end of the month)... :)

Ad Astra Party

2007-03-06T02:14:33Z

I'm glad to report that our room party at Ad Astra 26 was a definite success!

For three hours, I was busy initiating congoers to the wonders of our Chocolate Social (Redux), answer questions about the con, and otherwise promote our event. Many flyers and progress reports were picked up. Let's hope to see some of them up in Ottawa this summer!

Although this was the last C-ACE room party, I may be persuaded to return with some chocolates next year as a personal room party, if there's enough of a demand...

Here are photos of the layout beforehand. There was nothing much left after 3 hours, and I was too busy during when the room was packed. :)

Ad Astra

2007-02-07T17:11:33Z

C-ACE will have a room party at the Ad Astra SF&F convention in Toronto, Ontario on Friday March 2.

We will sell pre-registrations and t-shirts, have program books for perusal, and entertain with a mini chocolate social. This is often where I "test" the new batches that have come out at the chocolatiers since the last con. I seem to find many willing volunteers. :D

Check the AA website for specific location (Crowne Plaza Toronto Don Valley Hotel). Locals are invited to drop in; as a room party, it's open even to con non-attendees in case you're curious. Check hotel lobby for flyers (usually next to elevators).

C-ACE 2007 is on!

2007-02-01T05:08:26Z

Yes, after a bit of delay, our website is finally updated for the 2007 convention! We also have online registration open, or for those who attended in the last two years, you can wait to receive your Progress Report #1 which we've mailed off.

The dates for this year will be June 8-10, 2007 at the Best Western Victoria Park Suites hotel in beautiful downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. We will be 2 weeks after Anime North and 4 weeks before Anthrocon, back in our regular weekend (after last year's timeslot availability problems for both us and AC).

We have Andrew "Loopy" Pidcock as Art and Costumer Guest of Honour. Well-known to attendees, we will spotlight his creative skills which he's been honing for more than a decade. (An Author guest will be announced later.)

There is a also a bit of bad news about the con's future; I invite you to read the main page of our website for the full explanation as it is difficult to condense.

Nonetheless, we hope many of you will attend the convention, learn something new and have fun!

Niall MacConaill
Chair, C-ACE 2007

AGM?

2006-12-15T21:49:37Z

Hi!

Can anyone tell me where and when the Capital Cartooning Group AGM will be happening this year?

Also, has the con-com selected a date and time for the next convention? Thanks for any info.

Just a quick note

2006-10-08T03:27:48Z

To inform you that the forum is having technical difficulties. Our Web Bunny is working on it, as well as a very nice new site layout.

Thank you for your patience.

www.c-ace.org

2006-08-14T00:30:24Z

Anyone knows what happened to the C-Ace website?
Did they forget to renew the domain name?

I've been getting a 'Account for domain c-ace.org has been suspended' page for some time now.

Local Area and Parking Map available!

2006-06-14T20:06:57Z

On the heels of the programming grid, we are please to let you know that we have the updated Local Area Map up, where you can see restaurants, food stores and other important locations around the convention hotel.

Right below it is the Parking Map, showing what are the different types of street parking available (and where there's none available) around the hotel, and the area parking lots with prices.

Both can be found here, at the bottom of our Directions page.

Enjoy!

2006 C-ACE Programming Grid now Online!

2006-06-14T13:21:46Z

That's right! The official up-to-date 2006 Programming Schedule is now online!
Please visit programming.c-ace.org to see the schedule and plan your weekend!

Chocolate Social!

2006-06-07T20:48:48Z

It looks like everything is a go for the Social this year. Unlike previous years, I figured it made no sense to keep it a secret. People might as well start salivating right now. :)

What does it look like? I need to take pics of The Spread this year, I really do; but you can see the photos of what was brought last year in this post here.

There will be a return of the five major Artisan Chocolatiers this year (in Gatineau and Montreal), with 177 pieces of chocolate artistry between them. There are three more possible sources (in Ottawa), but I’m keeping those in the dark as they're not confirmed yet. If they are, there will be over 200 pieces, as promised in the first Progress Report. And as each piece is cut in 2 or 3 (or 4), that's plenty of tasting opportunities for everybody!

Some favourites will return:
- the simple vanilla caramels in milk chocolate deemed Perfect by most people
- the Riopelle soft cheese ganache
- the Maki (Hazelnut and coriander, pickled ginger and maple sugar, all rolled in nori)
- Blueberry caramel
- Apple and red tomato
- Strawberry and Tarragon
- Jasmin (so smoooooth)
...and over 25 others

A few new additions this year:
- Lemon and Thyme infusion
- Caramel and salt flower
- Wild Tea Caramel
- Labrador tea ganache

There will also be a Special Spicy Section!
- Aztec (Chili pepper, ginger and cardamom)
- Essence of Pine
- Chai (Indian black tea, with ginger, black pepper, star aniseed and cardamom)
- The Three Peppers (Espelette, cayenne and serrano peppers)
And the two new additions:
- Gianduja Habanero (nuts and peppers) - smooth and blasts you long time!
- Masala (milk/dark ganache with Masala curry, cocnut milk and coconut bits infused; does NOT taste like coconuts or I wouldn’t eat it) - it’s like biting in a Thai restaurant. No, really.

There might be a few more surprises. Who knows! And as always a small selection of imported chocolate bars, whatever is available when I make my run in Montreal.

...yeah, for some strange reason, everyone wants to be at the Opening Ceremonies. :)

Program Book Cover Contest Winner

2006-06-07T18:14:04Z

Well, it was a very tight contest, and needed serious deliberation (hence the delay in announcement), but I am happy to announce that the winner of our 2006 Program Book Cover Contest is Beverly Martin!

Congratulations, and thank you to all those who participated!

Pre-Registration is now closed!

2006-06-01T15:35:43Z

Thank you very much for all your support!

Registrations at the door for the full weekend will be $40. Cash and personal cheques will be accepted, Can$ or US$.

Day passes will be $20, upgradeable to a full weekend if you come back for a second day.

T-shirts will be sold at the Dealers Room registration table, for $17 (small to X-large) and $20 for oversize (2XL and 3XL). Our 2005 shirts will be available for $15, what's left of our 2004 shirts for $10 and our 2003 shirts for $5. Once they run out, they run out!

Be sure to watch this space and our forums - we still have lots to tell you in the days leading to the con!

Last Chance!

2006-05-29T16:29:11Z

Just a quick note to remind people of the deadlines approaching!

You have until the end of Wednesday, May 31 to:

- Pre-register (online or through the mail, postmarked)

- Participate in our Con Book Cover Contest (remember, it need not be a fully final piece to enter your design; a tight enough sketch will do)

- Send us an illustration or an ad for our conbook

- Pre-pay for this year's t-shirt if you've pre-registered

There are still Dealers tables and Art Show panels available!

See you at the con!