TFcon

TFcon is a Transformers fan convention held annually since 2002 in the Greater Toronto Area. The convention was created to give Canadians the opportunity to celebrate their love for the Transformers franchise. Now the largest fan-run Transformers convention in the world, TFcon will be held for the 13th time in the summer of 2014 in Canada and for the first time ever in the United States in October 2014.

Description
TFcon is Canada's premier Transformers collectors convention, and the second most-attended Transformers convention in the world. The event features Canada's largest dealer room for Transformers merchandise, guest question and answer panels and autograph sessions, the 3rd party product presentation and question and answer panel, Transformers trivia contest, plus art and costume contests.

History
The first TFcon (at that time called TransformersCon) was held in Hamilton, Ontario in 2002. Organized by Aaron Black and Colin Douglas, the convention had a modest 190 attendees. In 2003, TFcon got its first special guests in the form of Joe Ng and Dreamwave Productions team. In 2004, it got its first convention exclusive in the form of a variant convention exclusive cover of Transformers #1 Vol. 3 published by Dreamwave Productions. In 2006, the first 3D merchandise exclusive was released, a "stealth" recolor of the Cyclonus Hard Hero Bust. In 2007, TransformersCon finally got its first transforming toy exclusive, an unlicensed and downsized version of the Dinobot Slag in his green Generation 2 colors dubbed "Flamethrower". In its first 2 years the convention was moved around Ontario, but now finds a regular home in Toronto, Ontario. As of 2008, this convention formerly named TransformersCon is now officially called TFcon at the request of Hasbro. In 2009 TFcon expanded to a 2 day convention by merging with the 80s Toy Expo on the Sunday of the event. This was necessary due to many dealers completely selling out of merchandise on the Saturday requiring a dealer room restock if a 2nd day was to be added. Starting in 2012 TFcon has been hosting a charity auction for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In 2014 TFcon expanded to two shows a year, with one in Canada and one in the United States.

Dates and locations

 * 2002: November 10 – Lawfield Arena, Hamilton, Ontario
 * 2003: June 22 – Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel & Conference Centre, Burlington, Ontario
 * 2004: March 12–13 – Holiday Inn Toronto Airport East, Toronto, Ontario
 * 2005: March 25–26 – Doubletree International Plaza Hotel Toronto Airport, Toronto, Ontario
 * 2006: April 28–29 – Doubletree International Plaza Hotel Toronto Airport, Toronto, Ontario
 * 2007: April 27–28 – Doubletree International Plaza Hotel Toronto Airport, Toronto, Ontario
 * 2008: June 20–21 – Doubletree International Plaza Hotel Toronto Airport, Toronto, Ontario
 * 2009: April 24–26 – Doubletree International Plaza Hotel Toronto Airport, Toronto, Ontario
 * 2010: July 16–18 – Doubletree International Plaza Hotel Toronto Airport, Toronto, Ontario
 * 2011: July 29–31 – Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre, Mississauga, Ontario
 * 2012: July 27–29 – Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre, Mississauga, Ontario
 * 2013: July 25–28 - Delta Meadowvale Hotel and Conference Centre, Mississauga, Ontario
 * 2014: July 11–13 – Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre, Mississauga, Ontario
 * 2014: October 24–26 – Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Chicago, Illinois

Special guests

 * 2002: None
 * 2003: Joe Ng, Roger Lee and various members of the Dreamwave Productions team
 * 2004: David Kaye, Pat Lee, Joe Ng, James "Brad Mick" McDonough, Adam Patyk, Rob Ruffalo
 * 2005: Garry Chalk, James "Brad Mick" McDonough, Adam Patyk, Joe Ng, Alex Milne, Matt Moylan, Karl Hartman, Pete Sinclair
 * 2006: Don Murphy, Michael McConnohie, Joe Ng, Alex Milne, Rik Alvarez, Rob Russ, Erik Ko
 * 2007: Michael Bell, Joe Ng, Alex Milne, Matt Moylan, Matt Hansen
 * 2008: Gregg Berger, Alex Milne, Matt Moylan, Espen Grundetjern and Hasbro Canada
 * 2009: Dan Gilvezan, Derrick J. Wyatt, Alex Milne, Matt Moylan and Hasbro Canada
 * 2010: David Kaye, Mark Ryan, Derrick J. Wyatt, Marvin Mariano, Dan Khanna, Eric Bauza, Alex Milne, Matt Moylan and Hasbro Canada
 * 2011: Simon Furman, Garry Chalk, Paul Eiding, Joe Ng, Marvin Mariano, Dan Khanna, Alex Milne, Smith Hart, and Hasbro Canada
 * 2012: Bob Budiansky, Scott McNeil, Neil Ross, Wally Burr, Derrick J. Wyatt, Andrew Griffith, Josh Perez, Silas Zee, Dan Khanna, Matt Moylan, Ben Dolle, Chris Ho and Hasbro Canada
 * 2013: Dick Gautier, Jack Angel, Venus Terzo, James Roberts, Marilyn Lightstone, Livio Ramondelli, Casey Coller, Alex Milne, Andrew Griffith, John-Paul Bove, Josh Perez and Marvin Mariano
 * 2014 (Toronta): Aaron Archer, Garry Chalk, Sarah Stone, Susan Blu and more to be announced.
 * 2014 (Chicago): To be announced.

Exclusives

 * 2002: 2002 Convention Exclusive T-Shirt with artwork by Derek Douglas
 * 2004: Variant cover of Transformers #1 Volume 3 published by Dreamwave Productions with artwork by Don Figueroa
 * 2005: Convention Exclusive Dinobots Poster and 2005 Convention Exclusive T-Shirt with artwork by Joe Ng
 * 2006: Stealth Cyclonus Hard Hero Bust, Alternate Cover to Transformers vs. G.I.Joe #1 with art by Joe Ng, and the 2006 Convention Exclusive T-Shirt with art by Alex Milne
 * 2007: Exclusive Justitoys G2 Flamethrower toy, 2007 Convention Exclusive T-Shirt, and the Alternated Masterpiece Lithograph featuring art by Alex Milne
 * 2008: 2008 Convention Exclusive T-Shirt
 * 2009: Exclusive FansProject Powered Commander toy, 2009 Convention Exclusive T-Shirt and the Universe Divided Lithograph featuring art by Alex Milne
 * 2010: Impossible Toys Night-bird toy and 2010 Convention Exclusive T-Shirt
 * 2011: Headrobots Stronghold & Toxin, the Perfect Effect PE-11 Night Ops Version and 2011 Convention Exclusive T-Shirt
 * 2012: iGear Shafter, Headrobots Garrison and Perfect Effect Shadow Bat
 * 2013: iGear Roswell, Mech IDeas Project Z, Mech IDeas Prototype X and iGear Van Guardian

Third party panel
TFcon has become a central hub for the promotion and reveals of new third party Transformers.


 * 2011: The 2011 panel started with a brief history of third party Transformer products.
 * 2012: In 2012 toy company FansProject displayed a number of its upcoming releases, including its original design, Steel Core.
 * 2013: Featured upcoming produces from BTS Toys, FansProject, Keith's Fantasy Club, Maketoys, Mastermind Creations, Perfect Effect, Renderform, X-Transbots and others.

References and media reports
TransformersCon 2004 documentary appears on Metrodome's 2004 release of Transformers season one DVD set, as well interviews with voice actors David Kaye & Garry Chalk from TransformersCon appear on the Madman Beast Wars 2006 Season 2 DVD sets. TFcon was featured in the Shout Factory Season 3&4 DVD in the Special Features Featurette "The Autobots, The Decepticons & The Fans", including mention in the "Special Thanks" section of the special feature credits.


 * TFcon Toronto Official Website
 * TFcon USA Official Website
 * Electric Playground Television Feature
 * Televised YTV Shorts
 * Toyfare Magazine Mention
 * City TV Breakfast Television Guest Spot
 * 680 News article about TFcon
 * Dorkshelf.com article
 * Mississauga.com Article
 * TFcon Article in the Toronto Star
 * TFcon segment from The Circuit on Space Channel
 * Breakfast Today Toronto interview Phil Gervais about TFcon 2011
 * 680News reports on TFcon 2011
 * TFcon 2012 reported in the Mississauga News
 * Press Plus 1 report on the TFcon 2012 voice actor panel