As a Georgia native born and raised, I am pretty well-versed in the etiquette and decorum of bona fide "southern hospitality."
This September, I had the pleasure of attending “May the North Be with You” in Ontario and surprisingly found that “Canadian Hospitality” felt like a familiar slice of home. This was the fourth year that Ontario Star Wars Collectors Alliance: 43rd Legion (OSWCA) members Mike Freeman, Toby Black, Chris Porteous, Todd Thornhill, Clint Garniss, Michael Chomyn and James McCallum organized and hosted this incredible event, and they did not disappoint.
The May the North experience is one of the first examples of what many Star Wars collectors have termed “boutique conventions.” As opposed to massive corporate sponsored conventions such as Atlanta’s own Dragon Con, San Diego Comic Con, or Star Wars Celebration, these scaled-down events tend to be much more curated collector-focused experiences, while often highlighting regional culture and points of interest.
Boutique conventions are also considerably more intimate with an attendance of usually less than 200 people. They place a strong emphasis on what many collectors regard as the most cherished elements of larger conventions, such as collector panels, room sales, and lobby swaps, as well as short excursions in the immediate area of the event. As someone who is not fond of the overwhelming scale and crowds of larger conventions, I have personally found that these niche, “boutique” events are much more enjoyable and gratifying, not to mention significantly more affordable.
Officially
billed as “May the North Be with You IV: Return to 43 Hanna,” the convention was
held at the Holiday Inn Centre in Oakville, Ontario. Since its inception, it
has become primarily a celebration of Canadian Star Wars toys and collectors,
centered around Toronto’s iconic Irwin Toy Limited. This small,
quintessentially Canadian company was located at 43 Hanna Avenue and famously
held licensing through Cincinnati’s Kenner Products to create “Kenner Canada,”
who manufactured, packaged, and distributed Star Wars toys throughout The Great
White North.
In
preparation for this 3-day extravaganza, fellow Georgia Alliance member Jason
Wasulko and I flew from Atlanta to Toronto late Thursday evening, to take part in every activity the weekend offered. However, by the time we arrived, the festivities were already well underway at the hotel
bar.
Prior to the event, organizers had graciously offered to shuttle us from the airport to the hotel, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that they sent our good friend and fellow Georgia Alliance member Tony Johnson, who had just flown in a few hours earlier himself. Tony selflessly offered to pick us up curbside so the organizers could keep the party going back at the hotel, and they even paid him for his services. Canadian hospitality at its finest!
Following
a good night’s sleep at the hotel, we hit the ground running on Friday morning
in hopes of taking in some sights before event festivities kicked off that
afternoon. Tony, Jason and I grabbed a quick breakfast at the local Canadian coffeehouse, Tim Hortons, and made our way south to Niagara Falls, which was a little over an
hour away. We could not have picked a better day for sightseeing as the weather
was gorgeous, and the vista at the Falls was absolutely stunning. As tempting
as it was, we opted not to climb on the rails around the Falls since we were
not sure if Superman was in the area to catch us if we fell.
Georgia Alliance members Tony Johnson, Jerry Hancock and Jason Wasulko at Niagara Falls
On
the drive back from Niagara Falls, we made an obligatory stop at a couple of
Toys R Us stores in the area and it was like stepping into a time machine. It's hard
to imagine, but it has been over seven years since TRU shuttered its U.S. stores; yet the Canadian stores we visited looked and smelled as familiar as ever. Although
the selection of Star Wars toys was smaller than we had hoped, it was interesting
to see various American store exclusives available at a single store, as well as
some exclusive Canadian items. As we were
leaving, one of the clerks noticed that Jason was wearing a Star Wars t-shirt, and
she offered to give us a few Toys R Us Canada exclusive Black Series posters.
She was also kind enough to take our picture with Geoffrey. Canadian
hospitality, eh?
After
we grabbed a quick lunch at Quiznos, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up.
There we ran into Mike De Stefano from the Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting
Society, who made the drive up to the event with Erik Janniche, Matt Fox and
Jonathan McElwain from the DC Area Star Wars Collecting Club. They kindly
offered Jason, Tony and me a ride over to 4th Moon Toys in Downtown
Toronto, which is owned by event organizer Mike Freeman.
Following an adventurous “RUSH-hour” commute into the city, complete with a playlist of Canadian classic rock courtesy of Mr. De Stefano, we arrived. I have been a fan of 4th Moon Toys for years and have made multiple purchases from them online, but nothing prepared me for what we would witness in their brick-and-mortar store. WOW!!! It was like something out of a Corellian spice dream! I was awestruck by the largest selection of Star Wars toys and collectibles that I have ever seen in a single retail location, and Darth Vader was there to greet us at the door. As if this was not enough, none other than Kenner Designer Jim Swearingen himself, was casually hanging out at the front counter and chatting with other customers and event attendees!
In
addition to the enormous selection of vintage and modern toys at 4th
Moon, there were countless oddball, miscellaneous and paper ephemeras hidden
randomly throughout the store. It was like a giant Star Wars scavenger hunt with
little surprises tucked around every corner. There was even a classic Star Wars
arcade game at the back of the store which customers could play.
Although I could have easily blown through my entire budget at this first stop, I had limited luggage space for the flight back home and sadly had to keep my impulses in check. For my companions who had driven up for the event, this was not an issue, and they walked out with a mountain of purchases as we prepared for departure. I think most of us would have been happy to spend the rest of the evening at 4th Moon Toys, but considering the traffic, we weren’t sure how long it would take to get over to Liberty Village on the southwest side of the city for the evening’s main event at Toronto’s Toy Factory Lofts (aka the old Irwin Toy Factory), and we did not want to be late.
Thanks to Mike De Stefano’s excellent driving skills and navigation, we made our way through the downtown area fairly quickly, considering the Toronto Blue Jays were playing a home game that evening. We had a great little tour of the city and even passed through the shadow of Rogers Centre as fans were already packing the stands.
We arrived at Liberty Village, which is an old industrial area of
the city that has since been redeveloped into a thriving downtown community and
social hub. Since we had time to spare, Mike, Matt and I stopped by Left Field Brewing for a tasty round of beers and some enjoyable conversation
before heading over to the Toy Factory Lofts.
The
7-storey structure was renovated in 2008 into a beautiful mixed-use facility
that now features over 200 units priced from $700K to the $1 million + range. As
we made our way to the event space located in the basement of the building, I
kept expecting someone to ask us for identification, but apparently, they indeed were expecting a toy nerd invasion that evening.
The
space had an industrial, yet cozy vibe that almost felt like we were hanging
out in our best friend’s basement. There were comfy sofas, chairs and tables
throughout and a centerpiece of shelving that was loaded with toys and
artifacts from Irwin Toys’ glory days. There were also placards that explained
the history of the company, as well as some items they produced and
distributed. In fact, organizers even arranged for owner Peter Irwin, along
with a few former Irwin / Kenner Canada employees, to attend and answer
questions about the historic operation.
Our
hosts rolled out the Canadian hospitality once again and provided a nice assortment of
hors d'oeuvres and snacks, as well as a complementary bar stocked with beer and
cocktails to help loosen up those of us who might have been a little socially
awkward. Apparently, it worked as the conversations flowed, and I
couldn’t walk from one end of the room to the other without stopping multiple
times to chat with old friends or old acquaintances that I had known online for
years yet never had a chance to meet in-person.
I shared a drink and discussed current events with fellow educator Joel Slater, and I had the honor of meeting organizer, customizer and event ambassador Clint Garniss, who told me all about the history of the building. I chatted about classic car restoration with my friend Elling Haug and received a hearty Canadian welcome from legendary collector Scott Bradley, who I’d known from years earlier on the old Rebelscum Forums.
I even had the distinct privilege to finally meet Canadian Star Wars toy expert James McCallum (aka “Jimmy Mac”), who authored the book, Irwin Toys: The Canadian Star Wars Connection. Although Jimmy first published this book over twenty-five years ago, it is now in its third printing and collectors still consider it to be the definitive text on the topic.
As
the inaugural event at the Toy Factory Lofts came to a close, we bid farewell
to the renowned landmark and made our way back to our hotel in Oakville. Along
the way we chatted about the kickoff, and I told the gang that if the event had
ended that night, I would have still felt that I had gotten my money’s worth.
We returned to the hotel and made our way to the bar where we celebrated well
into the night. Everyone was elated by the outstanding start of what was sure
to be an epic weekend.
*****
Just
as the sun was rising Saturday morning, Jason and I were awakened by a text
from our good friend and fellow Georgia Alliance member, Narayan Naik. I’m
still not sure if he’s a night owl or an early bird, but nonetheless he had
just gotten into town overnight, was already dressed and eager to grab
breakfast before diving into a very busy day full of Star Wars fandom. Our buddy
Fonz Napolitano suggested the Sunnyside Grill in Downtown Oakville, so we
grabbed our first coffee of the day at the hotel café and made our way into
town.
Oakville
has a charming downtown area with a uniquely European vibe, and we quietly made
our way to Sunnyside Grill before the crowds that eventually followed in our
wake. The eggs benedict and omelets were delicious (although I would have loved a side of grits), the service was impeccable, and the place was packed by
the time we finished our meal. After a few more cups of coffee, we were ready
to tackle what was sure to be an extraordinary day. Although the organizers had
shared an itinerary a few days earlier, they kept many details secret and still
had quite a few surprises in store.
When
we arrived back at the hotel, the lobby was already abuzz with activity and
excitement. Attendees were lining up at the registration table to get their
lanyards and nametags, which were a welcome addition considering so many in our
hobby are often more familiar with social media handles than faces. Organizers also
graciously provided light snacks at the rear of the room with a tasty selection
of Star Wars toy themed cookies that included the characters Greedo, Yak Face,
and 4-LOM, as well as Irwin Toy factory and “May the North Be with You” cookies.
Guest
presenters made their way to the conference room and stocked their booths in
preparation for the five panels and accompanying events scheduled for the day.
Along the right side of the room were booths for Star Wars Oscar-winning set
decorator Roger Christian, actor Paul Blake who portrayed Greedo, Kenner’s own
“Toyfather,” designer Jim Swearingen as well as Nelvana artist Brian Lemay who worked
on the Droids and Ewoks cartoon series. All were smiling and seemed as
eager to meet their fans as the fans seemed to meet them.
Renowned collectors Gus Lopez and Duncan Jenkins presented the first panel of the
day and gave attendees a peek behind the curtain for the recently announced
“Saga Museum,” which is currently under development. The proposed museum is
going to be a consolidation of four of the largest private Star Wars
collections in the world, including Steve Sansweet’s famed “Rancho Obi-Wan,”
Gus Lopez’s “Bobacabana,” Duncan Jenkins’ “Sithsonian,” and Vic Wertz and Lisa
Stevens’ “Imperial Archives.” Gus and Duncan provided attendees with an update
on the project’s progress, as well as sneak peek of some of the potential U.S.
cities that are currently in the running to ultimately become a permanent home for
the massive 200,000 square foot facility.
Following
a quick break, event organizer and emcee Mike Freeman kicked off Panel Two with
Kenner designer Jim Swearingen, and he was as charming as always. Like many in
the community, I have had the honor of getting to know Jim on a personal
basis and have seen him present several panels over the years. However, I have found that he always seems to bring something new and unique for his audience.
For
this presentation, Mr. Swearingen spoke about how he had always been a fan of science
fiction films and had followed George Lucas with great interest since his experimental
release THX 1138. He also expanded on the stories that inspired the
famously recreated scenes for the Netflix series, “The Toys That Made Us,” and
how surreal it is that now he is friends with actor Mike Gerbi, who portrayed
him in the phenomenally successful series.
Panel
Three was one of the most anticipated of the entire event, because it featured Star
Wars actor, fan and toy collector Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, who portrayed Captain Carson Teva in Disney’s hit shows The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. Paul spoke
about how he “accidently” got into acting, attended University College and sharpened
his acting chops at Toronto’s Factory Theater, where he met a young “goth girl”
named Deborah Chow. He eventually began landing small roles on Canadian
television, slowly built his resume and got his big break when he was cast as Mr.
Sang il-Kim in the Canadian sitcom, Kim’s Convenience, which debuted
internationally on Netflix in 2018.
While starring in Kim’s Convenience, Paul reconnected with Chow, who was then directing The Mandalorian in Los Angeles, which eventually led to him being cast in the hit series. His story of being a lifelong Star Wars fan and toy collector is truly inspiring and really strikes a nerve with most fans, because we see him as “one of us.”
Paul’s attempts at rallying collector
support and successfully persuading Hasbro’s Steve Evans to produce a Vintage
Collection figure of his character Carson Teva, has simply furthered his legend
as the fan who “made it” in our beloved galaxy far, far away.
*****
Just as the first half of the day came to a fulfilling crescendo, the organizers announced a short break for lunch. As I was leaving the room, Narayan introduced me to Oakville native and May the North veteran Brent Voisey, so we invited him to lunch with us and headed over to the local Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill, which was within walking distance of the hotel. Brent and I really hit it off and as we chatted on the walk over, I mentioned that I was looking to get some good Canadian beer while I was visiting. He kindly offered to drive me over to the local LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) after lunch to help me get acquainted with some of the best brews in the area.
As I wrapped up a great meal of chicken tenders, fries and gravy with an ice-cold Molson beer, we noticed Gus Lopez politely excusing himself from the table next to us. We knew he was next on the agenda for panels, so Brent, Narayan, Tony and I quickly paid for our tab and got back over to the hotel so we would not miss a moment.
To say that Gus is a pillar of the Star Wars collecting community is an understatement on so many levels. For well over a quarter of a century I have admired not only his epic collection, but even more importantly, his contributions to helping educate and grow the hobby. I have seen Gus present on many topics over the years, but I had never had the opportunity to hear him speak about his own personal journey as a collector, and that was precisely his topic for Panel Four.
Gus has been a collector his entire life and he spoke of how his grandfather, a Cuban immigrant, not only taught him about collecting valuable coins form the Spanish empire, but also the value of their historic significance.
He shared many
lessons that he has learned over a lifetime of collecting and stressed the
importance of patience, as well as how to budget, and occasionally splurge if
the opportunity arises. It was such a pleasure to hear Gus speak on a more
personal level regarding his adventures in collecting, but even more about his
successes and failures along the way.
*****
Following Gus’s panel, Brent and I ducked out quickly for a short tour of the local LCBO store before the final panel got started. I am sad to report that after considerable effort, I could not find Elsinore brand beer anywhere (or a mouse in a bottle, eh?). However, thanks to Brent’s insight and expertise, I did manage to find some exceptional selections from local breweries including Indie Ale House, Bellwoods, and my new favorite, Greenwood IPA from Left Field Brewing.
Brent and I made it back to the hotel just in time to catch the final panel of the day, and what a finale it was! Star Wars actor Paul Blake who portrayed the infamous character Greedo, along with Oscar Winning Art Director Roger Christian, who was the set decorator for the 1977 film, discussed their shared experiences on the cantina set at Elstree Studios in England.
The
two legends genuinely enjoyed each other’s company and fondly reminisced about
the fortuitous adventure that has since become one of the most famous scenes in
motion picture history. Not only did their anecdotes have the entire room
entranced for the duration of the panel, but they also definitively answered
the age-old question that yes, HAN SHOT FIRST!
Just
as attendees were trying to catch our collective breath following this legendary
panel, the Ontario Alliance had another surprise up their sleeves. Just prior
to our scheduled break for dinner, photographer Chris Porteous staged a
once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity in one of the booths at the hotel bar
complete with props and wardrobe so that attendees could experience a “Shootout
in the Cantina” with Greedo actor Paul Blake! Organizers even arranged to get everyone’s
pictures printed quickly so that Paul could sign and personalize them afterwards.
Following
an action-packed day of well-paced panels, many of us opted to grab dinner at
the local Beertown Public House. We filled multiple tables at the bustling establishment as everyone buzzed with excitement from the day’s events, and the evening's programming was still to come. After a great meal of fish tacos and fine Canadian
micro brews, we made our way back to the hotel to freshen up before heading down
to the conference room for the evening’s events.
When
we arrived, the lobby swap was already well underway, and several attendees had
stocked the tables with a diverse array of Star Wars merchandise and collectibles.
Mike Freeman staked out a table in the middle of the room, which included various
unique vintage items from 4th Moon Toys including a wide selection
of Clarks brand Star Wars shoes new in boxes. Clint Garniss brought an
impressive assortment of his custom carded figures, as well as boxes and totes full
of vintage oddball items and paper ephemera.
At
the front of the room was a pair of attendees with a stunning selection of rare
Canadian Kenner Star Wars toys, including an exceptionally rare Sears 3-pack
box. Another attendee near the rear of the room had over two dozen rare
Canadian mint on card figures and many were in excellent, near mint condition. There
were also attendees who were trading and selling swag from previous Star Wars
events, and Ontario Alliance member Michael Chomyn was on hand selling and
printing custom “May the North Be with You” shirts and merchandise as well.
As
the lobby swap wrapped up, organizers made a quick pivot into one of the most
intense Star Wars trivia games that I’ve ever participated in. Toby Black
hosted the battle royale and of course brought some incredibly challenging collector-focused
trivia questions for an audience that had more than a few experts on the topic.
There were approximately six teams who clashed in two rounds of trivial combat,
but in the end Gus Lopez and his team of experts took the day by the narrowest
of margins. They were awarded a custom Canadian 4-LOM action figure for their
efforts and when I spoke to Gus and his teammate Chris Georgoulias afterward, apparently
even they struggled with several of the toughest questions.
In
addition to the lobby swap and trivia battle, the OSWCA also organized a
charity raffle and auction to benefit Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (aka“SickKids”), which was hosted by Clint Garniss and featured some impressive
donations from organizers and attendees. Event organizers sold raffle tickets and attendees
who purchased them could put their tickets in bags for the specific items they
were most interested in winning.
Following the raffle was a fierce auction for some of the most coveted items that were donated, including a custom Sears Canadian 7-pack set with seven of Clint Garniss’s most popular custom carded figures, as well as a gorgeous custom 3D printed vintage style Bantha creature. As Day 2 of May the North Be with You ended and the dust settled from some intense bidding wars, the OSWCA raised over $2,700 for the SickKids charity and left over 80 attendees in awe of this memorable evening.
*****
As the sun came up on Sunday morning, I arose in a stupor brought on from the previous 2 days of non-stop fun (I’m sure the beers didn’t help) and began packing my bags. Joined by the Georgia Alliance crew, we slowly made our way over to the local Tim Hortons for a strong cup of coffee and a light breakfast before heading back for Day 3 and the grand finale toy show.
When we arrived back at the hotel, vendors were finishing up the last details for their booths and preparing for the onslaught of attendees who were already lining up at the door. Attendees with an event badge were allowed early entry at 9:30 am and there was already a significant crowd lined up for general admission at 10 am as well.
Special guests Roger Christian, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jim Swearingen and Paul Blake were set up outside the entrance and already had a small crowd forming for pictures and autographs. Inside the event space was packed with merchandise and it didn’t take long for attendees to fill the room. Fans pored over the huge selection of new and vintage merchandise and collectibles supplied by over twenty vendors. Of course, Mike Freeman’s 4th Moon Toys was located near the entrance and two lines quickly formed at their booth as soon as the doors opened.
One
item I was most eager to purchase during my visit was a copy of Jim McCallum’s definitive book, Irwin Toys: The Canadian Star Wars Connection, and luckily Mike
from 4th Moon brought over a fresh case. Once I purchased a copy, I
made my way over to Jimmy Mac’s booth to get him to sign it and he seemed
honored to oblige. Jimmy and I are also huge KISS fans, so after writing a heartfelt
message about the extraordinary weekend that was sadly coming to a close, he
signed it “ACK, Jim McCallum,” as a nod to the greatest rock guitarist of all
time, Mr. Ace Frehley!
*****
As Jason, Tony and I made one final lap around the showroom floor, I picked up a few last-minute purchases that I thought I could squeeze into my carry-on bag, and we began saying final goodbyes to our hosts and friends. This was not an easy task considering that we now considered practically everyone there a friend, be it hosts, attendees or special guests, and it took almost an hour to finally leave the show.
I stopped at the ticket booth and thanked Toby Black and Todd Thornhill for their exceptional hospitality and hard work, and waved goodbye to actor Paul Blake whose booth was nearby. As I turned to leave, I saw actor and super-fan Paul Lee speaking with Kenner’s Jim Swearingen, and he had a familiar fanboy sparkle in his eye. I snapped a picture of the moment which struck me as a great example of what this fantastic event was all about.
May the North Be with You is not about corporate sponsors, food vendors, ticket sales or even profit margins; it is purely about fans, friends and true hospitality. If you are a Star Wars fan and feel that mega-conventions have lost touch with the essence of fandom, do yourself a favor and reach out to the Ontario Star Wars Collectors Alliance: 43rd Legion for details on this epic event, eh?🍻
