What The Fur?

Another year passes, and another What The Fur does as well.

This year saw the introduction of a new hotel, new games, new panels and new friends. Every year I am amazed at the people, the smiles, and the great things that happen here in Montreal. I couldn’t ask for better.

You, the 297 of you who came to participate, raised $2185.75 for our charity, the EcoMuseum. That is an astounding amount! You gave Montreal a show outside during the Fursuit Parade. You scored during the first ever Fursuit Hockey Games, and you entertained during the Fursuit games and the Masquerade. We provided the place, but you provided the convention.

We are already making plans for next year’s event, working hard to make some changes and to improve on things to make it even better. I hope that you all understand that though we – the staff and volunteers that help make What The Fur what it is – need a little bit of a break. But there have already been ideas floating around, and 2014 looks to be just as amazing.

On behalf of What The Fur, our staff, volunteers and attendees, I would like to extend a special thanks to HollyAnn for being our Guest of Honour this year. I would also like to thank all of the staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and lastly, I would like to thank all of you for coming and making What The Fur what it is: the best convention.


And with the convention over, the ball closed down and the clock striking midnight, What The Fur lived on, happily ever after…


…definitely not the end.


Feli
--
Chris “Feli” Pilgrim
Chairperson

 Are you an author, writer, play-write or some kind of visionary-what-writes-things-down?
Are you bored and looking for a challenge?
Do you like to work for peanuts? (literally. We can pay you in plain, dry roasted or honey roasted)
Then What The Fur is looking for you!

We're undertaking a small project, and we are looking for someone to help us. There will be deadlines, and probably lots of corrections or changes, but we want your help!

If interested, send us an email to information@whatthefur.ca

(maybe cashews?)

We are pleased to announce that registration for What The Fur 2013 is now officially open!

Our Early Bird registration rates will be available from now until November 31st. On December 1st, the prices will change. Visit our Registration Page for details, and for the link to register for the convention.

All memberships are available! Regular, Sponsor, our new Patron level (which includes a meal in the Tour de Ville restaurant), and even our extremely-limited Lifetime Membership levels are all open!

And Dealers, you can also now register for your tables! Don't delay on getting your tables as even though we have a larger dealers' den, it's aiming to fill up.

To register just go to register.whatthefur.ca

AND a bonus...
We're going out of our way to try and make 2013 the best possible convention you could attend. To that end, we've secured a deal!
For those of you planning to attend What The Fur, and who might consider taking the train within Canada, VIA Rail is happily offering you a discount on the travel for trips between May 14th and 21st! You just have to book your trips online using our code. Check our travel page for details.

Why take the train? Well, it's more comfortable than the bus, and the main Montreal train station is just three blocks from the hotel! No complicated in-city travel planning is needed!

What The Fur?: Fairy Tails
May 17-19 2013
Delta Centre Ville, Montreal
www.whatthefur.ca

What The Fur has come and gone, and without any reservations I can say that this was the best convention I have ever attended and the absolute best that I have ever helped build. But the thanks don’t only lie with the great team of people that helped make it what it is, but also with all of you: the people who came. The people who had fun, who ran panels and who sold artwork of all kinds in the Dealers Den, the volunteers that arrived and said “How can I help?”. Thank you for making this convention what it is: Unique.
In the years I have been helping to run events, none has brought a smile to my face like What The Fur has. After this weekend I got home, collapsed, and smiled. I was exhausted, my feet hurt, but I was so happy that I saw so many smiles over the weekend. I’m still riding that rush. Others come to WTF and say that this is the best convention they attend. Now, after our third and best year, I see what they see. So thank you so very much.
As I said at the closing ceremonies, What The Fur has grown. We had an amazing 282 people come to Montreal for the weekend, and from everything I saw, heard, and felt, I think everyone had a good time. 282 people is amazing, and it gives me reason to push forward and work hard to ensure 2013 holds an even better con for people.
I want to once again apologise for the lack of a parade. For those who aren’t aware, or did not know the reasons for the cancellation, we got hit in two ways. Though we love the Hotel Espresso, it is a little too small for an indoor parade of Fursuiters so we hold our parade outside on the streets of Montreal. The first downfall was the weather. Rain plus fursuits equals no fun. The second reason was the protests happening in downtown Montreal. We just couldn’t take the chance of something going wrong. To my knowledge, the protests actually took place just a few blocks from the hotel on Saturday night. So I want to thank all of our guests again for their understanding, and I promise that in 2013 we will definitely find a way to make the parade happen.
More than that, and one that does bring a tear (well, more than one) to my eye, is what we did for our charity, the Ecomuseum (www.ecomuseum.ca ). All of you gave so generously. So much so that although we did not reach the original goal of $5000, we more than surpassed what we raised last year. Today Myself, Firebreath and Manny visited the Ecomuseum and presented them with the $4150.93 that was raised! The staff at the Ecomuseum were blown away, and wanted to pass on their thanks and gratitude to you all. I myself was blown away. And again, though we didn’t raise the original amount, more than $4000 was enough to tip the scales and make this chairbunny bald. I know there were many of you out there filming as I was cuffed to the chair and as my hair was removed fully. I stand by this even if it does seem to make me cooler (temperature-wise, not status-wise).
As a double hit, the hair that had been growing for 14 years will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society to be used to produce wigs for those who have lost hair due to cancer treatments.

In closing, again I want to thank all of you. For making the convention the best time that could be had, and for giving so much. You are what makes it all worth the effort. I hope to see you all next year!

Feli
--
Chris “Feli” Pilgrim
Chairperson

Madness, isn't it? Read up on registration, dealers and artists, gaming, and a call for presenters and volunteers!

Just click here to read the whole thing!

What The Fur
June 1-3 2012
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
www.whatthefur.ca

What The Fur
June 1-3 2012
www.whatthefur.ca

It has been a little while since we’ve posted an update, but now is the time.
We hope that everyone is looking forward to June, with anticipation building and the excitement levels rising.
The crew of What The Fur is hard at work, planning what is expected to be the best event yet.

In this edition:

1. Hotel is open for reservations!
2. Early Bird Pre-Registration is still on!
3. Dealers and Artists and Vendors, oh my!
4. Do you have something to contribute to the convention book?
5. Programming, programming, programming.
6. DJs! Make us move!

CLICK HERE TO READ

From our good friend Dragoon comes an amazing compilation video from What The Fur 2011

And this is why you all must come to Montreal next summer.

<insert music here>
Are you excited yet? Anxious? Nervous? No? You should be.

With merely 9 days before the start of the Zombie Apocalypse, here's a few bits of last-minute news and reminders for you all.

First: Register now! Remember that if you haven't already, go on over to http://register.whatthefur.ca and register now! You still have until midnight on the 29th (eastern time) to pre-register. As of the 30th, the only way to register for the convention will be at door.
As a reminder, What The Fur will only accept cash at the door. There are banks nearby if you are in need.

Second: There's still room at the inn! We've just confirmed that there are still rooms left at the Hotel Espresso, and that they will continue to take reservations as long as there's room.
In the event you don't get a room in the hotel, we do have an alternate hotel available, so if you miss out on a room, let us know and we'll point you where we can.

Third: Registration reminders

• Whether you are pre-registered or not, we require to see valid government photo ID when you come to the registration table
  • This can be a drivers liscense, passport or health card, so long as it is government issued and has your photo on it.
• Lost badges: If you lose your badge during the convention, WTFur will replace it for you for a fee of $20. If you then find your badge, return to the registration desk with both badges and we will refund the replacement fee.
• Pocket programs and restaurant guides will be available at registration
• If you have a replica weapon as part of your outfit, costume or fursuit for the convention, please take a moment to read this message from Operations.

Fourth: Listen to us go! If you're headed to a nearby restaurant, going for a walk, or just hanging out in your room, tune your radios into 104.5 FM. CWTF will be broadcasting for the duration of the convention! Updates, news and more!

Lastly: Get here safe everyone, and we'll see you in 9 days!

3 - The airwaves belong to us!

Starting in 2011, What The Fur will be broadcasting. Not only will we have constant updates, but we'll be sending them out on our own radio station on the FM band.

Stay tuned for details!


Join us at What The Fur from June 3-5
Montreal, QC, Canada
www.whatthefur.ca

Pre-registration open until May 29