Ease into CanCon day one with a relaxed check-in at the CanCon Registration Desk to collect your badge and program booklet, then grab a welcome coffee and light pastries at The Lobby Café inside the venue to recharge after travel. Afterward, take a short orientation walk to the nearby ByWard Market Pavilion to stretch your legs, browse local artisan stalls, and pick up a Canadian-made notebook or pen to use during panels this weekend.
After settling in, stroll to National Arts Centre Plaza for an outdoor breather and catch any pop-up vendor booths or street performers near the venue; it's an easy way to soak up Ottawa's vibe without straying far. Later, head to The Royal Oak Ottawa for a hearty pub lunch and informal meet-and-greet with other attendees, then pop into Ottawa Convention Centre's Exhibit Hall B to preview tomorrow's expo layout and mark unmissable booths on your schedule.
Wind down your first CanCon day with a short walk to Rideau Centre Rooftop Garden for skyline views and a quiet moment before dinner, then head to Play Food & Wine for a relaxed small-plates meal and local wine pairings ideal for debriefing the day's panels. If you're up for one last stop, pop into Black Squirrel Books nearby for a late browse of Canadian fiction and to pick a book to bring to tomorrow's sessions.
Start your day with a focused session at Room A - Innovation in Canadian Speculative Fiction to catch opening panels, then swing by the Writers' Workshop Room for a hands-on micro-critique slot to sharpen your draft with peer feedback. Mid-morning, refuel at Convention Centre Café B with a specialty latte and maple-glazed morning bun before exploring themed author booths on the Expo Corridor East where you can pick up limited-edition zines and sign up for lunchtime meetups.
After a focused morning of sessions, wander over to Ottawa Convention Centre Meeting Room C for back-to-back hands-on workshops-look for the craft binding demo and the short-form flash-fiction lab where participants trade prompts and peer critiques. Mid-afternoon, take a break at Chaudière Lounge (a quieter conference breakout space) for a tea and networking with panelists, then pop into Exhibit Hall Aisle 3 to catch live author signings and limited-run merch drops before the evening socials.
Cap the day's learning with a relaxed networking dinner at Whalesbone Oyster House, where you can compare notes over shared plates and local seafood, then stroll to Arcade Fire Hall for an indie open-mic reading night featuring CanCon attendees and guest authors. If you prefer something low-key, grab a craft beer at Beyond the Pale Brewing Company and join an informal critique circle back in the venue's lounge to turn today's insights into tomorrow's pitch ideas.
Kick off the day with front-row seats to the opening keynote at Grand Salon 1 where industry leaders discuss Canada's changing publishing landscape, then linger afterward for a lightning Q&A at the adjacent Speaker Meet & Greet Alcove to get a quick autograph or photo. Mid-morning, join a themed breakfast roundtable at Conference Bistro North focused on cross-border collaborations, followed by a curated portfolio review slot in Critique Room D to get actionable feedback from guest editors and agents-perfect for putting yesterday's workshop lessons into practice.
After the morning keynotes, join a round of targeted meetups at the Publisher Pitch Hub to try a five-minute elevator pitch with attending editors, then drop into the hands-on panel at Salon B - Multimedia Storytelling to watch live demos of audio and visual narrative tools. Mid-afternoon, take a restorative break at Strathcona Park Terrace for a brisk walk and informal conversation with new contacts, then return for an author-led lightning round in Forum Room 2 where emerging voices read six-minute excerpts and mingle afterward for book swaps and quick critiques.
After an inspiring day of keynotes, settle into a lively evening reception at The Glebe Social Club where local authors and attendees trade business cards over signature cocktails and small plates. Later, join the themed readings and karaoke mash-up at Maple Leaf Loft, a cozy upstairs venue offering spotlight slots for emerging voices, or slip next door to Rideau Canal Taproom for quieter conversation, craft beers, and an impromptu critique circle to turn today's feedback into next-step plans.
Start the morning with a buzzy round of live rounds at The Reading Room Stage, where short-listed writers perform three-minute pieces for a panel of judges and an enthusiastic audience, then head to Critique Café for an informal post-performance feedback hop where attendees rotate between tables for 10-minute micro-critiques. Mid-morning, recharge with a maple latte and a savory tart at Market Lane Bakery before joining the timed-slam warmup at Studio B Workshop Space, a hands-on session that primes competitors and open-mic hopefuls with rhythm and stagecraft tips ahead of the afternoon finals.
Spend the afternoon cheering on finalists at the CanCon Grand Slam Finals in Hall C, where rapid-fire readings and live judging ramp up the energy before winners are announced; grab a seat early and pick up a souvenir program at the Merch & Info Kiosk to follow the lineup. After the finals, pop into the intimate author showcase at Harrington Reading Nook for curated six-minute sets and informal Q&As, then recharge with a late-afternoon snack and networking at Convention Terrace Café, perfect for swapping contact info and planning which evening closing parties to hit.
As the convention crescendos, grab a table at The Exchange Lounge for a convivial pre-party gathering where attendees compare notes from the day's finals over craft cocktails and share last-minute book trades. Later, join the official CanCon closing bash at The Lantern Ballroom for a night of award announcements, guest-author toasts, and a headline reading set, then drift to the intimate after-hours salon at Ink & Ember Cafe for quieter conversation, late signings, and a final round of informal feedback to plot next steps with new collaborators.
Ease into your final CanCon morning with a leisurely brunch at The SconeWitch just a short walk from the venue-order the rosemary cheddar scone and share highlights with new friends while swapping contact info. After brunch, stroll to Confederation Square for a calm reflective walk and a final group photo, then drop by Venue Hospitality Desk to return badges, collect any left-behind swag, and confirm shuttle or transit details so your departure is smooth and on time.
Spend a relaxed afternoon packing and exchanging contacts over light bites at The Press Room Bistro, then drop in for one last chance to trade zines and signed copies at the pop-up table in Expo Alcove D before departures. Afterwards, take a short restorative walk through Major's Hill Park to soak up final city views with fellow attendees, snap a group photo, and arrange any remaining shuttle pickups or taxi shares at the nearby Convention Transit Stop.
For a mellow final evening, gather your new contacts for a relaxed farewell at Elgin Street Diner & Tap, where shareable platters and local draft beers make swapping next-step plans easy. After dinner, take a reflective post-convention walk along the lit promenade at Rideau Canal Scenic Walkway and finish with a cozy last-cup and quiet signings at Night Owl Books & Coffee, perfect for exchanging final autographs and confirming follow-up meetings before departures.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| CanCon Registration Desk (badge & program) | $75 |
| The Lobby Café (welcome coffee & pastries) | $8 |
| ByWard Market Pavilion (browsing, artisan stalls) | Free |
| National Arts Centre Plaza (outdoor area, pop-up vendors) | Free |
| The Royal Oak Ottawa (pub lunch) | $20 |
| Ottawa Convention Centre Exhibit Hall B (expo preview) | Free |
| Rideau Centre Rooftop Garden (view, quiet moment) | Free |
| Play Food & Wine (dinner, small plates + wine) | $45 |
| Black Squirrel Books (book browse & purchase) | $18 |
| Room A - Innovation in Canadian Speculative Fiction (panel) | Free |
| Writers' Workshop Room (micro-critique slot) | Free |
| Convention Centre Café B (latte & maple-glazed bun) | $7 |
| Expo Corridor East (author booths, zines) | $10 |
| Ottawa Convention Centre Meeting Room C (workshops) | Free |
| Chaudière Lounge (tea & networking) | $6 |
| Exhibit Hall Aisle 3 (author signings, merch) | $15 |
| Whalesbone Oyster House (networking dinner/shared plates) | $40 |
| Arcade Fire Hall (indie open-mic reading night) | $8 |
| Beyond the Pale Brewing Company (craft beer) | $10 |
| Grand Salon 1 (keynote session) | Free |
| Speaker Meet & Greet Alcove (autograph/photo) | $5 |
| Conference Bistro North (themed breakfast roundtable) | $18 |
| Critique Room D (portfolio review) | $20 |
| Publisher Pitch Hub (5-minute elevator pitch) | $10 |
| Salon B - Multimedia Storytelling (panel/demos) | Free |
| Strathcona Park Terrace (walk & conversation) | Free |
| Forum Room 2 (author lightning round) | Free |
| The Glebe Social Club (evening reception, small plates) | $30 |
| Maple Leaf Loft (themed readings & karaoke) | $12 |
| Rideau Canal Taproom (craft beers, quiet conversation) | $10 |
| The Reading Room Stage (live rounds viewing) | $5 |
| Critique Café (post-performance feedback hop) | Free |
| Market Lane Bakery (maple latte & savory tart) | $9 |
| Studio B Workshop Space (timed-slam warmup) | $10 |
| CanCon Grand Slam Finals in Hall C (finals event) | $12 |
| Merch & Info Kiosk (souvenir program) | $6 |
| Harrington Reading Nook (author showcase) | $8 |
| Convention Terrace Café (late-afternoon snack & networking) | $10 |
| The Exchange Lounge (pre-party, craft cocktails) | $25 |
| The Lantern Ballroom (closing bash, awards & headliner) | $30 |
| Ink & Ember Cafe (after-hours salon) | $8 |
| The SconeWitch (brunch - rosemary cheddar scone) | $15 |
| Confederation Square (reflective walk, group photo) | Free |
| Venue Hospitality Desk (badge return/shuttle info) | Free |
| The Press Room Bistro (light bites & packing) | $12 |
| Expo Alcove D (zine & signed copy trading) | Free |
| Major's Hill Park (walk & city views) | Free |
| Convention Transit Stop (shuttle/taxi share) | $6 |
| Elgin Street Diner & Tap (farewell shareable platters) | $25 |
| Rideau Canal Scenic Walkway (post-convention walk) | Free |
| Night Owl Books & Coffee (final cup & signings) | $6 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | $706 |