Star Wars: Prototypes and Production · Star Wars: Prototypes and Production

187. May The North Be With You: The History Of Canada's VIP-Style Star Wars Convention! (Part 1)

·54 min·5 clips

Discover how four friends created Canada's most intimate Star Wars convention, May the North Be With You.

This episode profiles the May the North Be With You Star Wars convention in Canada. Hosts from the "Star Wars: Prototypes and Production" podcast interview its organizers. The discussion details the convention's origins and its distinctive, intimate format. The event was founded in 2022 by four friends from the Ontario Star Wars Collectors Alliance: Toby Black, Chris Porteus, Todd Thornhill, and Mike Freeman. It was inspired by their road trips to American Star Wars conventions and meetups. Organizers Toby Black describes it as a "boutique convention" designed to be smaller and more personal. The 2024 event sees new organizers Clint Garness and Jim McCallum joining the team. The three-day weekend begins with a ticketed collector's dinner on Friday evening. Saturday features a series of panels with special guests from the Star Wars universe. These guests include individuals who worked with George Lucas on the films. Other guests are designers from Kenner and Irwin Toys and animators from Star Wars animated series. The audience also includes collectors who have helped define the hobby. A key insight is the organizers' deliberate choice to avoid a large, impersonal convention model. The event's structure aims to foster a VIP gathering feeling over a standard crowded convention. The guest list focuses on behind-the-scenes creatives and influential collectors rather than just headline actors. The convention's creation story highlights how fan-driven initiatives can grow from shared travel experiences. Its sustained growth to a third annual event demonstrates strong community support in the Toronto region. The episode suggests the convention's appeal lies in its resonance with fans for whom the original films and toys remain deeply meaningful. The tone is informative and enthusiastic, celebrating a niche fan community achievement. The style is conversational, based on an interview with an organizer. This episode would appeal to Star Wars collectors and fans interested in convention culture and community-building. Listeners seeking coverage of large, celebrity-focused pop culture events might find it too specialized.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Star Wars: Prototypes and Production