Steel City NerdCon is wrapping up this weekend after growing from a small local show into a well-attended gathering for Sault collectors and cosplayers
Steel City NerdCon is going out on a high note.
The annual event, being held this weekend at Blaster Power House (formerly known as Soo Blaster), is the last after eight successful years.
Steel City NerdCon is a yearly gathering where vendors sell vinyl, comics, books, toys, video games, action figure dolls and other pop culture collectibles.
“It’s the last Steel City NerdCon primarily because my wife, Beth, and I have become super busy,” said Mike Turcotte.
Mike and Beth own and operate Vintage Games ’n Junque, a large antique and collectibles store on Queen Street East in the Sault’s downtown core.
The couple has organized and held Steel City NerdCon since 2018 at various local venues.
The conventions are well attended and attract people of all ages who love to dress up as their favourite sci-fi and fantasy figures.
“We recently opened another Vintage Games ’n Junque store in Alberta, so Beth and I are always travelling back and forth. We just felt like it’s time for us to end Steel City NerdCon on a good note,” Mike told SooToday.
Steel City NerdCon has played a huge role in Mike and Beth’s lives.
The couple was married at a Steel City NerdCon event in 2021.
“We’re so grateful and humbled by the support we’ve had from the people in the Sault. It’s been a good run. We like seeing people come in dressed up in costumes and checking things out,” Mike said.
This weekend’s show attracted about 60 vendors.
“There’s a vendor here from Montreal. There are vendors from Timmins, North Bay, Sudbury, and the outskirts of the Sault. Can you imagine driving from Montreal to attend? I think that’s great,” Mike said.
He said he and Beth have never held Steel City NerdCon for the money.
“We’ve always done it to make a fun event for people in Sault Ste. Marie.”
Mike said he was grateful to sponsors who have supported Steel City NerdCon over the years, including Savoy’s Jewellers, Terrain Management, Classic Signs and Northern Fencing and Contracting.
Most of all, Mike credits the people of the Sault for attending Steel City NerdCon each year.
“Any achievement supported by the community is a massive achievement. We never thought in the first year, when we held Steel City NerdCon in a little garage behind Vintage Games ’n Junque, that it would grow so much, but the people of Sault Ste. Marie are such good people.”