Latest news with #ParadeofWonders
Calgary Herald
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
In photos: Calgary Expo 2025 at home in new venue
Article content The Calgary Comics and Entertainment Expo opened Thursday in its new home, the expanded BMO Centre — and for Fan Expo HQ vice-president Andrew Moyes, the event was a resounding success. Article content Article content 'It's been a fantastic weekend,' said Moyes. 'We've all been waiting for this event to take over the entire BMO Centre and it's definitely delivered.' Article content The recently expanded BMO Centre opened in June 2024, nearly doubling the venue's space to become the largest convention centre in western Canada. Article content Article content 'I think the new facility has allowed us to level up the event and deliver a fantastic fan experience all under one roof,' Moyes said. 'There's always some trepidation when you're in a new house, so to speak, so we just wanted to understand how the whole event would work logistically, and I think it really passed with flying colours.' Article content Article content The Parade of Wonders also looked different this year, with a new route from Victoria Park, down Centre Street to 17th Avenue, and across the new Flores LaDue Parade to the new front steps of the BMO. Article content 'So there was a lot of newness this year, and despite best efforts with planning you never know until you add exhibitors, celebrities and fans to the mix,' Moyes said, adding attendance was on track to break the 100,000 mark. Article content 'All in all we're feeling really great about it, and very very positive for the potential that the new venue and just the overall community is heralding for future years. Article content 'It's been a great celebration, it's been really positive, and a really fantastic weekend for Calgary overall.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Calgary Herald
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
'A mythology for a generation': Actors, stunt people discuss lasting legacy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Calgary Expo
Article content It's was not the response most people get at the Calgary Expo. Article content Article content On Saturday morning during a panel featuring stars from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle film franchise, actor Francois Chau was the last to come on stage after being announced as the 'villain' Shredder. Article content Although not the original actor to play the supervillain — the part was played by James Saito in the first film — he was apparently convincing enough in the role to earn a smattering of presumably good-natured boos, a response generally reserved for villains in pantomimes and puppet shows. Article content Article content Chau, who is also known for playing Dr. Pierre Chang on J.J. Abrams sci-fi series Lost, seemed to encourage the reaction at first. He was also among the panelists who in the Parade of Wonders Friday morning, although he was not seated in the boisterous turtle car that featured cast mates Ernie Reyes Jr., Brian Tochi, Kenn Scott, and Robbie Rist. He was by his lonesome in his own 'Shredder car.' Article content Article content 'It felt a little lonely,' Chau said. 'There was a little boy who was dressed as Shredder. I tired to get him to get into this car but he was a little too shy. I wouldn't get in the car with me either.' Article content Saturday's panel was the second of two celebrating the 35th anniversary of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, just one aspect of what has become a pop-culture juggernaut of film, television, toys. comics books and inventive marketing. Originally created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird as a comic book in 1984, the sewer-dwelling turtle brothers Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo had already been featured in an animated series and line of action figures before Irish filmmaker and music video director Steve Barron took the reins for the cinematic debut of the franchise in 1990. Article content Article content Shredder's lonely parade route notwithstanding, the main thrust of the panel discussion on Saturday was camaraderie and mutual admiration and plenty of deeply serious discussion about why a strange story of anthropomorphic turtles fighting evil in New York became such a sensation for so many decades. Article content 'This room is full of people who love this stuff, including us,' said Rist, who voiced Michelangelo in the first film, its 1991 sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze and 1993's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III. 'I don't see people doing this — and I'm not denigrating anybody 'else's art — but I don't see people doing this with Spy Kids, I don't see people doing this for the Emoji Movie. I wonder why, 35 years later, I have 40-year-old people coming up and wanting to talk about this thing.'
Global News
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
Cosplay on display at 2025 edition of Calgary Expo
The Calgary Expo is fully underway at the BMO Centre, delighting thousands of fans. Scores of people lined the downtown streets Friday as the Parade of Wonders made its way along a new route from Haultain Park, to Centre Street, to 17 Avenue and ending at the BMO Centre. 'This is an annual tradition for many families — kids have grown up with this and now they're bringing their kids. It is incredible,' said Mayor Joyti Gondek. The mayor is known for putting in a big effort into dressing up for the parade each year. This year she came as Thor. 'This is the second biggest event that Calgary hosts after Calgary Stampede, and you can just see the amount of energy,' Gondek said. 'People are pumped for this.' Story continues below advertisement Indeed. Every genre is represented and both young and old dress up as their favourite characters to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I love that the parade kicks off the event, and looking around at everyone in their costume makes me so happy,' gushed Adam Savage, the star of Mythbusters. He, along with many other celebrities, rode in cool cars to give fans a smile and a wave. 'It's good to be Shredder!' laughed Francois Chau, who plays Shredder in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. He and all the turtles, who rode in a giant green truck, took part in the parade. 'These events, you feel like a family. And I'm excited to meet more fans from Calgary,' said Peter Facinelli of Twilight fame. He was in Calgary with his co-star Kellan Lutz. Lutz said he is excited to take a trip to Banff after the convention wraps up. The Expo is a huge boost to the Calgary economy. Every year it brings in millions of dollars to the hospitality sector. Hotels, restaurants and more benefit from the influx of visitors. The Calgary Expo has earned a reputation as one many A-list celebrities want to attend. '(I) learned a little bit about the history of the city and of course about the Stampede and all of the things that go into that. So I want to come back in July when I can see that in person,' said Lucas Grabeel, a star of High School Musical. Story continues below advertisement Other celebrities attending the weekend event include Academy Award winner Helen Hunt, Heather Locklear, Steve Guttenberg, Nicholas Hoult and John Boyega. Marking the 40th Anniversary of Back to the Future, Michael J Fox is joining fellow co-stars Christopher Lloyd, James Tolkan and Claudia Wells for special panels for fans. Fox was born in Edmonton. The Calgary Expo continues all weekend until Sunday.
CBC
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Calgary Expo Parade of Wonders thrills thousands
Join us for all the action as the Parade of Wonders weaves its way through downtown Calgary on a new route this year, marking the start of the annual Calgary Expo weekend. Organizers say it's Canada's biggest cosplay parade, "celebrating all things pop culture and creativity in the heart of Calgary." The event starts at the Victoria Park Fan Zone at First Street S.W. and 13th Avenue. Beyond the fan zone, the parade heads south on Centre Street, then east on 17th Avenue S.E, landing at the BMO Centre's Grand Staircase at Stampede Park. Scheduled to appear at this year's expo are: Michael J. Fox, Nicholas Hoult, David Boreanaz, John Boyega, Dafne Keen, Christopher Lloyd, Tyler Hoechlin, Helen Hunt, Catherine Tate, Heather Locklear, James Marsters, Adam Savage, and many others. Mayor Jyoti Gondek cosplayed as Lady Thor, walking alongside the first dog mayor of Calgary, Loki. "I like to delegate some authorities to him [Loki the dog] like making sure the park is good for everybody," she said. "I'm such a huge fan of everything," said Lucas Grabeel, known for his role as Ryan Evans in the High School Musical films, as he made his way down the parade route. "I'm loving the Marvel Universe, the Star Wars, the Ghostbusters, the [Teenage Mutant Ninja] Turtles, the Jurassic Park – I'm in for all of it," he said. "These costumes are amazing, the city is amazing. I'm just so happy to be here." Adam Savage, special effects designer and fabricator best known as the former co-host of MythBusters, told Jenny Howe he's most looking forward to meeting the fans and "seeing their beautiful costumes, and talking, and geeking out with them about how they were made." The four-day Calgary Expo wraps Sunday at 5 p.m. Here's a curated selection of images from the parade:
CBC
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Watch the Calgary Expo POW! Parade right here!
Join us for all the action as the Parade of Wonders weaves its way through downtown Calgary on a new route this year, marking the start of the annual Calgary Expo weekend. Organizers say it's Canada's biggest cosplay parade, "celebrating all things pop culture and creativity in the heart of Calgary." The event starts at the Victoria Park Fan Zone at First Street S.W. and 13th Avenue. Beyond the fan zone, the parade heads south on Centre Street, then east on 17th Avenue S.E, landing at the BMO Centre's Grand Staircase at Stampede Park. Scheduled to appear at this year's expo are: Michael J. Fox, Nicholas Hoult, David Boreanaz, John Boyega, Dafne Keen, Christopher Lloyd, Tyler Hoechlin, Helen Hunt, Catherine Tate, Heather Locklear, James Marsters, Adam Savage, and many others. Mayor Jyoti Gondek cosplayed as Lady Thor, walking alongside the first dog mayor of Calgary, Loki. "I like to delegate some authorities to him [Loki the dog] like making sure the park is good for everybody," she said. "I'm such a huge fan of everything," said Lucas Grabeel, known for his role as Ryan Evans in the High School Musical films, as he made his way down the parade route. "I'm loving the Marvel Universe, the Star Wars, the Ghostbusters, the [Teenage Mutant Ninja] Turtles, the Jurassic Park – I'm in for all of it," he said. "These costumes are amazing, the city is amazing. I'm just so happy to be here." Adam Savage, special effects designer and fabricator best known as the former co-host of MythBusters, told Jenny Howe he's most looking forward to meeting the fans and "seeing their beautiful costumes, and talking, and geeking out with them about how they were made." The four-day Calgary Expo wraps Sunday at 5 p.m. Here's a curated selection of images from the parade:
