ThunderCon is thrilled to announce our next guest… someone who may be a familiar face to many of you… award-winning author H. Leighton Dickson!
To us, she’s the Mother of the Con, the Gatherer of Geeks, and someone without whom ThunderCon simply wouldn’t be what it is today. For years, Heather has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help create a safe, welcoming, and fun place where fans of every fandom can come together and celebrate what they love.
Now it’s our turn to celebrate her.
H. Leighton Dickson or simply Heather, as we know her… because we’re on a first-name basis ;)… is coming off an incredible year with the release of her critically acclaimed novel, Ship of Spells. The story follows military mage Honor Renn, who is slowly being consumed by volatile magic. Rescued by the Touchstone—a legendary, sentient ship filled with outcasts—Honor must work alongside her sworn enemy, the ship’s enigmatic elven captain, to find a cure and prevent a crumbling magical barrier from plunging the world into war. Filled with unforgettable characters, impossible choices, and breathtaking adventure, Ship of Spells will keep you turning pages late into the night.
Heather first made her mark as an indie author with her science fantasy series Rise of the Upper Kingdom, followed by the gothic thriller series Cold Stone & Ivy. She later earned widespread acclaim with her award-winning Dragons of Solunas novels, including Dragon of Ash & Stars: The Autobiography of a Night Dragon and Dragon of Sand & Storm: The Autobiography of a Goddess.
Heather has lived a life almost as adventurous as her characters. She studied Zoology at the University of Guelph and worked at the Edinburgh Zoological Gardens in Scotland, where she was chased by lions, wrestled deaf tigers, and bottle-fed antibiotics to polar bears! She’s been writing and painting since she was five years old and even helped pay her way through university by pencilling comics for DC Comics.
We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome H. Leighton Dickson as one of our featured guests at ThunderCon 2026! Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a fantasy lover, or simply looking for your next great read, be sure to stop by, say hello, and discover why her books have captured the imaginations of readers everywhere.
September 19 & 20, 2026 The Superior Inn Hotel & Conference Centre
ThunderCon is excited to announce our 3rd guest for ThunderCon 2026, Clare McConnell!
Clare is a Canadian actor and comedian best known for portraying ‘Effie Newsome’ on the popular CBC series Murdoch Mysteries and Klingon Leader ‘Dennas’ on the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Discovery. She has also had roles in the television series Wynonna Earp, Coroner, American Gods, Killjoys, Nurses, Hudson & Rex and Slasher, the films This Is What It Sounds Like Falling Out of Love with You, Dim the Fluorescents and Stealing School, and the web series Avocado Toast. She is also an alumna of the Second City Mainstage and was nominated for “Breakout Artist” at the 2018 Canadian Comedy Awards.
In addition to her on-screen presence, McConnell is an accomplished voice and motion-capture actress. She voiced the character “Iana” in the popular Ubisoft tactical shooter Rainbow Six: Siege and played “Clarice Stokes” in Supermassive Games’ House of Ashes.
Clare is no stranger to the convention circuit and is making her first appearance at ThunderCon this Fall. We can’t wait to welcome her, along with Garry Chalke and Dan Payne, to ThunderCon 2026 on September 19th & 20th at the Superior Inn Hotel & Conference Centre!
ThunderCon is thrilled to announce our second guest for ThunderCon 2026: Dan Payne!
With a career spanning over 20 years and more than 125 film and television credits, Dan Payne is a prolific Canadian actor, stuntman, and former professional athlete. Fans will recognize him from a wide range of genre favorites, including Descendants, Watchmen, Supernatural, Underworld: Awakening, Once Upon A Time, and Stargate Atlantis, among many others.
Beyond his on-screen work, Dan is also a dedicated acting coach and mentor through his company DP2 Acting School. He teaches his signature “3 I’s Method” — Intuition, Instinct, and Impulse — which emphasizes truthful, grounded performances. He is also a passionate mental health advocate, openly sharing his personal experiences with depression and encouraging important conversations around mental well-being.
We can’t wait to welcome Dan to ThunderCon 2026—be sure to follow along as we share more exciting updates and get ready for an unforgettable event!
Continuing the tradition of celebrating nostalgia and amazing Canadian talent, ThunderCon 2026, Northwestern Ontario’s longest-running fandom and pop culture convention, is thrilled to announce our first guest… Garry Chalk! 🎉
With an incredible career in voice acting, film, and television, Garry has brought countless iconic characters to life. Fans will recognize him as Optimus Prime and Optimus Primal in Transformers, Dr. Robotnik in Sonic Underground, and several unforgettable characters in ReBoot.
His on-screen appearances include roles in Riverdale, Stargate SG-1, Eureka, Godzilla, The Predator, Power Rangers, and Arrow. 🤯
If you remember the emotional fan moments when Linda Ballantyne joined us a couple years ago… get ready. Once you hear Garry speak, the nostalgia is going to hit HARD. 💥
📅 September 19–20, 2026 📍 Superior Inn Hotel & Conference Centre – Thunder Bay
More guest announcements, attractions, exhibitor applications, and ticket details will be rolling out throughout the summer!
