With rising and record-high COVID19 case counts in the Vanhoover area thanks to Omicron, including in vaccinated and antibody-carrying individuals, we have made the difficult decision to change from an in-person event to a virtual event.
The safety of our attendees always comes first and while things looked good during the summer with lifting restrictions and easing case counts, we cannot in good conscience run an in-person event with what is presently happening.
Our costs are much higher than we’d like this year since we had planned to welcome so many paid registration attendees. Going virtual means we lose nearly all of that financial support.
If you have already purchased your registration for this year, please consider carrying it forward to next year, which also gives you a discount on a spirit badge for this year! If you can, please support us by purchasing a spirit badge which includes tons of great swag and helps us keep our little pony con running for what we hope will be an in-person event for 2023.
Our plans for this January 7, 8, and 9: 3 days of Discord fun, full selection of panels streaming via twitch, PonyTown with full streaming support, and all the guests we promised to you, with autographs, merch, and a theme with a story never seen at a virtual event before, including some interactive detective games for attendees!
Come be a part of the mystery in January, and thank you to all of our financial supporters!
Below this point is the old policy for when the event was in person.
<Revised November 19th, 2021>
Running a large group event these days requires some rules to keep everyone safe. While no rules will fully protect you from Covid19, we believe the instructions below will help everyone to enjoy themselves as safely as possible. These rules apply to every attendee, staff member, panelist, DJ… everyone!
As an indoor gathering within the province of BC and hosted in the Executive Hotel Vancouver Airport, we are required to abide by the BC COVID-19 Orders and Notices and the Federal Health Guidelines. Our policies that aim to follow these orders are included below and may change at any time without notice. These policies apply regardless of any changes to the official Orders and Notices, where permitted.
TL:DR
- Wear a mask at all times including under your fursuit
- You must be fully vaccinated and show us government proof + matching ID
- Don’t eat or drink in public spaces unless explicitly permitted to
- Hotel rooms are private space so BE CAREFUL and set rules for others!
- By order of the provincial health order, no dancing is permitted, with exception to featured performers. This rule may be changed if the provincial guideline are updated before the event
Masks
Attendees in the event space, hotel lobby, and public areas of the hotel are required to wear a disposable mask, or re-usable dual-layer mask, that fully covers the nose and mouth at all times. Those unable to wear a mask and given an exception based on the BC COVID-19 Orders and Notices are asked to wear a face shield that covers the nose and mouth.
Users of fursuit heads and costume masks must also wear a face mask that fully covers the nose and mouth inside the fursuit head and costume mask. A single layer balaclava face covering is not enough.
Infants and children under Kindergarten age are not required to wear masks.
If you are required to remove your mask at any time, unless explicitly permitted to do so, you must remove yourself from event space and public hotel space.
Vaccination Proof
All potential attendees must show proof of vaccination that matches government-issued photo ID before they will be permitted to pick up a convention badge or enter selected panels and convention events. BC residents are required to show a BC Vaccine Card QR code that scans successfully. Alternate forms of proof may be considered but are not guaranteed.
Legal name and vaccination proof is used to confirm your vaccination and registration identity for badge pickup, entering selected panels, verifying age to vendors, purchasing alcohol from our cash bar, etc, and will not be required to be shown or used in convention space. However, it is recommended that you carry both with you at all times, including in fursuit.
Visitors to BC must show proof of full vaccination with a government approved vaccine against COVID-19 coronavirus. This proof must have your legal name on it and match with government-issued photo ID, such as a drivers license or passport.
Children under 12 years of age who are unable to receive a vaccination are permitted to attend but must be masked at all times like all other attendees, with exception to infants and children under kindergarten age, and parents must ensure these attendees maintain social distancing whenever possible.
If you are unsure of your vaccination status or need to confirm your potential for attendance in advance, contact us at least a day before the start of the event.
Social Distancing
Attendees are not required to socially distance while masked and in event space. Social distancing is encouraged in hotel rooms or outdoors when face coverings may not always be worn.
Social distancing is required when eating or drinking in any common space where eating and drinking has been explicitly permitted by signage or staff.
Eating & Drinking
Eating and drinking is not permitted in any event space or public indoor hotel space unless explicitly permitted by signage or event and hotel staff. Safe places to eat or drink include your hotel room, outdoor spaces, or any private location outside of convention event space and public hotel space. Please keep hotel entrances clear.
The hotel restaurant and bar will be open to vaccinated people for food and drink service and you are permitted to be unmasked while eating there. Outside food must not be consumed in event space or in the hotel lobby or public spaces.
Vendors with an approved table are permitted to eat and drink at their table but are requested to wear their mask whenever possible.
Refunds
Due to the uncertain nature of Covid-19, if for any reason you are unable to attend Vanhoover Pony Expo, such as showing symptoms of Covid-19, unexpected travel restrictions, or safety concerns, you may request a refund or credit for your pre-registration attendance. Contact us with any requests before the event. This rule may be changed if the provincial guideline are updated before the event
Hotel rooms
Hotel rooms, hallways, and the hotel lobby are not part of the Vanhoover Pony Expo event space and are not controlled by event policies, but are required to follow all hotel rules. Attendees not staying in the hotel are encouraged to stay in convention space for maximum safety.
Those who rent hotel rooms are strongly encouraged to check vaccination status and require masks to be worn by anyone entering their hotel room. The safety of those who enter your private hotel room are your responsibility and not the Hotel or the Convention. We suggest you keep track of those who enter your room (contact tracing). Should someone become ill, you can notify those people who attended that room that they should be checked for the virus, just in case.
Before entering a hotel room, for maximum safety, guests to hotel rooms should ensure that the room is checking vaccination status and requiring masks. Entering any hotel room is done at YOUR OWN RISK and is fully outside of convention control.
Dancing
The provincial health orders currently in place in the province of British Columbia make it against the law to allow dancing by attendees at our event. As such, unless you are a panelist making an approved presentation, and only during those specific events, no dancing is permitted. You will be asked to stop dancing if you are found to be doing so. Repeat offenders may have their membership revoked. (Please, please don’t make us ask you – it’s hard enough putting in this restriction as it is.)