Windsor To Host First-Ever Northern National Convention
Locally Owned Businesses Drive Support on the Front Line
Residents, visitors, and fans of all ages are in store for a tremendous treat when Brimstone Games presents the Northern National Collectors’ Convention (Northern National) this fall.
The card expo takes place inside the Augustus Tower at Caesars Windsor from September 29 to October 1, 2023. This three-day convention features the Cartoon Kingdom Fan Experience (CKFX), co-launched with the national event.
The Northern National is a mix of a Trading Card Game (TCG) event and a pop culture convention with celebrities, athletes, and more.
It includes popular TCGs like Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Disney Lorcana, and Dragon Ball Z.
Convention President Jeremy Renaud is thrilled to launch the Northern National in his hometown of Windsor where his passion for collecting and the industry first began.
Renaud is a Professor of Sport and Recreation Management at St. Clair College and Coordinator for the Olde Riverside Business Improvement Association.
He is also a lifelong collector and fan of pop culture who had his introduction into the industry working on the Windsor ComiCon.
Later Renaud became the show’s General Manager while serving as an Assistant General Manager on several Ontario Collectors’ Conventions and the world’s largest fan-run Transformers convention (TFcon), with programs across Canada and the U.S.
During this time, he became General Manager of Canada’s largest sports card and collectibles show — the Sport Card & Memorabilia Expo in Toronto, Ontario — and recently expanded to Edmonton, Alberta. He also represented Ultra Pro International at the National Sports Collectors Convention in New Jersey.
“I wanted to test out a national show in a regional market,” comments Renaud about his decision to create this event in his hometown. “It’s time to bring people to our area rather than having to go to Toronto or Chicago to take part there at enhanced expenses. We need to flip the script to drive support our way along the 401 in Canada and I-94 in the U.S. and look to shift the fan culture.”
Fans can enjoy many of the traditional accents of a Comic Convention with a range of exhibitors, artists, costume dressed cosplayers, escape rooms and panels. However, they will be treated to a whole new world of collectible card features, including a one-of-kind three-day Pokémon tournament, trading card game flights, and learn to play programs through a variety of brands including, but not limited to, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering.
THE CELEBRITY GUESTS
Notable guests attending the convention include, but are not limited to…
- Rachel Skarston, who is best known for her portrayal of Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England, in Reign (2015-2017) and of Beth Kane, aka Alice, in Batwoman (2019-2022).
- T.J. Storm, who portrayed Godzilla (2014) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019). In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Storm portrayed the Iron Man motion capture actor in Captain America: Civil War, and Colossus in Deadpool (2016).
- Katsuji Mori, who best known for his roles as the Go Mifune “Speed Racer” (Mach GoGoGo), Joe Shimamura/009 (Cyborg 009), Ken the Eagle (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman), Jouji Minami (Tekkaman: The Space Knight), and Garma Zabi (Mobile Suit Gundam).
- Roy Thomas, Co-creator of The Wolverine; Canada’s prominent Marvel superhero, as well as Carol Danvers, Vision, Ultron, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Ghost Rider, Red Sonja, Werewolf by Night, The Defenders, Man-Thing, Havok, Valkyrie, Red Guardian, Adam Warlock, Morbius, the “What If?” series, Daimon Hellstrom, Dane Whitman (Black Knight), and many other characters in the Marvel Universe.
- Bob West, the voice of Barney, a beloved character in the 1990s, known around the world.
THE TITLE SPONSORS
As it relates to supporters in the community, Renaud’s cabaret of support includes a virtual “who’s who” of local community businesses in the region and over 40 sponsors.
The two title sponsors are Brimstone Games and Cartoon Kingdom.
Brimstone Games — 1421 Tecumseh Road East in Windsor and online: BrimstoneGames.ca — has been involved with the card industry since 1996. Small businesses closed because of the sports card industry’s competition and high-volume purchases, owner Sean Mangin mentions.
Fortunately, Mangin received many industry contracts through a variety of companies including Upper Deck. He was also offered the opportunity to work with Trading Card Game (TCG) brands such as Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon during its Golden Era.
“We weren’t involved in TCG until 1997 at which time Yu-Gi-Oh! came out followed by Pokémon,” he recounts. “Back in the 1990s, sports was all there was — until Magic: The Gathering debuted in 1993 at Gen Con and then later was released in 1997 through distributors.”
Over the decades, Mangin was involved in many conventions and even ran a variety of Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments across the country.
Mangin is pleased to support the Northern National and says: “I knew Jeremy through his previous role at the Sport Card & Memorabilia Expo, as its GM, and saw a great opportunity for us to become involved. The show gives us a good opportunity to get our brand out into the community. This will also give us the chance to help attendees learn more about us while removing misconceptions about carrying products like video games.”
He continues by stating: “The opportunity to be Title Sponsor is great for advertising, promotion, and opportunities to share our brands. We can also bring in some unique guests like Canadian Professional Race Car Driver Amber Balcaen and be involved in programming. This is a positive opportunity and convention for our community.”
