Superheroes, zombies and wizards are converging in Calgary as the city kicks off its annual four-day festival celebrating all things pop culture. Calgary Expo showcases comics, movies, gaming and anime with hundreds of vendors, celebrity meet-and-greets and live events at the BMO Centre. Among those dressed up at the annual convention this year are several Richardson’s ground squirrels — all posed as characters from movies and books. There are scenes from Lord of the Rings, Princess Bride and Star Trek, representing some of the celebrities who will be greeting fans at Expo this year. These newly created and outfitted critters are a last-minute idea from the Gopher Hole Museum based in Torrington, Alta. “Usually this takes about a month for one (scene), and we managed to crank out six brand new ones in two weeks,” said museum director Laural Kurta. “I have fallen asleep in my couch with a dead gopher in my hand more times than I care to admit.” The idea behind the exhibit is to spread joy and attract potential sponsors for the rural museum, which has recently been struggling with a pest infestation. “We’ve had lots of offers from outside the community, but the board would really like to keep it in Torrington,” Kurtal said. She added the museum might have to close for the summer so its operators can raise funds for a new building. Expo big for business The event is big business for the hundreds of vendors including Calgary’s Redd Skull Comics. “It helps with keeping staff on and it’s another influx for us as well. It’s a good revenue stream,” said store owner Kelly Dowd. For many, Expo is also about the connections. About 100,000 people attend the event each year, many traveling from other cities and countries. “There’s friends that you see once a year because they come here directly for this,” Dowd said. “Everybody wants to belong to something, everybody like to have their own community.” Part of that community includes celebrities who have played beloved characters. “(We’re) super excited to have the four hobbits this year,” said Fan Expo HQ Vice President Andrew Moyes. “We’re celebrating, if you can believe it, the 25th anniversary of Lord of the Rings, which is really exciting, celebrating with them taking the stage with a special event Saturday night,” said Another member of the fellowship will greet guests as well, and Gimli the dwarf is a fan favorite. “Your dwarf is the most human of all the fellowship. (The others) are all a little bit perfect,” said John Rhys-Davies, the British actor who plays Gimli in the Lord of the Rings movies. It’s not his first time visiting Calgary. He says it’s the people keep bringing him back. “I love Canada and I love coming back to Calgary as well. I’m British and the bonds of history really are important,” Rhys-Davies said. Meeting characters, watching armoured knights battle, even learning the psychology of K-Pop Demon Hunters are all part of the fun available at the BMO Centre Thursday to Sunday. Anyone can catch some if the action by watching or walking in the Parade of Wonders on its new route. It starts at 10:30 a.m. Friday morning on a new route starting at Central Memorial Park. It will head down 17 Avenue before ending at the BMO Centre.
