Convention FAQ

General Questions
Programming
Hotel and Travel
Registration
Dealers

General Questions

Q: Where's Furnal Equinox being held this year, and how do I get there?
For 2011, we're returning to the Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport, at 655 Dixon Road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Q: How did Furnal Equinox begin?
The roots of what became FE developed in late 2008 and early 2009 due to a great deal of public interest and grassroots organization on Toronto community forums; this brought together a number of the individuals who would eventually form a convention committee and the required organization. FE was officially announced to the world on July 1, 2009 (Canada Day!), and the rest is history!

Q: How did Furnal Equinox get its name?
The "vernal equinox" refers to when the tilt of the Earth's axis is lined up perpendicular to the centre of the Sun. During the equinox, the night and day are roughly the same length... in short, it's the first day of spring! The name was suggested by founding convention committee member ShiroTora, based upon our March date. And yes, the accepted short form is "FE".

Q: What else is there to do around Toronto?
Toronto has a number of popular attractions, such as the CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum, Hockey Hall of Fame and Toronto Zoo. For a full list of suggestions, visit Tourism Toronto's site at www.seetorontonow.com.
Note that a lot of destinations are downtown or away from the hotel, but Toronto has a very accessible public transit network that will get you where you need to go.

Q: How do I become a volunteer or staff member?
We are always looking for people to help out and become involved in Furnal Equinox, no matter how small the role. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer or staff member, please contact us at , and make sure to mention any positions that you're interested in and any skills or experience that you have to offer.

Q: Can I donate to the convention? Is my donation tax-deductible?
We welcome any contribution to keep us going - contact our main e-mail address for more details. Unfortunately, Anthropomorphic Events of Ontario does not meet the requirements for a charity in Canada and we are therefore unable to offer official donation receipts.

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Programming

Q: I'd like to see [name of panel] at Furnal Equinox. How can I make it happen?
We always welcome new ideas for panels that will be of interest to our membership - and the best way to make it happen is to offer to run a panel! If you have an idea for programming, head over to our forum and post in the "Suggestions" forum, and you might just find people who would like to attend! Formal requests for panels will go up closer to the convention.

Q: What's the rating of the convention? Is this [fursuit/activity] etc. appropriate?
Furnal Equinox's rating is "PG" and all content publicly displaced in convention space including personal attire, artwork displayed, fursuits and costumes, etc. should reflect said rating. Please note that security reserves the right to rule on "appropriateness" of attire. Any appeals can be brought to members of concom, but said decision is final.

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Hotel and Travel

Q: Are room parties allowed at the hotel?
Room parties are permitted, however we ask that noise levels be kept to a minimal level - hotel and convention security will be doing their best to enforce this. Keep in mind we are not the only guests at the hotel, and those trying to get a good sleep for a business meeting the next morning should be treated with the appropriate respect.

Q: I had a difficulty with hotel staff. What do I do?
Please talk to con ops, and we will make sure to address the issue as soon as possible.

Q: I'm crossing from the United States (or another country) into Canada. Do I need a passport?
In short: YES!
As of June 1, 2009, you require a passport or equivalent travel document to enter Canada from the United States. Depending, you may be able to also use a document such as a NEXUS card or enhanced driver's license. However, the simple fact of the matter is a passport is an almost-guaranteed entry document no matter where you come from. Depending on what country you're from, you may need a visa as well.
If you're coming to FE from outside Canada and don't have a passport, we strongly recommend you get one, and apply early at that.

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Registration

Q: How can I pay for my registration?
After you register for the convention, you will be redirected to PayPal's site for payment. If you have a PayPal account, you can simply withdraw funds from there; you also have the option of using major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Please note that all of our prices are in Canadian dollars, but these services will automatically convert currency to Canadian funds.
If you don't have a PayPal account or credit card, please contact Registration to make alternative arrangements as soon as possible.

Q: Do I have to give my real name when I register?
Yes - the main reason we ask for this information so that we can make sure that nobody else picks up your conbadge. Therefore, this information must match what is on your legal photo ID. Your real name, as well as all other personal information you provide, is kept confidential per our Privacy Policy. Your Badge Name is what goes on your conbadge and can be seen by all - it can be a real name, your preferred furry name, a random set of characters... we're not picky!

Q: How will I know that I'm registered?
We will be sending out confirmation e-mails when your registration is processed. You do not need to bring this receipt to the convention to process your registration, but it may be helpful in the case of any misunderstandings.

Q: I missed the preregistration deadline! Can I still attend?
Yes, we'd still love to have you! We always sell convention memberships 'at the door', as well as single day memberships that give you admission to the convention for the day of purchase.

Q: How do I upgrade from regular membership to sponsor membership?
Contact Registration first so they can make a note of the change. The "upgrade rate" is fixed, so if you preregistered early, you'll still be able to get the "early prereg" sponsor rate, regardless of when you chose to upgrade. You can also upgrade to sponsor level at the con as well.

Q: I'm under the age of 18. Can I still attend the convention?
We welcome minors at the convention, however, due to liability issues we require your parent or legal guardian to complete a parental permission form in its entirety. This must be brought to Registration before we can issue you a badge. We apologize for the additional effort required for you to register, but for liability reasons, this is a necessity.
Please note, you only need to be 18 as of the first day of the con to be considered a "minor". If you're 17 when you register but you will be turning 18 on or before March 11, 2011, you do not need a permission form.
Individuals under the age of 15 must be supervised by their parent or legal guardian at all times in convention space.

Q: I earned a free membership last year through volunteering or through a Furnal Equinox promotion. How do I claim it?
When you proceed through the registration system, simply leave us a message in the "Comments" section that you're claiming a free registration for the given reason. Then pay normally through PayPal. Once we confirm your status, we'll issue a refund to your PayPal account within 30 days.

Q: I no longer plan to attend Furnal Equinox. What can I do?
If you can't attend the convention, please contact Registration immediately and we will do your best to accommodate you. The following policy is in place with regards to refunds:

You can cancel up until the end of preregistration with no penalty; your money will be refunded the same way that you paid.
If you cancel after the end of preregistration, your registration fee can only be applied as a credit to next year's convention ("roll-forward").
If we don't receive any notice before the beginning of the convention, we can't provide any refund or roll-forward.

Please be advised that refunds will only be issued in Canadian funds by your initial method of payment.

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Dealers

Q: Do I have to register separately for the con after buying a dealers' table?
No. The cost of a dealers' table includes one member-level admission to the convention, and this is a change from last year when membership was NOT included with dealers' tables.) So... you only have to pay once and you're ready to go! However... please make sure to contact the dealer coordinator BEFORE you register, as a separate registration form must be submitted.

Q: I would like to be placed with [dealer X] or have a table in [location]. Can you accommodate this?
We might be able to accommodate your request, but keep in mind that we have a lot of potential dealers and may have to turn down some requests that just can't be fulfilled. If you have a particular table placement in mind, you must make your requests known to our Dealers' Coordinator as soon as possible after you register. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to fulfill.

Q: Do I need a permit to sell in the Dealers' Den? Do I have to charge tax?
Furnal Equinox will not require dealers to obtain Vendors' Permits this year, due to the change over to the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in the province of Ontario as of July 1, 2010.
However, dealers assume ALL responsibility for ensuring that they are in compliance with federal and provincial tax laws. Dealers from outside of Canada should also make sure that they are in compliance with the requirements to sell their wares in Canada. Furnal Equinox is not in a position to advise dealers with regards to this, and recommends that you seek advice from a legal representative or tax professional.

Q: I have to leave my table for [whatever reason]. Will my stuff be safe?
Dealers are welcome to leave their tables and enjoy the convention as they see fit. We have security on patrol within con space and in the Dealers' Den at all times who will know to keep an eye on your stuff (you're also welcome to nominate a person to keep an eye on your stuff... as long as you're certain that they are trustworthy). We also lock up the room after the Den closes each day.
However, we do have volunteers willing to make food runs for you throughout the day... so if you're just craving something to eat, just let our dealers' room coordinator know and we'll do our best to accommodate you!

Q: Does Furnal Equinox have an Artists' Alley?
FE does not have an Artists' Alley due to space limitations; however we do offer discounted tables for artists who would like a 'predictable' presence on a budget. We also invite casual artists to use the Zoo space to commune with other artists and fans (though don't hog the space - there's lots of us out there! :) )

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