OCC at FanExpo Canada 2025

Community, Creativity & Cosplay at Cosplay HQ

The Ontario Cosplay Collective had an unforgettable weekend at FanExpo Canada 2025, and we want to thank everyone who came by to take part in the fun — whether you visited our booth, joined one of our panels, participated in ConQuest, or just stopped by to say hello.

We’re incredibly grateful to the FanExpo team for inviting us to be part of Cosplay HQ and for supporting the kind of community-focused programming that OCC is all about.

What We Brought to the Con

📸 Immersive Photo Booth

Our immersive photo booth was open all weekend long — and we loved seeing cosplayers, creators, and con-goers drop in for a fun photo or a quiet break. During special windows, Rajeeman Photography joined us to offer free professional photo shoots, and the results were nothing short of magical.

🌐 Thursday shots are available here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/w2bkfs8gho6jg6vy3oaaj/AClsA-TDGbKLz9Sx5pPmbOQ?rlkey=7atq9z6v16b5r6xmxthq6n1p6&st=krc5ijaw&dl=0 

Friday shots are available here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bx1tugn12a1h1hg2qbvd4/ACRcT4yJ0uxEUcSO4QlcTco?rlkey=liurlcpzisbdl3zxme8c6fh9j&st=h2lxbn9h&dl=0

Saturday shots are available here:https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ugqt05udt9ckcsa1xiiqd/AC6sAnIm_8eYGGVf6IXfjVY?rlkey=ldt7krizzbv3qtv84k0zrvbhh&e=1&st=ypy5up13&dl=0

Sunday shots available here:https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/3xugbvv8ilwmwuek3zicq/AIycoKlpUIiqjfGGiGnhSJk?rlkey=aezahnf0pclsiasmr1qayph2t&e=1&st=7c4gwrcl&dl=0 

🧭 ConQuest Scavenger Hunt

ConQuest encouraged attendees to explore the convention, meet new people, and engage with all corners of FanExpo — from panels and artist alley to community zones and more. It was amazing to see so many people embracing the challenge and bringing a spirit of curiosity and connection to the event. Thank you to everyone who joined the adventure!

🎀 Sanrio-Themed Cosplay Meetup

Sunday’s Sanrio red carpet meetup was full of pastel creativity, heartfelt characters, and joyful community vibes. From full-on cosplay builds to subtle nods and cute accessories, every attendee brought something special — and we were especially excited to see so many people from outside OCC join in the fun. Thank you for helping us make it welcoming and accessible for all.

🎤 Cosplay Panels

We were proud to host four educational and community-centered panels over the weekend, covering everything from cosplay makeup and sewing techniques to costuming for film and battle damage FX.

Our panels included:

• Cosplay Makeup 101: A Beginner’s Workshop for Every Face and Fandom

• Sewing for Cosplay: Beginner Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Cosplay to Crew: An Intro to Costuming for Film

• Battle Damage and Distressing for Cosplay

To everyone who attended, asked questions, and followed up with us at the booth — thank you. Your curiosity and enthusiasm are what make cosplay communities thrive.

Thank You, FanExpo

We’re deeply grateful to FanExpo Canada for having us, and for giving us the space to share what we love: cosplay, community, and skill-sharing in an inclusive environment.

We left the weekend feeling inspired — and brimming with ideas for what we’d love to bring to future events.

If you'd like to stay in the loop or see the photo gallery once it’s live, follow us on Instagram at @ontario_cosplay_collective.

Until next time — thank you for making FanExpo Canada 2025 unforgettable.