Panels & Workshops at Y-CON
At Y-CON you'll find rich array of panels and workshops, catering to a wide variety of interests within the pop culture and gaming communities! Want to run your own panel? Head to our fan run panel application page to learn more and start your application.
2025 Panels & Workshops
See the full lineup of panels and workshops at Y-Con 2025 below. Panels and workshops are subject to potential time changes.
‘Kun’tewiktuk Game Demo
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Friday, May 30th - 7pm to 8pm
- Location: Main Stage
- Hosts: Green Robot Studios
Panel details coming ASAP!
Jackbox Games - All Ages
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Friday, May 30th - 9pm to 11pm
- Location: Mariners Centre Lounge, 2nd Floor
- Hosts: Clifford Emberley of Pair-A-Dice Bistro
A series of Jackbox games that can be played from any device. Which games will be played will depend on the number of participants at the start of each game, not the start of the panel/event. Two session will take place, one on Friday Evening for all ages and on Saturday evening (recommended to be +18). Listed at Mature as the overall content is open to the public and content may vary based on audience participation.
Cosplay Composite Photography
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Saturday, May 31st - 11am to 12pm
- Location: Main Stage
- Host: Michael Carty Photography
Take your cosplay photography to the next level! Learn how to place your subject seamlessly into fantastical worlds of imagination! Surreal environments, hostile situations, other-worldly effects - what can you imagine?
Bring Your Character to Life: Roleplaying in RPGs
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Saturday, May 31st - 11am to 12pm
- Location: Panel Room 1
- Host: Kayla Fells & Kody Leblanc
Looking to level up your roleplaying game? This fun, interactive panel is all about helping you create characters you’re proud of and confident in playing. Whether you're a first-time adventurer or a seasoned dice-roller, this panel is about unlocking the heart of tabletop RPG’s ROLEPLAYING! We’ll explore how to develop compelling characters, dive into improv techniques that make roleplaying feel natural, and practice ways to stay in character during key moments. You’ll get to try out new skills through mini games and improv prompts in a supportive, low-pressure setting. Whether you’re brand new to RPG’s or looking to sharpen your storytelling, this session will help you embrace the roleplaying table's creative chaos and collaborative magic. Join us to get a stat boost in performance.
Behind the Puppets: A Journey with Terry Angus
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Saturday, May 31st - 12pm to 1pm
- Location: Main Stage
- Host: Virtual Panel with Terry Angus
Step into the world of felt, fur, and fantastic storytelling with Terry Angus, professional puppeteer and veteran of The Muppets, Fraggle Rock, Blizzard Island, and the beloved Butch G. Cat from the IWK Telethon. A former collaborator with the legendary Jim Henson, Terry brings his decades of experience to Y-Con 2025 for a special behind-the-scenes look at the magic of puppetry.
Expect a relaxed, story-rich experience with an open Q&A format, where audience questions shape the conversation. Whether you’re a longtime fan of classic puppet shows or a creator inspired by practical effects, this is your chance to hear directly from someone who was there—inside the fur, under the set, and right beside the magic.
Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity at Y-Con 2025!
Y-Town Smash Presents: Friendlies to Finals
Your Guide for Competitive Smash Ultimate in Atlantic Canada
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Saturday, May 31st - 1:00pm to 2:30pm
- Location: Main Stage
- Host: Y-Town Smash Organizer Jonathan Chute + Players
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate isn’t just a party game—it’s a thriving competitive scene! "Friendlies to Finals" will introduce you to Atlantic Canada’s Smash community. We will highlight local events, tournament formats, gameplay fundamentals, and resources to help you improve your game. Whether you want to compete in prize tournaments or just enjoy the competition, come out and learn what makes competitive Smash so exciting!
Theme by Scene: What's the point of creative fiction?
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Saturday, May 31st - 2:00pm to 3:00pm
- Location: Main Stage
- Host: Author Jude Mire
An author presented panel on how to make your writing clear, impactful, and as meaningful as you want it. I'll untangle the differences between plot, theme, and character arc, and chart a course for managing all three in a manageable step-by-scene way. The discussion is followed up with Q&A where I'll take questions about the writing process. The panel applies to anyone who writes; authors, graphic novelists, game designers, and screenwriters.
Murder on the High Seas
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Saturday, May 31st - 3:00pm to 4:00pm
- Location: Main Stage
- Host: Lisette Gaudet, Archivist at the Yarmouth County Museum and Archives
In the mid-1800s murder befell a sailing ship. Months at sea, a demanding captain and a diabolical plot all combined to cause a mutiny on board this ill-fated ship. This presentation will recount the crime, and it will be up to the audience to piece together the clues and discover who did it.
Amazing Ghostbusters Discoveries by Ghostbusters Engineering
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Saturday, May 31st - 4:00pm to 5:00pm
- Location: Main Stage
- Host: Jon Underhill of the Maritime Ghostbusters
A glimpse into ghostbusters developments coming soon to a home near you.....
It Came From the Slush Pile:
An editor talks about the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly when reading submissions to a magazine
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Saturday, May 31st - 5:00pm to 6:00pm
- Location: Locker Room 1
- Host: Diane L Walton
As an editor of a short fiction SFF magazine with more than 35 years' experience, I have seen the "best to worst" examples of short story writing. This session can provide some useful hints for emerging writers looking to get an editor's attention.
Jackbox After Dark 18+
Panel Details
- Date & Time: Saturday, May 31st - 9pm to 11pm
- Location: Mariners Centre Lounge, 2nd Floor
- Hosts: Clifford Emberley of Pair-A-Dice Bistro
A series of Jackbox games that can be played from any device. Which games will be played will depend on the number of participants at the start of each game, not the start of the panel/event. Two session will take place, one on Friday Evening for all ages and on Saturday evening (recommended to be +18). Listed at Mature as the overall content is open to the public and content may vary based on audience participation.
