Convention Policies

Alcohol

The legal drinking age in Ontario is 19. Alcohol may be consumed only within hotel rooms, and in those convention areas where the hotel is serving alcohol. Please note that hallways, elevators, and other common space are not licensed, and therefore alcohol is prohibited in those areas. Any underage person consuming alcohol, or party host serving alcohol to underage persons, or allowing underage persons to serve themselves, will have his/her badge confiscated, and will be ejected from the convention. No refunds will be issued.

Badges

Your badge is your proof of membership. It must be worn at all times. Security will be verifying badges. If you lose your badge, report the loss to Registration at once. There will be a charge for replacement badges.

Dealers

Any dealers with materials that may challenge local obscenity laws are asked to take appropriate measures to have such material covered or not prominently displayed.

Membership Transfers

Any membership transfers must be accompanied by signed permission from the original membership owner.

Children

Anyone under the age of 14 who wishes to attend the convention must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Hotel Guidelines

Gaylaxicon is sharing the hotel with other guests. Please be considerate of their rights, and be polite to hotel staff at all times. The hotel has requested that all Gaylaxicon members ensure that they are properly attired when in publicly accessible space. Convention members are responsible for any and all damage they may cause in any area of the hotel. Gaylaxicon will do its best to ensure that any party damaging the hotel will be made to pay restitution.

Convention members found sleeping in convention space will be woken up, and told to go to their hotel rooms. If they do not have a room, hotel or convention Security may ask them to leave the premises.

Room Parties

Anyone wishing to throw a room party must register their party with the Hotel Liaison. No exceptions will be permitted. Any unregistered room parties taking place will be closed by Security. Room parties must be registered in advance, via the form on our website. This is part of our agreement with the hotel; there is no charge for registering a room party. By registering, we can help you advertise your gathering, and try to group room parties together in the same part of the hotel.

Pets

No pets are permitted into any function space within the hotel, including the Hospitality Suite. Exceptions will be made for service animals (seeing-eye dogs, etc.).

Photos/Videos/Audio Recording

Before taking photographs, videos, or audio recordings of any convention members, permission must be obtained from all of the members involved. Photography is prohibited in the Art Show. Flash photography is prohibited during the Masquerade. If you are taking photographs or video of a convention member in costume, please ask their permission first.

Signage

All signs must be approved by the Hotel Liaison, and can be posted only in designated areas. The convention committee and the hotel reserve the right to remove any signage posted outside those designated areas, or posted without approval.

Smoking

Gaylaxicon is a smoke-free convention. You may smoke tobacco in hotel rooms so designated, or outside. Laws governing the use of illegal substances will be strictly enforced. Please be considerate of others.

Recycling

Ontario recycles! Recycling bins will be available in the Hospitality Suite for disposal of cans, bottles, and paper.

Food Allergies

Please note that Gaylaxicon does not take any responsibility for potential allergen content of food and drink served in convention space, or for cross-contamination with foods containing allergens. Items we serve may contain milk, nuts, wheat, or other ingredients to which members may be sensitive. It is the sole responsibility of the member to ensure that the food or drink item is safe. If in doubt… ASK. Gaylaxicon will do its utmost to ensure that full information is available. If you are still in doubt, do not eat the item.

Theft And Vandalism

Theft and vandalism are illegal, and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Individuals caught will be expelled from the convention, and charges may be laid at the discretion of the Convention and the Hotel. If you witness a theft or vandalism in progress, please notify Security or any Convention Committee member.

Weapons

Anyone carrying any weapons or replica weapons, including but not limited to guns, swords, knives, batleths, or anything meant to represent a weapon must bring their item to Security for inspection and peace bonding. Peace bonding involves the securing of a weapon using a plastic tie that cannot be removed except by being cut. The Convention and Security reserve the right to inspect weapons at any time to ensure that they are properly peace bonded, and to inspect for tampering.

Note that Masquerade contestants are exempt from the peace bonding requirement while participating. Please consult with the Masquerade Directors and Security prior to the start of the Masquerade.

Any club or organization wishing to set up a display of weapons or replicas must also contact the Security Department.

Dealers selling weapons or replica weapons are required to bag those weapons upon sale, and inform the purchaser that they must be immediately transported outside the convention area, to their hotel room or vehicle.

Our weapons policy is designed to allow everyone to enjoy the convention safely. A full list of federally prohibited items is available for public review in the Security Office. Nothing that is restricted or prohibited, as stated in the Criminal Code of Canada, will be permitted in Convention space.

Restricted and prohibited weapons include, but are not limited to: butterfly/switchblade knives, nunchaku, shuriken (throwing stars), crossbows, morning stars, batons, tasers, Mace, and realistic-looking firearms.

Anyone using a weapon in an unsafe or threatening manner will have their badge revoked and will be asked to leave the convention. No refunds will be issued.

Lost or Stolen Items

Gaylaxicon is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property; or for injuries sustained during the convention. If you find an item that appears to have been lost, please bring it to the Con Office.

Washrooms

All efforts have been made to ensure that washrooms are trans-friendly. If you encounter any difficulties in this area, please notify the Hotel Liaison or any member of the convention committee.

General

Gaylaxicon reserves the right to confiscate the badge and expel any member of the convention who is behaving in an offensive, threatening, disruptive, or illegal manner. No refunds will be issued.