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Information & Policies for School Groups

Share the experience of Japanese culture, anime, arts, and entertainment with your students this year with Ai-Kon!

Ai-Kon is a non-profit organization that hosts Manitoba’s premier and largest anime convention, a family-friendly event suitable for all ages. We believe in the power of the community to shape and change young lives and are committed to creative development, developing future artists, and helping young people experience, appreciate, and participate in Japanese culture.

Ai-Kon is offering a special Student Group Discount rate to schools and educational groups that wish to attend. The convention focuses on the celebration of animation, Japanese culture, video gaming, cosplay, and our local community, held at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg. This year, Ai-Kon will be held from Friday, July 22nd at 12 PM to Sunday, July 24th at 5 PM.

Before Your Visit

Booking Tickets

The Ai-Kon Student Group Discount is 60% off the current registration price of  admission. To book tickets:

    • We are unable to remove individuals from a group after registration.
        • If individuals drop out, their slot may be reassigned if prior arrangements are made with schools@ai-kon.org
      • Please present the final number when applying for this program.
    • Ai-Kon Student Group applications must be submitted no later than June 30th, 2022.
    • Only one group per school is eligible for the discount.
    • Payment in full is due five days after the invoice is sent out by email. If the payment has not been received by this time, it will be considered void and the application canceled.  If the cheque arrives after the deadline, the cheque will be destroyed and the application canceled.
    • Payment can be made through the following methods: “tix123” eTicketing system,  by cheque or through PayPal.
  • Group discounts are refundable up to five days before Ai-Kon.
  • Please note that all Ai-Kon attendees of any age must follow current public health orders. Please be mindful of the current public health orders at the time of the event.

Supervision

    • To ensure that all schools can meet our supervision requirements, we will provide one complimentary adult ticket per every ten students.
    • There is a minimum of six students in a group with a maximum of sixty students in a group (excluding advisor/chaperone) to be eligible for the discount.
    • There is a minimum of one advisor/chaperone with a maximum of six advisors.
  • The program is targeted to assist junior high and high school students; all applicants (except the advisor/chaperone) must be 19 years of age or younger.

Changes and Cancellations

If you need to adjust or cancel your order before the final payment deadline, please contact schools@ai-kon.org

Requests for changes, exchanges, or refunds will not be accepted after the final payment deadline. Refunds are not provided for patrons who did not attend the convention.

Preparation in the Classroom

Ai-Kon’s mission is to promote the appreciation and enthusiasm for Japanese culture and animation. To fulfill our mission, Ai-Kon nurtures and unites this community through hosting numerous events throughout the year, including two large festivals with programming in Japanese culture, heritage, and arts. These conventions provide an enriching environment with on mandate programming and a welcoming atmosphere for all to congregate and connect.

Our event programming falls into one of four entertainment exports from Japan: Animation, Heritage, Pop-Culture or Gaming. Our partnership with the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba and various other community groups allows for on-site demonstrations, panels, and instruction in a variety of topics.

Before the convention, students are encouraged to look at the various influences Japanese culture and exports have on Canadian society. Iconic brand names, images, food, characters, and historical figures are woven into our daily lives. Canadians are connected to our global neighbours in more ways than they may realize.

Example Study Discussion

Many students find professional inspiration to future career paths and areas of study based on their hobbies and interests.

For art classes, gaming clubs, language classes, and textile programs:

    • What made an impression on them?  
    • What discussions did they have at the convention with people in this field?
  • Are there any public figures (authors, artists, actors, producers, etc.) that have inspired or influenced their work and or hobbies?

For film studies:

There is an increasing acceptance and appetite for foreign films in Canadian Theatres.

    • What has lead to this appreciation in a younger demographic?
    • How has exposure to foreign films and television impacted the Canadian market and film economy?
  • What trends are being adopted by modern Hollywood and animated television productions?

At the Convention

Picking up tickets: Tickets will be available for pick up at Ai-Kon’s Registration Desk.

    • At the event, the chaperone/advisor is to proceed to the registration desk upon arrival to receive the group’s admission passes.  
  • The chaperone/advisor will be asked to provide a government-issued photo ID.  
    • Only the preidentified chaperone/advisor is authorized to retrieve the admission passes.

Supervision:

Teachers and other adult chaperones are responsible for their students’ conduct at all times while at the Convention Center.

Please discuss convention etiquette with your students before your trip, Ai-Kon’s Access Policy governs all individuals who attend our events.

If you have questions or suggestions, please contact:

schools@ai-kon.org

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