Crowds show up in Kahnawake for Star Wars Day at collectibles expo
It is Star Wars Day, and May the Fourth be with you.
Across the St. Lawrence River from Montreal, Darth Vader, some storm troopers, Luigi and Mario rubbed shoulders with vendors and collectors that the massive K-Town Collectables Expo at the Kahnawake Sports Complex for the annual day celebrating all things Star Wars and all things nerd.
The show has grown from humble origins to become one of the largest toy, card and collectibles shows in Quebec.
"It's fun," said nine-year-old collector Tommy Marquis. "You can look the things that people have and also get to know people too."
Marquis said he likes coming to comic-cons alongside his father Teiowí:sonte Thomas Deer, who has illustrated comics for years including Star Wars, G.I. Joe and Transformers.
For Deer, the appeal of the Kahnawake expo in his Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) community is in its accessibility.
"First of all, it's affordable," said Deer. "If you go to Montreal Comic-con, yeah, it's a great show, but there's so much of an emphasis on guest stars and movie-related items. This kind of goes back to basics, where you have people that are generally interested in comic books and collectibles. It's just so much more accessible that a show like Montreal Comic-con is."
Teiowí:sonte Thomas Deer sells some of his work at the K-Town Collectables Expo in Kahnawake on May 4, 2024. (Daniel J. Rowe, CTV News)
Entry to the two-day show is $5. Organizer Will Rice said 2024 is the biggest show to to date with 108 vendors hawking wares at over 200 tables.
The first show in 2017 had 20 vendors with 40 tables.
"I was shocked at how many people," said Rice. "The smiles, the handshakes, people telling me how great this is for our community."
The K-Town Collectibles Expo in Kahnawake, Que. has grown from humble roots to become one of the biggest toy and collectible expos in Quebec. (Daniel J. Rowe, CTV News)
The show attracts collectors from both sides of the river surrounding the community. Part of the joy for some is meeing like-minded people looking for a light saber, video game or collector card.
"It's a fun day," said vendor Dave Hall. "I just had a 20-minute conversation with someone who's going to have children soon and my kids are a bit older so I kind of gave him a realistic preview of that. Collectors, we all gather and it doesn't always have to be about the collectibles."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
His SUV was stolen on Montreal's South Shore. Then he got a $156 parking ticket
A couple is frustrated after their SUV was stolen from Montreal's South Shore in March and they received a parking ticket for the same vehicle last week.
Jesus is their savior, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values
As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.
Impaired driver sentenced to 7 years after double-fatal Cambridge crash
A man who killed two people in a drunk driving crash was sentenced Friday to seven years behind bars.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.