Ben Eadie does not attend comic conventions to rub shoulders with celebrities, nor to geek out over specific video games or movie franchises.
He goes for inspiration.
I adore seeing the costumes that people create, particularly their techniques, using unexpected materials, and everyone’s knack for resourcefulness—sort of like MacGyver,” explained Eadie, who works as a props and special effects artist based in Calgary.
You notice someone with an incredibly neat illuminated jacket sleeve, and you think, ‘How did you manage that?’ They then reveal something new to me, and I exclaim, ‘Wow, that’s incredible!’
Eadie has designed elaborate movie sets and props for big-budget Hollywood movies, such as
Star Trek Beyond
(2016) and
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
(2021).
The
Star Trek
The project tasked him with constructing massive spinning devices that resembled the Starship Enterprise during an attack by alien vessels. Additionally, he had the opportunity to design all the imaginary gadgets employed for detecting and capturing ghosts.
Ghostbusters
including proton packs, PKE meters, and ghost traps.
He attributes his upbringing on a farm near Calgary as the source of his skill in creating, constructing, and repairing items.
“In High River, I dedicated much of my time to fooling around, which gave me an inherent understanding of what succeeds and what fails,” he stated.
You’re aware of where to position a bolt so that you can reach it easily with a wrench. This particular type of expertise is surprisingly absent at times. Many individuals can create designs, yet since they haven’t assembled anything themselves, they fail to realize that their approach might not be feasible. These folks lack hands-on experience—the tangible, tactile understanding required for mechanics.
Strolling through the throngs of people at the Calgary Expo provides Eadie with an opportunity to appreciate and examine the frequently intricate cosplay outfits and props that have become standard fare at comic conventions globally.
The focus is really on the constructions and the techniques used, along with the stories behind them,” he stated. “The actual effort reflected in every outfit—through sheer dedication and hard work—is consistently remarkable.
Each year at the POW! Parade of Wonders—a key event at the Calgary Expo—fan costumes take center stage, attracting throngs of participants and observers to the heart of the city. The parade this Friday, April 25, which follows a fresh path through the Beltline area up to the BMO Centre, promises unexpected guest spots from several stars who are partaking in this year’s expo.
Autumn Desjardins, who became a Strathmore cosplay guest and judge, attended her inaugural Calgary Expo in 2012 when she was just 12 years old. Along with her friend, they believed that wearing costumes was mandatory for entry.
Desjardins remembered, “We believed it was an unwritten rule.” He continued, “That’s why we created those outfits; I crafted the Ash Ketchum Pokémon costume using items from Value Village and assembled various components. From that moment on, I was completely drawn into it,” Desjardins stated. “I knew right away that this would be my passion moving forward.”
Over the following years, her costumes became progressively more elaborate.
I would approach my mom and say, ‘Mom, can you show me how to operate a sewing machine?’ She replied, ‘I’ve never used one myself, but let’s learn this together!’
At the age of 25, Desjardins has earned numerous accolades for her cosplay designs and has been part of Team Canada multiple times in global contests. She notably secured second place at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, in 2024.
She enjoys acquiring new abilities when working on projects like woodworking or sword-making, yet she emphasizes that disseminating these skills and concepts to others is equally vital.
In Calgary, particularly, we’re fostering a community where participants exchange their build books with one another once the contest concludes. This practice is quite unique to our region; individuals swap these resources so they can gain insights from the projects they’ve observed. It’s incredibly impressive and serves as an excellent way to strengthen our community bonds.
However, that openness to discuss techniques and share ideas is typically characteristic of the larger cosplay community, she points out.
When you put significant effort into something, someone’s simple question can make you eager to delve into a thirty-minute explanation of your creation process. Many of us feel deeply proud of our work and enjoy showcasing our achievements along with subtle nuances—like an intricate detail from Episode 6 that only true enthusiasts would spot. These minute elements provide opportunities for fostering a sense of camaraderie through shared knowledge and mutual support instead of engaging in competition, secrecy, or criticism.
Eadie stresses that although the innovation he observes is inspiring, any outfit is perfectly acceptable to him.
The costume didn’t need to be spectacular. Once, during a convention, some buddies and I came across a outfit made entirely out of cardboard—it wasn’t very refined. Despite its simplicity, it showed effort; however, it clearly couldn’t compare to anything seen in movies. My companions found themselves amused by it, which annoyed me. They asked why I was upset, and I responded, ‘Did you notice the grin on that person’s face? That’s precisely the point. This isn’t about your perspective or judgment; rather, it’s about their enjoyment and escapism—don’t ever rob someone of those moments.’
‘A getaway where you can truly be yourself’
According to Eadie, who has two teenage children, positivity and acceptance are fundamental aspects of comic con culture. His kids, both neurodivergent and identifying as LGBTQ, thoroughly enjoy expressing themselves through costumes at these expos, he notes.
“And if you’re somewhat odd or eccentric, it fits right into your persona,” he stated. “As a result, they aren’t keeping this protective barrier raised in front of others anymore. They embrace who they truly are. This is making me quite emotional; it’s like finding freedom to be yourself.”
No matter whether you’re neurodivergent or neurotypical,” he said, “if you can lose yourself in these activities, it feels incredibly freeing. Whether you find yourself engaging in prolonged gazes or needing to retreat to a quiet corner for some air, those aspects become part of your character and they’re perfectly fine. Plus, nobody challenges them, which is wonderful.
The 2025 Calgary Expo will take place from April 24-27 at Stampede Park, featuring celebrity question-and-answer sessions, photography opportunities, panel discussions, workshops, and demonstrations.
Confirmed VIPs include the actors from
Back to the Future
,
Twilight
and
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
, Alicia Silverstone, John Boyega, James Marsters, Helen Hunt, and Nicholas Hoult.
The Parade of Wonders begins Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. in Haultain Park, following a new path as it heads east along 13th Avenue S.W., turns south onto Centre Street, and continues eastward on 17th Avenue toward the BMO Centre.
Many of the celebrities participating in the parade are remaining undisclosed until the event, but Peggy the Dog is among them.
Deadpool
&
Wolverine
(2024) has been confirmed, along with honorary parade marshals Jyoti Gondek, the mayor of Calgary, and Loki, the Dog Mayor of the Culture + Entertainment District.
The Parade of Wonders is being hosted by CBC Calgary’s Anis Heydari and Jenny Howe.
