Seeker Chick Mai-Liis here… and today I have a very special chat lined up with two people who truly live and breathe community fun — Carol and Randy Sauve, founders of CAPE, the Cornwall and Area Pop Event.
First of all, I have to start by wishing you both a very happy 10th Wedding Anniversary! It’s hard to believe that it has already been ten years since the unforgettable moment at CAPE 2016 when you two tied the knot right in the middle of the event — with Superwoman and Spiderman getting married, surrounded by your young children, family, friends, and a whole crowd of cheering fans. I have had the pleasure of watching your family grow up over the years right along with CAPE itself.
Now here we are in 2026, and it feels only fitting that you will be celebrating this milestone the same way you started — together, at CAPE — with your anniversary celebration happening at the CAPE After Party on Saturday, April 25th.
So much has happened over the past decade, both for your family and for CAPE, which has grown into one of the most loved pop-culture events in our region. That makes this the perfect time to sit down, catch up, and talk about the journey, the memories, and what’s still to come. But before we get into the questions, I just have to share a few photos from that big day back in 2016 — a moment that truly showed everyone that CAPE has always been about more than comics and costumes… it’s about family, friendship, and community.
So here we go… let’s get into the chat — enjoy!
For anyone who may not be familiar yet, what exactly is CAPE, and what inspired the two of you to create the Cornwall & Area Pop Event in the first place?
CAPE is a yearly pop culture convention featuring exhibitors, cosplayers, artists and celebrity guests. We were inspired by the comic cons happening all around the bigger cities and wanted to bring the experience to Cornwall.
CAPE is now heading into its 11th year, which is amazing. Looking back, what are some of the biggest milestones, challenges, or standout moments that helped shape CAPE into one of Cornwall’s largest indoor events?
We are in our 10th show this year due to COVID but started in 2015. Our biggest milestone is having had the opportunity to add higher calibre guests over the years and to continue to feature the show despite COVID and the economy. We have grown our local cosplay community and local artsits are prominently featured. COVID was definitely a challenge and we had to miss out on 2 editions but have surmounted that challenge to continue to grow and offer one of the largest indoor events here in Cornwall which we are very proud of.
Every year CAPE seems to grow and evolve. What new themes, guests, or attractions can people expect at CAPE 2026, and how do those reflect the changing world of pop culture?
Every year we do grow and evolve and try to focus on elements of pop culture that are relevant and interesting or trending. Horror themes always seem to go over well and this year we feature two guests from the Terrifier movie series. Trends are always evolving as well and with Randy’s involvement in the comic shop he can keep his finger on that pulse and channel that knowledge to feature things that people want to see.
One thing people really appreciate is that CAPE feels welcoming to everyone. What steps do you take to keep the event affordable, family-friendly, and inclusive for fans of all ages and backgrounds?
CAPE is our love letter to the community which is why it will always be affordale and family-friend and inclusive. Unlike larger cities which cost relatively high fees to attend, park and participate in, we offer free admission to kids 12 and under and a family of 4 can attend for under $60. Parking is always free and with the large assortment of vendors there is something for everyone, young and old. Collectors can find treasures, kids can find cool toys and art lovers can add to their displays as the show features many types of vendors from comic books, collectibles, art, cards and more!
For those already excited to attend, can you share the key details for this year — when and where CAPE 2026 is happening, admission prices, special guests, and some of the unique vendors or activities people won’t want to miss?
We are always held at Benson Centre, Cornwall. Admission with taxes is $18 for Saturday and $12 for Sunday. There will be a cosplay contest on Saturday and featured panels both days. We have many unique vendors and many returning vendors that people request every year such as Nathan Salmon Spray Paint Art, Lollipop Lollipop and Saber X and Fire and Steel. We always feature new vendors as well!
CAPE has built a very loyal following over the years. What do you think it is about this event that keeps people coming back year after year?
Many people have met friends at CAPE and return every year to see them there. The show has branded itself as one of the premiere events in Eastern Ontario now. People seem to like our “mom and pop” feel and appreciate that it’s not “cookie cutter” style. There’s flexibility, the show is grass roots and people appreciate the friendliness of vendors, volunteers and guests.
Finally, when you look ahead to the future, what is your vision for CAPE over the next few years, and how big would you love to see this event become?
We would love to grow to see our 25th year Anniversary! Of course it would be AMAZING to one day feature hometown star Ryan Gosling (one can dream!). We will continue to host with love and stay humble. We are very grateful for the community’s support over the years and hope people will continue to embrace CAPE!
ATTENTION EVERYONE: Cornwall & Area Pop Event – CAPE is pleased to announce a partnership with Cornwall Transit to bring the community FREE bus service to and from the Benson Centre on Sunday April 26th.
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