Weapon is defined as any item or object that the Criminal Code, Crew Members considers to be a weapon.

Prohibited and/or illegal Weapon: A prohibited weapon is one that the convention does not allow on its grounds. An illegal weapon is one that is not allowed to be possessed, displayed, or sold in Canada. These prohibited and/or illegal weapons are banned from Easter Seals Spectacle and must be immediately removed from the convention centre. Easter Seals Spectacle reserves the right to notify law enforcement agencies.

Inadmissible Weapon is a non-prohibited (i.e. legal) weapon that has been examined by Crew Members, and is not permitted to be brought into the convention. A legal weapon may still be considered an inadmissible weapon at Easter Seals Spectacle (e.g. a metal sword). The weapons must be immediately removed from the convention. Some weapons sold by Exhibitors are inadmissible and are subject to the procedures in the Special Circumstances section below.

Admissible Weapon is a weapon that has been examined by Crew Members and is permitted to be brought into the convention.

Cosplay Prop Check (Weapons Check) is the area at Easter Seals Spectacle where all items that may be considered weapons are inspected by Crew Members and determined to be either prohibited, inadmissible, or admissible.

Examples of Prohibited and/or illegal Weapons

If it is illegal outside the convention, it is illegal inside the convention – and therefore banned from Easter Seals Spectaclen. Examples include (but are not limited to):

• Firearms of any kind;
• Bali-song (“butterfly knife”) or switchblade/drop blade style knives;
• Brass knuckles or knives/blades attached to brass knuckles;
• Spiked wristbands;
• Morning Stars or flails;
• Concealed knives or blades in normally innocuous items that are less than 30 cm in length;
• Hand crossbows;
• Pyrotechnical items, metal objects or projectiles;
• Nunchucks, tonfas, shurikens, or similarly prohibited martial arts weapons (foam replicas of these items are admissible); and,
• Law enforcement items such as batons, Tasers, or mace.
• Arrows, bolts, and other projectiles used in bows, crossbows, or slingshots are inadmissible.

Click on this links below to review the Canada Border Services Agency’s and Justice Canada’s information regarding prohibited weapons:

http://www.cbsa–asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm–md/d19/d19–13–2–eng.html

Note: Although some types of cane swords, umbrella swords, and similar items may not be prohibited in Canada, ALL such items are banned from display, sale, or possession at Easter Seals Spectacle.

Examples of Inadmissible Weapons

The following list provides some examples of Inadmissible Weapons. Easter Seals Spectacle reserves the right to determine the admissibility of any item or weapon.

Projectile Weapons

• Airsoft pistols, rifles or other similar devices;
• Pellet guns, BB guns, or similar devices;
• Flintlock or muzzle loading weapons or similar devices (which are not considered “firearms” under the law);
• Decommissioned firearms of any kind;
• Replica firearms made from metal, solid resin/plastic/rubber;
• Close imitations are allowed if they are made of acceptable materials and as long as they cannot fire like an actual replica (e.g. a musket that does not have the proper firing chamber, or a pistol that does not have a bored barrel);
• Any prop, item or weapon that is capable of firing any projectile or powder charge of any kind;
• All other projectile weapons are required to have orange safety tips at all times on convention grounds, however, they can be removed for photography or competition purposes if they are reattached when moving around the convention;
• Nerf guns and other foam dart guns are admissible, but they must not have any foam darts loaded at any time;
• Bows, crossbows (but not hand crossbows – they are Illegal Weapons), and slingshots are admissible but only if they are de-strung or strung with light string, yarn, or a similar material and cannot fire a projectile; and,
• Arrows, bolts, and other projectiles used in bows, crossbows, or slingshots are inadmissible.

Swords, Blades, Knives and other Melee Weapons

• Hard plastic replica weapons made from polypropylene or similar items;
• Cane swords, umbrella swords, or similar items;
• Metal swords, metal knives and other active martial arts weapons;
• Metal weapons purchased at the convention are subject to the policy direction in the Special Circumstances section below;
• Metal chains or other similar items;
• Costume swords are admissible if they are secured in such a fashion that they cannot be drawn; and,
• Blunt weapons (made of wood, hard plastic, or metal) such as baseball bats, cricket bats, and hockey sticks.
• Butterfly trainers

Shields and Armour

• Wooden, plastic, and metal shields are inadmissible if they contain: sharp medal edges; metal, wood, or hard plastic spikes, or other protrusions; and/or any other feature or characteristic determined to be inadmissible.
• Armour is inadmissible if it contains: sharp medal edges; metal, wood, or hard plastic spikes, or other protrusions; and/or any other feature or characteristic determined to be inadmissible.

Light Sabers

• Light Sabers are permitted if their blade/bulb is not made of glass.

Wheeled/Tracked/Jumping Devices

• Skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates, unicycles, bicycles, hoverboards, scooters and similar devices.
• Pogo sticks, spring shoes, jumping shoes, kangaroo shoes, and similar devices.

Prop Weight, Shape and Material Restrictions

• Any items with sharp points, sharp edges, excessive weight or any other features that are deemed dangerous to others by the Easter Seals Spectacle.
• There is no set weight limit for items, but Easter Seals Spectacle reserves the right to prohibit heavy items on a case-by-case basis

Lasers

• Easter Seals Spectacle prohibits all laser pointers in the convention. If a prop or weapon includes a laser pointer, it must be rendered non-functioning (e.g. batteries must be removed).

Note that the following weapons and/or items can be sold at the event but cannot be displayed during the event. It is recommended that if you wish to sell these items that you make a pamphlet with images of the items for customers to see what items you have in stock.

• Butterfly combs or similar
• Butterfly bottle openers

• Easter Seals Spectacle reserves the right to require that any item entering the convention, or which is found to be anywhere within the convention, be made available at any time for examination by Crew Members at Cosplay Prop Check to determine the item’s admissibility status. Non-compliance may result in expulsion without refund from the event.
• Any item that Easter Seals Spectacle determines may be a weapon must be immediately taken to Cosplay Prop Check for examination (or examined on the convention floor by staff, if they are circulating around the event). Easter Seals Spectacle Crew Members may escort the weapon to Weapons Check.
• Crew Members will examine the weapon to determine its admissibility at Cosplay Prop Check.
• Inadmissible weapons must be immediately removed from the convention.
• Prohibited weapons must be immediately removed from the convention centre. Easter Seals Spectacle reserves the right to notify law enforcement agencies.
• Illegal weapons may be reported to law enforcements agencies if seen.
• Any inappropriate behaviour with a weapon, which puts the safety of any person or property at risk, will not be tolerated. This includes horseplay, mock fighting, or other activities deemed inappropriate by Easter Seals Spectacle.
• Refer to the Special Circumstances section below for the procedures related to Inadmissible Weapons that are displayed, offered for sale, and purchased at the convention.
• Failure to respect these requirements may result in the weapon being confiscated without return.

Inadmissible weapons on display and/or being sold by Exhibitors must be safely secured to the display surface if they are within reach of attendees (i.e. attendees must not be able to pick up the weapons). As part of normal shopping behavior, attendees are permitted to handle inadmissible weapons- but must remain under the direct supervision of the Exhibitor.

The sale of an Inadmissible Weapon to anyone under 18 years of age is strictly prohibited.

Exhibitors may only display (including under the counter displays and items stored out of sight) or sell weapons or any other items that are permitted to be sold by all applicable provincial and federal laws and regulations (i.e. they are not prohibited) and only to persons who are legally entitled to purchase and/or possess the weapon or item.

The display or sale of prohibited (illegal) weapons or items may result in an Exhibitor being removed from the convention and/or other actions deemed appropriate by Easter Seals Spectacle.

For safety reasons, Exhibitors must not conduct demonstrations of inadmissible weapons or other items in the aisles or other similar areas. Such demonstrations must be conducted behind the counter, table or within the allotted booth space, and must be supervised by the Exhibitor.

Once a weapon has been sold, it must be securely wrapped in thick paper or cardboard and cannot be taken out of such packaging at the convention. Exhibitors must remind the attendees buying weapons that if they are found opening the packaging on the convention hall floor, the weapon in question will be confiscated. It is the Exhibitor’s responsibility to inform attendees of the requirement to keep their purchased weapons securely wrapped while at the convention.

The Exhibitor must inform the attendee purchasing the weapon to bring said weapon or item to the Weapons Check at the entrance and have it tagged as an admissible weapon. Exhibitors are required to explain to attendees that if the weapon is not tagged, it may be confiscated.

If an Exhibitor wants to arrange for mock battles to show off their LARP weapons during convention hours anywhere on the convention site, they must have prior approval from Easter Seals Spectacle. Such requests should be directed to jrenaud@easterseals.org

Exhibitors are reminded that all participants in mock battles must not damage convention centre, Easter Seals Spectacle, or other Exhibitor property and must be extremely careful not to endanger or injure bystanders.