Ten years ago, a dream took shape: to bring a taste of the vibrant world of cosplay, comics, and pop culture to Cornwall. Today, that dream, known as CAPE (Cornwall and Area Pop Event), has grown beyond what anyone could have imagined — and organizers Carol and Randy Sauvé aren’t slowing down anytime soon.

“It’s surreal,” said Randy when I asked him how it feels to hit the ten-year milestone. “We never really planned this far ahead. It started as something small, a way to share what we loved, and now… well, here we are.”

Growing Along With the Community

Over the past decade, CAPE has seen incredible growth — not just in attendance, but in spirit. Randy pointed out that many of the kids who used to get in free under the 12-and-under policy are now teenagers, high school graduates, even college students — and they’re still showing up.

“Those eight, nine, ten-year-olds from when we started are now young adults. Some are even bringing their own kids. That’s how you know you’ve made an impact,” Randy said.

And it show! The crowds still turned out in force this year, lining up well into the afternoon. I was there around 2:30 and there was a huge lineup waiting to get into the cosplay judging contest. “The energy is still there,” Randy smiled. “You see the passion in their faces.”

How Japanese Culture Shaped North American Cosplay

We talked about how cosplay culture has evolved, particularly the way Japanese anime and manga have taken a firm hold in North America.

“There’s a huge influence from Japanese culture — anime, manga — it’s massive,” Randy explained. “Even though I can’t always recognize all the characters, I know where they’re coming from. And you can thank streaming platforms like Netflix and Crunchyroll for making it even more mainstream.”

Local cosplay groups have blossomed too, with CAPE becoming an annual reunion for many. “It’s their big day to go all out, see their friends, show off what they’ve worked on all year,” he said. “It’s really beautiful to see.”

Keeping Things Fresh and Local

When it comes to guest appearances, Randy and Carol think carefully about who they bring in.

“We’re a small show. We can’t book the mega-celebrities like Ottawa or Montreal can,” Randy said. “But we do like to bring in people who haven’t been to this area before — it keeps it exciting, and it helps tourism too. We want people coming here from all over, not just Cornwall.”

And while other conventions often have steep prices, CAPE has stayed true to its family-first approach: free parking, free admission for kids under 12, and an open invitation for local teachers to bring their whole classes.

“We started doing free admission for kids way back when. Other shows weren’t really doing that. Some still don’t. But it’s important for us. It’s about making it accessible,” Randy said.

Fueled by Passion, Not Profit

After ten years, you’d think burnout might creep in. But for Randy and Carol, CAPE is still a labour of love.

“It’s like running our store,” Randy explained. “It’s a passion. We’ve built an amazing volunteer team. We learned early on — you can’t do it all yourself. You have to let people help.”

The goal has never been to get rich. It’s always been about giving something to the community — creating an event Cornwall can call its own.

“We could charge more, sure. But that’s not what it’s about. We want it to stay affordable. We want it to stay ours,” Randy said.

With 500 to 700 adults and another 200 to 300 kids filling the space, the energy is infectious — and it’s clear CAPE has become more than just an event. It’s a tradition.

Looking Ahead

As for what’s next? Randy and Carol aren’t going anywhere.

“I’ve been having fun all my life,” he laughed. “People ask if I’m ready to retire — but this is retirement. I’ve had the store for 40 years sharing what I love, seeing people smile, that’s the dream.”

Ten years down — and if Randy and Carol have anything to say about it, at least ten more to go.

Cape is going on all day tomorrow, so if you haven’t had the chance to go through, there is still time. Tickets available at the door for $12, Children are free under 12.