Fan Expo overcrowding sparks safety petition after escalator failure injures attendees

Fan Expo Canada's August 27–30 event has prompted a safety petition with 2,461 signatures after escalator failures, overcrowding, and accessibility barriers left attendees injured and worried.

Samuel-Charles Archer, a Fan Expo regular since 2017, launched the petition calling on the convention to stop overselling tickets. Archer described shoulder-to-shoulder conditions, severe bottlenecks, and escalator incidents throughout the Metro Toronto Convention Centre venue.

"On the Thursday, which is typically the least busy day at Fan Expo, it was already shoulder to shoulder in the Artist Alley," Archer said. He recalled one escalator incident where a backpack got jammed, causing the escalator to be temporarily stuck. In another instance, "the weight that an escalator could handle got pushed. Capacity caused it to speed up, then suddenly stop to a halt," he said.

Archer heard multiple reports from attendees—both disabled and able-bodied—who sustained injuries from escalators and the crush of people. "Several from disabled people, several from able-bodied people that got injured from the escalators or due to the overcrowding… It was horrific," he said. Elevators were jam-packed, making them harder or impossible for people who cannot use stairs to access upper levels. The Artist Alley aisles were reportedly narrower than in past years, preventing people from browsing comfortably.

"We were… barely moving while we were waiting for the next wave of people to get sent up… No one there is safe," Archer said.

Archer said Fan Expo Canada has not responded to his petition and is considering escalating the issue to politicians and the fire marshal. He said he won't return until overcrowding is addressed.

Fan Expo Canada is Canada's largest comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event. Since its founding in 1995 with fewer than 2,000 attendees, the convention has grown into one of North America's largest.