Frequently Asked Questions
Registration For 2025, registration will not close between early registration (commonly known as “pre-registration”) and general registration. However, certain perks/tiers of registration may not be available after December 31, 2024. Sales taxes will not be included in all prices after January 31, 2025. For full details, check out our Registration page! Day passes are only sold during the month of March, if Attendee registrations have not sold out. If you are considering attending for more than one day, an Attendee registration saves money and time. If you are travelling a long distance to attend Furnal Equinox, we strongly recommend prepurchasing an Attendee registration online to avoid the potential disappointment of passes sold out at the door. Unfortunately, we do not sell night passes. You must purchase at least a day pass to attend and participate in convention events and dances. There is a limited number of registrations available for every tier. Avoid disappointment by registering early! For Sponsor and higher tiers of registrations: The last day these will be available is December 31, 2024. After this date, they will only be sold if there are any cancellations. For all other tiers of registrations: Available if Attendee registrations have not sold out. If you are considering attending for more than one day, an Attendee registration saves money and time. If you are travelling a long distance to attend Furnal Equinox, we strongly recommend prepurchasing an Attendee registration online to avoid the potential disappointment of passes sold out at the door. You should have received a registration confirmation message to the email address you specified. If you can't find this email (or no longer have access to your email account), you can check in with our Registration team on the Contact Us page. Your registration confirmation email contains a link to view your registration. When viewing your registration, you may see the following options: If you are upgrading registration tiers, make sure you complete both options #1 and #2 in order. If you do not see these options, you will need to reach out to our Registration team on the Contact Us page for further assistance. Certain registration options are not available after December 31. Your registration is tied to your legal name and ID. During pre-registration, you may change your account information if you wish to assign a registration to someone else. Please see the previous question for details. Giving or ‘selling’ your badge away to someone else or attempting to access convention space with a badge other than your own will incur penalties for all persons involved. You are only allowed to pick up a badge for yourself, from a registration that matches the information on your ID. You cannot: Please note: If you received a room within our room block at the Westin, you cannot request a refund on your registration without also cancelling your hotel booking. The hotel deposit is nonrefundable even if you choose to cancel your registration. Deadlines: Refund/Rollover/Downgrade of Sponsor or higher tiers: December 31, 2024, 11:59 PM ET Furnal Equinox commits to a number of costs months before the start of the convention. The following refund policy is in place to offset costs of cancellations. Send an email to registration@furnalequinox.com with the following: Additional Notes: Please be advised that refunds will only be issued in Canadian funds, which may result in a different exchange rate compared to the original date of purchase. Our payment provider will provide refunds to the original method of payment within 120 days of registration. If you fall outside this date, we will use alternative methods to refund you your registration cost in Canadian dollars. Alternate methods may take 1-2 months of processing time. Refunds will be issued to the original cardholder. We accept many forms of photo ID, but the most common examples are: In the event you don't have these documents and are a resident of Ontario, we recommend applying for an Ontario Photo Card. Please present original forms of ID. Do not present photocopies, scans, or photos of your ID. If you have additional questions, please reach out to our Registration team on the Contact Us page. All minors must complete a Parental Consent Form and bring it to the convention when picking up their badge. Minors under the age of 15 must also have a parent/guardian with them at all times in convention space. The support person is not required to pay an admission fee. In order for us to properly accommodate, please reach out to our Accessibility department on the Contact Us page for registration instructions. Found badges are sent to the Registration department, not the Lost and Found at Con Ops. Please check with Registration during the convention. Our Registration team offers a replacement badge at a $30 CAD fee, provided your ID matches an existing registration. In the event you find your original badge following receiving a replacement, present both badges to the Registration department. The cost of the replacement badge will be refunded after the replacement badge is surrendered. Giving your badge away to someone else and attempting to buy a replacement of the same badge, or attempting to access convention space with a badge other than your own will incur penalties for all persons involved. The legal name on the registration must match your government-issued ID. If you have not received an official legal name change certificate or government-issued ID with your new name, please register using your current legal name. If your legal name has changed after you registered, contact us to update your registration with your new name. In some cases, you may directly edit your registration via a link in your registration confirmation. If your legal name has changed and your registration was not updated before the convention, please bring your current government-ID, plus one of the following: Government-ID that has your previous name, or; In all circumstances, you have the opportunity to provide your preferred name in the registration form. For approved dealers, the Dealers team will send an email that has exclusive links to dealer registration options. For any questions regarding dealer registration, please contact our Dealers team via the Contact Us page after September. When does early registration (pre-registration) end?
Are day passes available for purchase?
Are night passes for the dances available for purchase?
Can I buy registrations at the door?
Is there a deadline to purchase premium-tier registrations?
I’m not sure if I registered or not. How can I check?
Can I upgrade my registration, add merchandise, or change my registration details after I register?
Can I give my badge to someone else if I can’t attend?
Can I pick up someone else's badge?
I cannot come to the con anymore or wish to downgrade my registration. Can I get a refund/rollover?
Refund/Downgrade of Attendee or Supporter tiers: January 31, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
Rollover of Attendee or Supporter tiers: February 28, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
What can I use as a Photo ID?
I’m a minor (under 18 years old at the time of the convention) – what do I need to do?
I require a support person to help with a disability (as defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act). Do they have to pay?
I lost / misplaced my badge!
I plan to change OR I changed my legal name. What do I need to do?
The official name change certificate that shows both the previous and current names How do I register as a dealer/dealer’s assistant?
General Questions As a rule, all public areas of our convention are kept at a PG rating. Areas and/or events that are marked 18+ will be stated explicitly within individual panel listings. Please note that parents/guardians/chaperones are responsible for the supervision of minors around marked areas. Be sure to bring the following: Also, consider these things: Not at all! There are no requirements to do anything in particular to be a part of our convention, and many attend the convention even if they don't identify as 'furry'. Many simply attend to explore the community or hang out with friends. Costumes and accessories are just part of the fun! Attendees who wish to record any sort of media for personal enjoyment are encouraged to do so! For individuals or media personnel who are recording our events for research, reporting, or commercial uses, they must be approved by the convention prior to the event and wear a convention-provided Media Pass at all times. If you're interested in receiving more information, please reach out on the Contact Us page.What’s the general content rating of the convention?
What should I bring to the convention?
Do I need to be a ‘furry’ or wear animal costumes to be a part of this convention?
Can I take pictures or film this event?
Venue Yes – we will be requiring a nonrefundable, one-night deposit for rooms in the hotel block. This will be charged in December or January, depending on when you made your reservation. Anyone whose payment is declined will have three (3) business days or 72 hours (whichever is greater) following the initial charge to resolve any issues. If you desire a refund on your registration and have received a room within our Westin room block, your booking must be cancelled. The one-night deposit will not be refunded even if your registration is. You may notice the room rate changes depending on if you have three or four people in your room, but you won’t be charged for the additional occupancy when you check out – the rates listed below are what you will pay based on your room type. Standard Room 2025 - $185.00/night Unfortunately, suites in the Westin will not be available in this year’s room block. Suites in our overflow hotel can be booked, if desired. However, there will be a limited number available. The Westin Harbour Castle offers Accessible rooms upon request, subject to availability. To request one of these rooms, select the option during the booking process. There will be a box to select for this. If you forget, you can also contact the Westin directly. Ask to speak with group housing to modify bookings made within our convention block. The one-night deposit charged for each booking is non-refundable and cannot be returned regardless of cancellation reason. This deposit will be taken on all bookings by December 31st, 2024. There is to be no smoking of any kind within the hotel. This includes in rooms or any convention spaces. Any incidents will be handled by hotel security and you will be responsible for all fees incurred for violations. Smoking includes but is not limited to: any usage of an item that produces a clouded fog or haze, such as fog machines or hazers (without prior written approval from Marriott International, The Westin Harbor Castle, Anthropomorphic Events of Ontario and Furnal Equinox); vape pens; cigarettes; or hand rolls. Any activities within these bounds must be done outside at least 10 meters from the building. False fire alarms due to violation of this policy are subject to a fee of no less than $400.00/alarm No, you must be at least 18 years of age to book a hotel room. If you aren't able to find a room with the dates you're looking for, see if rooms are available on different check-in and check-out dates. You may see more rooms if you adjust the number of people within your room to one (1) person. You can contact our hotel team if you have any questions. We'll announce any updates if more rooms become available on our website and social media channels. Each attendee may book one (1) room within the block. We understand that some attendees may desire to book multiple rooms for various reasons. However, we want to give each attendee an opportunity to reserve a room. There are a few options, and we ask you make the best choice for your situation. You can use the link that was sent to your email to alter your registration or contact our registration team directly. Emails will be sent out with instructions on how to complete your booking toward the end of November. This year, to ensure that bookings are made in accordance with the rules we have set out, the convention rate blocks are only available through our secure portal. If you need assistance with booking, please reach out to our hotel team or accessibility team and we will be happy to help out! Yes, The Westin Harbour Castle has free Wi-Fi available to hotel guests with Marriott Bonvoy Accounts. The Westin allows service animals in all spaces and also offers Westin Heavenly Dog Beds and food/water stations upon request, subject to availability. Please note the Westin will require you to sign a waiver if you have an animal staying with you. The Westin has some new amenities for 2025. These include:Is there a deposit required to book a hotel room at the Westin?
Premium Room 2025 - $205.00/night Are there suites available to book?
Are Accessibility-friendly rooms available?
What is the cancellation policy for hotel rooms?
What is the smoking / vaping / marijuana policy?
Can I book a hotel room if I'm a minor?
I couldn't book a hotel room, or the website shows no rooms are available. What do I do?
How many rooms can I book within the room block?
What do I do if I still need a room and was not selected?
I need a hotel and forgot to submit my request during registration. What do I do?
How do I know if I got a room in the Westin?
I tried calling the hotel and they said they cannot make a booking for me?
Does The Westin Harbour Castle have free Wi-Fi?
What is the pet and service animal policy?
Are there any new amenities at the Westin for this year?
WestinWORKOUT Gear Lending: The Westin has kits of workout gear available to each guest. You can request these based on availability via the front desk, using your in-room phone, or making a service request in your Bonvoy App.
The WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio: This space has gotten a wonderful refresh since last year and contains state-of-the-art workout equipment available to all guests 24 hours a day.
Programming We’ve host a wide variety of informative and entertaining panels at Furnal Equinox, including panels involving arts & craftsmanship, literature, comedy, discussion & focus groups, and stage performance. You’ll be able to view our Programming schedule online approximately one month before the event, and also in printed material at the event.. Most of our panels take place in conference rooms within the convention space at Westin Harbour Castle. There may be one or two panels that are specifically designated outside of panel rooms. More detail will be provided on the event schedule. A convention map will be available on our website and at the event to help you navigate the space. Not all panelists are comfortable with recordings being made of their panels. If you're interested in filming, please check in with the panelist first. Large events like the Dance Competition or the Fursuit Games are commonly recorded by attendees. Please reach out to Press & Media Inquiries through our Contact Us page for any interests in recording for commercial or rebroadcast purposes.How can I find out what panels and events are happening at the convention?
Where do panels take place?
Can I film or record panels?
I’d like to see a specific panel at Furnal Equinox. How I can suggest a panel?
Attendee Policies All attendees must have a valid convention badge visibly on their person in designated “con space”, which is defined as space used exclusively by Furnal Equinox. Pets are not permitted in event space for safety and allergy-related reasons, unless cleared beforehand by Furnal Equinox for specific events (i.e. Charity animals). Service animals are permitted under the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act). If you have questions about service animals, please reach out to our Accessibility team through the Contact Us page. Most fursuits do not fall under 'alternative apparel' as they are a common item that speaks to the core interests of the fandom. However, all alternative apparel restrictions apply to fursuiters as they do for any attendee. We know that in previous years our practices on apparel were not consistent or well communicated, and we understand that is frustrating for attendees. We're working on improving communication on these policies. Furnal Equinox has had the benefit of working with pup groups and panelists, and we aim to carry a lot of that experience forward into outlining our current policies. As the community continues to grow and other things become more popular, specific mention of these will likely enter our policies, so that attendees are clear on our position. We do this in the interest of fostering an environment where everyone can enjoy themselves, as well as give groups support to grow in a healthy manner. The intent of the guidelines are not made to single out any particular group, but to provide guidance for things which have increased in popularity and demand. Certain apparel items pose risks in the case of an emergency, and your safety is most important. We will only allow them under properly supervised conditions so that the wearer has the assistance they require. To make your convention smoother and help our staff address your concerns, please reach out to us before the convention through the Contact Us page and, if possible, attach a picture. Our staff take your privacy and comfort very seriously and will do our best to help. We’ve decided that 9pm is a reasonable time to relax our rules for events like the dance and other panels where alternative apparel is appropriate. As a result, we usually schedule programming that’s more friendly to alternative apparel during these time frames. Yes, but please do so respectfully and make your way directly from your hotel room to the convention space or vice versa. Entering other hotel or public spaces may be considered a disruption to other guests. Please respect the directions of hotel staff. Our Security team can help you with questions regarding acceptable attire, costume, props, or other items at the convention. Use the Contact Us page to reach out to our Security team and they’ll be happy to advise you. First, please comply with the request to change your clothing when asked. You are welcome to ask questions about what was unacceptable, please be respectful. If you believe, after reviewing the policy, that your apparel is appropriate, please take a photograph of the attire if you feel comfortable enough to do so, and do one of the following: In these cases, decisions may be escalated to the event Directors. The decision of the Directors is final.Can I get into the convention space without a badge? Can I bring a friend through without a badge?
Can I bring my pet to the convention?
Why does Furnal Equinox have an 'alternative apparel' policy?
Why is there a big focus on gear related to pup play?
Why are certain apparel items only allowed in certain panels?
What if what I want to wear is not on that list?
Why do the apparel guidelines change between 9pm and 3am?
Is it okay for me to wear my alternative apparel in the hallways or elevator of the hotel?
I’m not sure if what I’m wearing / bringing around the convention is appropriate. Who do I ask?
What if Security says my apparel was inappropriate and asks me to change?
I’d like to share my feedback / question / concern on a specific policy.
Bans Anyone banned from our event will receive a formal ban letter through email or conventional mail, depending on the information we have available to us. The letter will outline the reason for the ban, when the ban will end, and the necessary steps to challenge the ban. If you have not yet received a ban letter, you are not currently banned. While we do our best to get reliable sources during our assessment of a ban, we also need to assess the risk of having an individual attend our event. As a private and paid event, we do have the right to refuse any individual registration. In the event we feel it is safer to deny access to someone due to information brought to our attention, it's within our rights and our duty to respect the safety of our attendees. To respect our privacy policy, and to ensure that we're protected from slander or libel, we cannot share information about a ban to anyone other than the recipient of the ban and their approved representatives. Our Security team can be reached on our Contact Us page. Please provide as much information about the person you're concerned with, any evidence or supporting references you have, and how you feel they'll be a risk to the event. Submitting this information is not a guarantee of a ban.Am I banned from this event?
I shouldn't be banned! This isn't true!
Is this person banned from your event?
This person should be banned from your event!