In 2019, Fiduccia was contacted by Jason Denis shortly after his trip to Sudbury. Jason, the organizer of Timminscon (also known as the Northern Ontario Expo), was interested in getting Prime to appear at their upcoming comic convention. But he lacked the funding and sponsorship to pull it off.

Months later, a local organization called D.A.R.E. Timmins stepped up to help. D.A.R.E. Timmins offers an ever evolving, evidence-based educational program that helps youth understand the importance of good decision making skills so that they can live safe and healthy lives. The organization currently educates over 600 local students each year in both French and English languages.

After learning of the bully awareness presentations Fiduccia offers alongside Optimus Prime, the chair of the organization (Francine Denis), along with their Board of Directors, approached Jason with a partnership idea. One that would combine an appearance of Optimus at Timminscon with anti-bully presentations at their local elementary schools.

"I always try to make the biggest impact possible in any new community I visit," says Fiduccia. "So when Jason reached out to me inquiring about a visit to their schools, I was all over the idea."

Timminscon and D.A.R.E. Timmins came to an agreement with Joe, planning surprise presentations at several elementary schools with Optimus before parking the truck at the convention for fans to enjoy. The trip was officially booked for April of 2020, and everyone was eager to see it unfold.

But the universe had other plans.

Enter COVID ... a pandemic that instantly changed the world. The uncertainty along with ongoing restrictions that followed not only cancelled the pending 2020 appearance, but also shuttered any attempts to reschedule it for years to follow.

"The border restrictions prevented me from crossing into Canada," Fiduccia explains. "That was really hard to accept. We were looking forward to offering a fantastic opportunity for a far northern community. We planned on giving children and families an experience they've never seen before. But we lacked the ability to physically implement it. So when the borders opened again in late 2022, we were finally able to revisit this and plan for a 2023 appearance."



With months of logistical prepping in place, Fiduccia finally made the long voyage into northern Ontario from Pennsylvania, reaching Timmins on April 9th, 2023 (Easter Sunday). He and Prime then delivered their bully awareness presentations to local elementary schools across the next several days before parking Optimus at Timminscon the following weekend.

Even their scout Bumblebee joined them as an added surprise for the kids.

Fiduccia explains: "it is an incredible feeling to inspire so many unsuspecting school students alongside what is arguably the world's most inspiring fictional hero. None of them knew we were coming to their school. And I know they will never forget the day we showed up unexpectedly with an important message to rise up against bullies."

With the help of the Timmins Police and Northern College Police Foundations, the Transformer trio visited 8 elementary schools and over 1,600 school students in two days. Their excursions got the attention of CTV News, who even did a full story on one of the presentations.

KINZ and KLOMP, a social media entertainment company that broadcasts out of Timmins, was also at one of the schools to capture footage of their presentation. The video they published went viral, reaching over 1,000,000 Facebook views in just a few days. As of the date this article was written, it remains the widest-reached video they have ever publicly posted.

"Some of the administrators in the region turned down our offer for a school presentation," says Fiduccia. "I wanted to visit more of the elementary schools, but didn't have the approval to do so."

However, in response, D.A.R.E. Timmins partnered with the Timmins Public Library to host a presentation that was open to the public. Strictly for any of the students from those schools that wanted to see the presentation.

"It was offered on Wednesday evening at the library," says Fiduccia. "We had permission from the city to do a presentation for students and families that were interested in coming. About 40 children showed up to watch. In appreciation for making the trip, I offered all of them driver seat photos in Prime. Which is something I usually don't do, and something I didn't offer again anywhere else in Timmins."

Once the school presentations were completed, Fiduccia parked Optimus under a massive tent that was placed alongside the McIntyre Community Centre. Paid attendees for Timminscon were given the option to take photos with the iconic bots all weekend long, completely free of any additional charges.

"I have to admit I was skeptical that Optimus would even fit inside this tent," says Fiduccia. "But it worked!"

He goes on to say the line of people waiting to enter and see the Transformers both Saturday and Sunday was nonstop.

"From the time the convention opened, I was taking photos and working the line until the show closed. I didn't take a break or even eat anything. I simply wanted to ensure everyone had a fair chance for pictures while enjoying the shear presence of these fictional characters."

More than a few families drove from over 5 hours away to visit the Transformers. And several attendees presented Joe with special gifts and keepsakes in appreciation for his trip north.

Timminscon organizer, Jason Denis, says the show itself was an incredible success.

"We had approximately 5,300 people through the doors over the two days. 11 years running, that was easily our best show ever. Last year we drew in about 2,200."

"The roads were rough on Optimus, but the hospitality I experienced in Timmins made this trip one of the most enjoyable voyages I've ever had in Canada," says Fiduccia. The people were extremely welcoming. You could tell they really appreciated the effort we made to get up there and share our replica with them."

Fiduccia said he also could not have made this trip without the help of The Bucket Shop, Inc, ... who offered Prime a safe haven and indoor cleaning bay as needed all week long.

"Paul, Scott, Meaghan, and everyone I met there were absolutely amazing. They went FAR above and beyond to help me care for Prime, even offering to re-weld a cracked vanity plate at no charge. I could tell they enjoyed having me there, and it was actually quite sad to pull out of their bay that final time. But I know I've gained friends for life in this place."

"I appreciated EVERYONE who came together to pull this off. There are so many people I want to thank, but the key ones include:"

- Jason from Timminscon for initiating a dialogue all the way back in 2019

- Fran and the entire D.A.R.E. Timmins board for sponsoring the trip

- Paul, Scott and Meaghan from The Bucket Shop, Inc.

- Jamie and Mark from KINZ and KLOMP

- All of the principals who approved a visit from Team Prime at their respective schools

- Timmins Public Library and City of Timmins for hosting and approving the Wednesday night presentation

- Tia and Mitch who let us use their Bumblebee for the week

- Ted (security) for protecting the Transformers during non-event hours

- The Timmins and Northern College police departments who gave us a lights and sirens entrance for the students

- The photographer(s) who captured all of the images seen in this article

- And to everyone who supported Timminscon, making this 2023 event the most successful one they've ever hosted

"It was hard to leave town when the event ended. We had such an impactful and emotionally charge week. I just wanted to keep that momentum going. I suppose the old mantra holds true though - all good things eventually come to an end."

"I have no idea if or when I'll ever be back up there again. But it was by far one of the top 5 trips I've ever made with Optimus that combined an event with school presentations. The people I met along the way made all the difference. I would welcome the chance to return to this region of Canada anytime."