The second annual Game Developers Conference Canada will take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre from May 6 to 7.

In May 2009, the first GDC Canada brought more than 800 members of the video-game industry together for two days of presentations, discussions, and networking events.

This year’s conference will include tracks on digital distribution, social games, iPhone games, game design, business and production, programming, and visual arts, according to a January 14 press release. It will also feature an expo hall.

“Attendees to this year’s GDC Canada will gain new insights to current technologies across different game platforms as well as new business opportunities and distribution models,” event director Izora de Lillard said in the release. “We’re proud return to Vancouver and provide the forum for Canadian developers to connect, celebrate, and further the industry.”

GDC Canada is put on by Victoria-based Reboot Communications and U.S.-based Think Services Game Group, which organizes the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco and other GDC events in Austin, Europe, and China.

The advisory board for this year’s GDC Canada is composed of Brenda Bailey (Deep Fried Entertainment), Steve Bocska (Pug Pharm), Howard Donaldson (Disney Interactive Studios), Dave Elton (EA Blackbox), Tabitha Hayes (Electronic Arts), Dan Irish (Threewave), Jerome Kashetsky (National Research Council of Canada), Colin Macrae (EA), Gerri Sinclair (Great Northern Way Campus), Tarrnie Williams (EA), Kerry Whalen (Ubisoft), and Kelly Zmak (Radical Entertainment).

Last year’s GDC Canada, which was part of Vancouver Digital Week, offered free passes to unemployed game developers.

For 2010, all-access and main-conference passes are going for $795 before March 31, and $895 until May 7.

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