“Empower Play: Beaver Con Fosters an Inclusive Haven for Women and Non-Binary Gamers”

In a predominantly male-centric gaming environment, there is often a lack of inclusive spaces for women, which is why a tabletop gaming convention aimed specifically at women has arisen to cultivate their own enjoyment.

Beaver Con provides a safe environment for women and non-binary individuals to engage in gaming. It occurs on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Jam School located at Unit 6-7 225 Hanlon Creek Boulevard. Tickets are available for $10, which can be acquired at the door using cash or via e-transfer by contacting the organizer.

This marks the second Beaver Con, and founder Jenna Leader intends to host it three times every year. The inaugural convention took place in September, attracting 26 participants.

On Saturday, there will be open gaming tables allowing anyone to participate, as well as play-to-win games where the victor may take home the game played. Attendees may bring their own games or select from the available game library.

Leader and her spouse own an extensive collection of board games. She attempted to organize game nights with friends, but not all were interested in gaming, which led to it not becoming a regular event. Through a group known as the Burlington Board Game Gals, she engaged in games bi-monthly.

Believing there might be similar interest in her hometown, she founded the Guelph Board Game Gals group in 2023, regarding it as a sister group to the Burlington chapter. Approximately 12 members gather at a restaurant twice a month to enjoy dinner, socialize, and play games together.

Leader had contemplated the idea of an all-women convention for some time, but a negative experience at a different convention gave it impetus. At that convention, a male made disparaging comments about a woman Leader recognized within the gaming community. When she recounted her experience, she was not taken aback by the remarks. The woman conveyed to Leader that she was unlikely to attend such events again, stating that it wasn’t the first instance a man had ruined a gaming event for her.

“Board gaming is still predominantly male-oriented. It is not inherently a gender-specific activity, but it tends to attract more male participants,” stated Leader. “Attending these events can be intimidating for many women as these environments often cater to men and are primarily populated by them.”

In gaming spaces, women may experience discomfort or insecurity, particularly if they are newcomers to the hobby. Instances of being approached inappropriately or overhearing sexist remarks during gameplay are not uncommon, she noted.

A woman who has amassed over 500 board games and has been a dedicated gamer for several years shared with Leader that Beaver Con was the first convention she had attended due to her apprehension about attending other male-dominated events. She is now in the process of establishing her own group for women to play Dungeons & Dragons.

“The motivation behind this was to build community and provide a secure space for women to gather,” expressed Leader.

She hopes that around 30 individuals will attend this convention and sees 40 attendees for the next one scheduled in May.