In a male-dominated gaming world there isn’t always an inclusive space for women so a tabletop gaming convention specifically for women is popping up to create their own fun.
Beaver Con is for women, female-presenting and non-binary people to game in a safe space. It is on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Jam School at Unit 6-7 225 Hanlon Creek Boulevard. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door with cash or by e-transfer by connecting with the organizer.
This is the second Beaver Con and founder Donna Leader is aiming to keep it going three times a year. The first convention was in September and drew 26 people.
On Saturday there will be open gaming tables where anyone can join and play-to-win games where the winner gets to take home the game. People can bring their own games or choose from the game library.
Leader and her husband have a large collection of board games at home. She tried to set-up game nights with friends but not all of them are gamers so it didn’t become a regular occurrence. She found a group called the Burlington Board Game Gals and went twice a month to game with the group.
In thinking there could be the same interest in her home city she created the Guelph Board Game Gals group in 2023 and likes to think of it as the sister group to the Burlington one. About 12 members meet up at a restaurant twice monthly to have dinner, socialize and game.
Leader had the idea for an all women convention for awhile but a negative situation at another convention jump-started it. While at the convention a man made some comments about a woman Leader knew in the gaming world. When she had mentioned what had happened to her, she wasn’t surprised about the comments made. She told Leader she wasn’t likely to attend the event again and this wasn't the first time a gaming event has been ruined for her by a man.
“Board gaming is still largely male-dominated. It’s not a gender-based activity in any way, but it's just more popular with men,” said Leader. “When you go to events it can be intimidating for a lot of women to enter these spaces that are largely geared to men and largely populated by men.”
Women can feel a sense of discomfort or insecurity in gaming spaces, especially if they are new to gaming. Experiences like being hit on or hearing sexist comments during the games happen, she said.
A woman who has over 500 board games in her collection and has been a serious gamer for several years told Leader, Beaver Con was the first convention she had attended since she was anxious to go to other male-dominated ones. She’s now starting her own group for women to play Dungeons & Dragons.
“Why I did this was to create community and a safe space where women can get together,” said Leader.
She hopes to 30 people come to this convention and 40 for the next one in May.
