Calgary board game convention aims to build connections, community

Whether you love Chutes and Ladders or Dungeons and Dragons, you can join hundreds of fellow board gamers at Calgary’s FallCon this weekend.

Hundreds are expected to attend the 37th edition of FallCon, Western Canadas longest running board game convention.

President of the FallCon Society, Amy Hills, says you can turn up with a group, as a couple, or go by yourself.

There are tonnes of board gamers to play with and lots of games to choose from.

“We have a selection of board games in our open gaming library of approximately 1,000 games that people come in check out a game from the library. They go to our open gaming tables and they play the game,” Hills explained.

The kids can go too, with the games ranging from beginner to more complex.

“The types of games that people like to play range from titles that they can use with their young children… or complex games that take many hours to resolve,” she said.

But besides board games, a local father and son say it is also about connection.

“On the surface, it looks like it’s all about the games, but really it’s about the people,” said David Minken.

“It’s a bond that connects us not only annually here at FallCon, but also daily while just playing games after school or whenever we have the moment to.”

“It’s just a great experience to get out and do something else besides get stuck in the house,” said his son Finley.

The pair began playing board games when Finley was in gymnastics at the age of three. David would always bring a board game in his backpack, and when there was some downtime, they’d go head-to-head.

“Although gymnastics or that activity is done, we’re still continuing on with board games. It outlives all these different phases that the kids go through. It’s a constant,” David said.

Paul Saxberg is the community manager at Calgary-based board game development and publishing company, Roxley. He says the board game industry is booming, and younger generations are a big part of that.

“If you go to your local game convention you will see kids, you will see Gen Z playing Magic the Gathering, playing role-playing games. This stuff is still on the rise, it’s not declining,” he said.

And that’s exactly why Fall Con exists and continues to grow larger each year. 

“We are there, about building community and building connections, for people of all ages, stages, and places in life.” 

If you don’t know how to play any of the games there, volunteers are available to lend a hand.

FallCon runs all weekend, you can check out their website for tickets.

Kids 12 and under are free.