Last weekend, the 34th annual EnBiCon, Fredericton’s board game convention, took place at the Fredericton Inn.
The convention brought together approximately 150 board game-enthusiasts with more than 39 board games in a more than welcoming environment.
Chris Fougere, one of the directors of EnBiCon, said this convention means more than just games for the attendees. He gets in on the action too.
“We all get together the last weekend in September to hang out with our friends and play a bunch of games,” he said.
Alongside Fougere are fellow directors Donald Thompson and Marie Thérèse. Together, they start planning the next EnBiCon right after the convention ends. Their website mentions that they are already “on the books” to host the convention at the Fredericton Inn for 2024 and 2025.
“It’s a matter of finding people who are willing to donate time, people who are willing to run games that they love and show people how to play.”
EnBiCon throws a charity game auction every year to raise funds for Carma, a foundation dedicated to cat rescue in the Fredericton area.
According to their X page, EnBiCon sold around 60 items this year and raised over $1,000, more than twice the amount they raised last year.
“Every year our charity auction seems to grow and grow,” said Fougere. “Over $2,000 we’ve raised over the last couple of auctions.”
Fougere said that the convention aims to keep growing in the coming years. Their main goal is to move to the ballroom of the Fredericton Inn.
“It’s more space, but that requires a bigger expense, which means we need to find more sponsors,” said Fougere. “We try very hard not to raise our prices.”
Fougere said that what makes them special is that they are the only board-gaming convention in Fredericton.
According to their website, EnBiCon is about playing games and meeting new people. It is more than just a casual board game night with friends, but a chance to connect the board-gaming community.
“A lot of people don’t have the same social outlets that they did [before Covid]. So, it’s a chance for everybody to get together.”
