You won’t get “board” at this convention
The world is so scary right now, it is time to really focus on joy. Play and joy are a form of resistance against what’s happening in the world.
Jayden Soroka
Defence Readiness Condition (DEFCON) is a system used by the United States military to describe the state of alert required to respond to world events. The scale counts down from DEFCON 5 (things are normal) to the never-yet-invoked DEFCON 1 (nuclear war imminent; we’re all about to fry!) Since the 1980s, it has become a staple of popular culture invoked in movies, television and gaming.
The two Whitehorse residents behind an upcoming board-game convention have put their own spin on it.
“The world is so scary right now, it is time to really focus on joy. Play and joy are a form of resistance against what’s happening in the world,” says Jayden Soroka. “It’s all about community, joy and nostalgia.”
Soroka and fellow enthusiast Louis-Phillipe Roy are the organizers of DEFCON 4, which they expect will be the largest board-game convention ever held in the Yukon. The event will run from Nov. 28 to 30 at the Guild Hall, and they hope it is the first public convention in a series, culminating in DEFCON 1 in 2028. (DEFCON 5 was a gathering, last year, of regular players and friends.)
The two men say the board-game experience is one that builds connection, at a time when many are struggling with loneliness and isolation.
“Instead of sitting in front of a screen, it’s very social and interactive,” Roy says. “It almost comes back to the old days when people got together. Until now, it has been us, all people that we know. Now we’re trying to connect with people we don’t know but have the same passion we do.”
The event is not, however, geared solely to seasoned players: with three skill levels and a collection of simple card games and dexterity challenges, the organizers hope to provide an experience anyone can take part in.
“Part of the planning is to select the right games,” Roy says. “They have to be accessible, easy enough to teach. Even if you don’t know a lot about board games, there will be something—different levels of strategy.”
Both men are passionate about board games, with collections exceeding 300 apiece. They are excited about sharing some of these, as well as bringing new games and ideas gleaned from travelling to Europe and the USA.
Soroka says his infatuation began in childhood.
“I was a kid and I remember all these adults around the table. I love film and I love stories, and it was like a fairy tale … you were in the story. It was the next level of storytelling.”
And he says board-game adventures have real-life applications.
“All of life is a board game. It is troubleshooting, managing resources, managing conflicts,” he says. “I’m teaching my son and I’m already seeing the way he thinks about a problem. It is really neat to see him try to strategize.”
The two friends are collaborating on designing their own game, which may debut at next year’s convention. In the meantime, they are focussed on the upcoming convention, rolling the dice on competition and conquest, creating a community that continues to convene conventions and that connects contestants in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration.
If you want to consider becoming a convert, the convention is coming.
