'We're having a blast': Canada's biggest gaming convention in Edmonton for the weekend
Game Con Canada in Edmonton on Friday June 14, 2024. (Galen McDougall/CTV News Edmonton)
Video, board and card games are all on offer as Game Con Canada takes over the Edmonton Expo Centre for three days.
The convention gives people the chance to see and play hundreds of games from video game studios and board game developers from around the world, according to the event's co-founder.
Cosplay, Esports, trading card games and role-playing games are also on display.
"We're having a blast," said Marc Belisle, co-founder of Game Con Canada. "This is a massive, massive show. Our company does a lot of large scale events across Alberta, and this is by far the biggest."
Over $10,000 in cash and prizes is available in the cosplay competition as is around $20,000 in prize money through various Esports competitions. These tournaments include Street Fighter, Valorant. and League of Legends
Plus, if you want to shop, games, miniatures, clothing, art and more are up for sale.
Panels, workshops and meet-and-greet sessions are also happening. Some of the guests in attendance are local television and voice actor Mark Meer, known for Mass Effect and Dragon Age, Noura Ibrahim, known for Cyberpunk Red and Black Dice Society, and Ray Fisher, known for Justice League and Rebel Moon.
Players playing a demo of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 at Game Con Canada in Edmonton on Friday June 14, 2024. (Galen McDougall/CTV News Edmonton)
Esports have been growing in popularity in recent years. NorQuest College set up a booth to promote the school's Esports program.
"We've been engaging with various high schools to share with them the opportunity for kids to learn about the digital interactive media space," said Jackie Nguyen, the manager of business enterprises at NorQuest. "Kids want to learn how to become a streamer to share their passion with the world, how to create digital art, and we want to make sure that they're well equipped with coaching opportunities so that they can level up their game."
The Lotus Eight Esports organization based in Manitoba is also at Game Con, promoting mental health awareness in the sport.
"I always tell our students here that if you're calm at a high level of pressure in eSports, you'll be number one, making the right choices for yourself," said Steven Vuong, with Lotus Eights.
"If we take care of our mental health, we will be the best version of ourselves."
Just like physical sports, the key to succeeding in Esports is taking breaks, finding your weakness and training, according to Vuong.
The message that gaming is for anyone of any age, whether it be for fun or as a career is something Belisle wants to get across.
"This is the reason why we have our school partners here, so that they can show people there is a path into technology, into 3D rendering, into game development, into Esports," said Belisle. "Having all the kids around to discover this is one of the biggest things we're proud of."
In addition to the Esports competitions, there are also tournaments for card games, including Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering and One Piece.
Players of tabletop games like Warhammer 40K, Conquest and Judgement: Eternal Champions also have space to game, with events for old and new players alike.
Game Con Canada will also take place in Edmonton in 2025 and 2026.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Things a pediatrician would never let their child do
As summer begins for most children around Canada, CTV News spoke with a number of pediatric health professionals about the best practices for raising kids, and how the profession has evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Should he stay or should he go now? A look at Trudeau's options after byelection loss
A historic defeat for the Liberals in a downtown Toronto byelection has put a glaring question mark on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's political future. Here's a look at the options Trudeau and the Liberals face as they enter a summer of soul-searching.
Alabama man denied office after winning election reaches proposed settlement to become town's first Black mayor
An Alabama town and a Black man who was prevented from becoming its mayor after winning his 2020 election have reached a proposed settlement, according to federal court documents.
'Why did I have this surgery?' Ont. mother seeks answers after son's tonsil surgery
An Ontario mother said it looked like a horror movie when she flicked on the lights of her son’s bedroom to find him projectile vomiting blood after his tonsils were removed at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
New experience in Halifax gets people up close and personal to the ocean's most feared predator
Atlantic Shark Expeditions launched a new shark cage experience which gives brave attendees a chance to get up close and personal with the oceans most feared predator.
Many older adults are still taking daily aspirin, even though some shouldn't be, experts say
Some seniors continue to take a daily aspirin in the hopes of reducing their cardiovascular disease risk, even though the practice is only recommended for certain high-risk patients -- and taking it without a doctor's recommendation can come with significant risks.
Flatulent cows and pigs will face a carbon tax in Denmark, a world first
Denmark will tax livestock farmers for the greenhouse gases emitted by their cows, sheep and pigs from 2030, the first country in the world to do so as it targets a major source of methane emissions, one of the most potent gases contributing to global warming.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy scolds officials who shirk their duties in the country's war effort
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signalled Wednesday that he is getting tough on officials he suspects are shirking their duties in the war with Russia that is now in its third year.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returns to Australia a free man after U.S. legal battle ends
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returned to his homeland Australia aboard a charter jet on Wednesday, hours after pleading guilty to obtaining and publishing U.S. military secrets in a deal with U.S. Justice Department prosecutors that concludes a drawn-out legal saga.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Calgary
-
WestJet mechanics issue strike notice for possible job action Friday
WestJet says it faces a possible strike by its mechanics starting as early as Friday.
-
Approval for Calgary's mayor and council sinks to all-time low amid water crisis
Public approval of Calgary's mayor and council has fallen beyond record lows recorded at the end of 2023, according to a new survey.
-
Calgary feeder main repairs complete, water service could be restored sooner than expected
Repair work on Calgary’s broken water main is progressing faster than anticipated, but there are still a few more steps crews need to complete before water restrictions are lifted in the city.
Lethbridge
-
Lethbridge College to be redesignated as polytechnic institution
Lethbridge College will soon become Alberta's latest polytechnic.
-
Town mulling options as Milk River dries up
Before the St. Mary siphon burst, the Milk River's flow rate was approximately 17 and a half cubic metres per second. Monday, it was less than one cubic metre per second.
-
'Just protesting': Accused at Coutts blockade surprised by murder-conspiracy charge
A protester arrested at the border blockade at Coutts, Alta., acted surprised when police told him he was being charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
Saskatoon
-
'The federal government can't interfere': Sask. will not comply with federal clean electricity regulations
The Government of Saskatchewan announced that it will not comply with the incoming federal clean electricity regulations.
-
Judge rejects Saskatoon mayoral candidate's lawsuit to halt housing accelerator changes
A judge has rejected a Saskatoon mayoral candidate’s bid for a court injunction on zoning changes required for the city to access federal housing accelerator funds.
-
Sask. town gets help from province after destructive weekend storm
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has stepped up to help Carrot River after a destructive storm tore through the community on Sunday evening.
Regina
-
Court hears from victim and mother at trial for Regina teacher accused of sexually exploiting student
High emotions filled a Regina courtroom on the second day of a trial for a former Regina teacher accused of sexually exploiting a female student.
-
Trio from Carnduff, Sask. arrested after drugs, sword seized in traffic stop
A proactive patrol by RCMP officers led to a collection of drug trafficking weapon related charges for three people from Carnduff, Sask.
-
'The federal government can't interfere': Sask. will not comply with federal clean electricity regulations
The Government of Saskatchewan announced that it will not comply with the incoming federal clean electricity regulations.
Vancouver
-
'No fun city': Calls to extend hours at Vancouver beaches
Some Vancouver residents want hours to be extended at city beaches during the summer, criticizing the current bylaw and questioning its enforcement.
-
Transit police campaign targets drivers in Vancouver bus lanes
In a targeted campaign aimed at keeping bus lanes clear for transit vehicles, Metro Vancouver Transit Police have ticketed close to three hundred drivers so far this week.
-
Water quality advisory issued at Sunset Beach
Officials are warning people not to swim or wade at Vancouver’s Sunset Beach due to high bacteria levels in the water.
Vancouver Island
-
Critically endangered Vancouver Island marmots released into the wild
Volunteers carried cages containing very rare furry creatures up Mount Washington on Monday as part of the mission to save Canada’s most endangered mammal.
-
Meet the centenarians: Canada's oldest age group is also its fastest-growing
Vi Roden said she reads an average of 50 books a year, attends history lectures at her local seniors centre, and does yoga twice a week.
-
Pembina, B.C. First Nation give green light to multibillion-dollar LNG project
Pembina Pipeline Corp. and the Haisla First Nation say they have made a final investment decision that will see them go ahead with their proposed US$4-billion Cedar LNG project off the B.C. coast.
Toronto
-
'Why did I have this surgery?' Ont. mother seeks answers after son's tonsil surgery
An Ontario mother said it looked like a horror movie when she flicked on the lights of her son’s bedroom to find him projectile vomiting blood after his tonsils were removed at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
-
Was a Toronto byelection a wake-up call on Trudeau's approach to antisemitism?
An organizer who encouraged Jewish residents to vote against the Liberals in this week's Toronto byelection suggests a rise in antisemitism motivated many to show up at the polls.
-
Puppy mills now illegal in Ontario, but advocates say little will change for dogs
Puppy mills are now illegal in Ontario after the province recently passed legislation banning them, but critics say the new law will do little to curb the problem.
Montreal
-
Here are the 10 most dangerous intersections for Montreal cyclists
Researchers out of McGill University say there is a critical need for safer cycling infrastructure around certain intersections in Montreal after pinpointing 10 troubling spots in a recent survey.
-
Teen driver, passenger in hospital after crash in Montreal's West Island
Two people are in hospital, including a teenage driver, after a crash on Highway 20 in Beaconsfield in Montreal's West Island.
-
Teen dies after being hit riding e-scooter in Montreal
The 14-year-old boy who was hit by a car in Montreal on Monday has succumbed to his injuries.
Atlantic
-
New experience in Halifax gets people up close and personal to the ocean's most feared predator
Atlantic Shark Expeditions launched a new shark cage experience which gives brave attendees a chance to get up close and personal with the oceans most feared predator.
-
Emergency alert issued in Lunenburg County cancelled after 'dangerous man' arrested: N.S. RCMP
The Nova Scotia RCMP has arrested a man in connection with an emergency alert issued in Lunenburg County Wednesday morning.
-
Construction woes continue during peak season in downtown Sydney, N.S.
Street construction in downtown Sydney, N.S., continues into the busy summer months.
Winnipeg
-
Ray St. Germain dead at 83
A well-known Metis musician has died after a years-long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
-
True North asking for extension on decision to purchase Portage Place
The potential purchaser of Portage Place Mall is asking for a 90-day extension for its decision as to whether or not it will buy and redevelop the space.
-
RCMP, Manitoba Crown to update Carberry bus crash investigation Wednesday
Manitoba RCMP and the province’s Crown prosecution service will provide an update on the investigation into a deadly bus crash near Carberry, Man. one year ago.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa will see a stretch of below-seasonal temperatures heading into the long weekend
Ottawa will see a stretch of below-seasonal temperatures for the final week of June and on Canada Day in Ottawa.
-
This Ottawa 'fat cat' on a weight loss journey has become a TikTok star
An Ottawa cat has morphed into a TikTok star, as he's slimming down from weighing 43 pounds.
-
Ottawa women's shelter forced to close for weeks after being flooded by burst pipe
The St. Joe's Women's Centre is closed temporarily after a pipe burst, flooding its facilities. It is now going to cost thousands of dollars in structural repairs and it could be weeks before it is ready to fully reopen.
Northern Ontario
-
Things a pediatrician would never let their child do
As summer begins for most children around Canada, CTV News spoke with a number of pediatric health professionals about the best practices for raising kids, and how the profession has evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
One of Canada's most popular vehicles recalled over transmission issue; 95,000 impacted
One of the country's most popular vehicles is being recalled in Canada due to a transmission issue that may impact tens of thousands of drivers.
-
Indigenous burial grounds in northern Ont. to be protected
Ancient burial grounds in the Town of Blind River will soon be marked, and blocked off to the public.
Barrie
-
$600K worth of stolen goods retrieved during Huron-Perth bust
One man has been charged with possession of a stash of stolen goods and machinery.
-
Barrie celebrates Canada Day with pop-up parties
Barrie's Canada Day On The Move celebrations share the fun downtown, as well as in three city parks.
-
Former Barrie Colts captain Aaron Ekblad is a Stanley Cup Champion
Barrie's former captain of the Barrie Colts hoists the Stanley Cup after Game 7.
Kitchener
-
University of Waterloo takes legal action to remove Occupy UW encampment
An ongoing dispute between the University of Waterloo and a pro-Palestinian encampment has turned into a legal battle.
-
Two Southwestern Ontario players are now Stanley Cup champions
The Florida Panthers have made NHL history and two of their players, who call Southwestern Ontario home, are now celebrating their first big Stanley Cup win.
-
Kitchener family advocates for new integrated crisis centre after losing daughter to suicide
Mike and Fiona Roth lost their daughter, Kaitlyn, to suicide – just days before her 21st birthday – after they say they were on a two-year waitlist for mental health support.
London
-
Vast majority of London’s parkland now off limits to homeless encampments
Londoners experiencing homelessness must now navigate a more complex and restrictive set of rules about where they can set up a tent or make-shift shelter.
-
Trees topple in some London neighbourhoods after brief storm blows through
CTV London Meteorologist Julie Atchison said sunshine will start your Tuesday, 'A nice mix of sun and cloud, winds picking up out of the south as we head into the afternoon.'
-
Council rebuffs Farhi Holdings’ land deal and confirms plan to build new city hall on current property
A last ditch effort to investigate constructing a new city hall building in the heart of downtown London was shot down by a majority of city council.
Windsor
-
School board meeting shut down, police called over disruptions
A special meeting of the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) was dissolved after numerous disruptions from members of the public.
-
Video appears to show vehicle T-boned by school bus at red light
Three students were on a school bus that allegedly ran a red light, colliding with an SUV passing through an intersection on June 19.
-
Windsor business fined $35,000 for 'discrimination and reprisal' of Indigenous transgender woman
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has agreed Mad Wax Windsor Inc. “profoundly affected” a transgender woman for failing to provide a leg wax and taking the story to the media.
