Prairie Tabletop Gaming an affordable hobby
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What began as a small group of friends cleaning a local hockey rink in exchange for a place to play cards has evolved into a thriving community hub for tabletop gaming in Portage la Prairie.
Prairie Tabletop Gaming, a recently incorporated non-profit, is seeing a surge in popularity as residents look for social ways to spend the winter months. The group meets every Friday night at Prairie Fusion from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with an all-day “Game Day” held the second Saturday of every second month.
“We want to be a free or affordable place for people to engage with their community in a safe and calming environment,” said Chase Maly, the group’s co-chair. “We’re friendly, we’re nice, come on down and engage. We don’t charge, so you’re not going to lose any money.”
The organization’s roots trace back to founder Brad Wettlaufer, who struck a deal at the BDO Centre to host Magic: The Gathering sessions in exchange for cleaning the facility. Today, the group has grown to include a seven-member board of directors and a library of games funded by grants from the Community Foundation of Portage and District and the Portage Community Revitalization Corporation (PCRC).
While Magic: The Gathering remains a staple, the Friday night sessions draw 20 to 30 regulars playing everything from Warhammer 40,000 miniatures and Dungeons and Dragons to classic board games like Monopoly and Crokinole.
The appeal spans generations. Maly, who works for the local school division, says he often sees his own middle school and high school students sitting alongside older adults.
“A lot of times people kind of just come for the social aspect, not really to play something,” Maly said. “They just play cards while they talk with some buddies. That definitely happens.”
While attendance hit record highs of 110 people during previous all-day events, Maly says the group is focused on steady growth and partnership.
“We’re always trying to expand and see what people are looking for,” Maly added, noting that the group sustains itself through canteen sales, 50/50 draws, and community grants. He said he’s grateful to Prairie Fusion who has been awesome to work with and a great space to use.
Residents interested in joining can find the group on Facebook or Discord under “Prairie Tabletop Gaming.”
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