An event designed for you not to be BOARD

By Chelsea Girard

Gaymes Night is bringing the community together through a social program of board games and food.

Since October 2018, The Windsor Sandwich Shop, along with Windsor-Essex Pride Fest, has hosted a free Gaymes Night for the LGBTIQ2S community every Thursday from 6-9 p.m. The night is designed to be an inclusive experience, featuring more than 75 board games for participants to enjoy in a friendly competition.

Windsor-Essex Pride Fest’s goal is to empower Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex and Two Spirit (LGBTIQ2S) individuals through its social and recreation programs and facilitate opportunities for connection and belonging to reduce social isolation. This is one of many various events they host across Windsor-Essex with the help of the QConnect Program of Windsor-Essex Pride Fest fund by the Ontario Trillium Foundation in partnership with the Can-Am Friendship Centre.

David Lenz, Windsor-Essex Pride Fest Chair, says the event is different than others The Windsor-Essex Pride Fest hosts because of the social isolation that is broken during this event.

“The Gaymes Night is a different kind of event where people can play board games, socialize and interact with others,” said Lenz. “Other events in the community are centered more around live entertainment and live music. This event is a more networking type event. In the age where everyone is on their cell phone, attendees at this event are interacting with each other person to person and building great communication.”

This event brings the LGBTIQ2S community together to interact with others they may have not met. This is done through age-specific activities, peer-facilitated groups, workshops and special events and initiatives.

Michael Gordon, 19, is a frequent gamer and said he enjoys the Gaymes Night because it’s a great way to connect members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“This event is such a great way to meet people that have had a lot of the same life experiences as you,” said Gordon. “I attend Gaymes Night myself because the people I have met are so welcoming and fun to be around, the time just flies.”

From old favourites like Scrabble, Monopoly or Yahtzee to quirky up-and-comers like Ticket to Ride, Pandemic or Exploding Kittens, there is a game and place for everyone each Thursday night at The Windsor Sandwich Shop.