One of Canada’s largest and oldest annual tabletop gaming convention is returning to Burnaby after a four-year hiatus with a promise of a great deal of gaming fun.
The annual convention, Trumpeter Salute, features over 100 games over the three days — with the option of bringing your own games as walk-in at the open gaming tables.
The Trumpeter Salute 2023 convention is being held at the Bonsor Recreation Complex from April 14 to 16 where participants can enjoy a plethora of games — including historical, science fiction, fantasy miniature and board games.
Tickets are available at the door and priced at $30 for all three days, $20 for Saturday admission and $10 each for Friday and Sunday admissions.
Folks can expect favourites like Dungeons and Dragons and BattleTech, and board games hosted by the M3 Gamers. Organizers also noted that in addition to these games, a Warhammer 40,000 tournament will be run by Adam Waugh, and will include prizes.
A SAGA Grand Melee will also be hosted for the first time by Danny Majdanac.
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a newbie, Salute 2023 welcomes all. Trumpeter focused primarily on miniature games at its founding, noted the organizers, but has since evolved to include the entire spectrum of tabletop games.
Signup sheets will be set up ahead of each four-hour game for people to reserve a spot at the table. And a couple of open gaming tables will be open in each session for those who want to bring their own games as walk in.
Sunday will see the longest gaming period at the convention with a six-hour time slot. If you have no intentions of playing, but wanted to get initiated to the convention as a spectator, Salute is the place to go.
Visitors can go in for free, and take advantage of the staffed canteen for some budget eats while they witness gamers going head-to-head. Starting Saturday noon, samosas will be served, and $3 pizza slices, a long-standing Trumpeter Salute tradition, will be available from 5 p.m. on Saturday.
There will also be vendors like Imperial Hobbies, Synergy Games, and Pulp Figures in the area for folks to buy board games, and a Bring and Buy market, where you can buy and sell your miniatures, games, terrain, books, etc.
If you can’t attend the convention, the Trumpeters also run Friday Game Nights every month — usually on the first Friday — where you can drop in and play for $6 to drop in and play.
Trumpeter Salute 2023
Where: Bonsor Recreation Complex (6550 Bonsor Avenue, Burnaby)
When: Friday, April 14; 7 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, April 15; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (3 sessions)
"Big Game" Sunday, April 16; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $30 for all three days, $20 for Saturday; $10 for Friday and Sunday; tickets available at door. For schedule of games and other information, visit website.
