07/21/2026
Earlier this month, members of the Skills community came together for a video game event at the Action Lab. Planned by people supported by Skills and staff, the event created space for people to connect, play, and spend time together around a shared interest.
The idea for the event came from conversations with people in the Skills community. Many people shared an interest in video games and were seeking opportunities to play and connect with others, but there were limited community events in Edmonton where they could do this.
Skills staff supported folks to plan what this kind of gathering could look like. A planning committee was formed, made up of people supported by Skills, who took the lead in shaping the event, from deciding what activities to include to organizing the details.
Using an Asset Based Community Development approach, the committee built on the skills, interests, and resources already within their community. People brought video game consoles, TVs, games, and other equipment, contributing in different ways to help create the event.
During the planning process, the committee also recognized that people experience events differently and that some people may need a quieter space throughout the day. They created a sensory-friendly area in the Action Lab with a tent and comfortable seating, giving people a place to step away from the activity when they needed a break.
Thank you to the planning committee, including Apollo, Chad, Dana, and everyone who helped bring the event together. Thank you as well to the Skills Society staff who supported the planning and coordination of the event, including Tianna, Bruno, Robyn, Teresa, and others.
There has already been interest in hosting more events like this in the future, and we’re looking forward to seeing where it goes next!
[In the first image, a group of people sit facing a large projector screen displaying a four-player Mario Kart race in the Action Lab.
In the second image, two people sit on round stools playing a soccer video game on a small TV in the Action Lab.
In the third image, people gather in the Action Lab to play board games, socialize, and watch Mario Kart projected on a large screen. The bright, open room includes colourful seating, large windows, and tables where community members are engaged in activities together.
In the fourth image, a large blue sensory tent is set up indoors in a corner of the Action Lab, creating a dark, cozy, and quiet space where attendees can step away from the event to rest and recharge.]
