Students Need to Make Time for Games

TAKE A BREAK AT ACROSS THE BOARD CAFE

BY: MADDY GRANT

Canadian students are stressed. A 2013 survey by The Globe and Mail found almost 90 per cent of Canadian post-secondary students feel overwhelmed by their workload.

 

Students are trying to balance health, finance, relationships, academics, and everything in between. With such busy workloads, students are putting time for socializing and fun on hold.

 

“I feel burned out all the time,” said Mykila Paquette, a 21-year-old Business Administration student at Red River College.

 

Paquette says she often puts schoolwork ahead of other aspects of her life.

 

“Sometimes I forget to be human. I’ll realize I haven’t spoken to a friend or even my mom in days because I’m so focused on school. That’s pretty bad when you think about it,” said Paquette.

 

Psychology Today reported in 2016 that socializing has both physical and mental health benefits. The report notes that interacting with others boosts feelings of well-being and decreases feelings of depression.

 

“I think that lots of students forget that socializing is still important when the school year starts. You shouldn’t have to shut that part of your life off,” said Paquette.

 

The importance for students to make time for fun and socialization is clear, and one local business has exactly what Red River College students need.

 

Across the Board Game Café is just a short walk from the Exchange District campus. The café offers students a place to kick back with friends, grab a coffee, and has over 1,200 board games to choose from.

 

“It’s a place that brings people together,” said Nick Mann, Manager of Across the Board Game Café. “It’s definitely different than your typical café or bar. Our vibe is relaxed and fun.”

 

The café is accessible for students to go in between or after class and has daily food specials, such as Pizza Day on Thursday, which gets you a house-made pizza for ten dollars.

 

“It’s an awesome place to go with a couple friends and just forget about school for a bit,” said Kristen Hedley-Brown, a 22-year-old Nursing student at the Notre Dame Campus. “Drinking coffee and playing an old favourite board game from when I was a kid is why I love it.”

 

Across the Board Game Café opened in 2014, and moved to its current location on 211 Bannatyne Ave. in January 2017.

Its business hours are Tuesday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

 

For more information visit acrosstheboardcafe.com