First-Ever GGaide Conference Raises $70,000 for Centraide

The Quebec Video Game Industry Teams Up For The Community

Video game studios from across Quebec pulled together on September 30, 2021 for the first-ever GGaide conference, raising, more than $70,000 for Centraide of Greater Montreal through sponsorships, ticket sales, and a silent auction. The one-day virtual event presented expert panels and keynotes on the future of gaming and creating games for a female audience.

The event reflected the spirit of community and collaboration that united its team of volunteer organizers from video game studios across the province.

“What really stood out to me was the openness, the passion, and the generosity of our speakers who freely gave their time for a great cause,” said Andréane Meunier, CTO of Eidos-Montréal and GGaide’s Head of Content. “Everyone involved in organizing GGaide was in it for the good of the community, not themselves or their company.”

GGaide was organized by Techaide, an organization that promotes collaboration between Montreal’s tech sector and community organizations, and supported by Ubisoft, Behaviour Interactive, Unreal Engine, Tencent, Bethesda Studios Montréal, Legion Labs, Banque Nationale, Gameloft Montréal, Keywords Studios, EA Motive, Quantic Dream Montréal, Ludia, Square Enix Montréal, Haven, Eidos Montréal et Eidos Sherbrooke. Red Barrels matched donations up to $7,000.

“The event reminded me that Quebec’s video game sector is an ecosystem where companies encourage each other, learn from each other, and support each other,” said François Pelland, CEO of Legion Labs and founder of GGaide. “As many as 350 community organizations could benefit from GGaide, and that’s what this event was all about. All the studios involved were invested in making a difference in the community..”

GGaide’s organizers would like to thank the keynote speakers – Jenny McBean, Research Director of Bryter’s annual Female Gamers study, Marc Petit, Unreal Engine VP and General Manager at Epic Games. André Gauthier, Studio Head at Unity Montreal – and all the panellists who took their time to share their expertise with the audience.

GGaide would not have been possible without the volunteer efforts of staff from its supporting studios: Behaviour Interactive, Eidos Montréal, Frima, Gameloft Montreal, La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec, Legion Labs, Ludia Games, and Square Enix Montréal.