Trumpeter's History
The old Trumpeter Gaming Club was founded in 1964 by Jack Hutchings. Jack started playing tabletop games when he was 16 years old in 1927. He moved to Vancouver from Winnipeg in 1954 and, settled in Burnaby. In 1964 he established the first tabletop gaming club in British Columbia, The BC Chapter of the International Model General's Club (the main club was founded a few years earlier in New York). He also started a newsletter, which began a single page publication, but soon became a 20 page+ publication, called, The Trumpeter, which was published four times a year. It didn't take long before people were calling club members, Trumpeters. Jack ran his club from the basement of his home in Burnaby (just behind Brentwood Mall on Brentlawn Street) until the fall of 1977, where upon the club was moved to Tyne Hall in Burnaby (just south of Kingsway near Boundry). The club Jack started later spawned other clubs in the Vancouver area, and in other parts of the province, including a tabletop gaming club at UBC in the mid-1960's. In 1973, Jack organized the first tabletop game convention in Vancouver which attracted over 400 people. Jack Hutchings died in 1978, yet his club lived on till 2007 when the club needed to close shop to make way for the new Society, but his spirit and dream lives on with today's Trumpeter Tabletop Games Society, and all of it's dedicated members.
"Colin Upon's 15mm War of 1812 (US Troops)"
What is tabletop gaming?
The first published tabletop game was "Little Wars" in 1913, by author, H.G.Wells. Sir Winston Churchill owned a large collection of painted tabletop miniatures which he used to play with his closest friends well into his later years. Generally, tabletop gaming uses miniatures to simulate and recreate historical military conflicts, but the hobby is far more than just that. It is also the study of history, model-making, figure-painting, and, from all walks of life to enjoy a day or evening of entertainment. History above all, it is a social event where friends can get together with a common interest: game playing. Tabletop gamers come and imagination come alive with vivid recreations of historical conflicts both past, current and even into the realms of Science Fiction and Lord of the Rings style Fantasy.
"Dennis Chin's Ancient Chinese Army in the field"
The Trumpeter Tabletop Game Society memberships are one time only, with annual dues per calendar year. Membership fees are prorated, this means that the cost of first joining changes throughout the year.
Below is the fee breakdown:
JANUARY-APRIL = $15.00 MAY-AUGUST = $10.00 SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER = $ 5.00
Example: Joining the Trumpeter's in March, the cost will be $15.00. If joining in October, the cost would be $5.00. Note: All fees are in Canadian dollars. (USD is at par for 2008)
Full Membership Privileges:
Full Membership includes voting privileges on business, discounts at sponsoring hobby shops, and a reduced entrance fee to Friday Game Nights.
Associate Membership Privileges:
Associate members are entitled to discounts at sponsoring hobby shops, and a reduced entrance fee to Friday Game Nights, but do not receive voting rights.
Trumpeter Salute Conventions
Each year the Trumpeter's host the "Trumpeter Salute Tabletop Games Convention" at Bonsor Community Centre in Burnaby, B.C. (Canada). The Trumpeter Club puts on many display and tournament games during this three day event and regularly attracts 200-300 people from the Westcoast/Northwest. For more information on Trumpeter Salute, go to the Trumpeter Salute 2008 Web Page.
"John Westras' WWII Mustang Game"
Friday Game Nights
Friday Game Nights are held once a month, on a Friday night (except for March and December) on the second floor of the Bonsor Community Centre next to Metrotown in Burnaby. The games start at 7:00pm and go until 11:00pm. Friday Game Nights involve a variety of tabletop games ranging from naval clashes, air combat dogfights, Medieval skirmishes, ancient land battles, grand scale Napoleonic battles, American Civil War engagements, the fantastic realms of Warhammer or other fantasy/sci-fi battles, to classic or unique tabletop board-games. From the past, to the current, and to the far future, any era, may be represented at our events.
What are the dates for upcoming Friday Game Nights?
To find out: Click Here
"Canvas Eagles game in 1/72nd scale"
Trumpeter's "Special" Events
The Trumpeter's supports gaming events within the Metro Vancouver area and British Columbia and sometimes presents demonstration games at various locations.
Games Rule Systems
The Trumpeter's are known for all sorts of new and different games. To get a good idea of the types of games, and their corresponding rules systems, come on out to a event and check it out!
"Terry Sawchenko's WWII game in 1/144th scale"
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President Nikolas Langlands president@trumpeterclub.com Vice President Wayne Johnson vicepresident@trumpeterclub.com |