Welcome to the gamer’s den

Whose House? Rryland Bird’s house!

Ryland Bird in his home.

Photo by Keeley Braunstein-Black

For many gamers, it’s important to have a space to settle down and get comfortable before diving headfirst into a video game. Ryland Bird has just that space.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” he says. “When I’m not at work, it’s not like I’m itching to get out of the house. I’ll go out and do stuff with my friends, but I don’t mind being at home, because there’s so much to do here.”

When Bird’s not at home playing video games with his three other roommates, he works as the director of community outreach for the Manitoba Esports Association.

“I have been a part of the Manitoba Esports Association for a little bit under a year now,” Bird says.

“I focus a lot on (the) community aspect. I reach out to different schools, different programs to see if there's any interest or anything that we can help out with in regards to setting up either events or more focus on esports in the community.”

Bird is excited for the future of the Manitoba Esports Association and particularly for an upcoming event happening this summer.

“We’re partnered with the Red River Exhibition this year. So we're going to be putting on 10 day events come June,” he says.

“We’re going to have a lounge there and have a bunch of different games set up, and on weekends we’re having live events for our esports semifinals and finals for a league that we’re putting on.”

The ultimate goal is to expand the esports scene in Manitoba.

“There is a lot of demand for esports here that really isn’t recognized a whole lot,” Bird says. “I see so much potential for the future.”

1) A quality setup


“Wii U, regular Wii, a Switch, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and 4, that’s kind of our arsenal.”

2) Food at the ready


“With four people living in the house, our one fridge in the kitchen was not enough ... that one we got from one of our old roommate’s grandfather’s.”

3) it’s Bob Ross!


“He’s a very peaceful guy. He only means good things.”

4) A little ruff around the edges


“The Chance the Rapper one I actually got from a university in Nova Scotia, but it’s a little chewed up by the dog.”

5) Homemade computer


“For my entirety of high school, I was on a MacBook Pro ... and then I finally upgraded.”

6) Makeshift curtains


“It’s more because I don’t have curtains. Keeps the sun out in the morning.”

7) Hidden loot


“That’s kind of all our collections of stuff, but it’s pretty layered in there as well.”

Published in Volume 74, Number 15 of The Uniter (January 23, 2020)

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