The Canadian nonprofit group GAMERella launches its first-ever game development mentorship program today.
Nonprofit groups contain integral support systems, especially for those who are underrepresented and are a little less privileged than most. Canadian nonprofit organization GAMERella steps up by bringing their first-ever game development mentorship program, which launches today (Sunday, June 1st, 2025). The program aims to help participants become more hireable in the tough gaming industry, focusing on building individuals’ soft skills and offering personalized support. CGMagazine also had an extensive virtual chat with one of GAMERella’s co-founders, Gina Hara, to discuss the latest program, and a bit of the company’s history and work.
GAMERella was created by Hara and Charlotte Fisher in 2013, after recognizing the need to create more welcoming and diverse game spaces in Montréal—particularly for women, queer, and neurodivergent developers. Since then, it has grown into a thriving community, bringing together amazing organizers and volunteers who work together to make game development open to all.
The organization is most known for hosting the world’s longest-running inclusive 2-day game jam and workshop series. It has hosted an annual game jam event since 2013 with the goal of democratizing the field of game development by making it accessible and inclusive, particularly for women (cis/trans) and equity-deserving individuals who are systemically underrepresented and underrecognized in this domain.
Despite over a decade of helping budding Canadian devs, Hara shared that GAMERella only just gained full nonprofit organization status in spring 2024. This allowed them to apply for government grants and expand their reach. Now, the support organization is generously funded by the Canadian Media Fund (CMF), and Hara expressed her great thanks to them for seeing the potential and hard work in GAMERella.
This year, GAMERella is levelling up and wants its participants to level up their skills too. The new mentorship program is a long-term mentoring initiative to support emerging game-makers from equity-deserving groups to take their first steps in the games industry. This program will help develop participants’ professional skills, boost their portfolio, and provide them with networking opportunities so that they can enter the industry with knowledge and confidence.
There will also be honoraria for both mentors and mentees, with two phases to the program. Hara explained, the first part is called “Press Start.” “The first part is about soft skills, to help people feel confident in their own skills, preparing their applications, going to job interviews, but also networking opportunities and how they are actually done.”
The second phase is titled “Power Up,” narrowing in on individual skill-building. “The second phase is more of a custom, personalized phase—really working together with building people’s games or projects. [It also includes] shadowing and doing interviews at some of the studios that we work with. We really try to help people become the most hireable version of themselves. It is a very tough economy right now, and the game industry. There are a lot of layoffs, a lot of difficulties, and we cannot promise jobs. But we will do our absolute best to make sure that people have the best chance of getting these jobs.” Hara passionately detailed.
This is a major opprotunity for those who either just graduated and need a foot in the door, or are seeking help getting their game made. CGMagazine will be checking in on the 2025 mentorship cohort periodically, throughout the next year. Check out their website to learn more about their events. Stay tuned for updates and some inside looks at how GAMERella is helping aspiring game devs one stage at a time!
