Hayley Kornilenko, the owner and operator of Esper Cards and Games, holds some of the games she has stocked in her new store at 380 Kingston Rd., in the heart of Highland Creek Village.
By Shelley Cooke
As the new year begins, we welcome the opening of a new games store in the heart of Highland Creek. Local resident Hayley Kornilenko is the owner and operator ofEsper Cards and Games, located at 380 Old Kingston Rd.
Hayley’s passion for games began during her childhood when a neighbour introduced her to magic cards like Magic: The Gathering, where players summon incredible creatures and cast powerful spells to defeat their foes. Since then, her love of gaming grew and in university she started participating in live action roleplays (LARP). This long-lasting pastime of gaming has encouraged Hayley to follow her passion and open up her own gaming business.
Esper Cards & Games is more than just a retail store – it’s a community hub for trading card games, tabletop RPGs, and board game enthusiasts. Inspired by her lifelong love of Magic: The Gathering and storytelling through games, Hayley created the store to foster a welcoming and inclusive space for all gamers, especially women and underrepresented groups.
One thing she noticed when visiting other game stores is how they are predominantly owned by men and attract mostly male clientele. She recalls feeling isolated at times and rather than being welcomed to join others, she would get stuck playing a game at the kids’ table. Hayley’s goal is to offer game space that doesn’t contain any boundaries: “I want to create an inclusive space irrespective of gender or any other divisions. I want to offer a safe and inclusive space where everyone belongs.”
Before planning to open up a gaming store, Hayley has been working in corporate marketing where her agency, called Esper Strategies, works with clients who sell accounting software to use effective marketing strategies. The name Esper, which is also the name of her gaming store, is based on her favourite card game, Magic: The Gathering.
Esper is a favourite colour combination of blue, white and black in the game. These colours embody a philosophy of control, perfection and ambition – qualities that inspire both the store and its mission. Esper represents the pursuit of knowledge, mastery and excellence, as well as the belief in shaping the gaming community into an inclusive and welcoming environment. Just as Esper strives for the highest standards, the store reflects that same commitment to creating a space where everyone feels empowered to connect, compete and have fun.
Esper Cards & Gamesoffers a curated selection of trading cards, board games and tabletop RPG products, as well as a vibrant event schedule, including Friday Night Magic and community game nights. Hayley’s vision is to build not just a store but a place where creativity, strategy and camaraderie thrive – welcoming both seasoned players and those discovering the magic of gaming for the first time. Hayley would also like to host events for parents to learn how to play games that their children are playing as a way of building stronger relationships and connecting with them.
Hayley hopes that her game store will motivate people to spend less time on their screens and more time interacting with others. It is also an excellent way to build and/or strengthen certain skill sets. “By participating in face-to-face game playing, it encourages problem solving, as well as building critical thinking and mathematical skills,” she says.
We wish Hayley all the best on her new venture! For more information on her business, please visit her website at: espercardsandgames.com