Discover how Langara College's Classical Studies program helped alumna Nina Houle find her passion for ancient history and launch a research career connecting tabletop games and classical storytelling.
When Nina Houle first enrolled at Langara College, she wasn't sure what she wanted to major in. But a few transformative courses, and a passion for history, set her on a path she never expected: studying how ancient history is portrayed in modern board games.
Today, Houle is pursuing a master's degree with a unique academic focus on the reception of ancient history in tabletop games and other popular media. Her journey shows how studying Classical Studies at Langara can open unexpected doors.
A transformative experience at Langara
During her time at Langara, Houle explored a wide range of humanities courses, from women's studies to art history, before rediscovering her passion for the ancient world, which she'd previously been interested in as a child. "When I first joined Langara, I didn't really have a sense of what I was going to major in," she recalls.
That changed when she enrolled in two history courses that ignited a deep interest in medieval European history and pre-modern Islamic art. "Those two classes were some of the most fun I've ever had in university," she explains. Inspired by instructors like Jennifer Knapp and Dr. Niall Christie, Houle realized that historians have the freedom to create their own research questions; a revelation that motivated her to pursue history further.
Where history meets board games
Houle's studies at Langara College didn't just teach her to think critically; they also encouraged her to apply her creativity in new ways. Her current academic research explores how tabletop games serve as a medium for interpreting ancient history. "I got the impression that there was a real void in the scholarship regarding how tabletop gaming portrays antiquity," she notes. This realization led her to focus her research on board games, an area she feels has been largely overlooked in academic circles.
Her passion for board games took root at Langara. While studying, she worked as a game steward at a board game restaurant in Vancouver, where she helped patrons select and learn new games. "It felt natural to combine my interests in history and board games," she explains. "I would help people narrow down their choices and explain the rules, which really deepened my understanding of how games can tell stories," she adds.
The relevance of classical studies today
Her current work highlights how the study of ancient history continues to shape modern narratives. "The continuing hyper relevance of history and popular culture is important to understand," she asserts. From ancient mythology to contemporary storytelling, Houle sees clear links that underscore the value of classical studies in today's world. "We have literally spent millennia adapting and working with concepts from antiquity," she adds. Her journey shows how Langara's Classical Studies courses don't just teach students about the past: They equip them to understand and influence the present.
Advice for future students
As she prepares for her future career in library science, Houle reflects on the importance of her Langara education. Her advice to future Langara students? "Take lots of electives, study whatever you think is interesting, even if it's not relevant to your career plans," she encourages. This perspective has allowed her to cultivate a fulfilling academic journey that blends her love of the ancient world with modern creativity.
You never know when you might take a subject that seems mildly interesting on a whim and it's going to change your life.
Interested in where a Classical Studies education at Langara College could take you?
Langara College is the only Canadian post-secondary institution to offer a two-year Classical Studies program. The program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach combining historical, archaeological, and literary sources to learn about the ancient Greek and Roman cultures and their wider Mediterranean context. Visit the program website for more information.
Through her studies, Houle had a paper published in the HiPo Student Journal-an undergrad student journal in the History, Latin Studies, and Political Science department (external link) -in 2019. She additionally worked on the journal's editing team, including some time as editor-in-chief.
For those interested in Houle's insights, visit her blog, A Reception Collection (external link) , where she further investigates the interplay between ancient history and modern gaming
