How to Meet New People in Canada: 8 Ways
6 min read · 中文版
For many people in Canada, life is work and home and not much else. New immigrants and international students often feel they never meet anyone. The good news: there are plenty of concrete ways to widen your circle, and many relationships start as friendships.
Start from your interests (1–3)
1. Interest groups and classes: cooking, photography, dance or a language exchange. Seeing the same people at the same time each week is the easiest way to get to know them. 2. Sport: badminton, a running club, a hiking group or a climbing gym; chatting while you're active comes naturally.
3. Event sites: search Meetup or Eventbrite for your city and interests to find book clubs, board-game nights and hiking groups.
Start from your community (4–6)
4. Volunteer: community centres, food banks and festivals all need volunteers, and working together introduces you to warm, engaged people. 5. Hometown associations, alumni groups and community organisations: with people from the same place or school, there's always something to talk about.
6. Public events at libraries and community centres: talks, craft classes and festival events. Keep an eye on their noticeboards and websites.
Start from people you know (7–8)
7. Colleagues and friends of friends: say yes to invitations, or host a small get-together where everyone brings one friend.
8. Dating sites: a platform for serious dating lets you meet people by city and interests. Chat and video-call on the site first, then meet in a public place.
The mindset: start with friendship
Don't walk into every event looking for a partner; treat it as a way to make friends. When you relax, conversation flows more easily.
Go to the same event a few times and familiarity builds. A social circle grows a little at a time.
Frequently asked questions
How can introverts meet new people?
Choose small events with a set activity, like a book club or a craft class; they're easier than big parties. You can also chat online first and then meet one-on-one. Our guide for introverts has more.
My English isn't great. How can I make friends?
Start with Chinese community events and hometown associations, and join a language exchange to practise English while meeting people. Many locals are glad to chat with you too.
I live in a small city. How do I meet people?
Community events in smaller cities often make it easier for people to get to know each other. Dating sites also let you meet people in nearby cities and meet halfway at the weekend.
Ready to meet someone serious?
Join free and get matched with verified Chinese singles in your city — with video calls before you meet.