What we’re about
Welcome to the Abby & Tri-Cities Ladies Lunchers!
As a relative newbie to BC (I relocated from ON about 2 years ago), I have yet to explore lots of places in the province, including those close to where I live (Abby). As a food-lover, one way I’d like to explore the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley is by trying out different eateries (restaurants, cafés, wineries, etc.), and I’m hoping others would like to join me, including those who may be new to the area, BC, or Canada! (Note: I’ve specifically identified “lunch” in the title of the group, but get-togethers may include brunch, lunch, or dinner, which will typically be held on weekends).
Who is this group for?
This group is for 40-something, professional women who enjoy good food and conversation and are wanting to make new friends with other like-minded women. You hold liberal values; enjoy meeting new people with, and from, diverse backgrounds; and have a passion for travel, culture, and food! (On the latter point, I did a self-guided tour around the Yucatán this past December and was just blown away! I have a similar trip planned for Thailand this December and can’t wait!).
Also, it’s very important to me that the lunches be warm and welcoming to all who attend, so shared values and like-mindedness are key to creating such a space. Similarly, this is a social group with the purpose of building friendships; as such, this group is not intended for business or career networking.
(Note: Although this group isn’t specifically for childfree women, most (or all) members in similar Meetup groups tend to be childfree and I expect this group will be the same. Also, this group is specifically for women in their 40s to facilitate relationship building based on similar life stage, generational experiences, etc.).
How will this group be managed?
This group will be kept small to facilitate relationship building (i.e., to allow members more opportunity to connect on a regular basis). If you’re interested in joining the group, you will be asked to answer some questions about yourself and your interest in the group; you are also required to upload a clear and current photo of yourself to your Meetup profile. The former will help to create cohesion amongst the group, while the latter is important for safety and transparency. (Note: It is the organizer’s sole discretion to deny requests to join, or to remove someone from, the group due to, for example, abusive language; safety concerns; or multiple no-shows or last-minute cancellations).
The lunches will also be kept small (5 members plus the host) to allow for great conversation and an opportunity to connect with everyone at the table. It’s my intention to try out a variety of eateries—excluding chain restaurants—in the Abbotsford-Langley-Surrey and Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody) areas. Suggestions are welcome! Also, should a lunch fill, you’re encouraged to add your name to the waitlist in case a spot becomes available.
Those who RSVP for a lunch will be contacted 3-4 days beforehand to confirm their attendance (via DM in Meetup). This allows more time for the spot to be filled by someone else. After confirmations to attend are received, the name and address for the restaurant will be released. (Note: The specific location for the lunch will not be posted publicly on Meetup as this group is “private” with RSVP-only events, rather than casual, drop-in events. The event postings will note the city and general area or neighbourhood).
If this group sounds like a fit for you…
Feel free to submit a request to join or message me for more info! I plan to organize 2 or 3 lunches in September, which will be posted soon.