Short Stories

I took the group to a few of these already. Great times always. **This is a fully accessible venue** [Because News](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/becausenews/about-because-news-1.4344480) is Canada's funniest news quiz. Host and award-winning comedian Gavin Crawford makes games out of the headlines, along with a panel of comedians and celebrities. It's also become [somewhat of a TikTok hit](https://www.niemanlab.org/2023/10/wait-wait-dont-tell-me-how-this-canadian-radio-show-became-a-tiktok-hit/) Note - very limited, sold out event. **Only sign up if you can 100% commit to attend.** Meet 6PM Doors open 6:30PM Taping should end around 8:30PM. **THIS GROUP IS OPEN TO THOSE THAT WANT TO BE SOCIAL, MAKE FRIENDS, THAT ARE SINGLE OR NOT SINGLE. WE ALSO HAVE LOTS OF OTHER EVENTS LIKE, MOVIES, WALKS, HIKES, ARTS & CULTURE AND RESTAURANTS. WE LOVE TO SUPPORT MEMBERS TO SOCIALIZE AND TO FORM LONG LASTING FRIENDSHIPS.** **Rules:** [Click Here!](https://www.meetup.com/toronto-movies-and-social-group/events/293241263/) **Getting The Best Out Of MeetUp:** [Click Here!](https://www.meetup.com/toronto-movies-and-social-group/events/293241269/) Consider [joining our Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JpUbpvfPcNuFzTJ1VqTLZO) to discuss this and future events too Don't Forget to join our email list (Meetup does not send out emails to everyone in a group) to get our weekly news later about upcoming events: [http://eepurl.com/hKt76f](http://eepurl.com/hKt76f) Facebook group @ [http://www.facebook.com/groups/502945113062739/](http://www.facebook.com/groups/502945113062739/)

Join Lawrence, your top hatted host, for an evening of Japanese culture, TD Gallery to see some rare writing, then a walk through Yorkville to Hemmingways for a bite and a beer. This is a mask required event! Please bring your own (I will do my best to bring a few extras) or you will not be allowed to enter The Japan Foundation. At 5:30 pm, we will check-in at The Japan Foundation on the third floor to see Tenugui Towels with Cherry Blossoms: Design Excellence in Daily Life. I have reserved six tickets for this event on Eventbrite. https://tr.jpf.go.jp/ At 6:30, we will head over to the Toronto Reference Library to see the exhibit on the written word. https://tpl.ca/programs-and-classes/exhibits/trl-exhibits/ 7 pm, we will make our way through historic Yorkville where I will share some of the many landmarks on our way to Hemingway's. See the map for our route. 7:30 will find us upstairs at Hemingway's socializing and discussing what we learned. I think I will share some New Zealand lamb with some lucky TBLer. https://www.hemingways.to/

## Rehearsal Details: Thursday evenings 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m, Earl Bales Community Centre 4169 Bathurst St., just south of Sheppard, in Toronto. Email our membership chair, if you are interested in attending a rehearsal. **Lisa Taylor: 647-886-1766, [membershipchair@torontoaccolades.com](mailto:membershipchair@torontoaccolades.com)** Do you love to sing? Do you love performing for live audiences? The Toronto Accolades Chorus brings women-centric singers together to sing and perform a cappella harmony. Harmony connects people from all backgrounds, ages, and musical abilities to create a community where you can not only sing, but find a space to connect with other strong and dedicated people just like you. For decades, we've provided a venue for singers to express themselves, make quality music together, and form bonds beyond measure, and we invite you to join us for the ride. We welcome guests and work with them to find out their voice range and to determine what part (lead, tenor, baritone or bass) they would sing best. Guests are given a music folder and encouraged to participate in singing with the chorus in subsequent weeks. Although we continually strive for musical excellence, prior musical training is not necessary to belong to our chorus. We provide everyone with sheet music, audio learning tracks, education and guidance. At the end of 6 weeks, we ask each prospective member to audition, to ensure that they can hold their part in a four-part harmony song.

**Meet new people over great food in a relaxed, social setting.** This is a small-group social dining experience for people who enjoy good food, good conversation, and expanding their circle in a natural way. Everyone attending is there to meet others — no pressure, no awkward networking. **What to expect** * A small group (usually 4–8 people) * A friendly, low-pressure atmosphere * Easy, natural conversation **How it works** We coordinate the group and reserve the table once attendees confirm. The venue and details are shared with the group beforehand. Just show up, order what you like, and enjoy the experience. Each guest covers their own food and drinks. To keep groups balanced and confirmed, seat confirmations happen through #dine: https://www.hashtagdine.com/

**RSVP** **here: [https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3646953/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=RHCTN1260000476061](https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3646953/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=RHCTN1260000476061)** Join your peers and subject matter experts at the Toronto Red Hat® User Group (RHUG) event on April 16, 2026, to discover solutions for your biggest IT challenges. This RHUG is a unique opportunity to network with industry professionals and explore cutting-edge solutions for IT modernization. Our focus will be on The Foundational Role of IT Automation in an AIOps Strategy: Enabling Intelligence with Ansible. Learn how robust, agentless automation prepares your environment for AI-driven insights and reduces manual intervention. Transform your IT services while enjoying complimentary food and drinks. **Event Details:** * Date: April 16, 2026 * Location: IBM Office: 16 York St, Toronto, ON M5J 0E6, Canada * Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET We look forward to seeing you there.

This is a ticketed event. Please register at [this link](https://luma.com/lpikw708). ​Ryan Faulkner explores various papers that address cooperation and safety in multi-agent LLM simulations. Some of the core topics will include: * ​Moral behaviour of agents in high-stakes, zero-sum, and morally charged social dilemmas * ​Governance and sanctioning dynamics and the ways that LLM agents often fail to cooperate and free-ride in common-pool resource game * ​Mechanism design interventions like mediation, contracts, and elected leadership are explored to steer agents toward safer outcomes. ​This research also reveals that LLMs adapt their behavior based on awareness of their conversational partner's identity. ​​​**Event Schedule** 6:00 to 6:30 - Food and introductions 6:30 to 7:30 - Presentation and Q&A 7:30 to 9:00 - Open Discussions ​​​​​​If you can't make it in person, feel free to join the live stream starting at 6:30 pm, via [this link](https://www.youtube.com/@Trajectory-Labs/live).

**NOTE:** This is a paid event. **Tickets here:** https://www.eventbrite.com/e/etobicoke-speed-dating-age-30-40-tickets-1985761717753?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true Join us in Etobicoke for a fun night of speed dating and socializing, followed by a fun Bingo game! Join us for a fun and social evening of speed dating! Other speed dating events may get you 6-7 dates, but at 15 First Dates you'll be meeting up to 15 people! Not only that, we will end the night with a fun Bingo session, planned just for our group! Your ticket includes a bingo card, and fun prizes to be won! How speed dating works is that you will meet members of the opposite sex for quick dates, and then you will give them a yes or a no. They will then do the same thing for you. If there is a mutual match, contact information will be exchanged the next day. **Important:** Please make sure to sign up for a profile on www.15firstdates.ca, as this is the platform we will use for our event. Come with a fully charged phone! We will give you all needed materials, and explain the process to you once everyone has arrived. You don't need to bring anything, just come dressed for success! **This event is for people aged 30-40.** Get your tickets now while you can!

\*\*NOTE: This meetup currently lacks a regular host. (The current hosts are volunteers for online organizational purposes; they show up in person occasionally.) If you arrive and there is no host, don’t worry. Whoever is the longest-running member (or whoever wants to) can set the timer for the writing session. In this way, the meetup is self-sustaining, and not dependent on any one person. Thanks for your understanding.\*\* Join us for an hour of quiet writing, followed by an hour of (optional) socializing. \*\*SILENT WRITING BEGINS AT 1:15 PM. IF YOU'RE LATE, WELCOME! WE WILL IGNORE YOU (BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY WRITING) UNTIL 2:15 PM.\*\* This meetup is open to everyone, whether you’re writing a novel, blog, class paper, or journal entry—or something completely different. Anyone interested is welcome to attend :) LOCATION: 5 Elements Cafe, basement level RSVP: Please be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. We recommend coming down to the basement to grab a spot before you buy anything, just in case. SCHEDULE: 1:00 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chill/leave. Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

Come join us at the lovely, well-lit, and cozy Theatre Centre Cafe for an hour and a half of silent writing (on whatever writing projects you will)! After silent writing is done, feel free to stay and chat or go as you please. If you are late you are welcome to join us (quietly and not disruptively). Please note this is a casual event, and we will NOT be critiquing each other's work. Other Important Details: WiFi name/password: #TheTheatreCentre (no password, open access) Travel / Parking info: There is paid street parking as well as Green P underground parking located at 45 Abell St (2 mins walk from the venue) Venue Guidelines: Please thank our hosts by purchasing something.

We are now at **Yonge Sheppard Centre** in the **food court** near **Dazzle Mi**. We start a bit past 1pm, so if you're late, please find a seat and start writing -- we'd love to hear about your story or your day -- afterwards. :) **Coworking for writers in your area!** Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com) **Travel / Parking info:** Public Transit: 1. Take the TTC subway to Sheppard-Yonge Station. 2. Use the Yonge St. Sheppard Ave exit **Driving & Parking:** Parking Entrance to Yonge Sheppard Centre is located on Greenfield Avenue and Doris Avenue. Accessible parking is available on P1, P3 and Concourse. Be sure to check for parking limits or fees. **Location:** We gather around the tables in the food court near **Dazzel Mi**. If you spot a group of people with laptops out, that’s probably us! **RSVP:** Please do RSVP. But be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. **SCHEDULE:** 12:45 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in -- come in early if you want to get lunch. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about red-nosed reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

Note: You may be removed from the attendance list if you've participated in the previous week's event. This allows for more people to experience this Meetup. Avengers put your costumes on and let’s go and save the world!
Well we can’t save the world (yet), but we aim to try to play a small part in the lives of those experiencing homelessness by making their day a bit better!
Description: Before the event the organizer will post a list in the comment section of the attendees and what they are responsible to bring (food/drink, kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies). We normally ask each attending member to bring approximately $15-20 worth of ingredients/supplies to our event. We will use the items to prepare and serve food/drink at The Meeting Place.
Timeline: We will meet on location at 11:00 am, with lunch served between 12:30-1:00 pm.
Membership Dues: Membership dues are $2.00 for the calendar year. Membership dues go towards paying for food/supplies incurred by no-shows. Membership dues are due at the first meetup of the year that you attend.
No Shows/Late Un-RSVP: We’re relying on members who RSVP to bring key ingredients for recipes! Please try your best to show-up or alternatively change your RSVP early so another member may fill the empty spot.
\*\*\* If you are on the waitlist, keep checking as you may be moved into attendance to replace someone. We will try to message you to confirm your attendance in advance.
Donations will be assigned before the event.

Struggling with motivation and focus as you hammer away on your manuscript at home? Want to join a community of writers as we embrace the joys and pains (mostly pains) of writing together? Bring your laptop, pen & paper, old-school typewriter, or futuristic writing gadget, and join an enthusiastic community of science fiction and fantasy writers as we work on our current projects in the same space. The format will be similar to our online writing sprints: 30-minute blocks of focused, quiet writing time (the sprints), interspersed with breaks where we can chat, ask questions, and share our writing experiences.

The next event is happening on Saturday April 18 at 2:30PM at Danu Social House! Please RSVP if you're planning on coming so we can plan appropriately! To help cover the costs of meetup fees, we will be taking optional donations for this event. If you're inclined to, feel free to send any amount you're comfortable with to harresh.s@hotmail.com, or bring cash to the event. Please note that this is entirely optional and not required to join the event! All proceeds will go towards fees for this event and future events, as well as meetup fees.

Our May book will be Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Book summary: In a tiny cafe where time travel is possible under strict rules, customers revisit pivotal moments they can't quite change.

Storytelling Open Mic at Library. Sign up list goes out at 12:00 p.m. Each performer will get 7 minutes to tell their story via Microphone. A true story. If you don't want to tell a story this time around, feel free to come enjoy the storytellers and relax. If you need to cancel, please change your status to "will not attend."

Looking for a quiet, focused space to write? Come be part of our writing group—a dedicated time just for writing alongside fellow writers in your community. No readings, no critiques, no peer-review—just you writing within a supportive atmosphere. 6pm-6:15pm: Find your seat, set up your writing station, quick intro's. 6:15pm-7:45 pm: An hour and a half of silent focused writing. 7:45pm-8pm: Quick debrief, pack and head home. Can't wait to see you! :) Disclaimer: Shut Up & Write! is not affiliated with the Loudoun County Libraries or any other entity.

Storytelling Open Mic at Library. Sign up list goes out at 12:00 p.m. Each performer will get 6 minutes to tell their story via Microphone. A true story. If you don't want to tell a story this time around, feel free to come enjoy the storytellers and relax. If you need to cancel, please change your status to "will not attend."

Come by for an hour of evening writing with fellow creative folks. Everyone works on their own thing, no obligation to share — just show up and make any kind of words happen. If you're spending too much time thinking about writing, join us for an hour of focused writing. Guidelines: * While some discussion is encouraged to get to know one another, strive for silent, focused writing from 6:45 PM - 7:45 PM. * Generally avoid disruptive sensory input/behaviors, such as repeated or unpleasant noises, smells, physical movements, etc. (if you have health-related reasons, or some other aspect out of your control due to which this could become an issue, show up anyway and explain that potential disruptions are not intentional.) * Repeated breaking of the above rules without a valid reason may result in dismissal from the group at any point during a session. **Why is Shut Up & Write(!) so effective?** [http://arsenalofwords.com/2015/10/14/why-i-shut-up-write/](http://arsenalofwords.com/2015/10/14/why-i-shut-up-write/) **LOCATION:** Gaithersburg Library, Study Room 2 (if we aren't in 2, check 1!) **SCHEDULE:** 6:30 \| Pre\-session check\-in \- What will you work on? 6:45 \| Shut up and write for 1 hour\! 7:45 \| Post\-session check\-in \- How did it go? Feel free to keep writing and finish your lingering thoughts past this point, but know that the library closes at 8 PM! **BRING:** Whatever you need to be able to write! ***If you are interested in a more collaborative and discussion-focused writing group, the Gaithersburg Library hosts such a group on Sundays from 4:00 to 5:30 PM! Ask Chris or the library staff for more details.***

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Let the conversation flow from topic to topic. Optional questions are listed below.
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Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions
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1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?
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Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles
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4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?
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Optional Questions: AI & Being Human
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7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?
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Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning
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10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?
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Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche
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13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?
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Optional Questions: Work & Purpose
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16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?
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Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection
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19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?
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Optional Questions: Time & Mortality
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22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?
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Optional Questions: Society & Culture
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25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?
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Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy
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28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?