What we’re about
Ever wanted to chat with a stranger, but didn’t know if they’d be open to communication? You’re not alone! A Social Project recently conducted in Victoria (The Fifty First Dates Project) has shed light on the growing desire for real connection between strangers.
We took matters into our own hands, deciding to start a monthly gathering where strangers can connect with each other. The “Meet A Stranger” events happen in public, during daylight. Strangers are paired at random, and the two have up to one hour to get to know each other, and view life from a someone else’s perspective. The free gathering is open to any adult who wishes to participate in a shared human experience.
In addition to building a sense of community, the monthly gatherings also aim to help soften the edges of judgement, and find common ground beyond social labels. This platonic meeting is a chance to get to know a complete stranger – if only for one hour. All are welcome.
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Read this article to know a bit more about the Meet a Stranger project.
Both Carrie and Jacinthe are delighted to announce that as of July 25, 2024, their "Meet A Stranger" Initiative is now officially sponsored by the City of Victoria and the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association. Thank you to both sponsors for their support!
Release
We are facilitating these gatherings to contribute to building a healthy community in which we get to know other community members regardless of their age, gender, or social background. By agreeing to participate, you understand the risks involved and you do not hold Jacinthe, Carrie, and the Meet a Stranger project responsible for any harm that might arise.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Meet A StrangerFairfield Gonzales Community Centre, Victoria, BC
Finding commonality through connection - one conversation at a time.
Join us Saturday, August 16th at 2:15 pm at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Place (1330 Fairfield Rd) for a one hour platonic conversation.
What is it?
It's an opportunity to share a one-off, one-hour, platonic conversation with a complete stranger. A chance to learn about - and from - someone who could potentially have a very different lived experience than your own. It's a way to build community and increase our collective social health here in Victoria. Meet a Stranger is part of the larger "Open to Conversation" movement run by West Coast Speaks Health Society to make talking to strangers fun again.How does it work?
When you walk in the door at 2.15, we will ask you to put your name in a jar. At 2.30 we will do a brief introduction and then we will pair people at random by drawing the names from the jars. Conversations then happen from 2.30-3.30. If you're the shy type, don't worry - we've got you covered! We have conversational prompts to get you started. It's also important to remember that everyone in the room has come to talk to a stranger - more specifically, they've come to talk to you. This means everyone in that room is open to conversation.Please be there by 2:15pm. Participants arriving late may not be able to join.
Why are we capping the number of people attending?
We host these events at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Place, and therefore have limited inside space available. Often, people will head outside in the sunshine and enjoy their conversations in the front garden of the community center. We set a limit on the number of RSVPs on Meetup based on the amount of inside space available. If you're on the waitlist, and willing to chat outside if there's no space inside, then please feel free to come along anyway!Feedback:
We would love to hear about your experience. Grab a paper and pen and leave us an anonymous note in our feedback folder at the end of the event, or if you're more tech-savvy, feel free to fill out this short survey to help us understand your experience better and improve future events. Your feedback helps us grow.Release:
We are facilitating these gatherings to contribute to building a healthy community in which we get to know other community members regardless of their age, gender, or social background. By agreeing to participate, you understand the risks involved and you do not hold Jacinthe, Carrie, Jason, or West Coast Speaks Health Society responsible for any harm that might arise.For more information on Meet a Stranger, check out our website.
