Meeting people can be scary, but there are lots of low-key ways of making new friends or meeting potential dates.
If you’re feeling bad and want to talk to someone right away, you can scroll down to the bottom to find some great helplines.
Meeting people can help your overall mood and even your health! A lot of the time, people have more friends and acquaintances than they think! There are many different ways to connect with them, like planning parties or outings or using social media to reconnect with old friends and family.
How do I meet people with common interests?
A great way to meet potential friends or partners is to find people who share interests with you. You can:
- Pick up a new hobby, like taking a cooking class or joining a book club
- Volunteer with a group doing something you think is important, like Santropol Roulant or Resilience
- Go to events or a drop-in time at a YMCA or Boys and Girls Club
- If you’re religious, find a religious group or place of worship you like
- Join a sports team or club
- Go to an event at an LGBT group, like Project 10 or the West Island LGBT Centre
- Join a Meetup.com group for people in your area with similar interests
Where do I find local events to meet people at?
Local events can be a great place to meet new people and get to know the place where you live! You can look for events that speak to your interests, like concerts, craft fairs, political demonstrations, and more.
To find events in Montreal where you can meet people, or just new places to go in Montreal, you can check out MTLBlog, CultMTL, and Quartier des Spectacles. You can also check out cultural organizations like the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal, the Museum of Jewish Montreal, or the Teesri Duniya Theatre.
How do I meet people online?
Sometimes it feels safest or most comfortable to meet people online, either before talking to them in person or just to chat online! You can connect with people through:
- Social media (Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, TikTok)
- Blogging/Vlogging sites (Tumblr, YouTube)
- Common Interests (Twitch, Goodreads, hobby forums)
- Dating sites (Okcupid, Tinder, etc.)
If you meet someone you only know online, it helps to meet for the first time somewhere public, like a restaurant or coffee place. It’s also a good idea to ask someone to call you partway through to make sure you’re ok and give you an excuse to leave if you don’t like the situation.
How do I meet people if I’m really shy?
Being shy or having social anxiety can make it harder to meet people, but there are a few things that can help.
Going to an event or space that you’d be interested in anyway can be a big help. You can think about subjects or situations where you might feel more comfortable, like if you’re talking about sports, books, or TV. Sometimes, doing an activity together, like seeing a movie or playing games can also make things easier because it gives you something to talk about.
Sometimes, talking to people online first can also help break the ice and give you things to talk about in person. Looking at some of the ways of meeting people online can help!
Where can I meet other LGBTQ+ people?
Project 10 near Sauve Metro can be a good place to start. It’s an LGBTQ youth organization in Montreal with many great services including a weekly drop-in which would be a great place and community to start to meet other LGBTQ people. The West Island LGBTQ2+ Centre is another option!
If you’re a student, you can see if your school has an LGBTQ student group or a Gay-Straight Alliance club.
Pride is a week-long festival about celebrating LGBTQ people. Any of the events during Pride would be a great place to meet up with other LGBTQ people and to learn more about the community! You can check out the Montreal Pride website to learn more about what’s happening and when.
Beyond these, most events and spots in the Gay Village or through LGBTQ social media groups can be good options!
It can be intimidating to go to places like these, so it can help to go with a friend or a group of people you trust, especially if you plan on partying. Most importantly, have fun!
What if I want to talk to someone right now?
Loneliness can feel especially painful, and it can feel good to talk to someone without doing a lot first. Sometimes, a school counsellor can help. Most universities also offer therapy for free, and the Argyle Institute has it at a low cost.
Other times, calling or texting with helplines like the ones below can help, and they may even give you great ideas for feeling less lonely!
