How to Make Friends in Toronto

We live in an an amazing, diverse city with plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make friends - if you know how! Whether you are new to the city or just looking for some fresh faces, here are some tips on how to make friends in Toronto.

Join a club or group

It's easiest to make friends among people who share your interests. Clubs are perfect for this. You'll find clubs and groups for almost anything in Toronto, from sports and fitness to arts and culture. You can use websites like Meetup.com or Eventbrite.ca to browse events and activities happening near you. You can also check out local community centres, libraries, or colleges for more options.

Joining a club or group is a great way to meet people who have something in common with you and who are open to socializing. You can also learn new skills, have fun, and expand your horizons.

A potential downside of this approach is that most clubs don't do much to vet their members (so you might not like the folks in the group!) and members are often pretty casual so you won't see the same faces frequently. Shared interest and repeatedly bumping into each other is key for making friends so look for a group that really encourages community.

Volunteer for a cause

Another way to make friends is to volunteer for a cause that you care about. Volunteering is not only rewarding and meaningful, but also a good opportunity to connect with like-minded people who share your values and passions. You can volunteer for various causes in Toronto, such as helping the homeless, protecting the environment, supporting refugees, or promoting human rights.

You can find volunteer opportunities on websites like VolunteerToronto.ca or CharityVillage.com. You can also contact local organizations directly and ask if they need any help. Volunteering is a win-win situation: you can make a positive difference in the world and make new friends at the same time.

Attend networking events

These can be a surprisingly effective way of making friends as well as more professional or career-oriented connections. Networking events are designed to help you meet potential employers, clients, mentors, or collaborators in your field of interest but there's no reason you can't make friends there. Just make sure to keep things professional until you've established whether this will be a professional or personal relationship!

You can find networking events on industry websites or more generically on Eventbrite and even Meetup. You can also join professional associations or groups related to your field and attend their events.

Try Wilderness Union

Wilderness Union is a more deliberate approach to making like-minded, adventurous friends in Toronto. Every week we have a different adventure that will take you out of the city to some of the most beautiful, quiet and sometimes exciting spots in Ontario.

We have an incredibly varied roster of activities throughout the year - from skiing and snowshoeing in the winter to camping and canoeing in the city.

We're pretty selective about who joins the group to make sure that we maintain a like-minded community so you know you'll be safe and spending time with people whose company you'll enjoy.