A Newcomer’s Guide to Making Friends in Canada

Your peers in the Canadian town or city you decide to move to are less likely to need you (the newcomer) as much as you may need them. In all likelihood, it will be harder to make new friends than it would have been when you were still in the education system or enjoying your first job as a twentysomething. As people grow older, they are generally more likely to stay later at work or take their relationships more seriously, leaving less time for everything else — like making new friends.

But, that does not mean it’s impossible to create a great social life as a newcomer to Canada. In fact, we often hear fulfilling stories from members of our community whose experience in Canada was enriched massively by making friends with locals and other newcomers. But what’s the best way of putting yourself out there and creating your very own Canadian social circle?

Why Making Friends as a Newcomer Can Be Hard

Limited Opportunities

Making friends as adults can be tougher because many Canadians already have established social groups from childhood or university. They aren’t actively seeking new friends, which means you’ll have to make extra effort to break into these circles.

Cultural Barriers

Sometimes, cultural differences create misunderstandings. Humor, traditions, or communication styles vary widely. Learning these cultural nuances takes time and can initially hinder building connections.

Busy Lives

Adults often juggle demanding jobs, family responsibilities, and long commutes. Many Canadians simply don’t have as much free time as you’d hope for social activities, limiting opportunities to meet new people.

Emotional Challenges

Feeling isolated in a new country is common, making the emotional effort required to reach out feel daunting. It’s completely normal if it takes months or even years to form deeper, meaningful friendships.

Overcoming These Challenges:

• Be patient and realistic: deeper connections take time.
• Keep showing up consistently, even if progress seems slow.
• Engage actively in social settings; listen more and show genuine interest in others.
• Seek groups explicitly welcoming newcomers or diverse communities.
• Make small talk with people — especially if you seem to have similar interests.
• Invite yourself (but respect if they say no). It’s not a negative to say “I’m new here and actually don’t have any plans that day. That sounds really fun, any chance there would be room for me to come too?”

Our Tried and Tested Tips for Making New Friends in Canada

Here are our top tips for making friends in Canada.

Join a club, take a class, or volunteer!

This may sound like a pretty obvious suggestion, but is it that easy to pick up knitting or softball if you haven’t done it for years? Well, in a word, yes. No matter where you end up in Canada, the chances are that you will be in close proximity to a club or society that enjoys a particular sport, pastime, or activity that you enjoyed doing when you were younger or before moving to Canada.

From athletics clubs and yoga to book clubs, soccer teams, and community activism groups, there are so many opportunities to dive into your new community and make some new friends along the way. All it takes is a quick perusal on the internet or better still, a stroll through your neighbourhood. Soon you’ll not just be hitting a home run or debating the plot twist, but making new friends at the same time.

You may also be interested in taking a class. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to cook – take a cooking class! Or, maybe you’re living in a French-speaking province, like Quebec or New Brunswick? French classes are an excellent way to get to know new people.

Volunteering is another great way to meet people. Find an organization aligned with your interests and do a volunteer shift every week or two. Not only can you meet new friends, but you’ll also be giving back to your community!

Apps for making friends in Canada

We all know that when most people think about meeting someone online, dating apps are usually what comes to mind first. However, there are multiple apps available for making friends too. For example, Timeleft, which connects you with five strangers (matched through an algorithm) for a group dinner. Or, Bumble for Friends, the best friend version of the popular dating app of the same name, do just that. Another option is Meetup, which helps connect users based on shared interests and in-person activities.

You may be a little apprehensive when using apps like these for the first time, and that is totally understandable. After all, in your home country you may have never considered taking this approach, as you never had to. However, with more and more relationships starting online these days, why should friendships be any different? Making friends as a newcomer to Canada can be challenging, but it’s a lot easier if you’re willing to use the technology that exists to help you out along the way.

Plus — a major benefit is that you know the people using these apps are also looking for connections.

Go for drinks with your colleagues

We all know that after-work drinks can often be the worst type of forced fun as you can often feel compelled to engage in small talk with people you’re not very close to. That said, they can also be a lot of real fun, especially if you’re willing to work through the sometimes mundane introductions and make a concerted effort to learn more about the people you share a workspace with.

As a newcomer to Canada, you should treat these social-work crossovers as opportunities to connect with people in your company that you feel you could spend some time with outside the nine-to-five environment. After all, if you are passionate about your job, then there’s a good chance that the interests that you and your colleagues share for your work can be replicated in other aspects of your life.

Adopt, foster, or walk a dog

First things first; adopting and fostering dogs is only for those who a) like dogs, b) have space for a dog, and c) have the financial and personal capacity to care for one. So, if you don’t fit any of these three criteria, then it’s probably best if you skip this tip altogether!

There are thousands of beautiful dogs in animal shelters in towns and cities across Canada that are badly in need of a good home. A dog is a perfect companion as you ease into life in a new place and can help provide additional structure as you settle into your new surroundings. Finally, dog parks are the best both for you and your new furry friend. They get to run amok with their buddies, while you get the chance to chat with other dog-parents and, who knows, maybe hit upon a beautiful friendship in the process.

But remember, an adopted dog is for life, not just for Christmas. So it’s a good idea to wait until you have secured permanent resident (PR) status in Canada, or are well on the way to PR, before considering adopting a dog or any other pet. If you’re not in this boat, fostering a dog may be your best bet.

Fostering a dog provides the animal with a safe home until they find their forever home. This still requires a lot of time, care, and attention, but for some people this can be a lower-stakes method of trying out dog ownership. Fostering opportunities can typically be found by researching the humane society in your city or town.

Finally, you can also consider using Rover or another dog walking app, or just volunteer your time with your neighbours. This could even act as an additional revenue stream if you need some extra cash, and you still get the benefits of expanding your circle at the dog park.

Get involved in your community life

Being involved in your community comes with so many benefits. You get to know people you see regularly, which increases the number of daily interactions you might have and can make you a familiar face.

Here are some easy options here: attend local events, go to the farmers’ market, neighbourhood festivals and community meetings, and even just offer to help a neighbour with something (pet care, hold open a door, whatever!).

Another option we love is attending events at your nearest public library—such as book readings, author talks, or community workshops. These events let you meet those from your community with shared interests.

And there you have it, our simple tips to making new friends in Canada. Now get out there, get uncomfortable, and make some new friends!