From stranger to neighbour: how to start connecting locally

Check our 'Upcoming Events' page regularly for all kinds of things to do in town!

Over the past few years, Morinville has grown from a small farming town that felt tucked away in the countryside to a small city within commuting distance of a much bigger city Canada’s fifth-largest urban area, in fact.

And as Morinville grows, the close-knit feel of “everybody knows everybody” is less of a given. A significant percentage of people leave town every day to jobs in Edmonton, St. Albert, the Industrial Heartland, etc., often shopping or dining along their commuting routes instead of in their own town. And the less time you spend in your own neighbourhood, the less you really know and feel connected to it.

...feeling like part of a community is essential to mental and physical well-being

We also live in a world where many of our interactions happen online, making it even easier to feel disconnected from our neighbours and where we live. But building connections and feeling like part of a community in real life are essential for mental and physical well-being. It's also easier than you might think.

Here are a few things to try:

Buy locally from people you can get to know

Picking up groceries, getting your car serviced, asking for advice at the hardware store, getting a haircut—these are all little social interactions that build up over time. Buying locally and interacting with the same friendly faces turns everyday errands into social connections.

Sign up for a class or group that meets regularly

Join a class or group where you’ll see the same people regularly. Sharing an activity you enjoy with others makes it easier to connect and build lasting friendships over time.

Frequent local cafes, pubs, restaurants

Becoming a 'regular' at a place in town for daily coffee, Friday drinks, Sunday brunch etc. can lead to friendly chats with staff and other customers. Over time, these can grow into genuine friendships. (Learn to play cribbage and find someone to play with—we recently spotted cribbage boards and cards ready to play with at Sturgeon Brewery, for example).

Volunteer to help with a community event

One of the best ways to bond with new people is by working together over a period of time to get something important done. Helping to pull off a successful event for the community is a great way to do that.

Join a recreational sport

Pickleball, curling, shinny … recreational sports are a great way to meet people while staying active. Playing as a team naturally fosters connections—teammates have to talk to each other, and always have smething to talk about!

Explore public spaces

Spend time at parks, the skating rink, library, museum, and such places you're likely to bump into others who are also exploring and just hanging out. Talk to people. Or if you are too introverted for that, just make up your mind to at least be open to conversation. You never know where an unexpected connection might come from.

Attend community events

Hit the farmer's market on the weekends, watch a local team’s home games, sign up for a paint night, even go to town hall meetings. These gatherings are designed to bring people together, making them perfect opportunities to meet your neighbors.

Start your own project or group

If you’re passionate about something, why not gather others who share that interest? Your initiative could bring people together and fill a need in town (we’ll help you promote it!).

Small steps like these can make a big difference in helping you feel more connected to your community and expanding your social circle. The more of these things you do, the more people you'll start to recognize every time you're out and about, and the more people will recognize you. Also, when you put yourself out there, the whole community gets stronger and more welcoming. So even if you feel a bit uncomfortable or shy, take a first step and pop on over to our directory of activities and pick something. Then give it a try this week!