How do I make friends in Canada?
Canadians are friendly and polite, but real friendships take time. Most newcomers find they come from doing the same thing with the same people every week, not from one-off events.
In 30 seconds
- Statistics Canada found immigrants report more loneliness than people born in Canada, so a dip in the first year is normal, not a sign the move was wrong
- Regular, repeated activities work best: rec sports leagues, parkrun, curling, volunteering, school and kids’ sport
- Free newcomer settlement agencies run conversation circles and social programmes, though temporary residents can’t always use federally funded ones
The first-year curve
Most people describe the same pattern. The first weeks are busy with paperwork and novelty. Then, a few months in, there’s a dip: colleagues go home to their own lives, weekends feel long, and family news arrives while you’re at work. Statistics Canada research found both recent and long-term immigrants report higher loneliness than people born in Canada, and that it doesn’t simply fade with time. Friendships need effort, especially in the first year.
- Say yes to every invitation in the first six months, even the dull-sounding ones
- Suggest a specific plan (“coffee Saturday at 10?”) rather than “we should get together”
- Expect social life to change with the seasons: patios, lakes and barbecues in summer; hockey, skating and curling in winter
Where friendships start
| Where | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Recreational sports leagues | Most cities have social leagues for adults (soccer, softball, volleyball, dodgeball, ice hockey) and you can often sign up alone and be placed on a team |
| parkrun | A free, timed 5km walk, jog or run every Saturday morning. There are 66 events in Canada. Volunteering is the quickest way to meet the regulars |
| Curling and skating clubs | Many curling clubs run “learn to curl” sessions and beginners’ leagues in winter, with a social drink afterwards |
| School and kids’ sport | For families, the main way parents meet. Volunteer for a school event or help coach |
| Work | Join after-work drinks and social committees early, but don’t rely only on work |
| Volunteering | Food banks, festivals, parks groups and charities all need help, and it’s a quick way to meet locals |
Free newcomer services
Across Canada, settlement agencies funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offer free help: orientation, job search, language classes and community connection programmes such as conversation circles and mentoring. Permanent residents can use almost all of them. Most temporary foreign workers are only eligible for services funded by provinces or cities, though some groups can use federal ones, and each agency sets its own rules. Ask your local agency what you qualify for. Dial 211, or use 211.ca, to find community services near you. It is free, confidential, and in most of Canada open 24 hours.
British groups and meetups
Social media groups for British people in each city, and apps such as Meetup, help in the first weeks with practical tips and someone to watch the football with. Use them as a bridge to local friendships rather than a replacement, and treat advice in them as opinion, not fact. Meet people from online groups in a busy public place, and tell someone where you’re going.
Keeping in touch across the time difference
Canada spans several time zones. Most provinces change their clocks on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November, on different dates from the UK, so the gap shrinks by an hour for a week or two each spring and autumn. Most of Saskatchewan doesn’t change its clocks at all.
| City | Behind the UK, most of the year | 25 Oct to 1 Nov 2026 and 14 to 28 Mar 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal | 5 hours | 4 hours |
| Halifax | 4 hours | 3 hours |
| St John’s, Newfoundland | 3.5 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Calgary | 7 hours | 6 hours |
| Vancouver | 8 hours | 7 hours |
In the east, your lunchtime is the UK’s early evening, so weekday calls are easy. From Vancouver, a call before work catches the UK in the afternoon. Pick a regular slot and stick to it. For phones and calling home, see How do I get a SIM, internet and call home?
What to do next
- Sign up for one weekly activity in your first month
- Find your local settlement agency and ask what you’re eligible for
- Agree a regular call time with family in the UK
Keep going
- Statistics Canada: Self-reported loneliness among recent immigrants, long-term immigrants and Canadian-born individuals (2021)
- parkrun Canada: What is parkrun?
- 211 Canada: Connect to essential services
- CIC News: Am I eligible for IRCC settlement services as a temporary resident? (Jul 2024)
- Canadian Money Help: IRCC-funded settlement services
- National Research Council Canada: Time zones and daylight saving time
- GOV.UK: When do the clocks change?
- 24timezones: Time difference between London and Halifax
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline