Handwritten Notes Fuel Victoria’s Movement for Connection

A handwritten invitation initiative by Carrie Parsons has blossomed into a significant movement aimed at fostering connections among residents in Victoria, Canada. What began as a personal project has evolved into the popular Meet a Stranger gatherings, drawing crowds and encouraging community bonding.

Parsons initiated her project by leaving handwritten notes around town, offering to buy coffee for a stranger in exchange for an hour of conversation. This simple act grew into something profound. “I was learning so much about myself,” she noted. “I really wanted to take this personal project and make it public and let other people learn as much about themselves and others as I’m doing.”

The first official Meet a Stranger event took place in July 2024, and attendance has since surged to approximately 50 participants per gathering, with Parsons capping attendance due to space limitations. The majority of attendees—about 90 to 95 percent—identify as introverts, expressing a common desire for connection. “They all say the same thing: I want to connect with strangers. I just feel like I need permission or an invitation to connect,” she explained.

Creating Connection Through Local Cafes

In addition to the monthly gatherings, Parsons has established a network of local coffee shops to facilitate casual connections. Seven cafes, including Peckish Cafe, Deer & Dough, and Breakwater Bistro, participate in this initiative. This program, run through Parsons’ nonprofit organization West Coast Speaks, employs three key tools: monthly events, buttons, and table signs in participating cafes.

“When you walk into this room, everyone is open to conversation,” Parsons said. “No one’s going to turn to you and be like, ‘Go away, weirdo.’ We’re all on the same page.” The atmosphere she cultivates encourages participants to drop societal labels and discover common ground. “You remove those labels that divide us, sit down as humans, and every single person finds this beautiful silver thread of commonality. It’s the coolest thing.”

Customers at participating cafes can request an “Open to Conversation” sign with their order, signaling their willingness to engage. “It really makes my heart happy,” Parsons expressed. “It’s so beautiful to see businesses volunteering their space for the price of a cup of coffee. Cafes used to be community hubs. Now people buy a coffee just to use the Wi-Fi. We’re trying to bring back that connection.”

The buttons serve as another avenue for connection. Of the 10,000 buttons produced, more than half have already been distributed. Anyone wearing one signals they are open to friendly conversation.

Future Projects and Community Impact

Parsons is not stopping with the current initiatives. She is preparing to launch two new projects in 2026, including a seniors initiative called Tech & Talk. Inspired by conversations with a 90-year-old friend, Parsons aims to create a low-pressure environment for discussing technology, rather than traditional teaching methods that may feel intimidating. “Once you fall a little behind with technology, you fall a lot behind,” she noted. “So with Tech & Talk, it’ll be a conversation, not a class. Then we all grab a coffee and chat. Totally low pressure.”

The next Meet a Stranger event is scheduled for December 20, 2024, with a follow-up on January 17, 2025, at the Fairfield Community Centre. Parsons hopes to expand the network of cafes participating in the table-sign initiative, emphasizing the importance of community connection. “People are lonely,” she said. “Once you see the problem and the simple, organic solution, you can’t not do it.”

Parsons’ efforts exemplify the power of simple gestures in bridging the gaps that often leave people feeling isolated. Through her initiative, Victoria residents are finding new ways to connect, one conversation at a time.