First Christmas in Victoria BC

Welcome to your New City!

Let us be among the first to welcome you to Victoria BC and wish you a Merry Christmas!

Our city is a better place because you’re here, and it’s going to take a while to make yourself known.

It’s been said we’re a bit stand-offish and reticent to let newcomers in. In Halifax, if you invite four people, you end up with fourty, while in Victoria, if you invite fourty, you’ll see four turn out.

Don’t believe it for a second. While this is certainly a city of last-minute RSVPs or cancellations, our hesitation to socially engage is more to do with our heightened British/Canadian concern to respect your privacy. Once we know you’re new here and looking for connection, we want to meet you, and there are some great ways to do it!

This will take a little work on your part. This is not the time to binge watch Netflix or lose yourself in video games. You must make some plans and take some action.

Victoria is a lively place, bustling with cultural activities, special interests and community events, and Christmas season is a time of heightened community activity.

Volunteers Needed

Bring your skillset to any local charity that interests you and find yourself welcomed with open arms. They need you, especially now!

If you enjoy helping people, you should start by checking out Volunteer Victoria. They are looking for everything from volunteer drivers to care calls to handyman work around the home.

If you want to help the homeless, have a look at Mustard Seed or Cool Aid Society. Both organizations work to create safe spaces for the homeless.

Want to meet community minded people who enjoy giving back? 100 Men Who Care or 100 Women Who Care are where philanthropically minded people connect at events, donate $100 to a local charity, share a drink, and get to know each other.

Join a Religious Organization

If you’re a person of faith, head down to your local church, mosque, or synagogue. If you’re a senior seeking a venue for worship, check out the Victoria Seniors’ Directory.

Do your interests lean more towards the spiritual? Check out Spirit of Victoria for upcoming events in the city.

Attend Events

We list half a dozen upcoming events in our newsletter every month we think you might enjoy, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg. You can find upcoming events which are suitable for kids, adults, and seniors on many local sites such as Tourism Victoria, or Victoria Lifestyle.

An event is a great place to strike up conversations with new people. Post covid, most of us are keen to reconnect and make new friends after being cloistered in our homes for what feels like an interminable amount of time.

Get Physical

Join a gym, a martial arts class, or a dance class. People are often focused on their workouts at a gym, but there are more opportunities for conversations if you join a class. The YMCA downtown or any of the municipal recreation centres have a plethora of courses and classes.

Want to learn new skills and develop focus? Kenzen Karate teaches self-confidence, focus, and discipline within specialized kid and adult classes.

Currently, there are more single women than men in Victoria, and ladies who enjoy dancing are looking for dance partners. The Arthur Murray Dance Center is a good place to sign up if you want to learn how to dance, and perchance find a partner.

If you’re a single woman seeking to meet a man, Victoria’s eligible bachelors are reported to be quite unassuming, perhaps a bit shy. Even so, a dance class is a place to meet and build a network of new friends.

Professional Organizations

If you are a professional or business owner, consider joining the Victoria Chamber of Commerce or a Professional Networking Group like BNI. Regular networking meetings ensure you will collaborate and do business with others and it’s an excellent way to build friendships along the way.

Do you have an interest in public speaking and leadership skills? Toastmasters International has several dozen clubs meeting at different times throughout Greater Victoria.

If you provide products or services to older adults, consider joining the Elder Friendly Community Network.

Join a Club or Interest Group

Special interest clubs abound. There are wine clubs or book clubs, bird watching clubs, Nordic pole walking clubs, French conversation clubs, … It would take pages and pages just to list them all. The point being, one of the best ways to meet new people is not to force it, but rather, go out and meet people who share one of your interests. To find a group or club of interest to you, go to Meetup.com

You New City Awaits You!

There are lots of ways to meet new people. Check out some of the resources we’ve listed here, make a plan and take action. Remember, the best conversation is often the one you start.

Enjoy a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in your new home and city.