Connection in Action profile: West Coast Speaks
Making conversation feel possible.
Many people want more real-world connections in their lives, but spending so much time online has left them not knowing how to begin.
West Coast Speaks Health Society was created to change that by making everyday conversation easier and more inviting.
Their flagship program, Meet a Stranger, pairs participants for one-hour conversations in welcoming, low-pressure settings. These events give people a structured yet relaxed opportunity to connect face-to-face, practice respectful conversation, and strengthen their sense of belonging. Since launching in 2024, it has brought together more than 700 people across Victoria.
West Coast Speaks’ Open to Conversation initiative takes a different approach, using wearable symbols and community tools to signal openness and invite spontaneous connection in daily life.
“Most people aren’t avoiding connection because they don’t want it — they’re avoiding the awkwardness of starting a conversation. West Coast Speaks exists to help make conversation feel easier, more natural, and more possible in everyday life.”
— Carrie Parsons, Founder, West Coast Speaks
Learn more at westcoastspeaks.ca.
Capital Region Connection in Action is a campaign to strengthen neighbourly connection, personal belonging, and community resilience.
Connection in Action is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.