• Because we think we and other people are too busy

• Fear of rejection – people won’t want to talk to us

• Fear that people will judge us (e.g., won’t find us interesting)

• Talking to strangers will be stilted, awkward, and unpleasant

• People don’t know the positive impact of speaking to strangers

• Because we have been told for decades not to talk to strangers

• Suspicion of what the intention was for the outreach

• Too distracted to make it happen. 

• We don’t have an excuse and permission to do so…until now.

• We don’t see the point or didn’t realize how good it can be for both people.

• Won’t know what to say…until now.

We certainly want to encourage people to take the same type of precaution as we have been guided on for decades, about not speaking to strangers late at night, in secluded spaces or when you don’t feel comfortable in doing so. 

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What we do want to do is inspire more Canadians to recognize the many people we walk by each day at work, on busy streets, at the grocery store, in your community and throughout our days, in which a simple “hello” or “how is your day going” should not bring additional risk to your safety, and the positive impact it can have your health and well-being and on that of the person you connect with.

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As it relates to our kids, we know that many of them have suffered through the disconnection of the global pandemic, and we want to encourage them to participate in the campaign in safe and comfortable ways. Take this opportunity to speak to them about the right time to connect and consider the occasions when it would be okay to do so, like in your classroom or school or while walking with parents doing day-to-day activities.  

We have so far to go without the need to put anyone at risk with this campaign. Our goal is to improve the skills and social health of all Canadians.

If at any point you feel threatened, uncomfortable or unsafe with connecting with a stranger or strangers, walk away and go to a safe space or connect with someone you know to get into an uncomfortable place.

If you are concerned for your safety, please call 911. ​

There is no mandate for any Canadian to be part of this campaign. If you find the idea of talking to a stranger offensive or it creates anxiety and/or fear for you, then we suggest that you don’t participate during the week.

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Our goal is to inspire greater human connection across Canada by educating Canadians about the facts around the benefits that talking to strangers can have on their health and happiness, as well as the likelihood of it having a positive response from both parties.

With this information, we believe that we can inspire Canadians to consider talking to strangers more often to improve their social health, which has a positive impact on mental and physical well-being. This action can also improve the mental and physical well-being of others and improve social cohesiveness at a population level.

Connecting with others can be a challenge for some, but we hope that by providing you with an excuse to say hello or even just smile at someone, we can provide you with the opportunity to build a greater sense of connection and belonging, whether it is at work, on your street, in your community or anywhere you might go in your day. 

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For some introverts, talking to strangers can be a great way to get connected without the longer-term commitment of a conversation.