Have you ever attended a networking event, hoping to meet new people, only to find yourself spending the whole time with folks from your home country?

Or maybe, in a group assignment, you formed a team only with classmates who share your background?

If you said yes to any of these, you’re not alone.

Almost every newcomer has been there. Sticking close to people who feel familiar gives us comfort, especially in those first few weeks or months after landing in Canada.

But if your circle only remains that way as time passes, you might run into some challenges:

• You miss out on everyday opportunities to learn Canadian cultural norms, humor, and communication styles.

• You risk limiting your professional growth, since many job opportunities in Canada come through your networks and referrals.

• You limit your personal growth by not seeing the world through different cultural perspectives.

So the burning question is, how do you diversify your circle beyond people who share the same food or language as you?

Five proven ways to make friends across cultures

Here are five ways we’ve seen to be most effective that’ll help you jump out of your comfort zone and make meaningful friendships.

✨ Participate in everyday cultural events

One of the easiest ways to make friends outside your own culture is by showing up where people naturally connect—cultural festivals, student clubs, and local community events.

Attends multicultural festivals like Taste of the Danforth, Vancouver International Film Festival, and Afrofest, where you can experience food, music, and traditions from around the world while meeting people who share those interests.

If you’re on campus, consider joining groups outside, such as debate clubs, entrepreneurship societies, or volunteer networks, to meet students from different backgrounds.

We also recommend checking out events at nearby community centers, public libraries, or platforms like Eventbrite, Meetup, and Luma. You’ll find tons of events from language exchanges, casual meetups, book clubs, or sports meetups where you can meet folks from all walks of life.

👀 Do a little cultural homework (not the boring type)

When Ritika Saraswat (our founder) was at UBC (The University of British Columbia), she realized she was the only immigrant in her kinesiology class. Everyone else casually referenced American TV shows or slang, like Porta Potty (portable washrooms), which she had never heard before.

I am sure you might have faced scenarios like this. To deal with such cultural shocks, she advises being prepared in advance.

• Learn about cultural etiquette, slang, or food habits. It’ll make you more confident when communicating with strangers from different countries.

• Watch American/Canadian shows like Friends or The Office to use as references in your conversations, learn common phrases, or simply improve your language skills.

😎 Use LinkedIn to build connections

Most of us use LinkedIn to find a job or connect with recruiters.

But it can also be a powerful way to meet folks across different cities and cultural backgrounds (no strings attached).

Send a personalized connection request to people with a note like: “Hey, I’m new to Canada and curious to learn more about Canadian culture and your experience. Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat?”

It’s normal if not everyone replies. But by being consistent, you’ll find people willing to share their experiences.

🌎 Rewire your social media feed

If your social media feed is 90% people from your home country, you’ll naturally stay in that bubble.

To step out of that bubble, rewrite the algorithm. Start following creators from different cultures, join international student clubs on social channels, follow local comedians, or professionals from different backgrounds.

The more you train the algorithm about your preferences, the more relevant results you’ll see. After all, what you consume greatly influences your mindset and eventually, your friend circle.

✨ Volunteer, but smartly

Whether it’s at large nation-wide events like Pride Toronto or the Canadian National Exhibition, or culture-specific celebrations like the Latino festival, you’ll find yourself working alongside people from all walks of life.

But working at these events is one thing. To make friends, you’ll need to be intentional and proactive.

• Stay curious and start meaningful conversations with your team members. For example, ask your co-volunteers about their favourite foods or what other events they’ve attended.

• If you connect with someone, consider adding them on LinkedIn, exchanging numbers, or asking to grab a cup of coffee.

Volunteering not only helps you contribute to the Canadian community, but it also helps you build valuable skills, gain Canadian experience, and connect with people you might never meet otherwise.

Being open to different cultures starts with one conversation, one question, or one coffee chat. If you’ve been holding back, now is the time to take that first step.

And, if you’re thinking about what your next step should be, we say join the Re-defined community. As a member, you’ll find newcomers just like you, make friends from all over the world, and meet professional leaders from your dream companies.

🌻 Re-defined Mentor Spotlight: Krishma Chhagani

Karishma has been an incredible mentor for the past four months. She has supported international students, amplified our mission through her network, and brought like-minded individuals to our events like the Toronto Summer Social. She shares her personal and professional journey on LinkedIn, and we bet you’ll learn solid nuggets of wisdom from her. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

💥 Throwbacks and Takeaways

150+ international students. 5 countries. Countless dreams.

We hosted our Summer Social at Deloitte office with 6 panelist from different walks of life, each sharing their journey, experiences, and advice.

Missed this event? Don’t worry. Here are the key takeaways.

• Create value for others. Instead of asking, What can I get out of this think What can I do for this person? ~ Dhiraj Hariramani

• Be intentional with your work and stay curious. This will help open doors that you didn’t know even existed. ~ Krishma Chhagani

• Work on side projects that fulfill your creative desires. That’s your ticket to stand out. ~ Guilherme Adan

📍 Upcoming Events

🛠️ Resources Hub

• Applications for RBC Borelais mentorship programs are open until Sept 7. If you are an AI enthusiast, it’s worth applying.

• How to prioritize and not burn out. A really good read

• RBC tech talent applications are open for the Winter cohort. Don’t miss this opportunity.