Talking to New People

All U of T students are eligible to participate.

If you’re a grad student, Grad Talks offers Talking to New People specifically for you.

There are two different offerings to meet your needs:

Talking to New People (4 Week Group Intensive)

This experience brings eight people together who don’t know each other for four weeks to practice relationship-building tools and strategies so participants can make connections.

Throughout the four weeks, the structure will feel less and less formal in order to foster a sense of familiarity and closeness that many people are missing in online environments during COVID-19.

Groups run for 1.5 hours each week. Each group will be facilitated by a peer mentor.

You can now earn CCR recognition for the 4 Week Group Intensive. To receive credit, you must attend all 4 scheduled sessions and participate frequently in the informal chat.

Talking to New People Online Workshop

This one-time 1.5 hour workshop will help you develop the skills you need to make new connections and manage fear and anxiety that comes along with it. In this workshop, we will teach you how to make new connections and you will practice these skills so that you’ll leave with experience and confidence that will help you continue talking to new people.

Please note there are specific workshop time(s) that cater to both undergrad and graduate/professional students.

To register for the program, watch Using the CLNx: Register for programs:

To register for the workshop, watch Using the CLNx: Registering for events:

Talking to New People (4 Week Group Intensive)

This series brings eight people together who don’t know each other for four weeks to practice relationship-building tools and strategies so participants can make connections. Groups run for 1.5 hours each week. Each group will be facilitated by a peer mentor. These sessions will be a hybrid format of online and in person. More details coming soon.

Group cohort running from week of October 17 to week of November 7, 2022

• Applications available starting: September 19, 2022
• Register by: October 3, 2022

Group cohort running from week of November 14 to week of December 5, 2022

• Applications available starting: September 19, 2022
• Register by: October 31, 2022

Join the waitlist for either cohort.

Talking to New People Online Workshop

September 8, 2022 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET (Virtual)

October 25, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET (In-person)

You will receive a confirmation email regarding your registration. The Zoom link will be sent out to you 24 hours and 2 hours prior to the workshop. For questions and registration support, please email mentorship@utoronto.ca.