Vancouver initiative aims to make the city less lonely, more spontaneous
“Vancouver has rightly or wrongly developed a reputation for being a place where it’s hard to connect with and meet new people. We all know what it feels like to live here, but it is hard to pinpoint why that feeling exists.”
Kelly Lamb, director of the local community initiative Hello Yello, can relate to finding it hard to make new friends in the city.
“I think it could have something to do with a certain ‘politeness’ or ‘introversion’ where people don’t want to bother one another,” she said to Daily Hive. “It could also be policy issues that have stopped social gatherings and establishments from thriving. All of these factors have contributed to a sleepy city.”
“When you do step out from the norm you are met with a fear that you come across as ‘weird’ by simply saying hello or having a simple conversation with a stranger.”
Hello Yello/Submitted
Lamb and Hello Yello are on a mission to change Vancouver’s reputation one spontaneous conversation at a time, starting off with its first public space launch in Kitsilano.
From July 28 to August 11, the volunteer-run group will transform the neighbourhood plaza at West 4th and Maple Street into a pop-up space where connection is encouraged.
“Everyone is invited to come and chat and meet others in our pop-up space, and there is no charge to being involved,” explained Lamb. “Our volunteers will be there periodically throughout the two weeks as ambassadors to let people know what Hello Yello is all about. If there aren’t volunteers there when you drop by, sit down on the bench and see if someone sits beside you.”
“We are currently looking for 80 to 100 volunteers to join us on our mission and act as Hello Yello representatives in the space! It involves coming to a short training session with our core team members, and then signing up for a one-hour slot in our pop-up.”
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Hello Yello was the winning concept of the second annual Brand Battle for Good. The competition saw participating teams work on solutions to tackle social isolation.
“We collaborated and listened to each other. And because we had diverse backgrounds and a commitment to find a simple solution, we came up with this low-fi idea of the yellow bench,” shared Lamb. “The idea was tactile, practical, and immediate. We felt that the idea had the possibility of becoming a greater movement.”
“We were truly blown away to make it to the final round – let alone win. The event was energizing and inspiring. It was incredible to meet so many passionate people in the city, and ultimately so fun to see our idea come to life after the event.”
Hello Yello/Submitted
Lamb shared a few tips for making new connections:
- Reinvigorate your curiosity
- “Ask yourself who is this person? What interesting perspectives do they have? What could I learn from them?”
- Look for opportunities
- “People are always around us, start a conversation. Engage. Talk. Share. It isn’t that hard to strike up a conversation.”
- Ask good questions
- “I think our society needs to relearn the art of conversation. For me, this largely comes down to learning how to really listen and ask good questions. I think once two people can learn to listen and ask, real friendship is possible.”
Hello Yello also wants to go beyond just trying to help people make friends.
Hello Yello/Submitted
“We want to help shift people’s mindsets to being open to connecting with the people around them,” said Lamb. “We want to provide spaces that serve as a reminder to engage with each other and ‘un-strange a stranger.'”
“A lot of people say they don’t like talking to strangers or are introverted. I have a lot of compassion for that response because so am I. However, I think once you lean into the discomfort and be curious about the world around you, a world of new connections is waiting for you. Follow my tips and get in touch if you meet a new friend.”
To learn more about Hello Yello, visit its website.
Hello Yello Pop-Up Space
When: July 28 to August 11, 2023
Where: Neighbourhood Plaza — West 4th and Maple Street, Vancouver
Cost: Free
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