Blogging Groups Toronto

Short Reads Social #15: Will we ever escape from 'beauty'?

Short-Read Socials are back! Come meet with like-minded and unlikeminded people to talk about the topic of the month. This time, we're thinking about **beauty standards and looksmaxxing.** *Who gets to decide who are what is considered 'beautiful'? Is 'looksmaxxing' and the pursuit of beauty self-empowerment or self-harm? Is attractiveness a privilege?* \-\-\- **\*\*\*Note: this event and future events (at least until 2027) will be on second and last Wednesdays! we won't be there on Tuesday :(** \-\-\- **How does it work?** * The event is casual. You can talk to anyone there with or without our prompt sheets, either about the month's topic or about whatever you want. * Open philosophical discussion, including for controversial topics, is welcome but be respectful. Every has had different experiences so aim to have good-faith discussions :) * If you've read/watched/heard anything related to the topic of the month, feel free to bring it in! Not necessarily physically, but you can if you want... * If not, here are some thought-provoking reads to start you off (read as many or as few as you want): * On lookism * [If Pretty is a Privilege, Ugly is a Curse](https://youtu.be/FnACzwV7Mwc) (19:16 to 1:18:39) * [Lookism as Epistemic Injustice](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/02691728.2022.2076629?needAccess=true) * On looksmaxxing * [How Many Bones Would You Break to Get Laid?](https://www.thecut.com/2019/05/incel-plastic-surgery.html) * [Looksmaxxing and the Rise of Male-to-Male Transsexuals](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uox4OMC50-4&t=2033s) * On the beauty industry * [The New Face](https://torontolife.com/deep-dives/the-new-face-how-unnatural-beauty-standards-became-a-multi-billion-dollar-medical-industry/) * [The Age of Instagram Face](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/decade-in-review/the-age-of-instagram-face) (bypassed paywall version [here](https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/decade-in-review/the-age-of-instagram-face)) * Feel free to post other recommendations (blogs, movies, tv episodes, video essays, etc.) in the comments! \-\-\- Finally, Short Read Socials have a 'pay what you can' policy. They'll always be free to attend--but if you've been having a good time with us and want to pass along a couple of bucks to help cover Meetup platform costs for future events, there is a contribution bucket on the table that night and a [Paypal](https://paypal.me/bookclubforhumans?country.x=CA&locale.x=en_US) link :)

Saturday Writing Meetup – near Bloor-Yonge

\*\*NOTE: This meetup currently lacks a regular host. (The current hosts are volunteers for online organizational purposes; they show up in person occasionally.) If you arrive and there is no host, don’t worry. Whoever is the longest-running member (or whoever wants to) can set the timer for the writing session. In this way, the meetup is self-sustaining, and not dependent on any one person. Thanks for your understanding.\*\* Join us for an hour of quiet writing, followed by an hour of (optional) socializing. \*\*SILENT WRITING BEGINS AT 1:15 PM. IF YOU'RE LATE, WELCOME! WE WILL IGNORE YOU (BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY WRITING) UNTIL 2:15 PM.\*\* This meetup is open to everyone, whether you’re writing a novel, blog, class paper, or journal entry—or something completely different. Anyone interested is welcome to attend :) LOCATION: 5 Elements Cafe, basement level RSVP: Please be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. We recommend coming down to the basement to grab a spot before you buy anything, just in case. SCHEDULE: 1:00 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chill/leave. Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

⭐Toronto AI Social Walk | Founders Builders & Business Owners

**🔥Everyone is talking about AI. Let's talk about what we're actually doing with it.** At our last Founder Walk, something unexpected happened. The conversation kept coming back to AI. One person was exploring AI agents for businesses. Someone else was thinking about automating workflows for small and medium-sized companies. We talked about using AI to evaluate employee onboarding, browser agents that can operate websites for you, AI-generated music, investing, software development and where actual business opportunities might be emerging. Nobody planned an AI discussion. It just happened. **🚩Important: Meetup RSVP ≠ confirmed spot** **Keep your Meetup RSVP as Going so the event stays visible here. You will get link to a short application after you RSVP.** So this Sunday we're leaning into it. **⭐Toronto AI Walk⭐** A small group of founders, builders, professionals and curious people walking Toronto's waterfront and talking about: **What are you actually using AI for?** **What have you built?** **Which tools are genuinely useful?** **Where is AI still overhyped?** **What business opportunities are appearing?** **What workflows should already be automated?** **What will become possible if today's AI gets 10× better?** This is **not a presentation or AI conference.** There are no speakers. No panels. No sitting through someone's 45-minute pitch. And you don't have to be an AI expert. We're deliberately keeping the group small enough that everyone can participate. **Some of the conversations from our last walk** 1. One attendee was exploring creating custom AI workflow systems for small businesses. 2. Another wanted to better understand how AI could solve problems outside the traditional technology industry. We discussed using AI to evaluate sales training and employee onboarding, AI browser agents, automation, music, investing and entirely new businesses. This week we'll use a few prompts to take those conversations further. 📍Meetup Location: Simcoe Wavedeck sign **📅Sunday schedule** **🕛4:45 PM — Arrive / check in** **🕛5:00 PM — Introductions** Tell us who you are, what you're working on and one interesting way you're using—or want to use—AI. **🕛5:15 PM — Walk begins** We'll rotate conversations and introduce a few AI discussion prompts along the route. **🕛Around 6:15 PM — Official finish** Many stay afterwards to network. Some people may grab food or a drink afterward. **🏃Running late?** Don't give up on coming. Approved guests can join our Sunday Walk WhatsApp group. Once we're moving, we'll share our live location so late arrivals can catch up. **❓Who should come?** You might be: * building with AI; * using AI inside an existing business; * working in technology; * exploring an AI startup; * trying to automate your work; * curious about where the opportunities are; * simply interested in learning from people experimenting with it. You do **not** need to be an AI expert. Come curious. Bring one thing you've learned and one thing you're trying to figure out. **No hard selling.** **💌RSVP: [https://superr.ca/msevent](https://superr.ca/msevent)** We're also using the Superr Social WhatsApp Community to announce upcoming walks, dinners, sports, activities and other casual gatherings first: 👉[https://superr.ca/mwa](https://superr.ca/mwa) #TorontoEntrepreneurs #TorontoFounders #FounderWalk #EntrepreneurCommunity #TESSocial ***📸Photo, Video & Audio Notice:*** *By registering for or attending this event, you acknowledge that photos, video and audio recordings may be captured during the event. You consent to Superr / TES Social using your image, likeness, voice and comments in event recaps, social media, promotional materials and other community content. If you prefer not to be photographed, filmed or recorded, please let the host know before the event and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.*

Toronto Technology Networking Event

For tickets and information: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988446643438](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988446643438) **IMPORTANT NOTE: CLICKING THE RSVP AND PAY ORGANIZER BUTTON ON MEETUP DOES NOT GET YOU A TICKET/ SPOT. YOU HAVE TO CLICK THE LINK TO THE EVENTBRITE PAGE AND PURCHASE A TICKET THERE. PRICE GOES UP AS EVENT TIME APPROACHES AND MAY SELL OUT SO GET YOUR TICKET ON EVENTBRITE ASAP.** **\*This is a multigroup event so event responses are only a portion of the total number of attendees** TORONTO TECH NETWORKING EVENT. You Have To Get Tickets Here Online In Advance. Tickets Not Available At Venue Door Come mix & mingle with like minded people at this one of a kind event! This event is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and expand your network. Whether you're looking to expand your clientele, find new investment opportunities, discuss the latest tech trends, hire/get hired or simply connect with others you'll definitely want to be at this event. *This Event Is For Those In Or Interested In The Following Industries/Trends:* *The Latest Tech Trends, Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse/VR, Website Development, Web3, Digital Marketing, Innovation, Social Media Marketing, Tech Startups, Tech Entrepreneurs & More!* This event is a great place to network with potential business partners, investors, industry professionals and new clients.... Or just come on out and make some new friends! We've witnessed countless business connections and friendships form at our past events.This event is a fun and easy way to connect with others in a relaxed, low pressure environment. There are no speakers or sales pitches. It's just a place to come mingle with like minded people. **ICEBREAKERS TO WIN PRIZES!!!** At the beginning of the event our host will hand you a sheet of paper with icebreaker questions that you can use to get to know the rest of the people at the event. The icebreakers are optional but most people love them because they really help you get to meet people. *An email we received about one of our recent events: "Thank you so much for throwing such a great event. The crowd was really great and everyone was super friendly. As a busy professional I don't get that much time to get out and meet people so it was nice to be in such a relaxed environment. Event well done!" - Daniell* *QUICK NOTE: WE WILL HAVE ABOUT 3 OTHER INDUSTRIES AT THIS EVENT (ie. Finance, Real Estate) BUT W E WILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE TECH INDUSTRY IN ATTENDANCE AND WILL INDICATE YOUR INDUSTRY ON YOUR NAME BADGE SO YOU'LL EASILY BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE IN YOUR INDUSTRY.* **FAQ:** HOW MANY WILL BE ATTENDING? It ranges from event to event. We expect between 30 and 50 people to sign up. CAN I ARRIVE LATE? Absolutely. Arrive any time you'd like. CAN I COME ALONE? Yes, about 75% come on their own. WHAT IS THE DRESS CODE? While we don't have a dress code we ask that you please look neat/presentable. What you wear to work or what you'd where for after work happy hour drinks is fine. CAN I PAY AT THE EVENT DOOR? We do not accept payment at the event door. We also change the venue at each event and don't give out the location to those who don't sign up. You must pre-pay online. HOW LONG DOES THE EVENT GO? The event is 2 hours long. You can arrive any time you'd like. ARE THERE DRINKS? Yes, there's a full menu of great drinks you can order at the bar. IS THERE FOOD AVAILABLE? Yes you can order food. The venue has a food menu and great appetizers available to order. WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE? Anyone of any age who wants to network is welcome WHO ATTENDS THE EVENT? Professionals of all sorts and ages IS THERE A REFUND POLICY? If you need to cancel, please email us and we can transfer you to a future event. However we do not offer transfers if you cancel on the day of the event or don't show up. For tickets and information: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988446643438](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988446643438)

☕ Coffee, 🍦Ice Cream & 🥧Bakery Hopping: Midtown Toronto v5

Join us for a relaxed afternoon of coffee, pastries, pies, and bakery hopping through Midtown Toronto! ☕🥐🥧 📅 **Date:** Saturday, October 10, 2026 ⏰ **Time:** 2:30 PM 📍 **Meeting point:** [Outside Lawrence Station](https://maps.app.goo.gl/4CUZy1S2cLu2mLss7) **Entire Route:** [https://maps.app.goo.gl/E666NUoTT8ZDVHP46](https://maps.app.goo.gl/E666NUoTT8ZDVHP46) Our planned route will be: 1. 📍 **Lawrence Station** – our meeting point 1. ☕ **[Denovia Cafe](https://maps.app.goo.gl/fmqWS3NGQEW8fKJB8)** – a calming neighbourhood café offering specialty coffee, matcha, seasonal drinks, and artisanal treats 1. ☕ **[De Mello Coffee](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GBHKeiuC9QpmqGBD6)** – a locally founded specialty coffee roaster 1. 🥐 **[L’amour Cafe & Pastry](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Sr4m58cAGCa5vSrZ9)** – a neighbourhood café serving croissants, pastries, coffee, and other drinks 1. 🥧 **[Sweetie Pie Leaside](https://maps.app.goo.gl/FfZHNuRtNia8c9dN9)** – handmade pies, cookies, and other freshly baked treats 1. 🥖 **[Bomou Artisanal Bakery](https://maps.app.goo.gl/C8ifmnxaUSo8WcyEA)** – French-inspired breads, croissants, pastries, and chocolates 🚶 **Walking:** Approximately 4.4 km and 1 hour. The route is mostly flat. ⏳ **Estimated meetup length:** Approximately 2–2.5 hours, including time at the shops. Since we have several stops, some visits may be fairly brief. 😌 **No-pressure atmosphere:** Feel free to talk as much or as little as you like. There is no expectation to purchase something at every stop—just come along, enjoy the walk, and explore some local Midtown cafés and bakeries with us. 👟 Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.

Giving Blood/Giving Back

Algonquin Park – Fall Photo Workshop

COST: $250 + HST PAYMENT: [https://buytickets.at/torontotraveloutdoorphotography/2432982](https://buytickets.at/torontotraveloutdoorphotography/2432982) TIME: 12pm - 4pm LOCATION: We'll meet on the west side of Algonquin Park. Exact location and meeting spot will be sent to participants. Spend a day in Algonquin Park at the most magical time of year — when the maples turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. This 1/2 day photo workshop is all about slowing down and learning how to capture the beauty of fall in a way that feels true to your style. This is a hands-on intensive one-on-one workshop where I’ll share practical tips on composition, working with natural light, and getting the most out of your gear — whether you’re shooting with a DSLR, mirrorless, or even just your phone. The pace is relaxed, with plenty of time to ask questions, try new techniques, and of course, make some great photos. By the end of the day, you’ll head home with fresh inspiration, new skills, and a collection of images that capture the spirit of Algonquin in autumn. **What’s included:** * Instruction on composition, exposure, and working with natural light * Individual feedback tailored to your goals * Access to some of the park’s best locations for fall colours * limited to 6 participants **What to bring:** * Your camera and favourite lenses * Tripod. I have extra you can borrow if you need * Lunch, snacks, and water * Comfortable footwear and layered clothing for the outdoors It’s a day out surrounded by peak fall colours and a chance to connect with nature, photography, and a group of like-minded creatives.

Food Styling Workshop: an Immersive Food Photography Experience

IMPORTANT: YOU MUST ALSO REGISTER AT THIS LINK: [https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/henrys-church-sony-food-photography-workshop-food-styling-fundamentals-tickets-2002955832814?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.eventbrite.ca/e/henrys-church-sony-food-photography-workshop-food-styling-fundamentals-tickets-2002955832814?aff=oddtdtcreator__;!!O7_YSHcmd9jp3hj_4dEAcyQ!zzE6xi2zlA67MElcbYe2Kjo4mk81FPArAbm9kftkK7e9rvKGDeIr-D3FPwpghSSE5-hZkQtc8ePumRXEz5J92A3uDkf3kpE$) **Sony Food Photography Workshop - Food Styling Fundamentals: Isaac Tang** Discover how thoughtful food styling can bring your photography and video to life. Join chef and food photographer **Isaac Tang** for a beginner’s introduction to food photography class exploring how food composition and settings can elevate the look of food. Through practical examples and live styling demonstrations, Isaac will share techniques for creating appetizing food scenes. Styling for photography and video: Explore how to prepare and arrange food for still images and moving shots. **Working with lighting:** Understand how light direction, softness, and shadows shape the appearance of food. **Creating a cohesive scene:** Bring together plates, props, backgrounds, and food placement to create a moment . **Live styling demonstrations:** Follow Isaac’s process as he builds and refines setups, explaining the choices behind the looks. Ideal for beginners, content creators, and photographers looking to learn more about food. Sony Specialist will be on hand for live demonstration and for you see some of the latest Sony cameras. Remember to register here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.eventbrite.ca/e/henrys-church-sony-food-photography-workshop-food-styling-fundamentals-tickets-2002955832814?aff=oddtdtcreator__;!!O7_YSHcmd9jp3hj_4dEAcyQ!zzE6xi2zlA67MElcbYe2Kjo4mk81FPArAbm9kftkK7e9rvKGDeIr-D3FPwpghSSE5-hZkQtc8ePumRXEz5J92A3uDkf3kpE$

The Future of Wellbeing: AI, Community & Social Impact

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-future-of-wellbeing-ai-community-social-impact-tickets-1997859089317?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAad9JE43Cv4asJwzLwmAkV5UH94sl9eJwjPGVPLPRLCUuBLTGMNoB7aCPW61-A_aem_eqTb0M6UTv4G97JZPcFxPw **Overview** What does it mean to build AI in service of wellbeing? A one-day forum on tech, climate, mental health, community & social impact. *A Community Panel & Networking* An evening forum on what it means to build technology in service of wellbeing. As AI reshapes how we live, work, and care for one another, one question matters more than ever: what does it mean to build and adopt technology in service of holistic wellbeing — human, community, and societal — in the Canadian context? The Mindful Impact Forum brings together nonprofit leaders, founders, technologists, youth, and changemakers for a focused day of conversation and practice. We move deliberately from the human to the technical: first setting the foundation of what wellbeing truly means, then turning to how we build and adopt AI responsibly in service of it. After launching our forum series in Vancouver this past March, we're bringing it to Toronto for a single, focused edition — in partnership with Google Developer Groups and The Dais, TMU. ### **What you'll experience** * A flagship day of remarks, a keynote, and an opening panel on wellbeing * A creatively facilitated community forum — real cross-sector dialogue * A hands-on AI & technology for social impact workshop * Practical tools for leadership, resilience, and innovation you can use the next morning * A genuinely cross-sector room: founders, youth leaders, community builders, and changemakers ### **The program** Session 1 — Framing & Community Panel: What Wellbeing Means Session 2 — AI and Responsible Innovation: From Principles to Practice Session 3 — Finding our Wisdom Way Forward: Future Community Wellbeing & Leadership ## Event Details **📍 Location:** The Sandbox, TMU (341 Yonge St 3rd floor, Toronto, ON M5B 1S1) **📅 Date:** Oct 14, Wednesday 2026 **⏰ Time:** 6 PM - 9:00 PM (Door open 5:30 PM) **🎫 Ticket — FREE -$50** All proceeds support Wisdomway Impact’s mental wellbeing initiatives. Student & Youth (under 25, limited spots) FREE **Speakers** 1. **AJ Kim** is a social entrepreneur, global impact practitioner, dedicated to building spaces where inner development and collective change meet. Her work spans leadership development, youth empowerment, and community wellbeing initiatives in Asia, Africa, and Canada, grounded in field experiences, dialogue, and systems thinking. Through forums, education programs, and partnerships, she explores how mental wellbeing can become a foundation for stronger communities, sustainable leadership, and long-term social impact. 2. **Alejandro Castellanos** Toronto-based AI Systems Architect, Alejandro builds trustworthy AI technologies for community resilience, public-interest intelligence, and human-centred care. His work emphasizes evidence, human oversight, and technology that strengthens—not replaces—human judgment. 3. **Camara Chambers** (*Director of Learning and Events, The Dais at TMU)* Named one of 100 Black Women in Canada to Watch and a national leader by The Philanthropist Journal, Camara has spent her career where equity meets civic engagement — leading a national policy program for Europe's largest LGBTQ charity, and serving as Executive Director of Volunteer Toronto, Canada's largest volunteer centre. At the Dais she builds community partnerships and designs leadership programs for Canada's next generation of leaders, and she founded Let's Hike T.O., which has introduced over 1,300 people to the trails. She brings the question that keeps the whole session honest: responsible *for whom?* 4. **Carolyn Shaw** is the Co-Founder, President and Chief Creative Officer of Humanity, an independent, Black-owned and female-led agency built for changemakers. With more than 20 years of experience in marketing, branding and design, she helps purpose-driven organizations turn bold ambitions into ideas, experiences and campaigns that move people. Carolyn believes the strongest organizations are built by keeping people—their needs, dignity and lived experiences—at the centre of how we lead, communicate and create change. Her work spans health, education, culture, sustainability and the nonprofit sector, bringing strategy and creativity together to make complex issues more human and meaningful. A lifelong learner and advocate for purpose-led leadership, Carolyn is especially interested in how organizations can pursue progress without losing sight of the people that progress is meant to serve. 5. **Danielle (dane) Cadhit** is an experience designer, story weaver, facilitator, and lifelong observer of patterns. At Coralus, she crafts experiences that invite people to connect more deeply, see and do things differently, and (re)imagine new possibilities.Her curiosity tends to live in the spaces between things: between people and ideas, work and life, structure and emergence, the inner world and the communities we build around us. Lately, she has been especially interested in what happens when we stop treating ourselves like something to optimize, and instead pay more attention to the rhythms, seasons, relationships, and conditions that shape how we actually live, work, gather, and create. 6. **Hilary Van Welter** is CEO (Chief Exploration Officer) at Ascentia, Coralus Transformation Architect, and Associate Steward at Bounce Beyond. She has spent a lifetime exploring how life, people, organizations, communities and nature flourish, evolve and bring new possibilities into being. Her perspective has been shaped by decades of looking at these questions from many angles, across government, business, social innovation, community and systems transformation. Her work lives at the intersection of strategy, imagination and living systems, with a particular curiosity about the relationships and conditions that reimagine even the term wellbeing beyond the individual into community and society. She brings the wisdom of a long trajectory, a deep trust in life’s intelligence, and an ability to sense patterns and possibilities while they are still emerging. 7. **Jake Hirsch-Allen** (*Director of Partnerships, The Dais at TMU)* Jake works at the intersection of inclusive technology, ethical data, and responsible AI. He built public-private partnerships in workforce development and higher education at LinkedIn, co-founded Lighthouse Labs, and advises impact investors, public-sector leaders, and startups on responsible tech and AI governance. A former intellectual property and international criminal lawyer who clerked at the Supreme Court of Israel, he can speak to the ethics, the policy, and the build of AI all at once — and here, he opens the questions the demos will have to answer. 8. **Katie Choi (she/her)** is the Lead of Community Education at HF Care and a registered social worker with experience supporting diverse communities across the mental health, developmental services, and settlement sectors. Drawing on both her professional background and her lived experience as an immigrant and the daughter of immigrant parents, Katie is passionate about exploring how culture, migration, and family dynamics shape holistic wellness. Through her work, she supports front-line workers in building culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approaches to service delivery. 9. **Kritima Kukreja** Technology professional and mobile developer, Founder of Synk Tech AI. Specialized in creating smart agents, chatbots and automations that scales for the client’s needs. A former experienced developer in well-known companies such as IBM, MicroSoft, Bank of America, and Google. Kritima builds user-focused digital experiences and explores the intersection of AI, mobile technology, and emerging digital tools. She is also an active member of Toronto’s tech community, supporting and mentoring fellow builders. 10. **Swelen Andari** is the Director of Strategy, Climate Resilience & Youth Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She leads a research and systems change initiative to address climate distress, climate action, and active hope for youth. Swelen leads the CAMH Mental Health & Climate Response Initiative, an organization-wide effort addressing climate-related mental health impacts. Trained as a Creative Arts Therapist and with a background in systems thinking, and implementation science, she has over a decade of experience in system-level initiatives to improve access, service design, prevention, and youth leadership in Ontario’s child/youth mental health system. For several years, Swelen was involved in local and national climate justice organizing, including collaborating with Climate Justice Toronto, supporting the 350’s Our Time Campaign, and co-designing a social movement organization committed to advancing equitable climate solution, good work and dignity for all. ## Organizer & Sponsors **Wisdomway Impact** connects mental wellbeing with community, social, and environmental resilience. We support leadership programs, community wellbeing strategies, and cross-sector impact projects that strengthen trust and collective care. We believe community wellbeing begins with inner wellbeing. Your ticket directly supports ongoing community initiatives and leadership development programs. **The Dais, Toronto Metropolitan University** is a public policy and leadership think tank, working at the intersection of technology, education and democracy to build shared prosperity and citizenship for Canada. With over 20 research reports exploring how AI is reshaping work, public policy, education and the nonprofit sector, the Dais has helped organizations build the knowledge and practical skills needed to adopt AI responsibly and effectively through the RAISE initiative which saw 550+ nonprofit professionals across Canada access practical training on AI governance and adoption. **GDG Toronto** is a chapter of Google Developer Groups, a global network of local, community-run developer groups. We bring people together around Google technologies through talks, hands-on workshops, and hackathons to be the technology literacy bridge for our community.

The Toronto Artist's Way Meetup Monthly Meetup

The purpose of the group, based on the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, is for people to meet and talk about their artistic challenges in any field (painting, writing, music etc.) and encourage each other to break their creative blocks and fulfill themselves in their art. If you find people who are sympathetic, you may want to form your own group, meeting regularly to explore the book and supporting each other in their artistic journeys. I have gone through 2 such clusters and can say that it is a very powerful experience. Why not come to a meeting and see for yourself?

Make Friends at a Cafe - Good Chats BETA

**GoodChats.** **Newest Way to Make Friends in Toronto!** Ever walked into a coffee shop and wished you knew the people around you? That’s exactly what GoodChats is for. Our Coffee Chat events are designed to make meeting new people feel natural — no awkward intros, no swiping, no pressure. Just real conversations with people who already share your interests. **How it works:** **1) Sign up on iOS or Android** Download the GoodChats app to get started. Use the code **COFFEE** to sign-up for the invite-only app today! [https://linktr.ee/goodchatsapp](https://linktr.ee/goodchatsapp) **2) Start a chat about what you like** Talk about anything you’re into — hobbies, ideas, random thoughts. The app builds your profile based on what you actually care about. **3) Join a Coffee Chat** We match you with a small group of people who share similar interests and invite you to a local coffee shop meetup. That’s it — just show up, grab a drink, and talk. **What to expect:** * Small groups (so it’s actually easy to connect) * Weekly events at local coffee shops * A relaxed, low-pressure environment * People you’re genuinely likely to vibe with **Good to know:** * Events are **completely free** * All event details and invites are inside the GoodChats app * We’re currently in **beta**, with new Coffee Chats happening every week Use the code **COFFEE** to sign-up for the invite-only app today! [https://linktr.ee/goodchatsapp](https://linktr.ee/goodchatsapp) If you’ve ever wanted meeting new people to feel easier (and more real)… this is for you.

Toronto Café Walk [Wellness Edition]

**Friendly Note:** *More walks available,* ***[check the full schedule here](https://luma.com/michelle-events)****!* 🎁*Your ticket includes full access to the event and a curated goodie bag with products from our sponsors:* *\- Greenhouse Juice: A fruit smoothie bottle* *\- Genuine Tea: A full\-size box of herbal tea bags* *\- and more coming soon\.\.\.* **Complete your registration on Luma:** [https://luma.com/y9qtzj87](https://luma.com/y9qtzj87) Toronto has incredible cafés hiding in plain sight. And most of us are moving too fast to actually enjoy them. Toronto Café Walk [Wellness Edition] is a slower, more intentional take on the usual format. Small group vibes, hand-picked café spots, and genuine human connection. But we start in the park first, so by the time we reach the café, you'll be fully present and relaxed for conversations. *** ## **Here's how the afternoon goes 🌞** We gather at the park and settle in. Soft handpan music plays softly in the background while we do something most of us forget to do: breathe, notice what's around us, and just...be here for awhile. From there, Paul will guide us through a meditation for an era incentivized to fill every quiet moment. Through regulated breathing and guided awareness, the cluttered mind settles, and what remains is what is true beneath the static. No experience with meditation is needed. For the second hour, we'll walk to a hidden gem café to grab drinks, settle in, and meet each other in a way that actually feels human. ## A few things to sit with before the da**y** You don't need to prepare anything, but to get the most out of this experience, start in the days before the walk and name one thing you'd like to set down on Sunday, even if just for one day. *** ## What to bring * A journal and pen for whatever surfaces when the mind settles * Something to sit or lie down on if you don't want to stand and won't be comfortable in the grass (yoga mat, picnic blanket, towel, cushion, folding chair, etc) * A water bottle * An eye mask, if you'd like to turn further inward (optional) *** ## **Who this is for 🌸** **Founders, solopreneurs, creatives, business owners, and executives who've been in "do mode" a little too long.** If you're ready to unwind and actually feel what a calmer pace feels like then this wellness event is for you. You don't need to be a wellness person, just someone who's ready to pause and be open-minded to what's possible simply by being. *** ## **What you'll get out of it** → A genuine afternoon reset to reconnect with yourself before the weekend begins → Discover a café you probably didn't know existed → Meet a small group of like-minded people in a genuine, already-warmed-up setting → Walk away feeling lighter, more grounded, and with a few new connections you'll actually want to keep in touch with