Canadians are facing rising loneliness and social isolation. More than two-fifths of Canadians feel lonely some or all the time (Dangerfield 2023), with roughly 25 percent saying that they are not satisfied with the number of friends they have (Canadian Mental Health Association 2024).

The situation is worse among single people and those who live alone. Almost one-fifth of seniors, for example, say they lack companionship (Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health 2024). There has been a sharp reduction in volunteering and in being involved in groups as a participant or observer (Community Foundations