Calgary offers an extremely wide range of digital platforms and apps for meeting new people, forming friendships, and expanding your social circle. From traditional Meetup networks to innovative personality-based dating apps, the city provides numerous options for those looking to find like-minded individuals and build meaningful relationships.
Meetup: The Largest Social Networking Platform
Diversity of Groups in Calgary
The Meetup platform remains one of the most popular and effective platforms for meeting new people in Calgary. The city has over 100 active groups with a variety of interests and age groups. These groups cover virtually all areas of life, from professional networking to hobbies and sports.
Popular social groups
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Calgary Social Group: Locals and Newcomers Rated 4.7 stars. Weekly meetings on Thursdays in bars, parks, and other public spaces. Participants aged 20 to 40 can join and leave without obligation.
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YYC Social Exchange “Calgary's premier social gathering spot” with a focus on an inclusive and friendly atmosphere. Theme nights, mixers, and exclusive events in downtown Calgary.
Age groups and special interests
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Calgary Social Friends 20-30 (90 members) Escape rooms, meetups, and fun activities.
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Make New Friends – Women in 30s & 40s Calgary Group (rating 4.9, 349 members) Cooking trips, art galleries, activities.
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Calgary Friends Over 50 Social Club Regular brunches, pub nights, billiards, trips to Fish Creek Park.
International community
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Calgary Local and International Friends Social (1500+ members) Fast Friending — a structured format for quick introductions.
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Friends of Calgary (rating 4.8, 730 members) Exchange experiences, learn languages, and discover traditions from different countries.
Bumble BFF and Bumble For Friends: the evolution of friendships
Transition to a specialized app
In 2023, Bumble launched a separate app called Bumble For Friends for platonic relationships.
Features and functionality
- Swiping for friendship
- Profiles with interests and target audience
- Matching mechanism after mutual swipes
- Group chats for planning meetings
- Women are not required to make the first move
User experience in Calgary
- Success stories: friends with similar interests in books, meetings in bookstores
- Challenges: limited number of users, difficulty maintaining conversations
Patook: a strictly platonic network
Concept and security
- “THE strictly platonic friend making app”
- Automatic detection of flirting and blocking of offenders
Points and matching system
- Users rate the qualities of potential friends using a points system (e.g., 10 points for height, 20 points for hiking)
Beacons and localization
- Localized discussion groups (beacons) in shopping malls, coffee shops
- Users see others nearby for dating
We3: friendship triads
A unique approach to group friendship
- Groups of three people based on 150+ compatibility factors
- Free app with private matching
Philosophy and methodology
- The optimal group size is three people
- Roles in social life are divided between the three participants
Boo: personality-based dating
Psychological approach
- Dating and friendship based on personality types
- Posting in communities based on interests
Friendship features
- Detailed personality analysis: compatibility, strengths, love languages
Ur My Type: personality-oriented connections
Local focus
- Reliable dating app in Calgary
- Options for both casual and deep connections
Wooh App: expat-oriented community
“One new friend a week” concept
- One match per week based on values and interests
- Support for expats to help them integrate
Discord servers: digital community
Official Calgary Discord
- Ages 20–40, channels: gaming, pets, politics, LGBTQ+, and more
Specialized servers
- YYC Network Discord: divided into city quadrants with prizes
- Calgary Gaming Community Discord
- Alberta Discord Server: users from Edmonton, Calgary
- Canada Meeting Discord: multi-city Canadian community
InterNations: international expat network
Global platform
- Expats from different countries
- Monthly events: sailing, spirituality, events for newcomers
Nextdoor: neighborhood network
Local connections
- Launched in Canada in 2019
- 25% of Calgary households are members
Success stories
- Examples of real stories about meeting people and groups of children
Reddit: Calgary Social Club
R/CalgarySocialClub
- Requests for hiking partners, startup enthusiasts, movie lovers, etc.
- A variety of interests: crafts, cosplay, physical activity
Facebook groups: local communities
Calgary Groups ecosystem
- “What’s happening in Calgary” (15,000 members) — emergency response updates
Specialized groups
- Calgary Pets (303 members) — questions about pets
- Calgary Puzzle Exchange, Calgary Barter Community
Specialized apps for an active lifestyle
PlayCity: sports partners
- Calgary app for finding sports partners
- 3,000+ matches in 20 sports
- Support from the city and CSSC
Slowly: slow but deep connections
- Geosocial app for exchanging “letters” with delivery times
- 30 min–60 hour delay for deep communication
- Collect stamps from different countries
Orbit: university connections
- A UCalgary student project
- Invitations to activities (coffee, lunch, workouts)
- AI personalization for finding friends
Singles and dating-oriented platforms
Singles Social Club of Calgary
- Rating 4.1, speed dating events for ages 25–34 and 40+
Calgary Gen-X Singles Social Meetup Group
- Meetups in pubs and restaurants
Thursday Events
- Weekly dating events
Professional and industry-focused networks
Calgary UX and Tech communities
- Calgary UX: 4,473 UXers
- Calgary GoGeomatics Canada Monthly Networking Social: 1,186 geomatics professionals
Eventbrite professional events
- Calgary Social Networking Event For Young Professionals — every Friday, Greta Bar
- Calgary AI, Tech & Finance Networking Event — every Thursday, Greta Bar
- Calgary Law, Real Estate & Construction Networking Event
Challenges and limitations
Limited user base
- Some apps have few users, quickly exhausting potential matches
Difficulty maintaining conversations
- Reddit: difficulty maintaining conversations after initial greetings
Demographic limitations
- Meetup groups are often geared toward people aged 30+, with a need for groups for people in their 20s
Practical tips for successful use of platforms
Diversify your approach
- Use several platforms at the same time
- Combine online and offline activities
Active participation
- Regular presence and initiative greatly increase success
Openness to new experiences
- Try activities that didn't interest you before
Patience and persistence
- Making friends takes months of active participation
Conclusions
Calgary offers an incredibly rich ecosystem of digital platforms for meeting new friends, from traditional Meetups to innovative AI apps. Success depends on active participation, openness to new experiences, and patience.
The most effective users combine:
- Meetup for offline meetups
- Bumble BFF or We3 for targeted searches
- Discord for daily communication
- Specialized apps based on interests
The future of friendship platforms in Calgary is promising with the development of technology and growing awareness of the importance of social connections.