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She wanted to change that this summer , but meeting new people in aÌýplace like ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ has become expensive, especially for a 23-year-old graduate struggling to find a job in a bleak labour market.Ìý

On July 5, she did more than just meet new people on a budget. She hosted a massive picnic event at Centennial Park at Exhibition Place that created a third placeÌýfor the community to make meaningful connections without having to pay a fee to attend.Ìý

“There are a lot of people who thanked me for hosting this event,” Chen said.Ìý

And it couldn’t have happened without the power of social media.Ìý

In late May, she made a call-out in a social media video asking if a group of strangers were interested in having a picnic together. The call-out to herÌýrather modest social media following resulted in 200,000 views overnight for the video and 2 million views in total for the entire picnic series.Ìý

“I can’t really fathom what that number is until I go out,” Chen said, adding that strangers on the street recognize her and ask, “OMG, are you the picnic girl?’”Ìý

Chen said more than a thousand name-tag wearing individuals attended the picnic where people chatted, snacked and spent quality time with strangers over board games and painting stations, while sitting on a giant picnic blanket. Picnickers danced and chanted to “ETA” by K-pop sensations New Jeans, as well as to throwbacks from Justin Bieber in a rave-like set by DJs Eunicecycle and Sidequest Steve.Ìý

“They brought such good energy. It kind of turned into a mini rave or mini music festival at one point,” she said.Ìý

The event’s success highlights young people’s strong desire to interact with their community after a report pointed to ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ as the loneliest place in Canada, combined with isolationÌýduring the pandemic.Ìý

“Some people in their 20s probably lost two years of high school or two years of university, which is in my opinion, the most important time to learn how to build connections and make new friends,” Chen said, adding that high rates of youthÌýunemployment add to the issue as “a lot of people can’t afford to go out to events and meet new people.”Ìý

She added that the event felt authentic and the high demand is a reflection of what people in the city crave.Ìý

“It was very nice. It just tells something about ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, that everyone wants to have a connection ... a meaningful way to meet people and making it as authentic as possible,” Chen said.

She set up a GoFundMe campaign that reached $2,000 in donations and she also received some financial assistance from sponsors. Attendees were asked to bring something with them to the potluck-type event such as board games, food, a volleyball net and other activities. ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik attended the event and gave a speech.Ìý

Chen recruited a group of volunteers using a Google form list with over 200 people eager to assist with the project.Ìý

Chen’s picnic, which she said she was “shocked to pull off,” was inspired by a large cake picnic eventÌýin San Francisco where more than a thousand attendees were instructed to bring their own cakes to a park.

The biomedical graduate says most of her friends are facing unemployment and are “frustrated” with the lack of opportunities.Ìý

“They feel like they’re not enough,” Chen said. “But it turns out, everyone’s facing the same situation and may feel discouraged to continue looking. It really hits on your self-esteem when you don’t get an interview back.”Ìý

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Work is often considered part of one’s identity and the topic of one’s job is often a conversation starter and how individuals introduce themselves to others, said Yeeun Archer Lee, assistant professor in psychology at Trinity Western University in B.C. and researcher in loneliness and social connection.Ìý

“Without that, it’s difficult for people to feel very confident to go see new people,” Archer Lee said.

“This specific picnic event really shows a glimpse of hope in that online connectivity, like social media, that’s often blamed for a lack of in-person interactions was turned into in-person interactions. Research shows that in-person interactions still have special benefits that online connections cannot replace,” she added.Ìý

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Chen wants to continue hosting similar events in the future, keeping themÌýsustainable and affordable.Ìý

“I’m thankful I got to meet everyone ,” Chen said. “Everyone was there because of one TikTok I made, I felt really good that everyone was so supportive.”