A new friend in 150 seconds? Regina library gives it a go

The Regina Public Library is hosting events for people to gain new friends, quickly, with a variation on speeddating.

They call it Speed Friending, and it was organized by the library's adult programming expert Tanya Rogoschewsky.

There were 30 participants at the most-recent event held at the central branch downtown. That one was for people aged 21 to 35.

'We all want to have people in our life."- Tanya Rogoschewsky

"We organize you into two groups," Rogoschewsky explained. "It works a lot like speeddating. You have a two-and-a-half minute date with each person where we give you some conversation starters."

A signal marks the start of each round of conversations.

"You just start talking to people," she said.

She said the event is for both newcomers to Regina and people who have been in the city for a time.

"Sometimes you're from that place and all your friends have moved or they're in different stages of life and it's really lonely," she said. "It's difficult to meet new friends and we all want to have people in our life."

After people go through the speed portion of the night, there is a cash bar, and people can mingle and chat further.

"There really wasn't any awkwardness," she said. "People were just having a good time and it was more about breaking the ice."

The last event was so successful that people lingered well past the set time for the evening to end.

"We had to do that thing where you flash the lights and say, like, 'You have to go home now,'" Rogoschewsky said.

Another event is planned for Oct. 21, for people over 35. Registration is required. Rogoschewsky said there are also plans in the works for more eventsafter that.

• EXTERNAL LINK: Regina Public Library Programs