LAST EDITED: AUGUST 12, 2021 | BY GUEST BLOGGER: SHANNON RICHARDS

Never before has there been such an epidemic of loneliness in our society; a hunger for ways to connect with others in a more meaningful way. For myself, and others I have spoken with, a large challenge faced is how on earth does one make friends as an adult?

“I wanted a simple way to shake up my routine, to meet new people, to try something new.”

If I was to walk up to you on the street and say, “you look nice. Will you play with me?”, you would likely assume I was a creep, imbalanced, or a threat to your safety (but I’m really nice… I swear. Just ask my mom!).

The Birth of CXN YXE

I wanted a simple way to shake up my routine, to meet new people, to try something new. And to spend way less energy mindlessly scrolling through social media in order to pass the time.

There are plenty of community organizers already creating amazing events in this city, yet for many of us we are unaware until we see the “proof it happened” on social media. FOMO is real, y’all.

Inspired by a similar project in NYC, the spring of 2019 saw the launch of CXN YXE (because apparently, I am too lazy to type out both Connection and Saskatoon): your one-stop source for adult-geared inclusive and diverse events that are intended to create meaningful conversation, deeper connections, and the development of new skills.

It is a way to bridge the gap between our wonderful event organizers, and those who crave knowledge about what’s happening around town that might be outside of their normal bubble. 

How does it work?

All events included on the list are submitted through the lovely humans of Saskatoon. Event options are then curated by myself to ensure that there is diversity in the offerings (I mean, I’d be happy to do nothing but dance events and cycling all week long, however I recognize not everyone might feel the same way).

This weekly email is delivered Monday mornings with a list of what is coming up for the next 7 days. One email. All the info. Delivered directly to you with no need to go hunting for details. You can subscribe to get my love notes or submit your own event to be featured. Well heck, why not do both?

Sample Events

In the past, we’ve seen a wide variety of events such as cooking classes, nature walks, bicycle repair workshops, volunteer opportunities, meditation sessions, drag bingo, learning how to compost, writing workshops, dancing, open mic nights, and more! The focus is on events that welcome people from all walks of life, with at least 50% of each week’s lineup free to attend. 

What Does It Cost?

Absolutely nothing! There is no cost to join the mailing list, and no cost to submit or have your events promoted. This passion project can exist simply because people like you care to spread the word.

Follow Shannon Richards on Instagram and LinkedIn and get connected for all the upcoming happenings around YXE!