Paris centric social media groups help connect individuals and build sense of community

“Everyone is willing to help, to lend a hand, to share, to give of themselves. The ‘me’ is overridden by the ‘us’, and this is how I wish other parts of the world could be….. and that is how I believe we create community.”

By Casandra Turnbull

Imagine moving to a new community in the height of a pandemic. It’s hard to gain a sense of community and meet your neighbours when you’re asked to keep your distance, avoid public gatherings and there’s no events to mix and mingle at because, well, they were banned. How do you meet people when you’re encouraged to stay away from people? Luckily, it’s the Information Age in the 21st century so naturally Celeste and Ralph Joseph turned to social media to gain an understanding of their new community. Focussing on two hobbies they love, they created two Facebook groups – Paris, Ontario Gardeners and Paris Walking Group, with the hopes of connecting with like-minded residents. Not only did they make the connections they set out to find, but little did they know the groups would grow beyond their expectations and become the roots of some amazing friendships that have flourished over the last three years. Let’s start at the beginning, in 2021 Celeste and Joseph were living in

The Paris Ontario Gardeners Facebook group has brought together members of all ages on a variety of community projects, most recently the Earth Day tree planting in St. George.

Toronto at the start of the pandemic, cooped up in their condo with two younger children carrying an abundance of energy

Their usual outlets, events and activities around their home, just blocks from the CN tower, suddenly stopped. Impromptu city adventures ceased, and the hustle and bustle of the city became less appealing The idea of peace, quiet and a close-knit community sounded more and more therapeutic by the day.

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