WATCH: Battling Vancouver’s reputation as an ‘unfriendly’ city, Colin Easton launched the ‘Stranger Project’. He’s meeting a new person, at random, every day for a year. Alex Turner reports.
It can be hard to meet new people and make new friends, but one Vancouver man is making that his priority for 2014.
Called ‘The Stranger Project 2014’, Colin Easton aims to meet one new person every day and document that meeting with a photo and a short write-up on his social media sites.
Easton says he started the project on New Years Day after seeing his good friend, Donovan speaking to a lot of people on the Downtown Eastside, getting to know them and their stories. “At the end of his conversations, he always says ‘the next time you see me, say “hello” because we’re friends now’.” says Easton in an email interview. “That stayed with me for a number of months. That simple, yet potentially profound statement, to someone who might not otherwise hear or feel that, that day, the power of stopping to chat for a few moments, and the impact it can yield. Amazing.”
Easton says he has always enjoyed people watching and meeting new people and so far ‘The Stranger Project’ has been a success.
Vancouver does have a reputation of being an unfriendly place. A quick Google search brings up multiple articles on the subject, but Easton does not think Vancouver is an unfriendly city. “I think people are afraid to be the first to make a move to connect, not out selfishness, but perhaps not wanting to come across as rude or nosey,” he says. “I find that even before I started this project, without specific questions, people will be friendly and chat while waiting to pay for groceries, or on the bus. It only takes one person to start a conversation.”
Every day Easton heads out with his iPhone 5 to meet someone new on the streets of Vancouver. He says once he starts chatting with people the conversation generally flows quite easily. He then asks if he can take their picture and share that with his followers. “I also have a guideline for myself that if I sense any hesitation on the part of the person I’ve approached, I give them an easy out and let them know they don’t have to talk to me if they choose not to,” he says. “That’s why I include how many people it is I’ve approached before I get to meet the new friend for that day.”
Easton hopes the year-long project will help him to learn more about people and their fascinating lives. “If everyone spoke to just one stranger a day, with it being a little bit more than just complaining about transit or the rain, I’m sure we’d have a better day, completely,” he says.
You can follow ‘The Stranger Project 2014’ via the following sites:
- Facebook – facebook.com/TheStrangerProject2014
- Tumblr – thestrangerproject2014.tumblr.com
- Instagram – @TheStrangerProject
- Twitter – @TheStranger2014
- Using the hashtag #notastranger
We featured ‘The Stranger Project’ on the Morning News Jan. 17:
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