Toronto Public Library launches Connect IRL, a new series that explores social connection.

TPL features two complementary activities designed to help festival attendees foster meaningful connections. In “Toronto: A City of Belonging,” participants pair up to share personal stories about places where they’ve felt a sense of belonging, then mark those locations on a collective map. Their reflections will help shape a forthcoming digital storytelling map that captures Toronto’s shared emotional geography.

Nearby, the Engagement Station offers a quieter, one-on-one experience. Strangers sit down together for a short, guided conversation using prompt cards about connection, home, and belonging. No facilitator required, just an open invitation to talk and listen.