FFWD REW

An activist’s guide to dating

Looking for love and ways to save to the world

When you’re a single activist in ultra-conservative Calgary finding the right match can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Short of pre-screening potential dates with a long list of probing questions there are some simple ways to make meeting your match more likely.

BEST PICKUP SPOTS

Scrap Lavalife Plenty of Fish and Life Mates. Of online daters in Canada 25 per cent have admitted to misrepresenting themselves and 18 per cent are married or living common-law. The typical activist is less likely to be online searching for love and more likely to be out searching for ways to save the world. Activists can be spotted in soup kitchens animal shelters public protests or at a nonprofit organization’s meetings. Hook up with grassroots events directly through Calgary Social Change on Facebook or join the Calgary Activist Network listserv through www.activist.ca . Some established local gatherings swarming with activists include: the Calgary Dollars monthly community market and potluck on the second Wednesday of every month at the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association; the Arusha Centre’s monthly Friday evening happy hour at the Old Y; Critical Mass rides held the last Friday of every month from Eau Claire Market; the Sustainable Calgary Book Club’s monthly Sunday afternoon meetings and Green Drinks Calgary meetings held the third Tuesday of each month at the Vicious Circle. Enlist your like-minded friends in your cause — be open to being set up on dates.

INSPIRED DATE DESTINATIONS

Franchise restaurants aren’t the best venues in which to keep an activist relationship blooming. Golfing off-roading taking a private jet to Vegas hitting the mall and anything Stampede can also be stricken from the list of date destinations. Instead explore locally owned environmentally responsible fair-wage-paying unique settings for your courting adventures. Hot spots include: The Coup which offers creative vegetarian local and organic fare with DJ beats and eco-conscious business practices; Diner Deluxe with its groovy atmosphere delicious breakfast options and organic fair trade coffee; and the Good Earth Café which has a paid volunteer program for employees contributes to local charities and serves up shade-grown organic coffee in a laid-back setting. Other sure-to-please dating activities include catching an independent flick going to live theatre visiting festivals and strolling in the park. Spark some conversation by attending a lecture browsing the aisles of a local bookstore or watching a documentary in the Arusha Centre’s Action Film Series. Get out and feed your passions with outdoor non-motorized adventure — kayaking cross-country skiing snowshoeing climbing birdwatching innertubing hiking or rafting. End your date with a local drink and live music at A Bar Named Sue Koi or the Ironwood.

ENLIGHTENED GIFT GIVING

Reroute yourself from the customary consumer traps of shopping malls Christmas and Valentine’s Day — while activists still relish a present from a loved one the present that’ll impress the most should be out of the box.

Trade in the conventional chocolates for fair-trade organic ones. Choose recycled jewelry over mined virgin gems. Deliver a bouquet from a local florist like Peaseblossoms or better yet handpick one from your garden. Get a gift with some thought behind it and an ethical edge — your radical sweetie will appreciate the effort.

The bottom line is activists are generally thoughtful inspiring and passionate folks. Make your dating experiences equally as thoughtful inspiring and passionate and you might soon find yourself two strong against the world.

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