The dating world can be a dark and scary place. But when you’re looking for a significant other with the same environmental values as you, it can seem almost impossible.
This month, Ecology Ottawa is trying to make this search easier for city residents by hosting a series of “green” speed dating events called “Low-Impact Love,” targeted specifically at environmentally minded men and women.
The fundraising event, to be held Feb. 8 and 11 at Raw Sugar Café on Somerset Street, will allow participants to mingle and chat with each other during 15 different “six-minute dates,” with one minute more to rate their newly acquainted match-ups.
Sabrina Bowman, co-ordinator for Ecology Ottawa, says she heard of the idea through a friend in another organization, and felt it could be applied perfectly to what her group wanted to do in the city.
“We’re very excited about it,” she says. “This is the first time we’ve ever put something on like this, and we’re hoping there’s a good turnout.”
Bowman says that apart from a few logistical issues in the planning stages, she has been getting “a ton of response from those interested.”
“The women’s spots are almost all filled, but we’re still on the lookout for ‘green’ guys,” she says. “We’ve even had some people in relationships say that they wish they could come and do it,”
Justin Parfitt, CEO and founder of FastLife, Canada’s largest speed dating company and which organizes events in six different countries, says that this method of dating has become more of a mainstream activity because it takes the worry and stress out of singles meeting each other.
“One of the fundamental flaws of online dating is that you don’t know how you’re going to interact with the person when you meet them,” he says. “Human attraction is about body language and pheromones, not just audio/visual presentation.”
Started in 1998 by a rabbi in Los Angeles as a way for Jews to meet and date “within the faith,” Parfitt says the concept of speed dating has evolved over the years, gaining popularity through TV shows.
Parfitt’s company puts on special events for environmental initiatives such as Earth Day and Flick Off, and says that the concept of speed dating can be seen as a green initiative at its core.
“Speed dating is environmentally friendly because it’s singles meeting other singles locally, going out to eat locally” Parfitt says.
Lukas Ratkowski, owner of Meet Market Adventures Ottawa, runs local singles events including speed dating in the Ottawa region. He says that while he hasn’t run any “green” speed dating yet, he could see why people would be interested and has discussed having environmentally friendly events in the future.
Bowman says Ecology Ottawa hopes to raise between $600 and $1,000 for its group.
While Low-Impact Love is heterosexual only and for those ages 25 to 40, Bowman says other “carbon-neutral” dating events could be held in the future.