Our Story

The Parlour Project did not begin with an event. It began with conversations.

For years, the founders of the project had been hearing the same thing from friends and neighbours: despite social media and endless tools meant to connect us, people felt increasingly alone. Books were being written about the loneliness epidemic. Something essential was missing — real, lived connection.

Then their dad passed away.

What followed was a traumatic and disorienting experience for the family. While in the Dominican Republic, not being allowed back into Canada right away, the distance and uncertainty, and then the sudden loss left a feeling of being deeply disconnected — from home, from stability, from everything familiar.

The word that kept surfacing was alone.

When the pandemic hit soon after and isolation became mandated worldwide, the same feeling was felt immediately. Knowing what that kind of separation felt like — they couldn’t sit back and do nothing.

That was the beginning of The Parlour Project.

Named after the parlour in a 1895 family home — a room once intended for gathering, music, and conversation — the project was created to bring people back together.

Launched online immediately. Teachers, leaders, and neighbours stepped forward. Circles formed. Classes were taught from living rooms. Even a local hairdresser joined to help people trim their own hair during lockdown. It wasn’t polished — it was human.

When restrictions lifted, there was a  return to gathering in person — first in the parlour, then in the Coach House just beyond it, and occasionally off-site for larger events and retreats.

For more than five years, The Parlour Project has continued to grow — not into something bigger, but something deeper.

We remain a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization. Community Circles operate on honourarium and pay-what-you-can contributions to keep them accessible. As needs evolved, we added Active Living Circles and Fascial Stretch Therapy to support long-term physical well-being through structured, sustainable services.

Through it all, the principle has remained the same:

Gather. Collaborate. Connect.
Practice. Recover. Repeat.

Different practices. Same principle.

The Parlour Project was born from a longing for connection — and continues as a place where people can return, participate, and belong.

 

The Parlour Project isn’t just about reliving the past; it’s about fostering meaningful connections today. We believe that human connection is vital to well-being, and we’re dedicated to creating spaces where people can gather, learn, and grow—where everyone is welcome to speak, to listen, and to be heard. Together, we’re rekindling the spirit of the parlour for a modern age, helping our community connect deeply with each other and with the world we share.