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If you’re single for Valentine’s Day this year, you may just find yourself a partner for next year at the speed dating event on Feb. 15.
Individuals age 35 and up will have the opportunity to meet over a dozen single people at Marten Brewing Co. in Vernon from 6-8 pm.
Kristi Reich, the event organizer, says anyone from the Okanagan can attend if they meet the age requirement.
“People often aren’t fully rooted and are willing to travel and move within the Okanagan for love if they find the right person,” she explains. “In fact, I have had people travel from Kamloops for the events.”
Attendees will be split into two groups based on their age, and each date will be five minutes long.
“You can find out if there’s that initial spark without wasting time on your phone texting and mostly never meeting face to face,” Reich says.
While these monthly speed dating events are typically held at local businesses in and around Lake Country, the demand has been increasing throughout the Okanagan.
“For my business, I have mostly found that the 30+ age range is the most popular, and the 50+ events are quite successful,” she explains, adding that her online following is mostly individuals between the ages of 40 and 55.
The age groups, which are 20-40, 40-55 and 50+, rotate in three-month cycles.
“I was originally considering matchmaking because of the pandemic restrictions,” Reich says. “It was making it difficult for people to meet in person and people got stuck in their shell of staying home.”
“I’d teetered with the idea of a speed dating event, but it wouldn’t make sense with everyone masked, so the second restrictions were lifted, I decided to host my first event at Lake Country Coffee House and it was a huge success.”
Anyone can join the Lake Country Speed Dating Facebook group here.
“It is a good place to connect with other singles,” Reich explains. “It is all about joining an event and connecting in person.”
Reich also encourages members of the LGBTQ community to join, as it is inclusive space.
To sign up for the Vernon event, send an email to LakeCountrySpeedDating@gmail.com.
It costs $40 per person.
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