About this Event
Sip & Scholar × Toronto Dating Hub are joining forces to bring singles a thought-provoking lecture and interactive experience - designed for intellectually curious singles looking for a unique evening.
🧠 Lecture: "Why We Click: What empathy can teach us about understanding each other"
🎤 Speaker: Dr. Jacqueline Kumar
📍 Location: King West (exact address given in confirmation email)
👥 The Crowd: Singles (Ages 30+)
🎟️ Ticket: Includes 1 drink from select menu
Lecture + Live Lab Overview
We know when we click with someone. Conversation feels easy. There's a sense that they get us. Sometimes it happens almost immediately. Other times, not at all.
But what does it actually mean to understand and connect with another person?
Join Dr. Jacqueline Kumar, whose doctoral research explores empathy, for a night examining human connection through the lens of empathy. We'll explore how we form impressions of other people, what it really means to understand someone else's perspective, and the role empathy can play in moving us from simply interacting with someone to genuinely connecting with them.
But this isn't going to be a typical lecture.
Throughout the night, we'll turn the room into a live laboratory for human connection, breaking up the lecture with short, guided interactions that bring the ideas we're exploring to life. You'll meet other singles, put some of the concepts from the lecture into practice, and experience the progression from seeing → understanding → connecting firsthand.
No speed dating. No rating your interactions. And no awkward forced matchmaking. The goal is to create better conversations and give you a chance to meet people naturally while exploring the psychology of how we relate to one another.
After the lecture and live lab, we'll open things up for Q&A and mingling, giving you a chance to continue a conversation, start a new one, or perhaps go back and find someone you weren't quite finished talking to.
Come for the big idea. Meet someone interesting along the way.
This event is curated for like-minded GTA professional singles.
To help maintain a high quiality, aligned group, you must have at least FOUR of the following criteria (which you will self-identify and indicate on the order form):
- 💜 Serious & ready for a long-term relationship
- 🗣️Socially confident & has had meaningful relationships — ready to connect with intention
- 🎓 University/college graduate
- 🏡 Live on your own (rent or own)
- 💼 5+ years experience in your field
- 💰 Annual income of $75K+
- 🔥 Passionate about your career (not stuck in a job you dislike)
- 🚀 Business owner for 1+ years
What to expect at THIS event:
- 🎤 Event curated & hosted by dating coach & event planner - Andrea Lo
- 🌻 Short welcome + light icebreaker
- 🧠45 min Lecture
- ✨ No match forms — old school, natural connections
- 🍷1 drink included
All will be explained at the event.
If you want more structure and activities - please check our speed dating events (where you get 5 min rotations).
Our mixers typically attract 25-50 singles (depending on the date & venue).
Our tickets tend to sell out quickly so to allow others the opportunity to join AND to curate more variety for each event, attendees are only allowed to attend UP TO 3 of our singles events PER MONTH. Please email [email protected] to get approval to attend more than 3 events before purchasing more tickets. Thanks for allowing others to experience our events and to meet that special someone!
✨ *Please note: These criteria are intended as a guideline to help us curate a fun, respectful, and high-quality group of singles. We do not fact-check or verify the personal information provided by attendees, but we trust guests to be honest and come with the right intentions. The event experience depends on everyone’s participation, and while we aim to gather like-minded singles, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes, matches, or personal compatibility. What we can promise is a great vibe, a chance to meet interesting people, and the possibility of sparks flying!
Feeling nervous cause you've never been to a singles event? Not sure what to say/ how to get noticed?
Sign up for a 30 min coaching session for a special promo price of $30 + HST (saving >45% off) to help prepare you for the event and to better your chances to geting (more) matches. Email us at [email protected] to book this or add this option to your cart when you check out!
Or add the "Mini Attendee Profile" option to your cart. Want to know who's attending and get the 411 on them so you can figure out who you want to spend more time with? i.e. age, job title, criteria - info that attendees opted in to share.
Meet Mimi who met her now husband at our events back in 2023 and now they're married with their firstborn!
FAQ’s:
Who should come to this event?
- This event is open to singles between the ages of 30-50
- If you've never tried a singles event but wanted something low pressure and fun
- You're looking for a relationship and want to make new connections
What do I need?
- Dress code: be dinner date ready - like you're going on a fun dinner or lounge date night. You shouldn't look like you're going to the gym / chilling at home!
- Bring a positive and open attitude to interact and meet other singles
Do you pre-screen attendees or offer matchmaking?
We don’t pre-screen/interview participants for this event, but attendees self-identify posessing the required criteria during ticket registration. While we curate based on these criteria, individual personal preferences, compatibility, and chemistry cannot be guaranteed. (Other premium events may include additional pre-screening.)
What if I don’t meet anyone I like (romantically)?
Not every event will produce a romantic match — but there are other valuable outcomes:
- Platonic friendships or people to hang out with
- Opportunities to refine what you want from dating or a partner
- Social skills practice in a fun environment
- Trying new experiences or venues (wine tastings, jet skis, unique locations)
What if someone makes me uncomfortable or is disrespectful?
Please let us know immediately during or within 24 hrs after the event so we can act swiftly. Actions may include addressing the individual in question, offering guidance, or restricting future attendance.
Pricing:
The ticket cost covers your entrance fee, the venue, the event organization/hosting. Eventbrite charges separate fees to use their service.
There are limited tickets - striving for 50/50 male:female attendance. It is strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance as we often sell out! Drop in rate is $60 at the door payable by cash or etransfer- IF WE HAVE SPOTS. Please contact us at [email protected] first before you show up to avoid disappointment.
NO REFUNDS will be issued should you change your mind or you can no longer make the event for whatever the reason (review why we don't offer refunds). The ticket includes a $10 deposit which will be deducted from your credit amount should you NOT be able to attend the original date. NO credit will be offered if you cancel within the same day of the event or for no shows.
Why do tickets cost what they do?
Ticket prices reflect the full experience, not just the venue or a drink. You’re getting:
- Curated events by a dating coach + event planner with 15+ years of experience
- Premium venues and environments (& private areas) for comfort and connection
- Real results — dates, friendships, relationships, and marriages
- Innovation and expertise, including pioneering niche mixers and continuously improving based on attendee feedback
- Reputable company with media recognition — CBC News, Toronto Star, Omni, CP24
Need extra support?
If socializing feels challenging or you want guidance, consider . Many attendees find this helps them feel confident, meet new people, and clarify what they want from dating.
Will there be food & drinks?
Feel free to order cocktails / drinks that the venue has to offer -but this is extra and great to support the venue!
Why is there a cap on attendance?
Venue capacity and to ensure this is a good, intimate experience for everyone.
What is the parking situation?
You can TTC there, but if you drive, there are lots of paid street parking & parking lots on the side streets.
Andrea Lo - Founder/Host/Dating Coach/Wedding Officiant of
Andrea is a proud UTSC Co-op Management alumna who has over a decade of experience in marketing and events. She took her passion & experience and channeled it in her business venture - starting Toronto Dating Hub in May 2020 during the pandemic. It has since been featured on CBC News, Toronto Star, and Flow 93.5. The mission is to transform the way Toronto singles meet - via unique events and tailored date coaching. Because of her in-depth experience planning events, but also having been single, Andrea can not only organize creative & well organized events, she emcees the events herself, and provides coaching to clients. Hosting over 5K singles annually, Toronto Dating Hub has positively impacted the Toronto singles community. They are a proud winner of the 2026 Canadian Choice Award in the Dating Services category in Toronto.
Toronto Dating Hub is a proud winner of the 2026 Canadian Choice Award in the Dating Services category for Toronto.
Watch these FAQ videos for what to expect at our events, what speed dating is like, and what kind of people come out to our events.
About Sip & Scholar
Sip & Scholar is Toronto’s lecture series for the intellectually curious. We bring professors, researchers, authors and experts into bars for thought-provoking talks, drinks and conversation. Because learning is more fun with a drink in hand.
About our Guest Speaker
Dr. Jacqueline Kumar
Dr. Kumar holds a PhD in Philosophy from Queen’s University, where her doctoral research explored empathy, emotion, moral psychology, and how we understand ourselves and others. She is the founder of Empathos Coaching, where she brings that research into the world of human connection, communication, dating, and relationships. Her work explores how self-awareness, perspective-taking, and intentional action can help us better understand the people in front of us and build more meaningful connections.
Event venue & nearby stays
Upscale King West Venue - venue to be revealed to attendees, King West, Toronto, Canada
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.