Our Story
How fitness is becoming a place of joy for newcomers and Ottawa residents
How It All Started
I'm Temi. I arrived in Canada on February 6, 2025, full of hope and excitement about starting a new chapter. But starting over wasn't easy. I faced job rejections, loneliness, and the harsh winter. Without friends or a support system, my mental health began to decline. I longed for community, but gyms that offered community were expensive, big box gyms felt isolating, and many community events were too expensive for someone starting over.
So, I created the space I needed. On April 13, 2025, six immigrants met at Heritage Park in Orleans to work out together. That small gathering became the beginning of The Social Fit Project. What started as a way to help newcomers find community has grown into a community of 100+ people coming together to move, connect, and experience Ottawa.
But that wasn't the end of the story. We started seeing more non-newcomers join us too. People who had lived in Ottawa for more than 10 years were showing up because, just like newcomers, they were looking for friendship, connection, and people to experience life with. We realized that while newcomers may experience isolation in unique ways, the desire for community is universal.
The Social Fit Project has grown beyond being a newcomer fitness community. Today, we create inclusive experiences that inspire people to move, connect with others, try new things, and improve their overall wellbeing. Newcomers remain a core part of our work, but our community is open to everyone, whether you've been in Ottawa for two days or twenty years.
The Social Fit Project is creating the kind of space we all need, a place where you can show up, find your people, and live a healthier, more connected life.
Our Foundation
Our Mission
To create welcoming spaces where people can move, connect, try new things, and build meaningful relationships through fitness, wellness, and shared experiences.
Our Vision
A city where everyone can find their people, feel a sense of belonging, and live a healthier, more connected life.
Core Beliefs
We believe wellness should not be luxury. It should be accessible, social, and something that helps people feel connected to the community around them.
The Problem & Our Solution
The Challenge
Finding community isn't always easy.
People can want to be more active but not know where to start.
People may want to meet new people but not know where to find them
Fitness and wellness spaces can feel expensive, intimidating, or exclusive.
Newcomers building a new life in a new city often means starting over socially, learning a new environment, and searching for a sense of belonging.
Our Solution
Accessible activities for different fitness levels, interests, and abilities
Workouts, hikes, sports, wellness events, and social experiences
Opportunities to meet people and build genuine friendships naturally
Programs and partnerships that help make wellness more accessible
Intentional opportunities for newcomers to connect with people, explore Ottawa, and build a sense of belonging
A community where you can show up alone and still find your people
The TSFP Journey
Isolation
Newcomer arrives
Connection
Joins TSFP
Belonging
Thrives in Canada
Be Part of the Solution
Join us in creating a Canada where every newcomer finds their community and sense of belonging.