Ask my cousins in Toronto and they’ll tell you that Ottawa is the place where fun shrivels. Home to government and
Turns out it’s actually easier to date in Ottawa than we think.
There are some awesome tools to help us out in that department, and help us to discover Ottawa’s charming energy with a partner in crime at our side.
The key to a great dating app lays in a few elements.
First, it should actually seek to find you a partner to date. None of this hook-up business, those aren't dating apps, those are hook-up apps.
Second, the app needs to have people on it who live near you - because who wants to start a relationship with a long-distance stranger.
Third, it has something unique to offer you! Designed for your needs in the hopes of finding a partner who shares those.
Let’s start off with the obvious number 1.
As millennials who have experienced the brutal slog of dating-apps, our founding members have first-hand insight into the realities of online dating where conversations are limited, redundant, and for the most part, relegated to the virtual sphere. Each of us has been ghosted, been stuck in endless texting relationships, and been a shoulder to cry on for friends who have experienced the same.
And so Wandure was born.
We're the new kids on the block.
The basic summary is - we were all on dating apps, we were sick of their structures, so we created our own.
So how does it work?
Once users match, you're asked to provide a budget, and availability so that the app can plan and book a first date for you. Upon matching, you provide your payment details so that the app can take care of booking the activity which can range from a museum dates, to bowling, to rock-climbing.
With Wandure booking the activity, you don’t need to worry about transitioning from chatting to securing a date and you avoid the awkward “who pays” on the first date. The app takes care of it all. Twenty-four hours before the planned date, the date spot is revealed.
With Wandure, there’s no endless swiping, no tedious texting, or conversations that remain in the virtual world – just dates.
I was on the apps when Hinge emerged and I found it to be a breath of fresh air. I loved that your profile takes centre-stage, with its unique photos and capacity to respond in full to various questions. The swiping was gone, and the conversation became primary.
That, along with JSwipe (the Jewish Tinder) were my go-to apps for some time. I really enjoyed that conversations were sparked by commenting on the content your match had put forward.
See that your match held a koala bear in Australia? Reach out and ask if they're still friends. See that they have a funny two truths and a lie? You can start off your conversation with a comment guessing the lie.
A platform where conversation is front and centre will always make daters happy.
The only issue I encountered was that despite ample conversations, actual dates didn't happen. So I was stuck with awesome virtual pen-pals and no dates.
No less, Hinge is an awesome option for those Ottawans looking for more in-depth profiles to make your selections from!
I'll admit that I used to be the first person to write-off Tinder. To my mind it was a swipe for days, find no meaning, game. More of a swipe on, swipe off experience à la wipe on, wipe off Karate Kid scene.
But I do in fact know some success stories. My brother and his girlfriend met on Tinder, as did a close friend of mine and her fiancée. It was the start of two successful, Ottawa based romances.
It can be a totally exhausting ride of swiping and chatting, swiping and chatting, swiping and being ghosted, or swiping and asking yourself why you swiped right at all. In summary, Tinder can be a mission.
But the days of Tinder as a hook up app may in fact be over. Rather, we're welcoming the days where a swipe can actually result in romance.
In a virtual world where women lead, relationships are bound to happen. And happen, they do.
I know a few relationships born from Bumble - a platform where the buzzing notifications can drive you batty but the conversations are initiated by women. That's right ladies, we only initiate conversation with the men we want to speak with. No penis pics from men we don't even want to chat with.
Ottawans tend to really enjoy the Bumble experience. Your matches expire within 24 hours if you don't initiate a chat. So you either start a chat, or you don't have to worry. You'll get a "bzzz" reminder to message your match, and guys do have the option of extending their 24 hour window if they really want to chat with you and you haven't reached out yet.
Love Bumble's approach to overcoming gender roles. Spot on, am I right ladies?
While I haven't had any personal experience with OKCupid, research reveals that Ottawans are quite into it. So how does it work?
OK Cupid’s app is classic in form and takes a more thoughtful approach to generating matches, taking into account what you say in your profile. So make sure your profile is stellar - which may require some effort and time, but overall is a more realistic and holistic portrayal of your desires. You're bound to learn more about your match, and them about you!
I like that this app allows people to really engage with potential romantic partners who may actually be a great fit!
So get dating Ottawa, your soulmate may be waiting around the corner. So set up that profile, make that extra slide right, and put yourself out there. Unless the UberEats guy is your next partner, you have to get off your couch and get dating!
