Meeting people in person and knowing her neighbours is an important part of Nicole Labarge's life.

The mother of two lives in Moncton's north end, where she has organized four neighbourhood meet-and-greet events since last fall. The next one is scheduled for Nov. 9 at the local YMCA facility.

Labarage said these events help people, including her, step away from the online world and embrace in-person connections.

"In-person connections are, I find, human nature," she said.

"Especially after ... COVID and things along those lines, and with young kids being stuck at home, it's more important for you to kind of put yourself out there and meet new people all the time."

She said the practice helps overcome social isolation and develop trust among both adults and kids in the neighbourhood.

Labarge said this is nothing new. She said it is how people connected before social media.

"You would know your neighbour, you'd have dinner with your neighbour, oftentimes you'd watch your neighbour's kids, you'd go to dance halls and you'd meet people there ... I think it's just a lost tradition," she said.

The events have fostered friendships in the neighbourhood, she said.

Labarge said she doesn't like to meet people online unless it's for business. She says meeting face-to-face helps her have a better sense of the person.

She said the event is open to all and often sees about 30 to 40 attendees.

Dave Theriault, senior vice-president of programs and expansion at the Greater Moncton YMCA, appreciated residents taking the initiative to gather at the local YMCA.

"The northwest end of the city of Moncton is growing at a rapid pace," he said. "We know through demographics that ... there's a lot of people speaking a lot of different languages and requesting different activities." he said.

Seema Shanbhogue, who moved to Moncton's north end about seven years ago, agreed with Labarge.

She said people stopped gathering outside after the pandemic.

"I realized that not everybody wanted to get back into the same zone because everybody had gotten comfortable living in silos," she said.

Shanbhogue has attended a couple of meet-and-greets with her daughter, where they met some of their neighbours.

She said these connections help her with babysitting when she is travelling, and their kids also play sports together.

"It helps when we are doing carpooling, when we go to the games together and when they're actually practising together," said Shanbhogue.

She said the events also helped her meet new people who have moved into the growing community.

"I saw a positive effect out of it," she said. "It's good to be at home, but it's also good to go and partake in the get-together," she said.