Lonely in the city: Edmontonians reflect on connection and belonging
Loneliness is a growing concern across Canada, and Edmonton is no exception. A student, a professor and a local resident share how isolation and connection shape everyday life in the city.
Professor Lun Li of MacEwan University studies loneliness and social isolation in Edmonton and across Canada.
Edmonton is home to people from many different backgrounds, each experiencing the city in their own way. But do these residents truly feel at home?
Loneliness is an increasingly discussed issue in cities across Canada, including Edmonton. Edmonton Family and Community Support Services notes that positive mental health is essential not only for individual well-being but also for the health of the broader community.
To better understand loneliness in Edmonton, residents shared their perspectives on isolation and connection in the city.
Robert Preville, a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce student from Edson, Alta., says Edmonton offers many opportunities compared with his small hometown.
However, for Preville, who referees high-performance hockey in his spare time, the city’s faster pace can also make it harder to feel connected.
Preville recalls the time he felt loneliest in Edmonton. During the last school year, he became ill and missed six weeks of classes, creating a significant gap in his studies and forcing him to drop a course.
“I didn’t know what was gonna happen. … I think it was just not having the answer to really anything was really, really [lonely],” Preville says, reflecting on his experience.
Despite that experience, Preville says he has strong support systems, including his mother and professors, that help him through difficult times.
“I [feel] like I can always … ask questions. Oftentimes, [they] don’t have the answer, but I am able to get guided in the right direction … [and] being able to … ask … [is important],” Preville says.
He says supportive friends and classmates help ease moments of isolation and remind him that he is not alone.
While Preville’s loneliness stemmed from illness and academic disruption, researchers say his experience reflects a broader issue affecting many Edmontonians. Personal circumstances may trigger loneliness, but social and structural factors can also shape how connected people feel.
MacEwan University professor Lun Li, who researches loneliness and social isolation, says certain groups are especially vulnerable to loneliness in Edmonton, including older adult caregivers and immigrants.
Older adult caregivers, Li explains, often shoulder overwhelming responsibilities that leave little time for social connection. Many spend long periods caring for loved ones while also learning to manage complex medical conditions.
“Everything is on their shoulders, [and] they cannot say no, because basically, our public health system is designed for 80 per cent of the care [to be] provided by family caregivers,” Li says, demonstrating the size of the burden.
Li also points to the varied experiences of immigrants in Canada, noting that barriers such as transportation, navigating unfamiliar systems and experiences of racism can all contribute to loneliness.
Li recalls a memorable moment from one of his previous research projects, Social Resilience Amongst Older Adult Immigrants.
One participant had spent months isolated while caring for a spouse before attending a focus group. Li says the participant quickly opened up after realizing others shared similar experiences, demonstrating how community support can reduce feelings of isolation.
Li argues that loneliness should not be viewed solely as an individual’s problem.
“How about the city of Edmonton? Our government? What is the role of our government? Our community?” Li asks.
Li’s comments emphasize that loneliness is influenced not only by personal circumstances but also by the communities and institutions people interact with every day. Those broader changes are also something some Edmonton residents say they notice in their daily lives.
Ash Lewis, head barista at Beans Around the World, has lived in Edmonton her entire life.
For Lewis, one of the loneliest places in the city was church. She says divisions within her church community left her feeling isolated and eventually led her to stop attending.
Lewis also believes Edmonton’s growing cultural diversity can make it challenging for some people to build friendships if they do not already belong to an established community.
“There [are] so many different groups now, and types of people with different cultural backgrounds. If you’re not a close-knit part of those things, it’s very hard to meet new people and garner friendships,” she says.
Lewis has also noticed changes in how people spend their time.
“Back in the day, there were a lot more people at the malls, hanging out, and friend groups. I still see that now, but now, I see a lot more people going out and having solo time,” she says.
Lewis is moving away from Edmonton to Wisconsin to start a new chapter in her life. She emphasized her excitement about the low grocery prices and about meeting new people.
Before leaving her hometown, Lewis hopes Edmontonians will make a greater effort to connect with one another.
“I think if we spend more time learning about each other and building more community-based things, mental health will grow.”
