Loneliness is common, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. It also does not always show. Someone can have a busy week and still feel on their own.

What the numbers say

In a Statistics Canada survey of people aged 15 and older in the provinces, run in August and September 2021, 13% said they always or often felt lonely. Another three in ten said they sometimes did, and about five in ten rarely or never did.

A few more findings from the same release:

  • Younger adults reported it most: 23% of people aged 15 to 24.
  • 24% of people who lived alone felt lonely often, compared with 11% of people who lived with others.
  • Among people who were often lonely, 49% rated their mental health as fair or poor, compared with 7% of those who were rarely or never lonely.

Statistics Canada is careful to say these numbers do not show whether loneliness causes lower mental health. They show the two often go together.

The Canadian Mental Health Association's 2026 fact sheet on loneliness, which cites Statistics Canada, adds that 17% of young people aged 15 to 24 said they felt lonely always or often in 2024. It also notes that in-person contact tends to create more emotional closeness than digital contact, citing a 2013 study.

Where a dog can help

A dog gives you a reason to step outside, and a reason to say hello.

A 2015 study in PLoS ONE surveyed 2,692 randomly selected residents of four cities (Perth, San Diego, Portland and Nashville). Pet owners were more likely than non-owners to get to know people in their neighbourhood, and around 40% of pet owners said they had received at least one kind of social support from people they met through their pet.

Two honest notes. This was a survey, so it shows a link, not proof that a walk fixes loneliness. And it looked at pet owners, not people who borrow a pet. But the idea fits: a friendly dog is a very good icebreaker.

A person walking a dog along an autumn path Photo by Humphrey M on Unsplash

Three gentle first steps

  1. Pick a small, regular moment. The same walk at the same time each week makes familiar faces, and familiar faces make hellos easier.
  2. Say one small thing. "What a lovely dog" is plenty.
  3. Choose in-person when you can. A short walk with a neighbour can feel warmer than a long message thread.

Not able to have a pet of your own?

Lots of people want the company of a pet but cannot have one: a lease with no pets, long hours, travel or cost. That is why we built Bloom, a free community in Canada where ID-checked neighbours share time with each other's pets. The owner decides everything about their pet, and you meet first before anything is planned.

Browse pets and people near you, or read how Bloom works.

If loneliness feels heavy, you do not have to carry it alone. Talk to someone you trust or your doctor. If you are in distress, you can call or text 9-8-8 in Canada at any time.

Sources and photo credits