SPRING BACKYARD GATHERING
31.05.23

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There’s a room for this.

Small, peer‑run evenings in Kingston for people in work, permit, or life uncertainty.

⤷ See if there’s a room coming up
⤷ Learn how it works 
[ About ]

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Here, you can say the things you can’t say anywhere else.

Kingston NetworkBuddy (KNB) started in 2023 with a few backyard hangouts, a WhatsApp chat, and friends meeting up so no one had to walk into city events by themselves.

Since then, KNB has kept going in small, peer-led rooms. We try out different ways of gathering to see what helps people going through big changes feel safe enough to show up, speak honestly, and just be themselves. No need to perform or have it all figured out.

KNB isn’t a nonprofit or a program. It’s just a small, grassroots way for people to help each other, shaped by what we can actually do and hold together.

⤷ Learn how KNB started
A group of friends celebrating outdoors near a swimming pool, holding drinks, smiling, with snacks and drinks on a table, some making peace signs, during daytime.

Photo credit: Kim Derek Talasan

A black and gold sign with the words "V.I.P. ENTRANCE" in a decorative font, placed in a white bucket filled with soil in a backyard. 
[ ROOMS ]

Featured Events

⤷ See upcoming rooms
A man and a woman engaging in conversation in a cozy, dimly lit room. The man is sitting on a yellow patterned armchair, wearing glasses, a plaid shirt, and a dark jacket, holding a glass of wine. The woman is sitting on the floor, facing him, with curly blonde hair, wearing a gray sweater, and appears to be listening attentively. There are small tables with drinks and a candle in the foreground, behind the woman is a small table, and a large flat-screen TV is mounted on a dark wall.

2024 Winter Gathering

This winter, KNB tried something new—a gathering at home to see if we could spark real connections. We set out simple icebreakers, shared questions, and invited a newcomer to speak. The hope was to help people move past small talk and into real conversation, all in a cozy space while it was cold outside.

Newcomers and folks who have been here a while came together to talk about what it’s like to go from just arriving to slowly feeling at home in Kingston. People drifted between the living room and kitchen, chatting in small groups and trying out gentle icebreaker questions.

By the end of the night, a few guests said it felt like we were family. That feeling made it clear how much the space, the way we gathered, and the fact that many of us are figuring things out together can help people open up.

Kingston, ON • Karen’s Cozy Home

Women sitting in a row, laughing, with a man standing in the background, smiling and crossing his arms, in a cozy indoor setting.
Group of friends enjoying a social gathering in a living room, smiling and laughing.
⤷ See this gathering
A group of people standing in a line outdoors during the evening, with some engaging in conversation. There are trees, a house with lit windows, and a table with a lantern, candles, and snacks nearby.

Kingston, ON • Prof. Lisa’s Home Backyard & Living Room

2024 Summer Gathering

This summer, KNB tried something new. Rather than hosting just one guest speaker, we gathered in Prof. Lisa’s backyard with over 50 guests to hear a panel of newcomers—from recent arrivals to those who have been here for decades—share their experiences navigating big changes in Kingston.

As the panel discussed struggles and small wins, the connections deepened. Many in the audience shared that they saw their own story reflected on stage.

With Prof. Lisa guiding, these stories formed one big conversation. By the end, we truly felt we were all exploring together what it means to stay and feel at home here.

Two women are shaking hands outdoors, with trees and a wooden deck in the background. One woman has red hair, glasses, and a beige quilted jacket, while the other woman has dark hair and is wearing a colorful dress with a patterned shawl.
Group of people seated indoors, some sitting on the floor and others on a piece of furniture, in a cozy room with large windows, yellow and white curtains, and a brick fireplace.
⤷ See this gathering
People sitting at a table in a crowded indoor setting, engaged in conversation, with condiments and promotional signs on the table

At St. Larry’s Pub this fall, KNB tried something new—a big gathering led by newcomers themselves. Over 80 people showed up: newcomers, locals, alumni, students, and professionals. It wasn’t just about swapping business cards. It was about seeing what happens when we focus on sharing, not just getting.

The night felt big, a little messy, and honestly, humbling. There were 33 table hosts, a keynote speaker, and a lead facilitator, all helping conversations flow at over 15 tables. We paid close attention to what actually helped international students and newcomers feel noticed and included.

It wasn’t perfect. But it showed me just how much adaptability, generosity, and simple showing up there is in Kingston. And it gave KNB a clearer idea of what to work on before we try something this big again.

Kingston, ON • St. Larry’s Pub

2024 Fall Gathering

A woman with dark hair speaking into a microphone across from a woman with a name tag. They are seated at a table in a crowded, dimly lit restaurant or event venue.
A woman with glasses, wearing a black jacket and a name tag that reads 'Julie,' is smiling and talking with two other women in an indoor setting.
⤷ See this gathering

We put together small, friendly gatherings for anyone who feels a bit uneasy walking into a room by themselves.

In these backyard get-togethers, people can settle in, meet a few others, and feel a little more comfortable before any big conversations start.

⤷ See upcoming rooms

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Video credit: Parth D Advani

Meet the Founder

Gail Manigsaca smiling during networking event in Kingston, ON

Photo credit: Parth D Advani

Hi, I’m Maan Gail Manigsaca (mah-ahn 🇵🇭).

I keep thinking about the quiet, hidden parts of crossing—those moments most people don’t see, the ones you often carry by yourself. That’s where I think this work really begins.

I’ve walked into more than 50 rooms for other people. I’ve been a networking buddy at city events, helped organize gatherings, and tried to support people in their first steps. I see how much work newcomers put in just to stay. Most networking spaces feel like you’re supposed to already know how things work. But when you’re new, you practice what to say, pick which parts of your story feel safe, and look around, wondering which version of yourself will fit.

It’s not just about whether you show up or if you come back next time.

It’s also about how much of yourself you have to tuck away just to stay in the room. Sometimes, that silence follows you home, or into other parts of your life.

Kingston NetworkBuddy isn’t really about networking, at least not in the usual way.

It’s about making spaces where it feels easier to stay, and where you don’t have to leave parts of yourself at the door.

KNB started small. We went to events together, so no one had to walk in alone. We hosted backyard gatherings, tried out different ways to set up a room, and kept things simple. Over time, it became a peer-led space that local partners noticed. But it’s always been shaped by the care—and the limits—of the people who show up.

I came to Kingston in the winter of 2022 as an international student. Later, I became a cleaning supervisor. I’m still figuring out my own path. In so many rooms, I felt tense and bottled up, holding back things I couldn’t say, trying to act in ways that fit. I’d leave feeling like I’d left something important behind, but I couldn’t name what it was. Those moments made me want to try new ways of entering rooms—together.

Before I moved to Canada, I spent ten years running a small fitness gym in the Philippines. I mostly worked with beginners and women. That taught me how often systems expect too much from people who are already tired. I carried that lesson with me into my own settlement and networking. When you’re worried about money, legal status, language, or just fitting in, even simple events can feel like too much.

Kingston NetworkBuddy is built on a different idea. It’s not about “if you made it into the room, you should be fine.”

It recognizes that crossing, uncertainty, and exhaustion are already a lot to carry. Sometimes, it’s the room that needs to do more.

Alongside KNB, I’m working on Exhausted Bodies—a project about how manual work and uncertainty wear people down faster than they can recover. Kingston NetworkBuddy is part of this bigger look at what happens when care and silence meet.

If you’re new to Kingston, tired of walking into rooms alone, or just worn out from trying to stay, this project is for you.

⤷ Learn how the rooms work → 
[ TESTIMONIAL ]

“I came to a KNB summer gathering expecting a typical” networking event where people just exchange names and contacts. Instead, I found a backyard circle that felt like a real community, with panelists and a moderator sharing honest lessons about identity, migration, and belonging.

As an immigrant, I recognized my own loss of identity in a new country and was reminded that I still have something valuable to contribute; if I stay humble, share openly, and even offer something as small as a genuine smile, I can help shape and be shaped by this new community.”

Full reflection available in Pierre’s original LinkedIn post here.

Pierre Tardiveau, President & CEO at SENS CAFE Inc. 

[ FAQ ]

Questions you might have

  • People in the middle of work, permit, or life uncertainty—especially when it feels hard to name elsewhere.

  • No. You’re welcome to speak, listen, or stay quiet. Presence counts.

  • No. There’s no diagnosis, treatment, or expectation of progress. Nothing needs to be worked through.

  • You choose what to share, and you can always pass.

    Stories stay in the room unless someone clearly says a detail can be repeated elsewhere (for example, ‘You can tell your friend I’m looking for a room to rent’).

  • No. There’s no pitching, positioning, or pressure to be useful to others.

  • No. You don’t owe the room anything after you leave.

  • That’s common. You don’t need clarity or the right words to be here.

  • You can name what you’re hoping for, but no one is required to fix things or provide specific contacts; any concrete help is a bonus, not a promise.

  • We set clear boundaries so the room works for everyone.

    • No fixing, diagnosing, or advising unless the person has clearly asked for it.

    • No selling, recruiting, or using the room to promote a business or project.

    • Share only what you’re comfortable bringing into a small group.

    • You can pass at any point. Silence or “I’m not sure yet” is always okay.

    • What’s shared in the room stays in the room, unless someone says otherwise.

    If you feel unsure at any point, you’re welcome to say so, take a short break, and rejoin when you’re ready.

[ CONTACT US ]

If you’d like to hear when a Kingston NetworkBuddy gathering opens—or you’re curious about hosting, collaborating, or staying in the loop—you can leave your name and email here.

We only reach out when there’s something real to invite you into.

For most questions, the KNB FAQ explains what Kingston NetworkBuddy is—and what it isn’t.

Connect with KNB