OUR PHILOSOPHY

Think of the people in your life who are genuinely excited to see others succeed. The ones who are curious, generous with their time or perspective, and naturally make connections between people. Founders, creatives, operators, and builders who understand that the best rooms are built on contribution, not extraction.

Friends of Friends is designed for people who believe you get what you give. The more open you are to helping others, whether that’s through introductions, shared experience, or simply good conversation, the stronger the culture becomes for everyone in the room. This isn’t about collecting contacts. It’s about showing up with the intention to add value and trusting that it comes back around.

Josh and Gabs curate each room with diversity of experience in mind, so that every conversation holds the potential to spark growth. You should leave having met people who can help you thrive in what you’re building, and knowing you helped someone else move forward too.

  • To bring together Toronto’s most interesting and ambitious people (founders, creatives, and innovators), through thoughtfully curated social events. We create spaces where genuine connections happen beyond the bar scene, where friends of friends of friends gather, and the people you meet are as interesting as the night itself.

  • A Toronto social scene that feels like the house parties you remember — intimate, lively, but without the 2-day hangovers, and designed for those shaping the city. Forget the stiff networking events, skip the small talk, and meet the people who are doing cool shit.

  • Everyone in the room is connected, whether they know it or not. We want to introduce mutual friends to other mutual friends, who are all following different or impressive career paths. We’ll introduce different ways to stay in touch post-event, to avoid the usual one-and-bye interactions.

MEET THE HOSTS

Gabrièle Lagacé

CO-FOUNDER | Event lead

Gabs has built her career around creating meaningful events, working with global brands during her time in London, including on the Cannes Lions Festival, before returning to Canada two years ago to launch her own event business.

She is now the owner of Bon Vivant, a supper club and events community that brings strangers together around the dinner table and through curated experiences, with a focus on fostering genuine connection and community in Toronto.

As Event Lead, Gabs will draw on her creative vision and operational expertise to design spaces where Friends of Friends can walk into rooms that feel like a house party with friends — familiar, welcoming, and effortlessly social.

Joshua Engelbrecht

cO-FOUNDER | Community lead

Josh has built his career around community, leadership, and relationships across sport and business. As a real estate advisor and co-founder of Engelbrecht Associates, his work is rooted in trust, long-term relationships, and connecting people through pivotal moments in their lives.

He saw an opportunity to help shape a more intentional social scene, one designed for genuine connection rather than surface-level interaction.

As Community Lead, Josh focuses on curating the room. Every guest is invited through overlapping circles of trusted relationships, creating environments where Friends of Friends can connect organically and relationships extend well beyond the event itself.