Hugs Are Nice

Since 2010, Vancouver Improv Anywhere has been organizing an annual #FreeHugsYVR event in July, celebrating International Free Hugs Day by hitting the streets offering free hugs to everyone.​

The reactions have always been amazing and every hug ends with at least two happy people. But, once a year just isn’t enough for interactions like that so we’ve partnered with Hugs Are Nice to bring free hug events to Vancouver on a regular basis.​

The Problem

Vancouver is filled with some of the friendliest people in the world, but that friendliness is often behind a barrier.  Anyone that has walked among hundreds of people in a crowded city street or train station can feel it – very few people make eye contact or engage in social interaction without a strong reason.  A 2011 survey of 3,841 people across metro Vancouver reported that of all of their challenges (poverty, housing, education, health, safety, etc.), the issue people said concerned them the most was a growing sense of isolation.  In some areas, as much as 1/3 of the population goes an entire week or more without any physical contact with another human.  Social isolation affects our happiness (often linked to depression and an increase in stress and fear), our sense of self-worth, and even our physical health.​

The Solution

The long-term solution to our city’s social isolation is unclear, but the short-term remedy is obvious – we need to interact more with strangers, and even better, we should show each other real affection.  A hug is the best way to do that because physical touch has a way of reminding people that they aren’t alone and an embrace is the ultimate form of validation.  Hugs (even with strangers) are essentially a transfer of positive energy from one person to the other and back again, and they always end with smiles and just make people feel better.  It’s not just about trying to make other people feel better – studies have shown that a person giving a hug gets just as much benefit as a person being hugged. 

Join Us

Join our “free hug” flash mobs as we pop up in various locations throughout the city (wherever we can find large groups of people) and offer hugs to everyone that passes by.  Not everyone is a hugger, and that’s ok – hugging is all about consent and we aren’t forcing them on anyone.  Often just the offer of a hug, the interaction of being spoken to with a smile and eye-contact, and even just a high-five is enough to turn someone’s day around.  Each brief interaction has the ability to cause a ripple-effect, changing how people feel about themselves and interact with others for the days and even weeks that follow.  If we get out there often enough and hug a large enough percentage of the population, it’s possible that we could make a huge impact on the city as a whole.​

​What do I do?

Just join us at an event, smile, open your arms, and ask people “would you like a free hug?”  It can be a little scary at first (opening yourself up and risking rejection always is), but that’s why we do it together.  Interacting with each other is often just as rewarding as interacting with the people that pass by, and we all support each other.  If you don’t feel like offering hugs right away, feel free to just observe and as soon as you see the smiles on everyone’s faces, you won’t be able to stop yourself from joining in.

​What do I bring and wear?

Do what you can to make yourself as approachable, friendly, and huggable as you can.  That can involve dressing as a cuddly character in a onesie, wearing a soft sweatshirt, a bright and clean t-shirt, or an irresistible smile. Some people bring signs that say “free hugs”, others have “free hugs” written on their shirt so that their hands are free for hugging, and some just show up as they are and let their open arms and voices do all the communicating.  You can also borrow or buy a matching “free hugs” shirt or sign from us so that we’re all a unified group that’s easily identifiable.  In short, it doesn’t matter what you bring or wear, as long as you bring your happy self.

​How can I help spread this message?

Take photos of people hugging (at our events or just in your personal life) and post them on social media networks.  Photos of people smiling and showing each other affection are infectious and can have almost as many benefits as hugs themselves.  Be sure to mention @ImprovAnywhere and @FreeHugsAreNice and use hashtags #FreeHugsYVR and #hugsarenice so that we can get your photos to as many people as possible.

I want to do more!

Starting a movement and improving the world is something that will require a lot of people, and we need your help!  Visit http://hugsarenice.com to discover more ways to participate including planning/hosting events (in Vancouver or any other city in the world) and spreading the hugging concept as far as possible.  We would love to have your help and every little bit is appreciated!