It's not every day that a former Degrassi star invites you out to party, so when they do, you bring your best party-girl energy forward. Well, that's what I did, at least. When Sarah Barrable-Tishauer — better known as Liberty Van Zandt from Degrassi and as DJ Me Time — invited me to experience her one-of-a-kind monthly greenhouse party, Brightside , I was instantly game. Why? Not only did I get to watch a phenomenal DJ spin in real life, but I also had a chance to party with complete strangers. The latter scared me initially, but I took it as a sign to head over to Allen Gardens Conservatory and push myself out of my comfort zone. I arrived in a rather chaotic state — a sincere struggle to find parking in Toronto will do that to you (I refuse to take public transportation; don't judge me, it's a personal preference). But once I checked in, I instantly knew I was about to enter a state of complete, well-deserved zen. The hour that followed was filled with ways to calm the body and mind, and meet people I'd never met before. Let's call them my "frangers" (strangers who turned into friends). We started with meditation and breathwork to steady the heart and mind as we grounded ourselves to the earth. As someone who meditates before bed every night, this mid-evening dose of mindfulness was more than welcome. After that was an exercise to get to know fellow partiers. We went around giving high fives, then paired off to find something we had in common. Shoutout to Marge, who instinctively asked if I have a pet (maybe I just look like I could be a mom to an 85-pound Labradoodle ). We instantly hit it off, swapping heartwarming stories about our cute furbabies. Then I met Lal, a young woman who had travelled all the way from Turkey to spend six months in Toronto, hoping to make friends and immerse herself in the city's culture. "I came here for the weather — and to this party — because I wanted to meet people. I love to dance, so I thought, what better way to make friends than a random dance party?" Lal told me. She was excited by the idea of being in a room full of strangers. Toronto, she said, didn't feel unfriendly at all. She pointed around that, although no one knew her, anyone she made eye contact with greeted her with a smile, something Turkey isn't known to do, I suppose. Lal gave me something to think about: you can find a friend in the most unconventional places. I left her with a promise of better Toronto weather and a couple of restaurant recommendations. Not a bad way to make a new friend, eh? DJ Me Time. After more mingling and even a dance-off to help everyone loosen up, it was time for DJ Me Time to work her magic. She put on her headphones, stepped behind the console, and did what she does best: spinning music that got everyone in the greenhouse up and moving. Now, this is where I had to push my insecurities aside. I didn’t know anyone, and although I could have busted out my moves on a packed dance floor without any inhibitions or judgment, I'll be honest: I felt embarrassed to dance alone. So, instead, I wandered into the conservatory, which felt like a warm hug, stopping to see the turtles while mustering the courage to head back and dance to what were quickly becoming my favourite songs echoing through the dome. After making my round, it was time to push past the hesitation. I stepped onto the dance floor and slowly started moving to what might be the ultimate dance-party banger: Turn Down For What. Just as I found my groove, a large group of frangers joined me, and suddenly, I wasn't alone. It felt like a community coming together that night. No one felt alone, no one felt judged, and everyone felt connected. "There really are no wallflowers because there's something here for everyone," said Adil Dhalla, co-creator of Brightside, who everyone refers to as Moonlight. As we looked around, it was true. No one was idle. Everyone was engaged, whether they were dancing or doing one of the therapeutic activities like colouring. "This takes me back to being a kid again. This space gives me a sense of openness to just be me," Vanessa told me, while she coloured and shared that she has many commitments outside of Brightside. "Here, I can be whoever I want and just enjoy myself. I don't get that often." Brightside is a third space all about finding yourself and connecting with others in a way you don't typically get in places like clubs , where alcohol is usually the main event. To close the night, DJ Me Time and Moonlight gathered everyone for a journaling session. Pens hit paper as people reflected and then shared their thoughts in small groups, another grounding moment where vulnerability was welcome. I left that night with my cup full. I danced, I talked, I shared my insecurities with some of the best frangers a girl could ask for. Will I see them again? I'm not sure. I mean, no one was exchanging numbers (I don't think I saw a single phone all night), but I'll carry the people with me for a long time. The people I met at Brightside let me be myself and even forget about the anxiety of a possible parking ticket waiting at my car. And that's huge.