5 fun ideas to help foster connected teams

When was the last time your team did something fun together?

During the hustle and bustle of everyday work, it can be a challenge to carve out time to nurture meaningful connections with colleagues. Whether your team is working in-person, from home offices or a mix of the two, investing in solid team connections–beyond pre-meeting pleasantries–can boost productivity, innovation, creativity and retention.

This year our team tested out new ideas to help create new—and strengthen existing—connections. We played online trivia, got to know each other through “speed dating,” shared themed lunches and participated in activities that gave back to our community.

To help you pumpkin spice up your team-building activities this fall, we carefully selected a list of ideas that promise to provide maximum fun for the whole team.

Note: These activities are offered online or in various cities across Canada. Don’t see an activity in your city? A quick Google search will help you find similar events nearby.

Host a team-building activity online

Let’s Roam Team Building. Virtual, hybrid and in-person event options. These scavenger hunt adventures are led by an app, so your team can wander at their own pace. Perfect for team builders, custom events, fundraisers and groups of any size. These scavenger hunts are a great way to have fun and explore your city. No reservations required!

Escape Manor. This is not your ordinary online escape room—designed to have a real-world feel, you won't know where fiction ends and reality begins. Play with your colleagues from a shared office or connect remotely from home offices across the country! You can run the event yourself or choose the facilitated experience to maximize your team-building event.

Trivia. Give your team a quick 5-minute team-building break over Slack or MS Teams. Build connections while playing games like Instant Quizzes, Pictionary, Emoji Rebus, Hangman and more. Bond over post-game banter, find shared interests, indulge in some friendly competition and get to know each other better!

The Chef Upstairs or Cooking with Rockoly. Virtual cooking classes are a great way to connect from kitchen to kitchen. Think of it as a private dinner or “appy”-hour party. Choose your seasonal menu, and they’ll provide a “set-up” sheet with an ingredient list, kitchen tools, what to prepare in advance, etc. Classes are interactive–your team will work under the guidance of their chef, and everyone has an opportunity to mingle before, during and after the cooking portion.

Online Fitness Club with Confetti. Teams who work out together, work better together! Get your team's heart rate up and pumping with corporate fitness classes. There are different options for all levels, so whether you pick Zumba, yoga, bootcamps or a dance class you’ll enjoy a great workout and team bonding from the comfort of home.

BONUS COZY AUTUMNAL ACTIVITY: Paint the town Autumn. In-person, hybrid and virtual options in select locations. Bond with your team while flexing your creative muscles at Yaymaker Paint Nite. Choose from more than 36,000 original painting designs—all of which you can personalize–and then join a professional painter, who will take you and your team through the process of bringing your design to life.

Host a team-building activity in your city

Montreal

• Boost your team AND fall spirit with a pick-your-own adventure. Take a break from the office and bring your team down to this local farm in the beautiful Oka valley, where you’ll work together to harvest apples, pears, pumpkins and plums. Enjoy a range of farm activities, before grabbing a picnic from the lunch counter. Book one of several packages or customize a group package that’s as unique as your team!  
• Laugh the stress away at Comedyville. How does the saying go...a team that laughs together, thrives together? Find out for yourself when you host a team get-together at Montreal’s premier venue for English comedy. Your team will laugh the night away while enjoying tasty eats and delectable drinks.

Ottawa

• Spark fall AND team spirit at Saunders Farm. With onsite eats, fun fall features and beautiful natural backdrops, this is a great spot to break the ice and build team connections. And with spooky season around the corner, their mazes, pumpkins and festive décor are the perfect backdrop for your next team photo.  
• Be-LEAF in your team at The Urban Botanist. Tend to the seeds of a flourishing team by hosting a one-hour interactive DIY plant workshop. You'll be supplied with kits that include all materials needed and your team will learn from an expert—the Urban Botanist! Virtual options available.

Toronto

• Get your game on at The Rec Room. Ideal for groups of 20 to 60, enjoy a little friendly competition as your host leads you through a tournament of games. After the winners collect their medals, keep the good times going with mouth-watering eats. This private team-bonding event can be customized to your preference.
• Enjoy a Haunting Ride with Go Tours or take a Spooky Stroll with The Haunted Walk. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, a spooky tour is the perfect way to kick-off the fall season and spend some quality—and potentially chilling—time with your team. Enjoy frights and delight in learning more about the city’s history as a team.  

Calgary

• Get Wild at the Calgary Zoo. Interested in a Zoo-mazing Race or Zoo-vivor? The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is a natural spot to host a team-building event. Explore the grounds and get to know your colleagues & friends while participating in conservation-themed games. Catering available for groups from 10 to 1,500, with fully customizable food & beverage options.
• Team spirit meets fall spirit at the Calgary Farmyard. Pumpkins, corn mazes, harvest lights and more. The Calgary Farmyard is a great place to meet with friends and colleagues. With activities for all ages, their attractions will bring out the kid in your entire team. They’ve even got grills and delicious fare to whet your appetite.

Vancouver

• Take your team on a ghostly tour with Forbidden Vancouver. Breathe some fresh air into your team’s work routine and spark new connections while venturing into Vancouver’s eerie past. From hilarious anecdotes to fascinating historical insights, these walks offer a unique way to strengthen connections, inspire creativity and fuel discussion during your next corporate events.
• Warm up with a Craft Coffee Tour. If your team loves coffee, why not take them on a 3-hour tour where you’ll sip some of the best roasts in Vancouver. Your tour starts with a curated tasting, along with an overview of how each is brewed. Next, it’s on to learn about one (and taste!) of the biggest crazes in the world of coffee - Cold Brew. And what coffee tour would be complete without a shot of Vancouver's best espresso? The final stop on the tour takes you to Vancouver’s top-rated coffee shop for espresso.

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