Excited about the future
The dater
Morgan Hoffman is an entertainment reporter on Global’s “The Morning Show.” She previously was a reporter on “Entertainment Tonight Canada.” She has interviewed everyone from Dolly Parton and Oprah Winfrey to George Clooney and Ryan Reynolds.
The dates
“I recently ended a relationship with someone I was dating for over a year. We met on Hinge, but we broke up a few months ago. I don’t mind being single. The dating scene has been pretty positive for me. Although I interview people daily and I get invited to some really fun events across the city, I tend to rely on dating apps to meet people.
“I’ve learned to follow certain rules before meeting up with someone on a date. Within the first week of connecting with someone online, I usually set up a phone call or a FaceTime. That way, I get to figure out pretty quickly if there is a connection and if I want to meet face to face with this person. So my dates have been pretty positive overall because I already have a sense of who they are. I’m shocked at how many people skip this step! I do it for safety concerns but also because I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.
“The pros of using the apps include meeting people not in my industry, which is always refreshing. Cons would be having to hide what I do for a living until I feel like I can trust the person. As a public figure, I have to be careful who I meet and determine quickly if they’re interested in getting to know me or the person they think they know on TV or on social media.
“Being a public figure can make dating harder. I usually tell people I work in communications when I first connect with someone. Not only for safety reasons but also because I’m surprised at how many people get intimidated when I tell them what I do for a living. Many of them also think I expect a fancy life. Some people assume I’m high maintenance when they find out what I do for a living, but they quickly realize I’m the opposite. When I’m not at work, I’m usually in my sweats watching the latest movie or show with my sister, or walking my dog in High Park.
“I do have a pretty bad date story — even though I was the bad date! It was in the early stages of dating someone I met on Hinge and I was starting to really like them. We had planned a dinner and movie date, but I wasn’t feeling well and had spent the day lying on the couch. I knew I shouldn’t have gone, but I had convinced myself I was feeling better.
“We met at a VIP cinema screening, so I had some wine and nachos before the movie started. Let me tell you, after not eating all day, that wine hit me hard and I passed out within minutes of the movie starting. I’ve never passed out in the theatres before. Then when I woke up halfway through the movie, I had to run to the washroom. I was sick. I told my date that he had to drive me home immediately. He was very understanding and drove faster than he should have to get me home. We then got pulled over by a police officer, after my date apparently cut him off while changing lanes.
“I leaned over my date and told the police officer how sick I was and that he was driving me home. Thankfully, the officer let us go with a warning. As soon as we pulled into my driveway, I jumped out of the car without saying goodbye and basically passed out on my floor in front of my sister. Surprising, we dated for a few more months after that!
“One of my best dates was going to Louix Louis to try their famous 13layer chocolate cake. I had only been to the St. Regis hotel in Toronto to interview people for work but I had never been to the 31st floor to try this cake. When the King’s Cake came to the table, I was shocked. I’d never seen a piece of cake that big before. Then my date told me he didn’t want any and that it was all mine. Needless to say, I ate leftover cake for the next week and I was in heaven.
“I love meeting people at restaurants in Toronto. Some of my favourite first-date spots include Enoteca Sociale and Annette Food Market, plus I have a special place in my heart for Bar Isabel. The cosier the spot, the better. I love going on walks in High Park on dates, too. It’s my favourite park in the city. Not only do I love any excuse to grab a coffee and go on a walk with my Frenchie Georgie, but I love getting to know someone when we’re just walking side by side.
“It can be hard after a breakup, feeling like you’re starting over again. It takes time for me to get to know someone and to trust them. However, there is the advantage of knowing what I want more than ever. I was always so consumed with my job in the past that I didn’t date with intention. Now I know what I’m looking for in a partner, more than ever, and that is very exciting!
“I always have to emotionally gear up to go back on dating apps, but I’m looking forward to meeting someone at this stage in my life. I feel more confident and happy than ever before — and I am excited to see who I attract with that kind of energy.” —