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Q: The state of Dating in Canada ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   0 Comments )
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Subject: The state of Dating in Canada
Category: Relationships and Society > Romance
Asked by: lotteeda-ga
List Price: $50.00
Posted: 26 May 2004 12:45 PDT
Expires: 25 Jun 2004 12:45 PDT
Question ID: 352305
There appears to be many studies and research compiled summarizing
?the dating scene? in the USA, however, I am finding it very difficult
to locate those same studies and nuggets of info pertaining to Canada.
I am looking to find out the following:  
Who uses online and non-traditional means to meet others and to date
(ie. online, professional matchmakers, dating agencies)?
What are their demographics?
What is most important to them i.e. security, privacy, a good match?
Who are the 'players' within the industry in Canada, both online and
bricks and mortar?

Thanks in advance

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 27 May 2004 00:47 PDT
This is an intersting question but I think you need to review the
Google Answers pricing guidelines. Good luck.

http://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html
$50 The minimum price appropriate for complex, multi-part questions  

~ czh ~

Clarification of Question by lotteeda-ga on 27 May 2004 07:50 PDT
I have increased the list price in response to the question.  I am
after Canadian fact/numbers etc. and certainly will appreciate any
assistance.
thanks in advance.

Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 27 May 2004 13:17 PDT
I can provide you with a comprehensive 55 page study regarding online
dating in Canada. This report was published February 6, 2001.

Here is the table of contents.

Main Findings 
The Birth of a New Society 
But Is It a Society? 
The Rise of Online Dating 
The Potential of Online Dating in Canada 
A Socio-demographic Profile of Canadian Online Daters 
Online Daters are Sociable, Self-confident Offline 
Motivations for Using Online Dating Services 
Perceived Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Dating 
Observation, Contact, Meeting, and Misrepresentation 
Some Consequences of Online Dating 
Inhibitions Limiting the Use of Online Dating 
How to Ensure a Safe Date 
The Future of Online Dating


Would this study interest you as an answer to your question?

Thanks,
Bobbie7
Answer  
Subject: Re: The state of Dating in Canada
Answered By: czh-ga on 28 May 2004 17:35 PDT
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Hello lotteeda-ga,

As you indicated in your question, it?s not easy to find clearly
segregated information about the Canadian dating services industry.
The report suggested by Bobbie7-ga is the only significant research
available and it is frequently cited by articles and commentators
reporting on the Canadian online dating market. Despite the paucity of
formal research, I?ve managed to collect a variety of resources to
help you get a fairly good idea of what is happening in the Canadian
dating market. I?ve grouped the information according to your topics
whenever possible. I?ve also included some general resources to alert
you to some emerging trends. I hope the material I?ve gathered will
give you a better understanding of the Canadian market. Please don?t
hesitate to ask for clarification on any of this.

Wishing you well for your project.

~ czh ~


==========================================================
DATING SERVICES (TRADITIONAL AND ONLINE) ? TARGET AUDIENCE
==========================================================

http://www.cbs.gov.on.ca/mcbs/english/56UUX9.htm
Consumer Lookout 
Dating Services 
From the Consumer Files of the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services 

***** Annual Statistics 2001 Dating Services and related articles.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/services/dating/index.html
Air Date: Jan 23, 2002
Dating Services

LifeMates runs big ads that say it's the largest relationship company
in Canada. ? LifeMates says it has signed 17,000 members, employs 70
people in 10 Canadian cities and is about to open in the U.S.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2004/03/single.html 
Starting over
Are you single again? Ms. or Mr. Right could be a mouse click or a
phone call away.

Sidebar ? Related Links
 -- Lavalife
 -- Match.com
 -- eHarmony.com
 -- Cyberdating Canada
 -- Date.ca
 -- Ave Maria Singles
 -- JDate
 -- IndianMatches.com
 -- Agence de Rencontre de Montréal (in French)
 -- C?ur Atout.com (in French)

***** This is a review of a variety of Canadian dating services, both
online and off-line.



====================================
DATING SERVICES -- USER DEMOGRAPHICS
====================================

http://www.nelson.com/nelson/harcourt/sociology/newsociety3e/loveonline.pdf
Love Online: A Report on Digital Dating in Canada

***** This is a 55-page report from two researchers for the University
of Toronto and McMasters University and funded by MSN.CA

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/services/onlinedating/facts.html
Love and little white lies
Broadcast: Mar 16, 2004
Online dating facts & figures

Average monthly unique visitors to the online dating sites: 
U.S.: 40 million 
Canada: 7 million 

According to Love Online: A Report on Digital Dating in Canada (Drs.
Robert J Brym and Rhonda L. Lenton, March 2001)
 
Online dating is growing for four main reasons:
 -- a growing proportion of the population is composed of singles.
Between 1995 and 1999, the number of single, widowed or divorced
Canadians grew by 4.4 per cent.
 -- career and time pressures are increasing 
 -- single people are more mobile. Also, a growing number of jobs
require frequent travel
 -- workplace romance is on the decline due to growing sensitivity
about sexual harassment in the workplace

***** This article summarizes the statistics from the 55-page report.



==============================================
DATING SERVICES -- USER PREFERENCES AND VALUES
==============================================

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2003/23/c6350.html 
June23, 2003 -- Survey Shows: Gay, Lesbian and Bi-Sexual Canadians Who
Use Online Personals Services Want a Serious Relationship

TORONTO, June 23 /CNW/ - Yahoo! Canada Co, www.yahoo.ca a subsidiary
of Yahoo! Inc., a leading global Internet company, today announced
findings from a Yahoo! Canada Personals online survey(*) which shows
that when it comes to finding love and relationships, that Canadian
gays, lesbians and bi-sexuals (GLB) who use the Internet are strong
users of online personals services and many use these services in
their quest to find a serious relationship. The survey found that over
87 per cent of respondents have used online personals services, more
than 67.6 per cent would consider using an online personals service in
the next 12 months and 75 per cent said they used online personals
because they want to start a serious relationship.

***** This article contains lots of statistics about the preferences
of this target market.


======================================================
DATING SERVICES (TRADITIONAL AND ONLINE) ? KEY PLAYERS
======================================================

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040305/RLAVALIFE05/TPBusiness/TopStories
March 5, 2004 -- 
Lavalife dating service falls for U.S. suitor
Hefty price reflects lucrative market

Canada's leading on-line dating service, Lavalife Inc., has been
snapped up by a U.S. firm for $152.5-million in cash, a hefty price
tag that is testament to the lucrative world of on-line matchmaking.


http://money.canoe.ca/News/Sectors/Technology/2004/03/04/370097-cp.html
MemberWorks of U.S. pays $152.5 million Cdn for matchmaker Lavalife
2004-03-04 16:56:00

TORONTO (CP) - Lavalife thinks it's found itself a match. 
The Canadian online dating services company said Thursday it has
agreed to be bought by U.S.-based marketing firm MemberWorks for
$152.5 million in cash.

After starting out in 1987 as Telepersonals, a telephone-based
personals-connecting service, the company morphed into Webpersonals in
1997, and then Lavalife three years ago.

According to the Online Publishers Association based in New York,
spending in the personals/dating category in the first half of 2003 by
U.S. consumers hit $214.3 million US, up 76 per cent from the same
period in 2002.

The personals/dating category was also the largest paid-online content
category, capturing 28.7 per cent of spending.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.online-publishers.org/opa_paid_content_report_09222003.pdf
U.S. Consumer Spending for Online Content Totals $748 Million in First
Half of 2003 » OPA, 9/22/03

***** This is a 27-page report with lots of statistics to highlight
the personals/dating content category.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.lifematesonline.com/
Welcome to LifeMatesOnline . Canada's Premier Online Dating
Destination, for Canadians by Canadians! LifeMatesOnline is a secure
dating experience for active singles seeking friendship, love or
romance.

http://www.lifematescanada.com/about/index.aspx
LifeMates ? Convenient Locations Across Canada

At LifeMates we offer a number of different Memberships to choose
from, which vary in price and features. We have thousands of Members
and our memberships are affordable to almost everyone. Please keep in
mind that we do not accept everyone into our Membership. During your
interview, your Relationship Consultant would be happy to show you
each of the Memberships that we offer.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.alovelinksplus.com/area/canadian5a.htm
CANADA DATING SERVICES

We have reviewed dating services that have substantial memberships in
all 10 provinces and 3 territories: British Columbia, Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, the Yukon, Northwest
Territories and Nunavut. You will be able to find someone close to you
by visiting the Canadian dating services on this and the following
pages.

WHAT THEY SAY:
WHAT WE FOUND:
WHAT YOU'LL FIND: 
RELATED CATEGORIES:

***** Dozens of reviews of dating services with links to each site.

-------------------------------------------------


http://listingsca.com/common/search.asp
Search Scope: Canada Wide - All Categories: 
introduction services -- 192 Results Found 
dating  services -- 200 Results Found

-------------------------------------------------


http://datingalert.com/personals/canadian.htm
Canadian Personals Dating Services Matchmaking Penpals

DatingAlert.com is one of the largest hand indexed dating directory on
the net offering love and romance through our online dating links. 
You'll find love and romance when you meet people online with
carefully selected dating links to some of the web's finest online
dating services, online personals, online chat and online singles
communities.

-------------------------------------------------


http://webmania.ctv.ca/w2004feb06.htm
Webmania Script for February 06,  2004

And according to COM Score Media Metrix ... The Canadian personals
market grew by an astounding 20 percent last year... Stats that
demonstrate... The internet is becoming a serendipity machine when it
comes to match-making. As Isabelle Hemond tells us at Yahoo!
Personals, there is new feature called 'Likely Likables?... Making it
easier for singles to find interesting people to meet.

Super-Isabelle Hemond / http://ca.personals.yahoo.com  
?For example, when a single searches Yahoo! Canada, there?s a link
within each profile that says ... "people who like this person, also
like these people." Basically, it helps to increase your network of
people with similar interests."


========================================================
MISCELLANEOUS RESOURCES -- ONLINE DATING INDUSTRY TRENDS
========================================================

http://www.journalism.ryerson.ca/online/tangents/sinner/mduignan.htm
The Phenomenon...
For a growing number of people, finding a date can be as easy as
checking your inbox.

Sidebar -- Online dating services 
Lavalife 
Matchmaker 
Canadian Matchmaker 
UDate.com 
Lifemates
Datingdirect 
GTA Love 
Connection Zone 
Date.com 
Singles on the go 
Soulmates 'R Us
CyberDating International 
LonelyFire.com
One More Date
Contact-Online 
Two of a Kind 

***** This is another recap of the Love Online: A Report on Digital
Dating in Canada report. It is accompanied by a list of leading
Canadian online dating sites.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.mkt-data-ent.com/datingtoc.html
THE  U.S. DATING  SERVICES  MARKET
(April 2004, 3rd Edition)

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.solvedating.com/dating-services.html
Dating Services

There are various methods singles use to find their soulmates. These
existing dating services have failed more than 96% of the population
in helping people find their soulmates. Each have their corresponding
financial costs and weaknesses. Below are our analysis of current
dating services and reasons why none of them have yet to solve dating.

-------------------------------------------------


http://marketrange.com/BD/industry.asp
Industry Research ? Dating
An Overview of the Online Dating Market

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2003-02-09-online-dating_x.htm
2/9/2003 -- Online dating: No longer in the 'geeky' domain

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,87256,00.html
May 21, 2003 -- They say that money can't buy love. But online, love
sure is making money.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.valuationresources.com/Reports/SIC7299DatingServices.htm
Industry Resources Report
SIC 7299  /  NAICS 812990
Dating Services
 
Industry Resources Reports list resources available from trade
associations, industry publications, and research firms which address
subjects such as industry overview, issues, trends, and outlook,
financial benchmarking, compensation surveys, and valuation resources.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.lovecompass.com/weblog/archives/000071.html 
February 25, 2004
New Trends Help Seekers Find Love Online
Amid social networking phenomenon, dating Web sites create
opportunities for genuine interaction

Recent technological advancements have created an online dating scene
in which participants can meet people from the comforts of their own
homes, talk face-to-face in real time using audio and video, and
access online journals that reveal thoughts and opinions.

One of the more recent evolutionary steps came with Web sites like
Friendster.com and MySpace.com, services that connect people through
online networks of mutual friends. Members join, then invite their
friends to join, creating a coast-to-coast online social network.

At the same time, the burgeoning practice of blogging is pushing
online dating even further toward ?informed choice.? Blogs, short for
weblogs, are a kind of online diary. Through a blogging service,
anyone can maintain a running commentary online ? accessible to anyone
with Internet access.

Integrating audio and video into a live online dating experience gives
the entire process more validity and increased security:

The Future of Online Dating
The future of online dating will include all of these trends:
Friendster?s relevant searching method, instant messaging capabilities
and the use of audio and video ? which all combine to create personal
meaningful interactions. And the integration of blogging tools will
give users the ability to truly create an online identity, and give
the website that houses that profile a lifelong customer.

But beyond the technological advancements that give users better tools
for getting to know each other, online dating will explode as new
business models take shape:

-------------------------------------------------

http://www.lovecompass.com/weblog/
LoveCompass Online Dating Services Weblog 

***** This site offers interesting commentary on trends in the online
dating industry.


===============
SEARCH STRATEGY
===============

site:.ca Dating Services
site:.ca canadian personals market
Canadian dating industry
Canadian online dating
online dating industry trends
lotteeda-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars

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