‘I’m a huge non-believer in dating apps’: Canadian reality star Elan Bibas talks dating on TV versus in Toronto

Has Toronto dating made you consider applying to a dating show? Canadian reality TV star Elan Bibas says it might not be the move.

For this edition of This is Dating Now, Bibas is spilling the tea on his hottest dating takes after attempting to find love on TV.

Elan Bibas was a bombshell in the drama-filled reality show Love Island USA’s seventh season, and has competed in the upcoming season of The Traitors Canada, a competitive reality show filled with challenges and betrayal.

‘Toronto, we at least have like millions of people’: Bibas says Toronto dating is better than Love Island USA

Bibas went to Fiji for Love Island USA to find love, but says the stakes were much higher than in Toronto, since there were only a limited number of singles on the island.

“Toronto, we at least have like millions of people. On the island, there’s like 20. If you don’t have a match in there, you don’t have a match,” Bibas explained.

“Love Island is an interesting experience, but I think natural dating in a place like Toronto or in any city is a more conducive approach to actually finding your person,” he added.

‘I’m very intentional’: Bibas on his dating style

Some daters on Love Island USA approach the show like a game, but Bibas says he only dates with intention.

“Because of that, I didn’t really care about anything else that was going on in the villa, except for trying to build a real, true connection with someone,” he said.

Bibas follows that same dating approach in Toronto, too.

“I’ve always been someone who’s very intentional with how I date someone… I only really date one person at a time… I was raised in a family where my parents took each other on dates all the time, and because of that, that’s my viewpoint on dating and love,” Bibas explained.

Before Love Island, Bibas hosted his own dating events

Bibas says he’s a “huge non-believer in dating apps,” so, he hosted his own dating events before ever going on the American dating show.

“When running clubs were starting to take off, people were talking about run clubs becoming the new dating apps. So, my buddy and I actually started a run club in Toronto,” he shared.

The run club met every month or two and acted as a “speed dating run club,” where people ran laps in different pairings to try to find a connection. Bibas said he even had a dating coach on site for further support.

“I’m a big believer in staying off the dating apps and meeting people in places where you already enjoy spending your time… In that case, it was running,” Bibas said.

‘I think ghosting’s a big no-no’: Bibas says it’s best to be straightforward

Television stars Kaden Connors, John Ferguson and Dom Gabriel have previously spoken on the topic.

All, except Dom Gabriel, are against the trend.  

“I think ghosting’s a big no-no. Just be straight up with someone,” Bibas said. “I think it’s a harder thing to do to tell someone you’re not interested, but it’s also the least you can do.”