Toronto Man Brings Joy to Transit Riders One Greeting at a Time

Minjae Cho used to blend into the sea of faces on Toronto's buses and subways, feeling invisible and disconnected. Then he decided to do something most people find terrifying: talk to strangers.

The results have been nothing short of remarkable. Cho now spends his days riding Toronto's public transit, simply wishing people well, complimenting strangers, and spreading warmth in a place known for silent commutes and avoided eye contact.

"It started at a time when I was in a lonely disconnected part of my life," Cho told CTV News Toronto. "I wanted to push myself to show up more openly in everyday life with social interactions, and to rebuild my social confidence."

He captures his interactions using Meta glasses, which are less intrusive than holding up a phone. The videos show something powerful: the moment tension melts into smiles, handshakes, even hugs.

Some encounters end in tears. People have told Cho his simple greetings helped them through tough times or even prevented them from making devastating decisions.

What started as personal therapy has become a citywide movement. Cho now has 36,000 Instagram followers under the handle Magnetic MJ, and he's received praise from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and TTC CEO Mandeep Lali. Transit drivers recognize him and welcome him aboard.

Sunny's Take

Mayor Chow captured the magic perfectly: if everyone did what Cho does to just one person, on one bus ride, once a week, Toronto would feel like a neighborhood instead of a metropolis. That's the beauty of his mission. He's not asking people to do anything complicated or expensive. Just look up. Make eye contact. Acknowledge the human beside you.

The videos reveal something we all recognize: that split second of tension when someone speaks to us unexpectedly, breaking the unwritten rule of transit silence. Then the relief and joy when we choose connection over isolation.

Cho proves that courage and kindness are contagious, one commute at a time.