It all began on Hinge, where fate brought Alicia and Ryan together through a series of witty prompts and carefully curated photos. Alicia matched with Ryan because she was charmed by Ryan’s unfiltered enthusiasm for life and Busch beer. Ryan swiped right because Alicia had mentioned she liked hiking, skiing and trying new foodie spots and so he was pretty sure that meant she was tough and could keep up with his own brand of spontaneous chaos. Their first date was set for Bobby O’Brien's, a iconic bar in Kitchener, Ontario, known for its relaxed vibe and endless pints of Alexander Keith's. It was a casual affair—except, of course, for the fact that they both showed up wearing Canadian tuxedos. They both stared at each other in shock for a good minute when they realized they were basically wearing the same outfit. And just like that, the ice was broken. Over pints of beer they talked about everything—life, love, travel, and most importantly, their shared passion for helping others. Alicia had just started studying to become a pharmacist, and Ryan was working as an educational assistant while starting to imagine his life as a teacher. The more they talked, the more they realized how similar they were: two people who had dedicated their lives to improving the world around them, even if it was one small step at a time. The second date came fast and furious: an ambitious hike in Hamilton. Ryan suggested it. Alicia, never one to back down from an adventure, agreed, even though her sense of direction was about as reliable as a GPS app with a low battery. They set out early in the morning, with Alicia bringing an entire backpack of supplies— while Ryan packed nothing, not even a water bottle. They were supposed to follow a well-marked trail, but after about three hours, they realized they’d completely missed a turn. “I think we’re lost,” Ryan said casually, glancing at the map as if it were a riddle wrapped in a mystery. Alicia, however, was unphased. “Lost? We’re not lost. We’re on a new adventure.” And so, they ventured off the beaten path, chatting away about everything and nothing. They discovered they had the same sense of humour, the same sarcastic edge, and the same ridiculously optimistic outlook on life. They didn’t even notice how much time had passed until the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. By the time they found their way back to civilization (after an epic, somewhat questionable detour), they were starving. So, naturally, they headed straight for tacos. As they devoured their tacos in a small, hole-in-the-wall joint, they both realized the obvious: They’d spent eight hours together, wandering through woods and trails, and never once run out of things to talk about. “You know,” Alicia said, wiping taco sauce from her chin, “I think we might be onto something here.” Ryan nodded, a grin spreading across his face. “I don’t know if it’s the tacos talking, but I think we’re basically soulmates.” After that, everything felt easy. There was no pressure, no pretending to be anything other than who they were. Their dates were filled with the sort of effortless fun that comes from being with someone who just gets you. It was only a month later, sitting by a campfire on the beach in Point Clark, that the two would fall deeply in love. It was a crisp October night, the wind howling across the water, and they were roasting marshmallows and making s’mores like two overgrown kids. It wasn’t a grand, dramatic moment—it was just real. And in that moment, by the fire, with their hearts warm despite the cold October night, they both knew: they were meant to be together. Now, four years later, they often joke that they’re “living the dream” near Point Clark, where they spend weekends building a life together with their beloved black lab, Mikko. Because, after all, when you find someone who will hike for eight hours with you and still talk about everything under the sun you know you’ve found someone truly special.