HOW IT STARTED Josh and Maddie met in September 2016 at Conestoga College while studying Advertising and Marketing. Their first real interaction happened in a Group Dynamics class, where Josh suggested forming a group with Maddie and another classmate. A friendship quickly blossomed, and although Josh asked Maddie out soon after, she replied, “I think we should just stay friends.” (Spoiler alert: that didn’t last long.) FROM FRIENDS TO FOREVER They stayed close throughout college and officially started dating in February 2020—just weeks before the world shut down due to COVID-19. With Maddie back in Tara, their relationship became long-distance, filled with Zoom sushi/movie nights and virtual dates in GTA V, Animal Crossing, and Stardew Valley. BUILDING A LIFE TOGETHER In 2024, Josh and Maddie moved in together. One evening, while Maddie and her mom were at a show in Kitchener, Josh and Maddie’s dad built a Blackstone grill. During that time, Josh asked for Dave’s blessing to marry Maddie. Dave replied, “You treat her like a princess—do what you gotta do.” Josh later asked Maddie’s mom, Jen, who simply said, “Of course, I don’t even know why you’re asking me.” THE PROPOSAL A few months later, Josh received a work assignment to photograph landscapes around the GTA and Cottage Country—though it was secretly a setup for a proposal. Together, they scouted locations, hiked trails, and even got stuck in the mud. In August, on their way to the CNE, they stopped at Hilton Falls. After a 40-minute hike, Josh set up his camera and asked Maddie to pose by the waterfall. When she turned around on his cue, she found Josh on one knee with a ring in hand. “Maddie, you know I’ve loved you since the first day I saw you,” he began—only to be interrupted by Maddie’s joyful, “Oh my god, you’re serious? Yes, yes, absolutely!” They celebrated that night with dinner at Hy’s Steakhouse in Toronto, toasting their engagement with Old Fashioneds and Espresso Martinis. THE NEXT CHAPTER Soon after, they welcomed a new family member: Ellie, a goofy German Shepherd-Black Lab mix. In 2025, Josh and Maddie bought their first home in Kitchener and are now excited to begin this new chapter as husband and wife.