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Be our Valentine Contest Winners

200 submissions, 21 prizes, 6 winners in Pique Newsmagazine’s annual Valentine’s contest

By Vivian Moreau

Conspiring mothers, a protective waiter, and a distracting three year old were just three catalysts to finding love, submitted by Pique Newsmagazine readers. And those loves won some pretty cool gifts for sharing their stories as part of our three-week online Be Our Valentine contest.

We asked readers to write in and tell us about the first day they met their loves and received 200 entries in response. Pique publisher’s assistant Aimee Larivee culled through submissions, reading many aloud to production staff groans, guffaws and cheers. Because of the difficulty in choosing from the quantity and variety of offerings, four honourable mentions were also chosen.

 

And the winners are:

1. Rob Schertzer, 45, from Vancouver, who doesn’t mind admitting their mothers brought he and wife Laura together. Schertzer recalled how their mothers connected while leaving synagogue after Yom Kippur. His now mother-in-law asked his mother if he was single. “My mother sadly said, ‘No, he’s divorced.’ Without missing a beat, her mom said, ‘Oh good, ready to start again!’” Rob and Laura have been married for 13 years and have two children.

The couple wins a one-night stay at the Edgewater Lodge, a $150 gift certificate for Rimrock restaurant, a $100 gift basket from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and two weeks unlimited doggy day care from Whistler’s Dog’s Paw.

 

2. Pemberton resident Katherine Fawcett, 39, on the importance of tea:

“I invited you in for tea. You accepted. I didn’t even have a tea pot.”

For her cryptic but telling submission, Fawcett wins one night at Adara Hotel, a $150 gift certificate for Ric’s Grill and a $100 certificate from Keir Fine Jewellery.

 

3. An underage Sheila Banks badgered a waiter to serve her a beer. He refused but asked her out for a date. “Thirty five years later we are still married and I still don’t drink beer,” Banks said. The couple will enjoy one night at the Crystal Lodge, a $100 gift certificate from the Cinnamon Bear Bar & Grille and $290 infrared sauna package for two from Aqua del Sol.

 

4. In praise of puppy love: Whistler resident Adam Protter’s story about meeting his future wife at the pediatrician’s office when he was four. Throwing a screaming fit in anticipation of a blood test his future wife’s aplomb calmed the situation.

“A little girl, three years old, with golden, curly hair walked up and started singing to me. When I stopped crying she patted me on the cheek and told me not to be afraid. All I could do was stare in stunned amazement. We still have the beautiful dish Dr. Cole sent as a wedding gift 20 years later.”

Adam and his wife win a $200 gift certificate to La Rúa, a $100 gift certificate to the Crab Shack, a $100 gift basket from Nesters Market and a $50 gift certificate from Ruby Tuesday.

 

5. Alison Burrell takes the driver’s seat with her story of meeting her husband after his car crunched hers. “I was so angry that my car was a total mess but the moment I met the guy responsible it was love at first sight (cheesy I know but it’s true!).”

Alison, cheese has won you and your vehicularly-challenged husband a snowmobile tour for two with Canadian Snowmobile (he doesn’t get to drive), a $100 gift certificate from Behind the Grind, and a 60-minute couples’ massage at Vida Wellness Spa.

 

6. Anna Mayo, for her disarming honesty, wins a $50 gift certificate from Monk’s Grill, a $200 gift certificate from Avello, free prints for a year from Whistler’s Foto Source, and a Ziptrek ecotour for two. Her short but succinct entry: “My friend said I get the bald one and I said ‘you can have him.’ Ten years later here we are.”

 

Honourable mentions, but no prizes, sorry, must go to:

 

Stella Benteau of Whistler: “Our exact words to each other: “I do not want to get involved.” That was 1975, here we are, still involved in 2007. So how’s that for no involvement?”

 

Jody Winstanley of Pemberton: “I wanted to run over and try and erase the freckle on your lip. I’ve been trying every since — practice, practice, practice.” [We’re assuming she means with her mouth instead of a cloth.]

 

Jennifer Perry of Whistler: “I was the rookie and you were the ski pro… I’m no longer the rookie but you’re still impressing me with your tricks!”

 

Enduring kudos must go to Whistler resident Roger Verrall for his story about the importance of perseverance. “My heart used to beat so fast as I passed you by,” he writes about seeing his future wife as they walked to work. “But I didn’t have the courage to stop and talk to you and ask you for a date.” He discovered her name and where she worked after she signed a form at the post office and tracked her down, heart still thumping.

Now married 39 years Verrall gives us all hope that love can endure. “On this Valentine’s Day I just want you to know,” he writes to Rosemary, “that you still make my heart beat just as fast as it did the first time we met.”