STEPHANIE AND FOXY: ‘Stephanie and Foxy are not shy to admit that they met online. Foxy is still surprised and grateful that love found its way through our increasingly technological universe. Stephanie hopes this is the last relationship she will pay for in cash.’

Ideal Date Night: We are total homebodies. We like to sit in the back patio playing guitar, sipping room-temperature water, eating insects we kill. If we do go out to say… the backyard, we’ll bring a blanket and some wine and just cuddle.

Keeping it real: Power struggles exist in every relationship- one of you naturally ends up holding the reigns. Accept that, and move on. ‘I like sleeping on my back in a star-fish shape.’ says Stephanie. ‘Foxy felt that was indulgent, so one morning she woke me up by laying on my face until I woke up choking. Now, I sleep in a fetal position. We have never been happier’.

Favourite time together: ‘We are health nuts, so we really appreciate working out together. Lately we’ve incorporated interval training with a small laser from the dollar store. Five or six times around the kitchen island and we not only feel closer- we feel tired.

Biggest challenge:  Reality. ‘If things are going to work out, one of you has to look themselves in the mirror without judgement and say ‘You’re dating a cat’.

JODY AND SEAN: Jody and Sean are both transplanted Maritimers. Given the odd hours and long days, Jody has been extremely grateful for the support she has received from Sean in her career.

Ideal Date Night: Our ideal date night goes like this: the kids are both asleep by eight o’clock, the steaks are on the barbecue, and we have a drink in hand. We chat about the day, music is in the background, and possibly a little dancing happens.

Keeping it Real: We’re both 100% East-coasters, so we were born and raised to keep it real! Mostly, I’d have to say our shared sense of humor: keeping diaper disasters as a constant source of entertainment.

Favourite Time Together: This is very mushy but it’s true – it’s the last kiss of the day before we fall asleep.

Biggest Challenge: Right now, it would be finding a few moments to ourselves as a couple.

EVAN AND SARAH: Evan and Sarah have been going out for two and a half years now. She is also an actor, singer, dancer.
 

Ideal Date Night: We like to go to the movies and things like that, but if we’re going to have a ‘date night,’ we like to get dressed up and go somewhere we probably shouldn’t (‘cause we can’t afford it) and splurge on ourselves, act the part for a night.

Keeping it Real: We make ridiculous meals. Ridiculous meaning it doesn’t matter what time. We’ve been known to have midnight picnics, we’ll have French toast will bacon, pasta and some sausages, or make homemade pirogues. For Chirstmas we made sugar cookies, made 130 or and decorated each one individually. It took us like four hours.

Favourite Time Together: We went to Vegas this last February, and while we probably spend too much money, it was an excellent, EXCELLENT experience. We got to see shows, got to gamble, and spend time on the 23rd floor of the the Monte Carlo watching the strip go by.

Biggest Challenge: Well, we’re actually just entering it right now. Sarah has just started a contract with Royal Caribbean, and she’s now in Miami, rehearsing for a five month tour which starts at the end of July. She’ll be gone for seven months; this is the first time we’ve really had to be apart, separated by such a long-distance.

ZACHARY AND ASHLEY: Zach and Ashley have both made theatre part of their work world. Ashley is a freelance stage manager and scenic designer, who is currently working at Ottawa Chamberfest as a box office manager.

Ideal Date Night: Going to the theatre! Because we never get to go [as spectators]. Otherwise, just being able to hang out with each other, popping in a movie, going to dinner, simply not ‘having to be’ anywhere, and being able to enjoy each other’s company.

Keeping it real: We have a very open, honest relationship and deal with things as they come.

Favourite time together: We went to Las Vegas 2 years ago, and that was a lot of fun. It was time for us, time away from everything, no emails to answer, no auditions to go to, no production work to be done, just us and a city with the best food and live entertainment you can get. Neither of us really drink or gamble but it has some of the best shows you will see anywhere, like Cirque du Soleil.

Biggest challenge: Finding time for one another, which is anybody’s challenge, but particularly if they’re involved in show business; this biz takes quite the toll on your personal life, the long hours, etc.

CHRIS AND NICKY: Chris and Nicky met during a production of Guys and Dolls in 2007. Chris played Nathan Detroit and Nicky played Miss Adelaide. This past Christmas they eloped to New York and blew off their scheduled May wedding.

Ideal date night: Any night we aren’t both working on a show. But an ideal date night is dinner at our favourite restaurant Piazarro’s for the Linguini and Clams.

Keeping it real: Mortgage payments and time spent with our seven nieces and nephews.

Favourite time together: Puerto Morelos, Mexico at the taco stands and unforgettable guacamole.

Biggest challenge: Being home on the same night or seeing shows together!

 
Original article published in Ottawa Citizen Style magazine. Read the full story and more here. 

Stay tuned this week for more interesting couples

MADELEINE MEILLEUR: Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs. As former Minister of Culture, Madeleine is a great supporter of the Arts.She resides in Rideau-Vanier, the municipal ward that she represented for many years at Ottawa City Council. She recently married Marc LeBoutillier, CEO of the Hawkesbury General Hospital.

Ideal date night: Friday nights is usually our date night. We enjoy savouring a nice meal at our favourite restaurant after a very busy week and time away from each other.

Keeping it real: We respect each other’s differences and we always fill up our time together with activities, conversation and enjoyment. We appreciate all the small things in life and we put as much importance on being together as we do on spending quality time with our family and friends.

Favourite time together: Really anytime is important and we like to make small moments special. We realize our luck to be together and we remind ourselves that love is a gift to share. Our favourite time off together is at a family home on the Gaspe Coast where we spend our summer vacation every year. Leading hectic professional lives and spending many days of the week away from each other, we find our oceanfront place to be a much needed refuge for rest and renewal. This is quality time in a place blessed with natural beauty. We enjoy the refreshing breeze of the Atlantic, walks on the beach, boat rides and of course fish for dinner.

Biggest challenge: It is staying connected through the very busy and often unpredictable schedule of a politician in Toronto and the equally busy week of a hospital administrator in Hawkesbury.Week-ends are at home in Ottawa, and we do all we can to make the best of it.

 Original article published in Ottawa Citizen Style magazine. Read the full story and more here.

Next week Stay tuned for more interesting couples

MATHIEU FLEURY is the Ottawa city councillor for Rideau-Vanier ward. Aside from being the youngest member of City Council, his real passion is in sports and physical activity. He is in a long-term relationship with Lai Hoang, a public servant for Department of Human Resources Skills and Development Canada. Both Mathieu and Lai are dedicated to living healthy and active lifestyles.

Ideal date night: When there are no plans involved and we don’t talk about work.

Keeping it real: Learning to be independent and taking responsibility of our own happiness. It is essential that we support each other as a couple and as individuals. Also, communicating with respect, by listening to one another and meeting each other half way.

Favourite time together: When we get to do the simple fun things such as going for bike rides, strawberry picking, taking a walk, having cook-offs/bake-offs, dancing, snowboarding, playing board games/cards, taking afternoon naps, making fun of each other….

Biggest challenge: Balance! We don’t have the same schedule, so trying to find time to be with each other or with our friends and family is in itself a task.

Excerpts taken from article originally published in Ottawa Citizen Style magazine. Read the full story and more here.

Next week Stay tuned for more interesting couples

In keeping with the theme of Odyssey Theatre’s show The Game of Love and Chance, our blog will be celebrating love in all its facets. Odyssey is grateful to the Ottawa Citizen, our major media sponsor, for allowing us to share with you some interesting stories on romance and loving couples. We are fortunate to bring you more stories based on an original article that appeared in Style Magazine.
 

PAUL DEWAR, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre. Paul Dewar has also been a strong advocate for the arts – rallying support for the National Portrait Gallery, initiating the first All-Party Parliamentary Arts Caucus, holding an arts summit, and supporting a wide variety of arts endeavours and groups in the National Capital Region. He is married to Julia Sneyd. Julia is a teacher with the Ottawa public school board.
Ideal date night: Going to dinner followed by the theatre. Keeping it real: Remembering to be spontaneous while surrounded by a daunting schedule between work and kids. Taking time for our family Sunday dinner.  Watching movies as a family.
Favourite time together: Our favourite time together is on a sultry summer night playing cards on the porch while listening to whatever CBC is playing. There might be a bottle of wine involved!
Biggest challenge: Being in same place at the same time!

Excerpts taken from article originally published in Ottawa Citizen Style magazine. Read the full story and more here.
 
 
Next week Stay tuned for more interesting couples

Excerpts taken from article originally published in Ottawa Citizen Style magazine. Read the full story and more here.
 
 
In keeping with the theme of Odyssey Theatre’s show The Game of Love and Chance, our blog will be celebrating love in all its facets. Odyssey is grateful to the Ottawa Citizen, our major media sponsor, for allowing us to share with you some interesting stories on romance and loving couples.
 

JOAN WEINMAN, principal at The Melbourne Group, is partnered with Rosemarie Leclair, chair and CEO of the Ontario Energy Board and former CEO of Hydro Ottawa.Ideal date night: Because of our work lives, we are out all the time. An ideal date night for us is settling down in front of our old stone fireplace after enjoying a home-cooked meal, with a great glass of wine (or two),  with phones, BlackBerries,
iPads and laptops all turned off.

Keeping it real: Share your Pradas willingly. Hold hands every day. Treat every moment like it’s the first moment that took your breath away.

Favourite time together: It’s waking up early in the morning, when the rest of the world is still asleep, and sipping that first cup of steaming coffee and sharing our plans for the day — just the two of us.

Biggest challenge: Spending time together. If it’s not 24/7, it’s not enough time.

Next week Paul Dewar and Julia Sneyd. Stay tune for more couples in the coming weeks, and information about our Love N Chance contest.

Excerpts taken from article originally published in Ottawa Citizen Style magazine. Read the full story and more here.
 
 
In keeping with the theme of Odyssey Theatre’s show The Game of Love and Chance, our blog will be celebrating love in all its facets. Odyssey is grateful to the Ottawa Citizen, our major media sponsor, for allowing us to share with you some interesting stories on romance and loving couples.
 

JAN HARDER, Ottawa city councillor representing Barrhaven, is married to Larry Harding, who is a buyer with Tannis Foods. They have five daughters and six grandchildren.
Ideal date night: We make dinner together with our favourite food.
Keeping it real: We are a team; our love grows as we enjoy our children and our grandchildren. We are very involved in our “babies’” lives and we love that. We figure out ways we can be alone and design that time for when we need it. It may be a weekend away.

Favourite time together: Over a glass of wine, definitely. We chat about the day, about life, the kids and grandkids and work. I make sure not to dump my huge work life on him, but I know, when I need to unload, he is the person I go to. He is the nicest man I know.

Biggest challenge: Time! My life is 24/7, no question, so we value the times we have just doing regular stuff together.

Next week Joan Weinman and Rosemarie Leclair