Finding love wasnB次元官网网址檛 top of mind for Dave Wright when he went for coffee in the bistro at White Rock Seniors Village last year.

It was the middle of the pandemic, and the 90-year-old was just starting to venture out following the death of June, his wife of nearly 70 years.

But he couldnB次元官网网址檛 help but notice a certain lady who was also in the bistro that day.

B次元官网网址淥ver at the bar, thereB次元官网网址檚 some ladies talking and this one lady in particular looked at me and smiled,B次元官网网址� Wright recalled Wednesday (July 27). B次元官网网址淚 smiled back, and that was it. I didnB次元官网网址檛 even know her name.B次元官网网址�

As he played records for the residents over the weeks that followed, the lady with the smile B次元官网网址� Christine Connon B次元官网网址� moved closer and closer, eventually sitting next to him on his walker.

Connon, 80, said B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址� happened for her when Wright was handling the music. A six-year resident of White Rock Seniors Village, she hadnB次元官网网址檛 seen him around until that day in the bistro.

B次元官网网址淚t happened just like that,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like it was meant to be.B次元官网网址�

Now, the pair are the talk of the Maple Street seniorsB次元官网网址� residence, as they get ready to tie the knot on Saturday (July 31). It will be the first wedding held at the retirement community since it opened as Christina Place in 1999.

Wright said word of their engagement just about made community relations manager Si Cussen fall out of her chair. Cussen was the first one to learn the news, but B次元官网网址渟he couldnB次元官网网址檛 keep it to herself,B次元官网网址� Wright chuckled.

In the two months since the proposal B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 get down on one knee, because if I got down, I couldnB次元官网网址檛 get back up,B次元官网网址� Wright quipped B次元官网网址� Wright said he has noticed a lightness at the residence. More residents are emerging from their rooms, and love has bloomed in other corners.

B次元官网网址淲e think weB次元官网网址檝e been a part of it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t shows what can happen.B次元官网网址�

He said the pandemic and all of its restrictions, in a sense, actually increased opportunities to find love.

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B次元官网网址淭he tighter is it, the greater the possibility of people getting close and fond of each other,B次元官网网址� Wright explained. B次元官网网址淚t can happen. WeB次元官网网址檙e as young as we are at heart. WeB次元官网网址檙e getting on in years, all of us. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 how we feel and we feel that itB次元官网网址檚 right and weB次元官网网址檙e looking forward to spending as much time as we can together.B次元官网网址�

Connon, who worked as a nurse at St. PaulB次元官网网址檚 Hospital after moving to B.C. from England, agreed, adding that the pandemic made her value the relationship even more.

B次元官网网址淚t does make you feel more about whatB次元官网网址檚 going on in life, and everything, and how we appreciate it,B次元官网网址� she said.

Thanks to easing restrictions, dozens of guests will be able to attend the wedding, including WrightB次元官网网址檚 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檒l be lovely,B次元官网网址� Connon said, thinking of the day ahead. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 just being with all my friends and everything. ItB次元官网网址檒l be lovely to see everybody and be together.B次元官网网址�