Like all good romance stories, Heather and Dietrich met over barley.

More specifically, Heather and Dietrich met in September 2014 at the University of Guelph in the first year of their Environmental Science degree. They were both in the same ENVS*1030 lab where they were tasked to grow barley in the Bovey greenhouses. The perk of this lab was the early time slot, which allowed a large portion of their lab group to go out for breakfast together afterwards (usually at Creelman Hall). At this point, Heather and Dietrich were mere acquaintances, but fate (aka the university’s love of group projects) would have other plans…

Throughout the next 3 years, Heather and Dietrich would be paired up in several group projects together, none of which by choice. Together they learned about growing food on Mars, they debated the Atlantic Cod Fisheries problems, grew phytoplankton, examined aquatic insects, and catalogued a 1km-deep glacial borehole. Most importantly, they learned about each other's work ethics and stress-points, which for Heather, was everything, and for Dietrich, was nothing.

Due to their numerous group projects, it came as no surprise when Heather and Dietrich were once again paired up for their final year's Capstone Project, which was an 8-month assignment where they tested the feasibility of a vertical wetland buffer system with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. It was through this project that Heather and Dietrich grew a lot closer, to the point of Dietrich inviting Heather to the Toronto Garrison Officer’s Ball (just as friends, much to Heather’s disappointment).

Fast forward to August 17, 2018, when Heather got her wish and took Dietrich on a date. At that time, Dietrich had recently returned to Ontario after months of training with the Canadian Armed Forces in New Brunswick to become a qualified infantry officer. Dietrich, having nothing better to do, took Heather up on her offer (and the trap snapped shut).

Since then, Heather and Dietrich’s journey included several large milestones, including adopting their two kitties Ozzie and Koi, helping Heather heal from her concussion, enduring the COVID-19 pandemic (most of which was spent in Heather’s tiny one-person apartment in Guelph, ON), the completion of Heather’s Master of Science degree, moving to Rockwood, ON (where Dietrich proposed), and surviving Dietrich’s 6-month overseas deployment to the Middle-East with the Canadian Armed Forces.

It has been a long time that Heather and Dietrich have imagined the possibility of tying the knot on their first date anniversary, and they are so excited this dream will come true!