My brother Jim and I grew up together in Penticton, learning to shoot guns, ride horses, take care of and train animals, and a variety of arts and sports.Knowing our background, one could certainly follow the path to the logical conclusion that we both found a passion for computers and video games; which lead, obviously, to us both getting post secondary education in computers.  I have many fond memories of our time at university, getting together with friends for lan parties, and some studying too.You may not be surprised to learn that after university, we both found our way to Fort McMurray, and worked for the same employer, at the same location, twice.Sadly for me, Jim decided to be totally lame and move away to a place where the air doesn't hurt your face; so we don't see each other as often as I think we both would like.  When we do get together, it is just like old times.

Greg, Diamond's fiancee, and I met for the first time  when they visited Fort McMurray.  We had an instant energetic connection that holds strong every time we see each other.We have such similar curiosities in history, humanity, what made and makes us tick as humans.  Every time that we get together, we politely take part in the group conversation for a while, before we slowly go off to the side and talk about whatever new and interesting thing we have learned.I'm so happy that Greg agreed to stand up with Brittany and I when we have our special day and get married!

Cam and Dan ride again!  I met Cam in high school and we became friends, soon best friends.  We both have that drive to be the best we can, and also to try to understand people, who can be very odd at times.  Or maybe we are the odd ones?  Probably us, but that's ok.  Between camping, hiking, gaming, swimming, T.V. and movie marathons, sentences that last three words before we finish the other's sentence, road trips that are five hours longer than they need to be because "Cam is sure that we don't need to turn around  because there should be a road we can turn off on soon", Cam and I spent our young adulthood together.When I thought of who I would want to have with me when I got married, Cam came to mind immediately.

I call Aaron my third brother; we met in university, and instantly bonded on our shared inability to understand other people; there were other things too.  If you have ever had an argument with me and find that I just attack, attack, attack, you can thank Aaron for that, he taught me that.I remember one time when we were resident assistants doing a patrol around the dormitories, there was someone who wanted to pick a fight with Aaron, and he decided it was a good idea to put all his weight into a push.  I watched this small boy push himself backwards off of an immovable object (Aaron) who didn't really notice that he was there.History, philosophy, science, religion, I think we talked through it all.  Aaron is someone who I would say is a "yes and" type of person; if we were talking about going to go do something, rather than give reasons why we shouldn't do something, Aaron builds on what you suggest with a "yes and we can or we should also do this". 

I met Devin at university, he's a fun guy.  I gave him the gears for years because he didn't invite me to his wedding, until it turned out that he had invited me to his wedding.  So no more giving the gears, but definitely a wedding invite.He's got an uncanny ability to be charming and instantly liked by many people.  I especially love his ability to go into many situations, no matter how tense, and find the humor and have a good laugh.  We became roommates for my last year of university and moved in together for my time in Kelowna after I graduated.Every time I think if Devin, I think of him laughing and smiling, always finding the funny side of any situation.  There's almost no situation that I'd go into where I wouldn't want Devin at my side.

I met Tom through our shared interest of playing boards games; we met first through playing dungeons and dragons, and our friendship grew from there.In the early days, we'd meet up for a few hours a weekend to play some games; after the fire in 2016, I moved into Jim and Stacey's Fort McMurray house basement and we had a lot more space.  I was able to set up a large table and keep it set up with all of our gaming supplies.  What started off as an interest grew into a passion, and we spent several 12 hour days in a row on weekends gaming together.Since Bruce joined our family, we haven't had as much time to be social (or play games) as we might like, but we still get together as often as we can.  Tom is a wonderful, loving, caring guy, he always brings more and gives more than he takes.  One story that comes to mind about Tom is the time Brittany flew to Calgary for her friend Jessica's wedding; we'd gotten together for a board game weekend.  He came prepared, arms full of drinks and food, shopping bags on arms, full of platter and picnic food.  I don't think we even got threw a quarter of everything he brought.When we ended for the weekend, I felt bad because I told him that we couldn't keep all the stuff that they brought, we had no space, so I helped them gather up as much as I could to take home.  "Would Brittany like this?" he'd ask, "ya, she probably would, I'd answer", so he'd find all the goodies Brittany would like and left them at our apartment as a treat for her for when she returned.

I first met Ed at Dungeons and Dragons gaming session.  I immediately liked Ed for his different style of thinking ad willingness to play a character and play with the group.  Like Tom, our friendship grew beyond gaming.The early days of covid was really hard on Brittany, I wanted to have a surprise birthday party for her, but meeting all the restrictions would have been either impossible or too expensive to do.  I turned to Ed for help, and he made it happen.  Brittany's favorite birthday meal is lasagna, I am a terrible cook, but Ed isn't.  Ed hosted the party outside at his place, cooked lasagna for everyone, and had his cousin, an amateur magician, provide some very interesting entertainment.I can't remember the lie I told Brittany, I think it was something about an outdoor covid restaurant near the greenbelt (an area of woods surrounded by suburbs in Fort McMurray), she took the lie, hook, line and sinker.  We parked in Ed's driveway, I got our lawn chairs, and we started to walk through Ed's gate through his fence to his lawn in the back.She was so confused, "why are we at Ed's place" she asked. "Oh, this restaurant us out of someone's house, and we would have to walk a long path around the greenbelt, but there is a shortcut through Ed's yard and he let us take it.  I can still remember how happy and overwhelmed she was as we turned around the corner and had a back yard full of friends yelling "Surprise!"