After high school, Alessandro began his Electrical Apprenticeship, while Nicole moved to Thunder Bay to attend Lakehead University for Teachers’ College. Just two years into their post-secondary journeys, Nicole decided one day to reach out to Alessandro to see how life had been treating him… or, as many would say, she “slid into his DMs.”

From that moment and first conversation, the two quickly reconnected. Not long after, Alessandro asked Nicole on their first date: a Blue Jays game on August 26, 2016.

What followed was a whirlwind of fun memories, including trips to Ripley’s Aquarium, Stone Cottage, and the movies. Alessandro and Nicole made the most of every moment together in that final week of summer, knowing Nicole would have to go back to Lakehead University; a sixteen-hour drive away from Toronto!

Determined not to let distance stand in the way of their growing relationship, Nicole and Alessandro committed to three years of long distance while Nicole completed her studies, finally graduating in 2019. At that point they were finally able to be together more often and continue building their lives, side by side.

They enjoyed nearly a full year together before the world changed with the arrival of the pandemic. But Alessandro and Nicole were veterans at excelling through the challenges of long distance, which helped them navigate the long months of restrictions with a strong foundation of patience, care, and love.

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