Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/162483
J illian Work wasn't looking for love. A student at the time at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, she was in fact looking for a coveted first-year textbook in the crowded campus bookstore, never expecting to find her future husband between the bookshelves. Joel Turner, who was recovering from knee surgery at the time, limped across the bookstore to the bubbly brunette he recognized from his marketing management classes. Happy to help her injured classmate, Jillian gave him a shoulder to lean on — literally — and together they found the textbook they needed, while unwittingly writing the opening chapter of their own love story. The pair quickly became inseparable Top: Jillian's one-of-akind pearl jewellery was in class and it wasn't long before hours of designed by a friend. studying together led to romance. "For me Middle: The newlyit just felt right," Jillian remembers, "we're weds share an intimate moment after the so silly together and we always have fun, ceremony. so we're really best friends." Bottom: To showcase her individual style, each Two years after meeting on campus bridesmaid chose her they moved in together and since the own little black dress. transition was so seamless, Jillian began secretly collecting wedding magazines and perusing wedding websites — "just in case." Joel knew that she was "the one" too, but having started a full-time job and an MBA program after graduating from BCIT, it was hard to squeeze in a romantic proposal. After five years together, he managed to find the time to whisk Jillian away to Pemberton for a weekend. Surrounded by the majestic beauty of the Coast Mountains, he knew it was the perfect place to propose, but finding the right time wasn't so easy. "I spent the entire weekend trying to find a good moment, walking around with this ring in my pocket, paranoid that I was going to lose it." He laughs, "Eventually, I just surprised her when she finished brushing her teeth!" His spur-of-the-moment gesture caught Jillian completely off guard. "I just saw this sparkly thing on the table and I was totally confused," she says. She admits that between laughing and crying, it was a bit of a blur: "I don't even know if he actually proposed! He claims he did and got down on one knee and stuff, but I don't remember anything." Luckily, she remembers answering with a resounding yes, and the giddy newly engaged couple spent the next day on the phone spreading the good news to their delighted friends and family. p50-55_Study in Romance.indd 51 4/24/12 3:58:37 PM