L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEACH/LEECH/LEITCH - All Categories in OGSPI
LEADER m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2002-11-30 published
LEADER-
SHLAGBAUM -- Mel and Sharon
LEADER, Jean
WAGNER and David
SHLAGBAUM are delighted to celebrate the engagement of their
children, Regan and Daniel. Proud grandparents, Toby and Irving
STEINBERG,
Bronia SHLAGBAUM,
Morris▼ and Ruth
WAGNER.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEADER m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2002-11-30 published
LEADER-
SHLAGBAUM
Mel and Sharon
LEADER, Jean
WAGNER and David
SHLAGBAUM are delighted to celebrate the engagement of their
children, Regan and Daniel. Proud grandparents, Toby and Irving
STEINBERG,
Bronia SHLAGBAUM,
Morris▲ and Ruth
WAGNER.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEADER - All Categories in OGSPI
LEAR m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-07-12 published
KOWALCHUK /
ALLEN -- Forthcoming Marriage
Dianne KOWALCHUK and Harvey
LEAR of London and Joseph and Judy
KOWALCHUK of St. Catharines are excited to announce the forthcoming
marriage of their daughter, Brandy Lee, to Mark Edward, son of
Edward and Margaret
ALLEN of London. They will exchange vows
at 1 p.m. on July 19, 2008 at Saint Michaels Parish, London.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEAR - All Categories in OGSPI
LEARN m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-12-23 published
LEARN,
Max and Grace
(NOBLE) - 65th Anniversary
Married 65 years December 27, 1941 - 2006 Celebrating with their
family in January.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEARN - All Categories in OGSPI
LEATHERLAND m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2003-08-16 published
LEATHERLAND,
Jeffrey and Shirley - 50th Anniversary
August 22, 1953 - 2003
Open House
Come join us for a fun day with family and Friends Sunday August
24, 2003 from 1-4 p.m. at Dorchester Donnybrook Legion.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEATHERLAND - All Categories in OGSPI
LEBOLD m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-06-12 published
Groom 'wins' honeymoon in B.C.
By Jim CRESSMAN, Free Press Sports Reporter
Grand Bend -- Mike
LEBOLD has a lot to learn about being married.
Only minutes after his wedding yesterday, he made his first major
mistake -- defeating his bride, Dawn
LESLIE, in a motorcycle
"grudge match."
"I did slow down, but she didn't catch up," a sheepish
LEBOLD
said. "(But) it's her fault because she bought me the new bike."
The Stratford couple was married on the starting line at Grand
Bend Motorplex during the International Hot Rod Association Mopar
Canadian Nationals.
After the nuptials, they raced, with the winner getting to choose
their honeymoon destination.
Mike decided on British Columbia. Dawn wanted to go to New Orleans.
Both are racing enthusiasts. They've known each other for eight
years, but it wasn't until they began dating a year ago that
they learned they had a mutual interest in racing.
A friend figured because they spend so much of the summer at
the quarter-mile dragstrip, getting married there made sense.
The couple wore matching full leather black racing suits. Dawn
said she considered wearing traditional white, but white leather
is more expensive.
"It was hot," she said of standing in front of thousands of cheering
race fans in 30°C temperatures. The temperature on the track
was 51°C.
Afterward, the couple held a reception for family and Friends
in the parking lot. In true racing style, it was a tailgate party,
with burgers and sausage on the grill.
International
Hot
Rod Association president Aaron
POLBURN was
master of ceremonies for the event.
"If Mike has any brains, he'll let her win,"
POLBURN said before they raced.
"He'll learn,"
POLBURN said afterward.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEBOLD - All Categories in OGSPI
LEBOLDUS m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-07-26 published
NORTHCOTT /
LEBOLDUS -- Engagement
Willy and Rose
NORTHCOTT and Ron and Sandy
LEBOLDUS are thrilled
to announce the engagement of their children, Jessica and Nick.
They are planning a late Fall wedding.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEBOLDUS - All Categories in OGSPI
LECLAIR m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2003-09-20 published
LECLAIR,
Art and Alma - Happy Golden Anniversary
September 19, 1953-2003
Congratulations to Art and Alma on the occasion of your 50th
Wedding Anniversary. With love from your family, Paul, Dave and
Sheila, Rob and Lucy, Mark and Renee, and all your grandchildren
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LECLAIR - All Categories in OGSPI
LEDERMAN m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2003-02-22 published
SHERMAN -- Elly and Paul
SHERMAN are thrilled to announce the
engagement of their son Mark Stephen to Gemma Naomi, daughter
of Leonard
HENRARD of London, England. Proud grandparents are
Ruth LEDERMAN and Frank
ALLEN.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEDERMAN - All Categories in OGSPI
LEDUC m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-09-23 published
KERSHAW,
Don and Anne - Still in love after 50 years
September 15, 1956 Join us in wishing Anne and Don congratulations
on their 50th wedding anniversary. You are truly an inspiration
to all those who love you! Wishing you many more happy years
together. Lots of love, Dawn and Steve
HALLIGAN,
Adrianne and Jim
GIES,
Holly and Derek
LEDUC and grandchildren.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEDUC - All Categories in OGSPI
LEE m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2002-11-19 published
Happy 30th Wedding
Anniversary
Mary and Doug
LEE
November 28, 2002
Congratulations Mom and Dad.
Love Jennifer and Ed, Karen, Crystal and Andrea.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEE m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2003-08-09 published
LEE,
Betty and Stan - Happy 65th Wedding Anniversary
August 13, 2003.
Love your family.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEE m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2003-11-01 published
LEE /
WATSON - Forthcoming Marriage
John and Donna
LEE,
Bob and Bonnie
BROOKS and Mac and Debbie
WATSON are happy to announce the forthcoming marriage of Erin
Jean LEE and Christopher Gerald
WATSON on December 6, 2003 at Brinsley
United Church
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEE m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-02-04 published
EBERLE /
LEE
Wilson EBERLE and Jennifer
LEE are happy to announce their engagement.
Wilson is the
son of Allan and Carol
EBERLE of Windsor and Karen
WRAFTER.
Jennifer is the daughter of Linda
LEE and Geoffrey
LEE
of Woodstock. The wedding will take place July 2nd at the Gananoque
Inn, Gananoque.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEE m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-04-08 published
FERREIRA /
LEE -- Wedding Announcement
Sons, Steven and Daniel are pleased to announce the re-marriage
of their Mother. Anneke
FERREIRA, daughter of Henk and Rita
VAN
BURGSTEDEN, will marry Steven Harold
LEE,
son of Harold and Marjorie
LEE, on May 20th, 2006 at Lambeth United Church. Congratulations
and Best Wishes!
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEE m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-10-22 published
Orlena LEE and Derek
WONG -- Match
By Judith TENENBAUM,
Saturday,
October 22, 2005, Page M6
Seven hours of French director François Truffaut's new wave films
on Digital Video Disk -- including Derek
WONG's favourite, The
400 Blows -- was the litmus test for Mr.
WONG's third date with
Orlena LEE. "
It's tough for most people to swallow," he laughs.
"I wanted to see how Orlena would take it."
It turned out to be reel love.
A native Montrealer, Ms.
LEE made a career- and lifestyle-altering
move to Toronto in May, 2004, as a senior consultant at Environics
Communications. Tired of blind dates "with no chemistry," she
had admonished her mother, "I don't want any more of these matchmaking
things with another Chinese guy. It never works out."
But her mother, Eliza
LEE, was undeterred. On a visit to Hong
Kong, she learned from an aunt that a friend, Pun Kit Chik
WONG,
was seeking "a nice Chinese girl" for her son living in Toronto.
An eligible, cosmopolitan Mr.
WONG soon received a photo of Ms.
LEE at her 1998 graduation. His initial reaction: "What am I
going to do with a girl who looks so proper?"
Luckily, a few weeks later, Mr.
WONG reconsidered and risked
a call. "I thought, 'Everyone looks proper in a graduation photo,
especially beside their mother.' "
In September, 2004, a leery but punctual Ms.
LEE awaited a traffic-delayed
Mr. WONG at the Bloor Street Diner. She scoured the area, frustrated
because she had no idea what he looked like, just as he sprang
from his car for their inauspicious lunch. "I did most of the
talking," she recalls. "It's hard to make conversation with someone
you don't know." Yet, later, when they strolled a University
of Toronto book sale and chanced on a carillon concert at Soldiers'
Tower, the resonant pealing of the bells fractured the ice.
"We started having fun and talked more," she recalls, and they
discovered a shared passion for music. Ms.
LEE had studied piano
for 12 years and played competitively. Mr.
WONG was trained in
composition. "Derek loves the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and
listens to classical Compact Disks in the car and at breakfast,"
she says. Their date drifted into Little Italy, used bookstores,
and ended promisingly at the Drake Hotel, until he dropped her
at home, saying he would call after a business trip. She then
surmised he wasn't interested.
His surprise call two weeks later took them to the Royal Ontario
Museum, where the architectural devotee studied the planned expansion
on a free-admission Friday night. Mr.
WONG's penchant for the
design genius of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe "was one of the reasons
I moved to Toronto," he jokes. "He designed the building I work
in, the Toronto-Dominion Centre," says Mr.
WONG, a mechanical
engineer who works as a senior manager for a global accounting
firm.
By the fourth date, they were serious.
"My mom said, 'Calm down, it may be over in a month. There are
others in Toronto,' Ms.
LEE says. But, she recalls, "it was
like a fairy tale. At his Christmas office party, we went on
the dance floor and had such a good time that I knew I couldn't
live without Derek and had to dance with him the rest of my life."
Mr. WONG, 36, says the two share the same sensibility. "We are
both neither Asian nor Western," he says. "It is not every day
that you find someone at the same place in the social spectrum.
We are both into books, the arts, and have a lot of fun together."
It was Valentine's Day, 2005, when Ms.
LEE broached the subject
of marriage, and at first blush the instant simplicity of City
Hall appealed to the couple. However, by the time Mr.
WONG showed
up at her office wearing his best suit, bouquet in hand, and
motioned toward Queen and Bay, she had already deferred to convention.
"I had called my mom [and] said Derek was on the way and I was
going to get married," she recalls. "She cried and said, 'We
haven't even met him yet or his parents or his family.' " So
he met her parents at Easter, and after a laudatory speech to
them, he presented Ms.
LEE with an engagement ring.
The urban couple eschewed the extremes of a stereotypical Chinese
wedding -- "a restaurant with red and gold and 500 people we
didn't know," Ms.
LEE says -- and minimalist destination nuptials,
opting instead for intimacy and individualism. At the Granite
Club on August 9, about 100 guests, mostly international, perused
captioned photos depicting the couple's life journey. Strains
of a classical quartet echoed as officiant Allan C.
LANE wed
the couple. A traditional Chinese ceremony followed.
During dinner, flamenco dancers launched a Latin theme that continued
throughout the evening. At the end of the night, guests were
given copies of a Compact Disk titled, in Chinese, Double Happiness,
containing a composition written by Mr.
WONG with piano selections
played by Ms.
LEE.
Ms. LEE, 29, says marrying Mr.
WONG was, fittingly, a family
affair. "He and my mom chat regularly on the phone, and she calls
him about her day. I love his parents. We go out together every
weekend."
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEE m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2003-09-27 published
LEE,
John and Anne - Happy 60th Anniversary September 25, 1943-2003
Love and Best Wishes From Don and Shirley, Dennis and May and Gary,
your grandchildren and great grandchildren.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEEPER m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-03-25 published
LEEPER /
WEBSTER -- Forthcoming Marriage
Mrs. Candace
LEEPER and Mrs. Val
WEBSTER
(England▼) are pleased
to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children, Lyndsey
and Martin, on June 10, 2006.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEEPER m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-04-01 published
LEEPER /
WEBSTER -- Forthcoming Marriage
Mrs. Candace
LEEPER and Mrs. Val
WEBSTER
(England▲) are pleased
to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children, Lyndsey
and Martin, on June 10, 2006.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEEPER - All Categories in OGSPI
LEESON m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-06-11 published
LEESON,
Wayne and Elaine
(McDIARMID) - 50th Wedding Anniversary
June 18th, 2005
Open House
2-4 p.m. at Brunner Community Centre
Thamesville, Ontario.
Best Wishes Only
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEESON - All Categories in OGSPI
LEESTI m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2003-08-27 published
LEESTI /
BUTTS
Enn and Sandra
LEESTI are pleased to announce
the marriage of their daughter, Sara Ellen
LEESTI to Peter Edward
BUTTS, son of Kathleen and Frank
BUTTS.
The marriage took place
on Saturday August 23, 2003 at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse in
Toronto.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEESTI - All Categories in OGSPI
LEFOR m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-07-30 published
LEFOR /
LEVAC -- Forthcoming Marriage
We are pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of Marie
LEFOR and
Al LEVAC.
Love and best wishes from your parents, Ellen
and Gary DEACTIS,
Nick
LEFOR and Mary Lou
BLAKNEY and Norma and
Giles LEVAC.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEFOR - All Categories in OGSPI
LÉGER m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2003-05-02 published
Happy 50th Anniversary, Rita and Edgar
LÉGER
May 2, 1953-2003.
Best wishes and many more, from all your loving family.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEGER - All Categories in OGSPI
LEGG m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-02-18 published
VAN
KEMENADE /
LEGG -- Wedding Announcement
Lee VAN
KEMENADE and Adam
LEGG were united in marriage November
19, 2005 at the New St. James Presbyterian Church, London. A
reception at the Great Hall, U.W.O. followed. Lea is the daughter
of Kara VAN
KEMENADE,
Belmont and Roy
VAN
KEMENADE, Nilestown and
Adam is the son of Mae and Peter
LEGG,
Aylmer.
Lea and Adam would
like to thank all of their family and Friends who made their wedding
day everything they wanted it to be.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEGG - All Categories in OGSPI
LEHMAN m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-06-07 published
LEHMAN,
John and Cara - 1st Anniversary June 9, 2008
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEHMAN - All Categories in OGSPI
LEHOUILLIER m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-02-12 published
FARQUHAR /
LEHOUILLIER
Mr and Mrs. Ronald
FARQUHAR of Gladstone, On. are pleased to announce
the engagement of their daughter Kerri L.
FARQUHAR and Steven
T. LEHOUILLIER. He is the
son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard
LEHOUILLIER of Dorchester, Ontario
A summer wedding is planned.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEHOUILLIER - All Categories in OGSPI
LEIBRANDT m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2003-05-16 published
50th Wedding Anniversary!! Karl and Hannelore
LEIBRANDT
May 16,
2003 Congratulations and Much Love to you both from Christine,
Irene, Perry, Ryan, Kate, Matthew and Eric.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEIBRANDT - All Categories in OGSPI
LEIGH m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2003-05-24 published
Happy 25th Anniversary Mom and Dad Pete and Elaine
LEIGH
May 26,
1978 Here's to 25 more!!! Love and Hugs: Sandi, Sean, John, Grandma,
Vikki, Bob, Jacki, C.J., Mandy, Blacky, Casey, Mischief and Chaos
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEIGH - All Categories in OGSPI
LEINWEBER m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2003-05-17 published
Congratulations!
TAILOR/TAYLOR /
BLUM
David and Gail
TAILOR/TAYLOR of London are pleased to announce the forthcoming
marriage of their daughter Sherri to Lars
BLUM
son of Karl and
Helga BLUM of Cargill and Eva
BLUM and Jurgen
LEINWEBER of Toronto.
The wedding will take place on June 14, 2003 in London Ontario
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEINWEBER - All Categories in OGSPI
LEISKA m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2003-12-20 published
LEISKA,
Earl and Gloria - Happy 50th Anniversary
December 24, 1953 - 2003
Love from the family.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEISKA m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-09-10 published
LEISKA,
Darlene and Earl - Happy 25th Anniversary
September 13, 1980-2005
All our love and best wishes Mom and Dad
BLACKMAN
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEISKA - All Categories in OGSPI
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2006-01-11 published
LEITH /
BAILEY -- Marriage Announcement
Doug and Carol
LEITH of Priceville and Barry
BAILEY of Badjeros
& Darlene PHILLIPS of British Columbia would like to announce
the marriage of their children Erin
LEITH and Andrew
BAILEY on
Friday, January 20, 2006 in Guanacasta, Costa Rica.
The happy couple will reside in Badjeros, Ontario.
Page 6
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2006-01-11 published
LEITH /
BAILEY -- Marriage Announcement
Doug and Carol
LEITH of Priceville and Barry
BAILEY of Badjeros
& Darlene PHILLIPS of British Columbia would like to announce
the marriage of their children Erin
LEITH and Andrew
BAILEY on Friday, January 20, 2006 in Guanacasta, Costa Rica.
The happy couple will reside in Badjeros, Ontario.
Page 6
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2006-02-08 published
LEITH /
BAILEY -- Marriage Announcement
Doug and Carolyn
LEITH and Barry
BAILEY and Darlene
PHILLIPS would
like to announce the marriage of their children Erin Rebecca
LEITH to Andrew William
BAILEY.
The ceremony took place in Costa Rica on Friday January 20, 2006.
The happy couple now reside in Badjeros.
Page 3
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2006-02-15 published
ARMSTRONG /
LEITH -- Forthcoming Marriage
Chuck and Carol
ARMSTRONG are pleased to announce the engagement
and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Janna June to Leonard
Edward Gordon,
son of Steve and Dianne
LEITH.
The couple will be married at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 27, 2006
at Westmount Presbyterian Church in London. A reception will
follow at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn.
Page 2
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2006-03-01 published
LEITH /
REDDICK
Stag and Doe for Joy
LEITH and Doug
REDDICK
Saturday
March 4, 2006
Durham Community Centre 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Age of Majority required
DJ Scott BETTS
Tickets 2 for $10 or $6 each
Page 2
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2006-10-04 published
TUPLING /
LEITH -- Engagement
Lois TUPLING and The Late "Deb"
TUPLING of Honeywood, Ontario
arc pleased to announce the engagement of their youngest son
Michael TUPLING to Shannon
LEITH, daughter of Doug and Carolyn
LEITH of Priceville, Ontario
Page 11
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2006-11-29 published
LEITH /
REDDICK -- Wedding Announcement
Marcia Joy
LEITH and Douglas Wayne
REDDICK were married July 8,
2006 at Amos Presbyterian Church, Dromore, Ontario
Joy is the daughter of Dianne and Steve
LEITH and granddaughter
of Harvey LEITH and the late Doris
LEITH and Lucy
WATSON
Doug is the son of Marie and Wayne
REDDICK and grand_son of Alice
CARTER and Maggie
ZACHER.
Page 4
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2007-07-04 published
LEITH /
MUKHIDA -- Forthcoming Marriage
Steve and Dianne
LEITH are pleased to announce the engagement
and forthcoming marriage of their son, Christopher
LEITH to Maya
MUKHIDA, daughter of Maria and Badru
MUKHIDA of Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia. The couple will be married on Wednesday, August 8, 2007
at the Aerie Resort in Victoria, British Columbia.
Page 4
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2007-08-15 published
LEITH,
Shannon▼ - Miscellaneous Shower
There▼ will be a miscellaneous shower for Shannon
LEITH, bride-to-be
of Michael
TUPLING on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 2 p.m. in the
Honeywood Arena. Please accept this as your invitation.
Page 2
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2007-08-22 published
LEITH,
Shannon▲ - Miscellaneous Shower
There▲ will be a miscellaneous shower for Shannon
LEITH, bride-to-be
of Michael
TUPLING on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 2 p.m. in the
Honeywood Arena. Please accept this as your invitation.
Page 2
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2007-08-29 published
TUPLING /
LEITH -- Buck and Doe
Michael TUPLING and Shannon
LEITH
Friday, September 7, 2007
Honeywood Arena
9 p.m.-1 a.m.
DJ and Lunch Buffet $5.00
Page 2
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2007-09-05 published
TUPLING /
LEITH -- Buck and Doe
Michael TUPLING and Shannon
LEITH
Friday, September 7, 2007 Honeywood Arena 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
DJ and Lunch Buffet $5.00
Page 2
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEITH - All Categories in OGSPI
LEKX m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2005-06-15 published
50th Wedding Anniversary
By Bob STEEL,
Page 16
June 4, 2005, Saturday, was an eventful day for Mr. and Mrs. C
and C CATCHER, the day chosen for a celebration of the 50th anniversary
of Christopher Robert
CATCHER and Sara Clazien
(LEKX) wedding
in Trinity Anglican Church, Durham by the Rev. Reginald
JACKSON.
The matron of honour was Mrs. Patricia
JAMES
(Christopher's oldest
sister) and the best man was David
CATCHER (the brother of Chris.)
The reception was at the
LEKX family farm near Durham. The actual
wedding was March 5, 1955.
At their home located on the corner of the Old Durham Road and
Grey Road 14, the celebration ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with
up to 180 people attending.
Part of the day was a renewal of the wedding vows conducted by
the Rev. Anne
MILLS, very recently the minister for Christ Church
Markdale (Anglican). All present took part in the ceremony. Clazien's
brother, William (the
LEKX family Is from Holland) sang a solo
and the LEKX family sang the hymns.
For their honeymoon, Chris and Clazien drove to French River
to stay on a farm of Christopher's parents where he built his
first house and became a farmer.
One day on the way to Sudbury their first child was born in the
car! They stopped at Burwash to get a doctor. This was the evening
of December 22, 1955. The baby was Isobel Patricia.
In the fall of 1956 they came back to the Durham/Priceville area.
Chris sold for Watkins Products patent medicines, animal minerals, etc.
Their home was the current one which Chris purchased in 1960.
Children were Isobel, Tonia, Mary and Thomas. Christopher John
was the fifth in 1962. The family have lived there for 45 years
come this August.
They have always been churchgoers. At the present time they attend
Christ Church Markdale, Anglican. Both have helped in the church.
Clazien is president of the Anglican Church Women. Soon their
garden flowers are provided for the altar. Chris is a volunteer
at Rockwood Terrace, a seniors' home in Durham. Both Clazien
and Chris work in their garden and around the house.
On June 5, the weather was sunny and warm. First visitors were
Doctor and Mrs.
CHAN at 9 a.m. From 10 a.m. it was visitors.
Chris has worn the Scottish kilt and sporran so his piper Friends
came and played the pipes from 11 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. Kaelen
MacNEILL,
the 14-year old Highland dancer (who lives next door) performed
for about one hour and then helped the
CATCHERs.
She goes to
Grey Highlands High School. There was a large tent for food and
shelter. There were flowers and guests everywhere. The food was
delicious.
There were innumerable automobiles. Visitors came locally and
from Milton, Orangeville, Fergus, Stratford, Guelph, Paisley,
Wiarton, Owen Sound, London, Gananoque, Kanata, Toronto and Richmond
Hill. There were four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The CATCHERs thank everyone who attended and made the event a
lovely, unforgettable event.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEKX - All Categories in OGSPI
LELONEK m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-12-30 published
LEWIS /
DEWAN
Jim and Susanne
DEWAN are happy to announce the engagement of
their daughter Danielle to Mark
LEWIS of Burlington, Ontario,
son of Rick and Eileen
LELONEK.
Love and best wishes from both
families.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LELONEK - All Categories in OGSPI
LEMON m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2006-12-13 published
HUTCHINSON/HUTCHISON /
LEMON
We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to our wonderful
wedding party and family for their hard work in hosting our successful
buck and doe on November 25 in Markdale. Also special thanks
to all who attended. The community support is overwhelming.
- Brittany and Herb.
Page 3
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEMON m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2006-12-20 published
HUTCHINSON/HUTCHISON /
LEMON -- Forthcoming Marriage
Jim and Denise
HUTCHINSON/HUTCHISON would like to announce the forthcoming
marriage of their daughter Brittany Charlotte to Herbert Samuel
Alexander LEMON,
son of Sam and Marilyn
LEMON.
The holiday ceremony
uniting the couple will take place at the Durham Presbyterian
Church on Saturday December 30, 2006.
Page 4
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEMON m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2003-01-11 published
Happy 25th Anniversary
John and Michelle
LEMON
Join them in celebrating at an Open House January 18, 1: 30-4:00pm
at Saint Martin's Church, Duchess and Cathcart. Best Wishes only
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEMON - All Categories in OGSPI
LENARDUZZI m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2003-09-06 published
LENARDUZZI /
McINTYRE
It gives Jan and Mike
LENARDUZZI along with Jan
McINTRYE great
pleasure to announce the forthcoming wedding of their children
Mandy and Scott.
The wedding will take place on September 13th in London.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LENARDUZZI - All Categories in OGSPI
LENO m@ca.on.simcoe_county.nottawasaga.stayner.stayner_sun 2006-07-12 published
FREETHY,
Lloyd and Marie - 60th Wedding Anniversary
On June 24, 2006, our 60th Wedding Anniversary was celebrated
at the Creemore Legion Hall. We would like to thank our family
and June FLYNN for planning such a memorable evening filled with
music and memories. Along with June, Alf
LENO,
Mary
McCONNELL,
Don WAGNER entertained our many guests. North of 50 provided
music for the dance portion of the evening. The favorite numbers
they shared were enjoyed by all. A special thank you to David
ROZYCKI and his Barbershop quartet - a surprise we'll never forget.
To the Creemore Legion members and the Ladies Auxiliary for all
their helpful assistance. Finally to all our relatives and Friends
who came from far and near to help make such a special evening.
Thanks for the memories! Lloyd and Marie
FREETHY
Page 13
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LENO - All Categories in OGSPI
LEO m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-09-10 published
LEO,
Peter▼ and Veronica - 50th Anniversary
Golden Duo 1955-2005
Celebrating 50 years of marriage September 17, 2005.
Special Mass Saturday, September 17th at 5 p.m.
Saint Mary's Church, 345 Lyle Street.
Reception, Sunday September 18th from 2-4 p.m. Saint Mary's
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEO m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-10-08 published
LEO,
Pete▲ and Veronica - 50th Anniversary
Pete and Veronica
LEO would like to thank our son Peter G. Leo
and our, niece Rita
ROWLANDS and family, our daughter Marianne
and our 2 grandchildren, our photographer Joan
WOLFE, and Frank
SOLDALTES for making our 50th Anniversary, Sunday September 18,
2005, the most blessed occasion. Thanks for all the beautiful
flowers, gifts and wishes from you all. Thank you to Fr. Joe
DABROWSKI, Fr. Henry
CASSANO, Fr. Theo
PINTO who blessed our
marriage at the 5 p.m. Mass at Saint Marys Church, Saturday September
17, 2005. -- God Bless, We love you all.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEONARD m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-07-12 published
GILLIANS /
LEONARD -- Forthcoming Marriage
Laura Lynne
GILLIANS and Kirk Anthony
LEONARD will exchange vows
on September 13, 2008 in Bayfield
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEONARD - All Categories in OGSPI
LEPARD m@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2007-06-20 published
LEPARD,
Delbert and Erma - 50th Wedding Anniversary
A sincere thank you to all who came to help us celebrate our
50th wedding anniversary. Thank you for gifts, card and best
wishes. Special thanks to our family and Friends for all your
hard work preparing such a lovely setting. It was a great party.
- Delbert and Erma
Page 3
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEPARD - All Categories in OGSPI
LEPRISE m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2003-09-20 published
MELTZ /
LEPRISE -- Rita and Stephen
ESTRIEN,
Raymond and Maxine
MELTZ are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter
Natalie MELTZ to Shawn Leprise,
son of Ken and Jeannie
LEPRISE
and Debbie and Jim
FITZGERALD.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LEPRISE - All Categories in OGSPI
LERIKOS m@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2003-06-28 published
Happy 1st Anniversary, Christos and Athanasia
LERIKOS
Christos and Athanasia were married on June 30th, 2002. Parents,
Pete and Antonia
LERIKOS and Louis and Katerina
THEOFILOS, along
with all their brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews congratulate
them with all their love.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LERIKOS - All Categories in OGSPI
LESHNER m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-06-11 published
Gay marriage is legalized
Ontario appeal court rewrites law, says couples must be given
licences
Activists are ecstatic, Ottawa faces tight deadline to decide
on appeal
KLEIN rejects ruling, says he'll invoke notwithstanding clause
in Alberta
By Kirk MAKIN Justice Reporter; With reports from Mark
HUME in
Kelowna, and Canadian Press Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - Page A1
The exclusion of gays from the institution of marriage is illogical,
offensive and unjustifiable, the Ontario Court of Appeal said
yesterday in a historic judgment that makes same-sex marriages
legal for the first time in Canada.
The ruling took effect immediately in Ontario -- two gay men
were married yesterday in a Toronto court -- increasing the pressure
on the federal government to consider legislation on same-sex
unions or go to the Supreme Court. A decision on the latter option
must be made by June 30.
Alberta
Premier
Ralph
KLEIN boosted the stakes further, saying
his province is not about to recognize same-sex marriages as
legal, and will invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Constitution
to override any court ruling recognizing a right to such marriages.
"If there is any move to sanctify and legalize same-sex marriages,
we will use the notwithstanding clause, period, end of story,"
Mr. KLEIN said at the Western Premiers Conference in Kelowna,
B.C.
The Ontario court methodically dismantled every argument made
before it in support of heterosexual-only marriages. It refused
even to permit a grace period for Ontario to bring its laws into
conformity with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Courts in
British Columbia and Quebec have also struck down marriage laws,
but gave the governments time to rewrite their legislation.
The Ontario judges said denying same-sex marriage is tantamount
to declaring homosexuals a lesser order of being, helping to
perpetuate an impression that gays and lesbians are incapable
of forming loving relationships.
"A purpose that demeans the dignity of same-sex couples is contrary
to the values of a free and democratic society and cannot be
pressing and substantial," said Chief Justice Roy
McMURTRY,
Mr.
Justice James
MacPHERSON and Madam Justice Eileen
GILLESE.
"Same-sex couples are capable of forming long, lasting, loving
and intimate relationships. A law that prohibits same-sex couples
from marrying does not accord with the needs, capacities and
circumstances of same-sex couples."
The judges ordered Toronto's city clerk and the provincial registrar-general
to issue and accept marriage licences for two couples married
under the Christian tradition of publication of banns in 2001
-- Joe VARNELL and Kevin
BOURASSA; and Elaine and Anne
VAUTOUR
-- making them the first gay marriages in the country.
Henceforth, the court ordered the definition of marriage in Ontario
to be "the voluntary union for life of two persons to the exclusion
of all others."
The ruling was the culmination of decades of strategic prodding
by gay couples, associations and legal activists. All were ecstatic
yesterday over the strength of the Ontario ruling.
"This is why people come to Canada," said Michael
LESHNER, who
married his partner, Michael
STARK, within hours of the ruling.
"They marvel at our values. We have sent an unmistakable message
that love can conquer all."
"It's a momentous day," said Kyle
RAE, a gay Toronto city councillor.
"It is a great day for equality in Canada."
A lawyer for the couples, Martha
McCARTHY, predicted many more
marriages in the days ahead, while the federal government ponders
a possible appeal. "The more marriages we get, the more inevitable
this is," she said in an interview. "The time to be right is
ripe, as Martin Luther
KING would say."
Courts in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec have now overturned
marriage laws. But the rulings in British Columbia and Quebec
did not take effect immediately because they allowed governments
until mid-2004 to redraft the laws.
A final clash is now possible before a Supreme Court of Canada
bench that has steadily established a reputation for defending
gay rights. The federal government has only until June 30 to
decide whether to appeal the British Columbia ruling. The Liberal
government is also expecting a report this week from a parliamentary
committee examining same-sex marriage.
Prime
Minister
Jean
CHRÉTIEN said yesterday Justice Minister
Martin CAUCHON is looking at the judgment along with the other
rulings, and said it is too early to know whether it will be
appealed.
Mr. CAUCHON said Ottawa recognizes it must move quickly toward
a "national solution" to the same-sex debate.
"We see the direction that the courts are taking now," Mr.
CAUCHON
said after a cabinet meeting. "I'm asking for a little bit of
time to look at the decision and to come back with a statement."
The Ontario Court of Appeal was not in a mood for patience, and
it was not willing to run the risk that provincial legislators
would devise wording to circumvent their ruling.
"A temporary suspension allows a state of affairs that has been
found to violate standards embodied in the Charter to persist
for a time despite the violation," the court said.
It also pointed out that were it simply to render the entire
law invalid, gay people would be vulnerable to the wrath of heterosexuals
who found themselves temporarily denied the benefits of marriage.
The decision rested on the constitutional right to equality and
emphasized the "dignity" of individuals.
Launched by eight same-sex couples, the litigation had targeted
a common-law definition of marriage as a union between "one man
and one woman." The couples won their challenge in Ontario's
Divisional Court, but it, too, suspended its ruling for two years.
Yesterday, the Court of Appeal specifically rejected arguments
that procreation is an integral pillar of marriage.
"Same-sex couples can choose to have children through adoption,
surrogacy and donor insemination," the judges reasoned. "Importantly,
procreation and child-rearing are not the only purposes of marriage,
or the only reason why couples choose to marry. The opposite-sex
requirement in marriage is not rationally connected to the encouragement
of procreation and child-rearing."
They said government lawyers offered mere speculation instead
of proof to show why the exclusion of same-sex marriages was
a valid social objective -- and that the definition of marriage
was far from a minimal infringement.
What Canadian think about gay issues
The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled yesterday that the right to
marry should be extended to same-sex couples.
Recent surveys have produced the following results:
Do you support or oppose gay marriage?
Support Oppose
Males (18-34) 61.2% 33.9%
Females (18-34) 69.2% 22.2%
If the Supreme Court of Canada said that the federal government
had to give gays and lesbians the right to be married, do you
think that the government should or should not use its power
to overrule the court's decision?
Should Should not
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees equal rights for
women and ethnic and religious minorities and other groups. In
your opinion, should the Charter also guarantee rights for gays
and lesbians?
Yes No
Note: Graphic does not include respondents who did not know or
who refused to answer.
source: Centre For Research And Information On Canada
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LESHNER m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-06-11 published
Same-sex married couples rejoice
Ruling recognizes union of couples married in 2001; others rush
to wed
By Estanislao
OZIEWICZ
Wednesday,
June 11, 2003 - Page A4
Toronto -- For Kevin
BOURASSA, 45, and Joe
VARNELL, 33, becoming
Canada's first same-sex married couple is bittersweet, even as
advocates call their union a world first.
"Gee, I wish my mom could have seen this," Mr.
VARNELL said.
"Because of what the court did in Ontario today no mother will
ever again not be able to dance at her son's wedding. That's
a wonderful thing."
With his "lawfully wedded husband" at his side, Mr.
VARNELL said
they planned to celebrate by going home, popping a bottle of
champagne and cuddling with their cat.
"If you forgive me, I never want to see any of you in my living
room again," he said.
The pioneering couple, who were wed on January 14, 2001, and
other same-sex couples seeking to be married in civil ceremonies
were speaking at a news conference after a historic Ontario Court
of Appeal ruling that they have a constitutional right to marriage.
"Canada gets the gold medal for same-sex marriage around the
world," said Trent
MORRIS, lawyer for the Metropolitan Community
Church of Toronto.
"I would like to congratulate them for being the first same-sex
couple married not only in Canada but, as Mr.
MORRIS indicated,
the first same-sex couple in the world," said Cynthia
PETERSON,
lawyer for Equality for Gays And Lesbians Everywhere, a national
advocacy organization for gays and lesbians.
The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize
marriage for gays and lesbians on April 1, 2001. This year, Belgium
became the second country to open marriage to same-sex couples.
Unlike its northern neighbour, Belgium did not allow such couples
to adopt children.
Mr. VARNELL, an e-commerce consultant, and Mr.
BOURASSA, a former
bank manager who is now a full-time advocate for marriage equality,
were wed at the Metropolitan Community Church before the Dutch
law was changed, using an ancient -- and legally valid -- Christian
tradition of publication of banns, which amount to a notice of
intent to marry. This allowed them to avoid having to get a marriage
licence issued by the city.
The hitch, however, has been that whether a marriage in Ontario
is preceded by civil licence or by banns, it has to be registered
by the province's registrar-general.
Yesterday's court ruling not only ordered the City of Toronto
to issue licences to same-sex couples but also told the province
to register same-sex marriages. The city complied immediately,
and by late yesterday morning had issued licences to several
couples, including Ontario Crown attorney Michael
LESHNER, 55,
who a few hours later married his partner of two decades, Michael
STARK, 45, in front of Mr. Justice John
HAMILTON of the Ontario
Superior Court.
"This is first and foremost a Canadian love story," said Mr.
LESHNER, who has been a thorn in the side of the Ontario government
for years.
"This is why people come to Canada, because they marvel at our
values, and we've sent an unmistakable message that love can
conquer all, the love of two good men can defeat everything....
It [homophobia] is dead legally as of today."
The joy and optimism of homosexual groups was tempered by the
Ontario government's reluctance to embrace the ruling immediately
without reservation.
Attorney-General Norman
STERLING told the legislature that he
was waiting to hear whether the federal government would appeal
the decision to the Supreme Court. Although municipalities and
provinces administer marriages, the federal government is responsible
for defining marriage.
"We will, of course, follow what the court says in the decision
and follow that to the letter of the law," Mr.
STERLING said.
Among those celebrating yesterday were Joyce
BARNETT and Alison
KEMPER, who also picked up their marriage licences at Toronto
City Hall and will marry in July, 2004. The women, both of whom
are ordained in the Anglican Church, have been together since
Their two children were delighted. "I knew that nobody could
say I didn't have a family," said Robbie, 11, who was born to
Ms. KEMPER. "
Canada has finally figured out it's unfair to deny
this to anybody."
His sister Hannah, 17, said she has grown up to find that she
is heterosexual. She said she is indebted to her parents for
bringing her up "where it's okay to be what you want to be."
The court ruling did not sit well with some religious organizations,
including the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
Evangelical
Fellowship of Canada president Bruce
CELEMENGER said
the court has fundamentally redefined marriage.
"It is not an appropriate use of the Charter to redefine pre-existing
social, cultural and religious institutions," he said.
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LESHNER m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2003-06-11 published
Gay couple married after ruling
Couple celebrates end of 20-year fight
Judges rewrite definition of marriage
Tracey TYLER and Tracy
HUFFMAN
Staff
Reporters
Two gay men said "I do" yesterday, after Ontario's highest court
said "they can."
Crown
Attorney
Michael
LESHNER and his long-time partner Michael
STARK were married by Mr. Justice John
HAMILTON in a hastily
arranged ceremony in the jury waiting room of a Toronto courthouse,
as a crowd that included everyone from judges to janitors looked
on.
Just hours before, the Ontario Court of Appeal rewrote the definition
of marriage to include same-sex couples, saying denying gays
and lesbians the ability to marry offends their dignity, discriminates
on the basis of sexual orientation and violates their equality
rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
A unanimous three-judge panel, made up of Chief Justice Roy
McMURTRY
and justices James
MacPHERSON and Eileen
GILLESE, then took the
issue further than any other court in the world.
Gay and lesbian marriage became legal in Ontario, effective immediately.
"Michael LESHNER, will you please repeat after me," said
HAMILTON,
as he began the short, civil ceremony. "I do solemnly declare
that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I may not be
joined in matrimony to Michael Clifford
STARK."
Both men repeated the declaration before pledging their vows.
"I Michael, take you Michael, to be my lawful wedded spouse,"
said LESHNER. "To have and to hold, from this day forward, whatever
circumstances or experiences life may hold for us."
HAMILTON, an Ontario Superior Court judge, asked both men to
place rings on each other's fingers, then made it official.
"By the power vested in me by the Marriage Act, I pronounce you
Michael, and you Michael -- affectionately known as 'the Michaels'
-- to be lawfully wedded spouses."
"You are now married," said
HAMILTON, who later said it was "an
honour" to perform the ceremony.
LESHNER, 55, and
STARK, 45, kissed and popped champagne.
Speaking to reporters,
LESHNER said he regards the court's judgment
as, "Day One for millions of gays and lesbians around the world"
and the culmination of a personal 20-year battle to end "legally
sanctioned homophobia."
"I wanted to put a stake through that sucker," he said.
His 90-year-old mother, Ethel, who beamed and sang in her wheelchair,
drew her satisfaction on a smaller scale.
"I feel wonderful, if he does. And I'm sure he does -- take a
look at his face," she said.
"I can't 'rah, rah, rah.' I'm not the type of person to do that,"
she said. "I'm just happy my son is happy -- I know he's getting
a nice guy."
While LESHNER and
STARK are believed to be the first gay couple
to wed after same-sex marriage became legal yesterday, they may
not be the first gay Ontario couple to be legally married. That
distinction appears to fall to two same-sex couples who were
married in a double ceremony at Toronto's Metropolitan Community
Church in January, 2001.
The appeal court ordered the province to register marriage certificates
issued to those couples, Kevin
BOURASSA and Joe
VARNELL and Elaine
and Anne VAUTOUR.
The judges also ordered the clerk of the City
of Toronto to issue marriage licences to
LESHNER and
STARK and
six other couples whose licence applications were held in abeyance
pending a ruling by the courts. The province and the city told
the judges during a hearing in April that they would abide by
whatever the appeal court decided.
Less clear is where the federal government stands.
Justice
Minister
Martin
CAUCHON told reporters yesterday he believes
Members of Parliament should have a say in the debate about same-sex
marriage, but the government also sees where courts across the country
are heading on the issue.
The British Columbia Court of Appeal and a Quebec Superior Court
judge have also ruled the common law definition of marriage violates
the Charter's equality provisions, but didn't go as far as Ontario
in immediately extending marriage to same-sex couples, preferring
instead to give Parliament until July, 2004 to change the law.
The Ontario Court of Appeal said there's no need to wait: Changing
the definition of marriage, effective immediately, won't create
any public harm.
Federal justice department spokesperson Dorette
POLLARD said
the government has until September 9 to decide whether to seek
leave to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.
In the meantime, the government does not have the option of seeking
a court injunction to stop same-sex marriages from taking place,
she said.
If a further appeal to the Supreme Court is in the cards, it
could return to the Court of Appeal to ask for a stay of yesterday's
ruling, effectively putting it in suspension,
POLLARD said.
She was unable to say how that would affect same-sex marriages
that have already taken place.
Opponents of same-sex marriage, however, had no difficulty expressing
an opinion on yesterday's decision.
By reformulating the definition of marriage, the appeal court
ignored "centuries of precedent" and rendered "ordinary Canadians'
views irrelevant," said Derek
ROGUSKY, a vice-president of Focus
on the Family, whose interests were represented by The Association
for Marriage and the Family in Ontario, an intervenor in the
case.
In its decision yesterday, written not by one judge in particular
but collectively as "the court," the appeal panel changed the
definition of marriage from being "the voluntary union for life
of one man and one woman," to "the voluntary union for life of
two persons to the exclusion of all others."
A person's sense of dignity and self worth can only be enhanced
by the recognition that society gives to marriage and denying
people in same-sex relationships access to that most basic of
institutions violates their dignity, the court said.
"The ability to marry, and to thereby participate in this fundamental
societal institution, is something that most Canadians take for
granted. Same-sex couples do not; they are denied access to this
institution simply on the basis of their sexual orientation."
Preventing same-sex couples from marrying perpetuates the view
that they are not capable of forming loving and lasting relationships
and not worthy of the same respect and recognition as heterosexual
couples, the court added.
It was ruling on an appeal from an Ontario Divisional Court decision
last year. The Divisional Court said the common law definition
of marriage as an exclusively heterosexual union was unconstitutional,
but decided 2-1 to leave it up to Parliament to rewrite the law
by July, 2004.
The dissenting judge in that case, Mr. Justice Harry
LAFORME,
who would have changed the definition immediately, attended yesterday's
ceremony.
In its 60-page decision yesterday, the judges systematically
disposed of Ottawa's arguments for preserving marriage as a heterosexual
domain, saying they were filled with irrelevancies, stereotypes
and "circular reasoning."
The government argued that marriage has always been understood
as a special kind of monogamous institution that brings the sexes
together for the purposes of procreating, raising children and
companionship.
That isn't something that lawmakers dreamed up; it predates the
law, the government said.
Who invented the concept of marriage doesn't matter, the court
said; What does is how gays and lesbians fare under a legal regime
that excludes them from the institution.
The government was avoiding the main issue by arguing that marriage
"just is" heterosexual and benefits society as a whole, the court
said.
"The couples are not seeking to abolish the institution of marriage,"
wrote the judges. "They are seeking access to it."
With files from Mary
GORDON
L... Names LE... Names Welcome Home
LESHNER - All Categories in OGSPI
LE surnames continued to m200le02.htm