by Davandra Earle, Communications Officer
Gloire & Kelsey’s Journey from Students to Soulmates
At United College, lifelong connections are made every day—whether through shared meals, late-night study sessions, or community events. For Gloire and Kelsey, United College wasn’t just their home during university—it was the place where their love story began.
Kelsey, a Kitchener native, chose the University of Waterloo for its renowned Health Sciences program. The close-knit, community-driven environment of United College, formerly St. Paul’s, made it the perfect place to call home. She quickly became part of the College’s welcoming atmosphere. After earning her degree at Waterloo, Kelsey pursued nursing at McMaster and now works as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Gloire’s journey was different. Originally from Rwanda, he moved to Canada in 2013 after receiving a scholarship to study at the University of Waterloo. Despite the unexpected nature of his move, United College provided him with a sense of belonging, friendships, and, ultimately, the chance to meet the love of his life. He completed a degree in Environmental Resource Studies before pursuing teaching at the University of Western Ontario and is now a French immersion teacher.
From Strangers to Soulmates
Gloire and Kelsey’s paths first crossed at Toast Time, a beloved United College tradition. But their first impressions weren’t exactly love at first sight.
“It's actually funny the first time I actually saw her I thought she was mean and we didn't talk until maybe like December,” Gloire said with a laugh.
Kelsey said when she first saw him, she thought he was really interesting and wanted to learn more about him.
“Gloire was always here playing pool, anytime we walked by, I would see him there. I thought he was rich because he always wore like the nicest clothes. He would dress up in suits just to go for like a lecture. Turned out that was not the case, he just liked dressing up,” Kelsey said to shared laughter between the two.
It wasn’t until they started attending the same young adult church group that their friendship blossomed. Casual encounters became meaningful conversations, and before they knew it, they were spending more and more time together—whether meeting for lunch between classes, hanging out at Alumni Hall, or cheering each other on at community events.
By the end of their first year, their connection had grown deeper, and in April 2014, they officially started dating.
The couple then dated for six years before officially tying the knot in 2020.
Gloire and Kelsey, while reflecting on their journey, stressed that United College wasn’t just the backdrop of their love story but a place that played an active role in shaping their experience. From community dinners and dances to shared laughter in the cafeteria, it was a place where friendships were formed, and lifelong memories were made.
“There's lots of good memories to be honest, it's just hard to pick just one. Some of our best friends today are people we met here,” Kelsey shared.
During the walk down memory lane, one thing remained clear, they both hold immense gratitude for the place that brought them together.
For current and future students, their advice is simple:
“Be open-minded and step out of your comfort zone. United College is a place where you can meet incredible people and create meaningful connections,” Kelsey said.
Gloire added, “If you want to feel at home at university, this is the place to be.”
