Cupid strikes in Vernon

Photo: Judy Doorten Welfing

To the humour of many, last week Vernon made Amazon.ca's top 20 most romantic cities in Canada list. Sitting at 18th, Vernon was joined by such romantic hotspots as Surrey and Abbotsford. 

But, skeptics take note: Romance is clearly alive and well in Vernon. 

Judy Doorten Welfing and her husband Cliff have been married for 40 years — well, it will be 40 years next month. 

And for 40 years Cliff has never missed an opportunity to declare his love for his wife, Judy. 

"I've given up even trying to do something romantic that can top him because he is amazing," Judy told Castanet.

From rolling out the red carpet one year to 30 ballons, love notes and candy on their 30th anniversary, the cupid-esque Cliff never fails to hit his mark.

And he did it again this year. 

Cliff publically declared his love for Judy by spraypainting, in red, giant hearts in the snow in their yard. Inside those hearts were his initials and Judy's.

Cliff's romantic gesture didn't stop there. Out on the street, on a snow bank facing the road, Cliff drew hearts and wrote, "I love the lady that lives here," in big red letters for all to see.

It was forecasted to snow overnight so Cliff woke up especially early this morning to spraypaint his message of love to his wife. 

"I guess nothing is private anymore," Judy says with a chuckle. [Cliff] "does things that are grand enough that everybody else sees it. So I have to share it."

Judy shared the message on Facebook and her friends gave their approval. 

"Awe! What a guy!! He's a keeper," one person posted.

Another friend wrote, "That is the sweetest!! You must have felt so loved and thought of.. that is so so amazing!"

Judy and Cliff are clearly in love, and Cliff has always been a romantic at heart.

"He has always put me on a bit of a pedestal, and he has always treated me absolutely amazingly." Juddy adds with a laugh, "he has so much patience with me and he is very selfless when it comes to me."