Of compassion, kindness and kindred spirits

Acclaimed doctor duo discover that love is the greatest medicine

Repeatedly recognized for their humanitarian work in war-affected countries around the world, Toronto-based couple Dr. Samantha Nutt and MPP Dr. Eric Hoskins have plenty to be proud of. As the parents of a young son, the co-founders of War Child Canada, a non-profit organization that works to reduce  child poverty around the world, and sought-after commentators on the impact of conflict on civilians, the tenacious twosome take a rare moment to turn the focus on themselves.

How they met
I was going through the interview process for the Rhodes Scholarship at McMaster University and I kept hearing “Have you met Dr. Eric Hoskins?” He had been awarded a Rhodes a few years before, and I was constantly being compared to this stranger, which became rather frustrating. One evening, someone pointed him out to me, and I walked up to him and said, “So, you’re Eric Hoskins,” and he blushed. He was so earnest, smart, attractive and endearing — my resentment evaporated in seconds.
 

The first date
Our first date was a coffee that turned into a squash game that turned into dinner. 

What happened
Sam beat me at squash, six games to zero. I couldn’t stop looking at her, which made for a lousy game. We made dinner together and talked until five in the morning.

The courtship
We would often take the canoe and go camping on the weekends near Parry Sound. It was just the two of us, the campfire and the stars. I’d choose some of my favourite fiction books, published while Eric was overseas, and we would read to each other by flashlight at night.

The proposal
At Stanley Park in Vancouver, on a bench overlooking the ocean. 

The wedding
We were married in Algonquin park. I didn’t like the idea of being “given” away — it all felt too traditional and outdated — so I walked in first and waited for Eric on the dock. He paddled in by canoe, and instead of “Here Comes the Bride” we played the Pixies.
 

Shared goals
We are both committed to human rights, social justice and community development. We believe strongly in the value of public service and in being socially and politically engaged and aware. 
 

Relationship advice
It’s important to take the time to acknowledge each other: a kiss on the cheek while setting the table; reaching for her hand when we walk through the park with our son; placing a fresh cup of water by the bedside for her at night.… It’s often the small things that make a person feel valued and appreciated and that bring you closer as a couple.
 

Secret to their success
We’ve been through so much together. We’ve worked in places where our lives were threatened and, on a few occasions, have been lucky to survive.
These experiences have given us an acute appreciation for what we have — not just here in Toronto, but as a couple and as a family, because, in the end, you’ll never remember who won or lost a particular argument. You will only remember the time you spent together as a couple and the love that you shared.

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