It’s so easy to focus on the stats – how many marriages end up in divorce, the ones that should never have happened, the bad reasons people stay together, the dysfunctional ones. But. Look around. There are some amazing couples out there – the ones that really, really, really love each other and for whom “forever” is just not long enough to spend with someone they love. Here are my top 10 picks from this year. [caption id="attachment_7845" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Number 1 favourite couple: My sister Frances and her husband, Alain."] [/caption] 1. My personal favourite Frances and Alain: My sister and brother-in-law. They leave little notes for each other. They cook together. She goes fishing with him not because she loves to fish, but because she loves him. He makes things for her. And he supports her. She moved to Quebec for him, and she’s making a chick pea salad for his coworkers at his holiday lunch. 2. It’s only fiction, but it could be real Bella and Edward of Twilight fame: They are so cute! And honestly, how could you not marry a guy (ok, vampire) who said this to you? “Before you, Bella, my life was like a moonless night. Very dark, but there were starts – points of light and reason...and then you shot across my sky like a meteor. Suddenly everything was on fire; there was brilliancy, there was beauty. When you were gone, when the meteor had fallen over the horizon, everything went black. Nothing had changed, but my eyes were blinded by the light. I couldn’t see the stars anymore. And there was no more reason for anything.” 3. They can carry a tune Two country singers, Kortney and  Dave move down to Nashville. They fall in love. They get married. They have three kids. They get their own reality TV show, “Meet the Wilsons.” And another show. They release an album. They go on tour. And they’re just a cute Canadian couple. 4. Royal revival William and Kate: Their wedding inspired a nation – and the rest of the world. It was fun to focus on them  instead of some of the other stuff that wasn’t so much fun this year, and they’re young and lovely and, more important, so in love with each other. 5. We still love you Wayne and Janet: He was a star from the time his dad built a backyard rink and strapped skates on him as a little kid, always rising above the others. He was a tremendous asset to the game of hockey, an athlete our country is proud to celebrate. And unlike lots of other celebs, he’s still married to the same girl. 6. I’ll love you forever Olivia Chow and Jack Layton: It’s a political love story. They were a power couple in Canadian politics that we loved to love (Who will ever forget the inspiring words he left us in a letter?) And we will never forget Olivia’s pain, her suffering, her sadness, her grief, at her husband’s funeral. 7. Meet the Osbornes Gina and Ray: They met at the Italian restaurant where she worked. She hardly spoke English. He was a mechanic at the gas station next door. They fell in love. They adopted 20 kids, many of whom may not have had the opportunity to be loved as part of a family. They made a difference in each of these kids’ lives. How do I know them? Through my friend, Miriam, one of the kids, who always tells me how ridiculously in love her parents are – still, 45 years later. 8. We love you both Michele Landsberg and Stephen Lewis: In another inspiring display of social and political activism, this couple has a tremendous bond. They inspire us with their presence, their ideas, their willingness to stand up and speak for those who can’t – and for their support of each other. 9. A new partnership Michaelle Jean and Jean-Daniel Lafond: We loved her as Governor-General – they still love each other after bring married almost 22 years. and now they’ve created a foundation to promote education, culture and creativity among youth in northern and poor communities. Wait and see what a love like this will do. 10. So fresh, so inspiring Irene and Sean: She recently started working in the Canadian Living Test Kitchen as a food specialist. And she was excited because she was getting married. In an age of such skepticism about the institution of marriage, they took a leap of faith. Really, they didn’t have to bother, they were already living together. So what’s different now? “The best part about being married is knowing you’re more than just partners and best friends – you’ve created your very own family,” Irene says. What about you? Do you know any inspiring couples?