Brenna and Jay: Falling in Love at Corpus
Feb 12, 2025
This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate the tales of romances that grew among alumni in classrooms, lunch tables and hallways. Corpus isn’t just a place where alumni have studied and graduated. Not many people meet their future spouse at university orientation – Brenna and Jay are one of those lucky couples.
It wasn’t love at first sight
In September 2015, Jay started his first year at Corpus Christi. He recognized Brenna, his second-year Orientation leader, from an earlier Corpus recruitment event. “I noticed her, I don’t know if she noticed me. I was thinking to myself ‘She’s kinda cute.’”
Brenna did indeed recognize Jay, though her train of thought was different. Brenna recalled the event saying, “I remembered him at that Orientation. I thought to myself, ‘Oh, it’s that guy from Vancouver College, the guy who kept talking too much.’ He had a baby face. I recognized him in the moment and then he just went out of my mind and sight.”
With Corpus being a small school, their paths continued to cross and they found themselves in the same Philosophy class, due in no small part to Jay finding a class that overlapped with Brenna. Friends of Jay and Brenna noticed the growing sparks between the future couple and organized a Study Group to help move the relationship along. After spending time together in Philosophy class and Study Group, their connection grew stronger. Jay asked Brenna to be his girlfriend. After deciding to give him a chance, Brenna notes “I didn’t know where this was going to go, but here we are 10 years later!”
When they speak about one another, the love and respect Brenna and Jay hold for each other is clear. Of Jay, Brenna says, “He is an active listener. He gives great advice. He is a safe person to share things with. He is like this for anybody he meets.” Jay is currently doing his Master’s degree in Clinical Counselling, where these traits will undoubtedly come in handy.
“I think one of the first few things that drew me to Brenna was her ambition. She was doing so many things at such a young age. Brenna always has goals, and she has tackled so much,” says Jay.
Bridging Generations
Together, the couple undertook an ambitious project. They founded Bridging Generations as an academic project. Bridging Generations is a bi-monthly social run by youth and parishioners from Delta’s Immaculate Conception Parish.
Six years in, they have a stable group of around 15 young people circulating through the bi-monthly events, where they visit Columbus Lodge Retirement Home, operated with a board representative from the Knights of Columbus, to build relationships, themed crafts, play pickleball, and more.
The Corpus Community
The couple enjoyed their time being a part of the Corpus Christi College community as undergraduates and all the moments they shared through their involvement on campus. They both served on student council, went on trips, and did various other activities. After their time at Corpus Christi, Brenna became a student at St. Mark’s College and after his undergraduate studies, Jay worked for the College in the Development and Alumni Relations Office.
Today, Brenna and Jay are still connected to both College communities as active alumni. They found lifelong friends during their studies at Corpus who remain important people in their lives. They have even gone on a trip to Bali with their fellow Corpus alumni.
“I am enjoying this era of being a fiancé” – Jay says
Fast-forward: Brenna and Jay are enjoying the next step in their relationship – being engaged! They are currently in wedding planning mode and look forward to spending their lives together. Congratulations Brenna and Jay!
A big thank you to Brenna and Jay for sharing your story with us.
Wishing you happiness in your future together!
Did Corpus Christi College play a part in your love story? The Alumni Office would love to hear from you. Reach out to the Alumni Relations Officer to share your story.
T. 604-822-6862 Ext. 155
Read about our other heart to heart stories here.
