About darrel and mackenzie
About Darrel
I grew up on the family dairy farm in La Broquerie, a small francophone community in southeastern Manitoba. Being the middle child of 5 children, I quickly learned how to be independent and adaptable. I was the quiet one, sitting back and learning from everything I observed. My first job was doing chores on the farm at 10 years old. It didn't pay much, but the lesson of working hard for what you want in life was instilled in me at a young age.
At 17 years old, right after graduating from my hometown French elementary and high school, I went on to complete a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Manitoba. After one year in the private sector, I realized very quickly that my career needed to be focused on more than just profit. In search of making a bigger impact on the world, I accepted a position as a Foreign Service Officer with the Government of Canada. Here I gained insight on public service and was drawn to issues relating to children's rights and children affected by war. Protecting children and ensuring that they have the best life possible has been one of my core missions in life.
After nearly 4 years in Ottawa, and a few nieces and nephews being welcomed into the world, another missing piece in my life emerged - the need to be closer to family and to establish roots to eventually have a family of my own. That is when I decided to return to Manitoba. I bought a home, completed a master’s degree in business administration, completed a Certified Management Accountant designation, and found a truly rewarding workplace at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. This position honed in my desire to apply my education and experience toward cause-based organizations that align with my values. My next role was that of Executive Director of Festival du Voyageur, the largest celebration of French language and culture in Western Canada. Currently, I am in the role of Vice-President, Visitor Experience at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the only museum in the world solely dedicated to human rights.
Along the way. I also found the love of my life, Mackenzie. I quickly realized that we shared similar core values and both wanted to have children one day. Mackenzie and I moved in together and welcomed several other nieces and nephews over the years. Our little fur baby, Charlotte, joined the family and added a lot of life to our household. We are seasoned uncles, currently sharing 11 nieces and nephews between the two of us, the oldest being 17 years old and the youngest being 2 years old. After over 9 years together, we are excited to embark on our own journey to parenthood.
About Mackenzie
I grew up in a small town just south of Winnipeg, Manitoba, surrounded by the love and chaos of a big family. Growing up as a gay man, the dream of having my own family felt distant, as I wasn't sure what that would look like. On my journey of personal growth and self-discovery, I met Darrel, and we are now approaching our 10th anniversary together. During this time, we've nurtured our relationship and created a home filled with love, openness, and the warmth of friends and family. I often find myself imagining the kind of parent I will be and what an incredible father Darrel will be as well.
Professionally, I am a cross-trained firefighter-paramedic with the city of Winnipeg. With nearly five years of experience in this field, I've developed skills that I believe will make me a great parent, especially in high-stress situations. My training in programs like Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) has equipped me with the knowledge to handle emergencies, which is invaluable when welcoming a newborn into our home. Together, Darrel and I have a mixed skill set that makes us perfectly suited to raise any child we are lucky enough have.
As I became more comfortable in my role as an uncle, I realized how much joy children bring into my life and how ready I am to take the next step into parenthood. Now that surrogacy is a real possibility, we are excited to open ourselves up to create the necessary space and love for a baby in our lives.
We understand that the surrogacy process can be daunting and complex, with countless decisions to make. We are committed to approaching this journey with love, openness, and respect for everyone involved. Our goal is to ensure that everyone in this process feels cared for and supported, both emotionally and physically.