Strangers across the country connect after a proposal caught on camera in Tofino

Adam finds out how strangers visiting Tofino connected over an unexpected proposal caught on camera

TOFINO, B.C. — By the time they arrived on the beach during their visit to Tofino, Tom Fast had been dating Sarah Moroziuk for more than a decade, but he was feeling nervous.

“I had to make sure she didn’t find the ring in my bag,” Tom says.

While Sarah didn’t know Tom’s secret, she did feel he was acting a little odd.

“Tom was like, ‘Let’s go touch the water,’” Sarah recalls with a laugh. “And I was like, ‘I’ve touched the water before, I’m OK.’”

But before she could give it a second thought, he got down on one knee

“(I answered with) a few, ‘Oh my gosh,’ ‘Are you serious!?’ and ‘This is crazy!’” Sarah laughs.

While Tom waited for an answer, off in the distance another woman vacationing in Tofino just happened to spot the proposal.

“It seemed to bring an extra level of magic to the place,” Janice Nesbitt smiles. “It was a reminder that love is all around us.”

So, she took a couple pictures but was too far away to let them know. Or hear the woman’s answer to the proposal.

“Tom had to prompt me, ‘Is there an answer?’” Sarah laughs. “And I was like, ‘Oh! Yes! Yes! Yes!’”

More than a month later, after the amateur photographer returned home to Calgary, she edited the photos and tried to find the couple by posting the pictures on social media.

“I really thought it was a long shot. No pun intended,” Janice laughs. “I just thought if it was me, I would want that (picture).”

Thousands of people commented on Janice’s post — praising her talent and kindness — before helping her connect with the couple by sharing the pictures from coast to coast.

Sarah finally saw them back home in Toronto.

“I was like, ‘Whoa!’” Sarah laughs. “‘That’s us! That’s crazy!’”

Janice and the couple connected online before she sent them copies of her pictures.

Sarah and Tom say they couldn’t be more grateful for Janice’s effort, and the thousands of strangers who supported her online.

“On top of all that, they’re really great photos,” Tom smiles.

Now the couple keeps the pictures framed in their home, plans to use them on their wedding invitations, and are considering a return to Vancouver Island for their honeymoon.

“Why would we not circle back and go to Tofino,” Sarah smiles, “and do it all over again.”

But first Sarah and Tom have a wedding to plan.

“I wonder if (Janice) does weddings,” Sarah says.

Another proposal that the amateur photographer also answers with a “yes.”

“Absolutely, I’d love to do that,” Janice laughs. “I can make that happen.”