On a cold January day in 1980, a Saskatoon man decided to forgo the traditional, private marriage proposal. Instead, he took his question to the public, creating a moment that would become a cherished piece of the city's social history.
The Public Proposal on Broadway Bridge
Paul Ericson of Saskatoon orchestrated a grand romantic gesture aimed at his girlfriend, Kelly Andrews. On January 15, 1980, he had a billboard erected at a highly visible location: the top of the Broadway Bridge on Broadway Avenue. The message was simple, direct, and impossible for the city to miss.
The billboard's text read: “Kel, will you marry me? (when the leaves are green). Paul.” This unconventional proposal immediately captured the attention of drivers and pedestrians passing along one of the city's main arteries, turning a personal question into a shared community moment.
Kelly's Astounding Reaction and Answer
For Kelly Andrews, a dental assistant with the Saskatchewan Dental Plan, the discovery was a complete shock. She was astounded when she saw the public declaration of love and intent. The unique proposal left the entire city in suspense for a week, with residents eagerly awaiting the outcome.
The follow-up in the StarPhoenix on January 22, 1980, delivered the happy news everyone was hoping for. Kelly responded with an affirmative “yes.” True to the poetic condition on the billboard, the couple planned to tie the knot in the spring, “when the leaves are green.”
A Lasting Piece of Saskatoon's Social Fabric
This event is now preserved as a charming historical footnote in Saskatoon's story. The original photograph of the billboard is part of the City of Saskatoon Archives StarPhoenix Collection (S-SP-A12474-19), captured by photographer Peter Wilson. It serves as a perfect example of the personal, human-interest stories that populate a city's past.
The tale of Paul and Kelly's billboard proposal is featured as part of the StarPhoenix's “Throwback Thursday” series, which revisits archival images from the city's history. It reminds us that love stories, especially those with a unique local twist, are an integral part of a community's shared memory and identity.
