Gavin & Melissa

If you stopped by our house on a Saturday morning, you might find us planning our next road trip, debating which bird just landed outside the window, reading side-by-side with a cat sprawled across our laps, or laughing at one of Gavin’s increasingly elaborate stories.

Hello! We’re Gavin and Melissa, a Calgary couple who has spent more than a decade building a life filled with adventure, curiosity, and a deep love for one another. Together, we’ve hiked through mountains on the other side of the world, found dinosaur fossils in Alberta’s badlands, wandered through forests and wetlands, and shared countless quiet moments at home. Gavin is a photojournalist, storyteller, and proud adoptee whose Indigenous, Welsh, and family roots shape his strong sense of duty, community, and belonging. Melissa is a hydrogeologist, aspiring metal drummer, fantasy book lover, and lifelong learner whose kindness and enthusiasm have a way of making people feel welcome wherever she goes.

What connects us most is our sense of wonder and love of learning and we believe life is meant to be explored, whether that’s through travel, books, nature, culture, family traditions, or simply asking questions about how the world works. Our future child will grow up in a home where curiosity is celebrated, laughter is abundant, and love is unconditional. Adoption has always been part of how we imagined growing our family, and we feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be on this journey. We hope to raise a child who feels secure in who they are, proud of their story, and surrounded by people who cherish them. We also believe that every adoption story is unique, and we are open to building a relationship with a birth family founded on honesty, respect, and genuine connection. Above all, we hope our child grows up knowing they were loved from the very beginning by everyone who helped shape their story.