It is Valentine’s Day and for many the holiday of love will look different than it has in years past.

With COVID-19 restrictions limiting restaurant visits and prohibiting concert halls, movie theatres, and other classically romantic establishments from opening at all, many are choosing to stay at home. Nevertheless, for some couples, not even COVID-19 can hinder age-old traditions.

For Steinbach resident Wendy Heier, that tradition is exchanging flowers, a practice that has been ongoing now for three decades. She says owning Heier Designs, a local florist shop, has not made her tire of pretty plants.

“I remember when I was being courted and after a year it is tradition to give a full dozen roses and so I got my first dozen roses that I had ever received and I was thrilled,” she shares. “My husband also has favourite flowers and I always make sure, on Valentine’s Day morning before his alarm goes, that they are sitting right beside his bedside.”

Interestingly, another Steinbach resident, Jennifer Toews, says she already celebrated Valentine’s Day months ago.

“Because we got married in January, we have our wedding anniversary in January, my husband’s birthday is in February, and my birthday is in March, so we decided to change Valentine’s Day to September 14, she laughs. “It is a lot easier to get dinner reservations.”

Meanwhile, for others, it is a special prize package that will make today stand out. Steinbach Online’s “cupidcam” contest wrapped up on Friday and three winners were announced. A total of 322,982 votes were cast for couples across southeastern Manitoba hoping to land a free date night and three came out on top.

In third place, with 32,461 votes, Eric Enns says he is grateful for the flowers he won from Heier Designs and the free meal from MJ’s Kafe.

“Now I don’t really need to book anything, so I’m pretty pumped about that,” he said, upon learning of his victory, “I mean with restaurants opening up to only 25 per cent, I don’t know if my chances of getting in were very good anyways.”

In second place was Terri-Lee Broesky who garnered 71,553 votes and brought home the same flowers and food as well as a $50 gift card for Pizza 311.

With 81,224 votes to her name, Tracy Dueck took the first place prize, hauling in the Heier Designs “Tower Of Love” flower arrangement, a feast from MJ’s, $100 at Pizza 311, and a $50 gift card to the Frantz. Usually, Dueck says her Valentine’s Days are fairly uneventful but the sudden abundance of gifts promise her and her spouse an exciting long weekend.

Whether you do or do not you have special plans today, you are encouraged to spend time with those you love… as long as those you love are from the same household as you.