Song birds turned love birds through email after talent search

Two strangers met for the first time at CHVN's Manitoba Christian Talent Search in 2005, and only months later ended up tying the knot. 

Julie Cwir (nee Hildebrand) joined in the talent search competition by singing 'Song of Love' by Rebecca St. James.

After being eliminated, she stuck around for the rest of the competition to cheer on her friend, Jordan Janzen. Janzen is now the lead singer of The Color, but at the time he was just a grade 12 student with a passion for singing.

Little did Cwir know at the time that her future husband was also trying out for Manitoba's most talented artist. 

"Both of us auditioned for the contest and didn't make it through to the next round. They had so much good talent going through."

This was the same talent contest that CHVN's Colleen Houde ended up winning, which got her a career on Christian radio ever since. 

"My husband was there with his family and I was there with a big crew cheering on Jordan Janzen with signs and everything," says Cwir.

Even though there were a lot of people in the room, Cwir's future husband couldn't help but notice her.

"As the concert went on, my husband says he thought he saw me watching him. I do not have any recollection of that."

At this time, Paul Cwir had just started his teaching career as a music teacher.

"Near the end of the concert, he had come up to me and said, 'I'm not a creep or anything'. It was one of those awkward moments. He ended up giving me his email address."

At that moment, Julie was just a senior in high school and didn't think much of the encounter. 

"I did end up emailing him and it was supposed to be one of those 'thanks but no thanks'. I don't know how it happened but we just started getting to know each other through email."

By June of the same year, Julie and Paul decided they would start courting. 

"We spent time in devotions together, prayer and fasting, just about the future for us. By August we were engaged and by December we were married."

Cwir says it felt like a "God-thing," considering he grew up in Dauphin, she grew up in Plum Coulee, and they met in Winnipeg.

The couple now lives in Winkler and has three sons under the age of nine. Julie has her BA in Worship Studies from Providence College and Paul continues to teach band/music.