What’s your name?

Matt, Matt Love, Dad, Coach Love

How old are you?

41

Do you have siblings?

I am the middle of three boys. We have always been a close crew. My younger brother Andrew is a gifted artist who most recently starred in Les Mis on Broadway. He lives with his husband Bobby in Connecticut. My older brother Shane is a teacher and lives in Mexico. We can’t wait for the day it’s safe and we can visit.

Where and how did you meet your wife Emma?

We met through my older brother and immediately hit it off, but then I moved away to Saskatchewan and things looked bleak. Emma ended up coming to Saskatoon for a wedding and we went on one amazing date while she was in town. I knew I had met my person. 17 years later we are better than ever.

What’s your favourite thing about being a dad?

Being a dad is the biggest job I have, if I had to narrow it down to one thing, I’d say cuddles.

Would you rather vacation at the beach, in a new city, or in the country?

At this point, I’d take a beach hands down.

Of all of the places you have been, where is your favourite?

Emma’s family has a place at Jackfish lake that is top spot for sentimental reasons. I was very fortunate as a teacher to lead five class trips to NYC, and I really grew to love it there and I’m hoping to go back with my own crew sometime.

Are you an extravert or introvert?

Depends on the time of day.

Are you a detail oriented person or a big picture person?

I like the big picture.

What do you like to do in your down-time?

Down time? Haha

What is your favourite meal?

We really like to cook in our home, so a perfect meal for me is grilled Thai chicken with cilantro lime sauce, paired with a hazy IPA, and an hour later a piece of my daughter’s mini egg cheesecake.

Can you tell us about a book you have read that made an impact of your life?

Who Has Seen the Wind by W.O. Mitchell

What was your favourite part about being a teacher?

The relationships with students, families and colleagues.

How long have you lived in Saskatoon Eastview?

About eight years

Why did you choose to live in Saskatoon Eastview?

We initially looked here because Emma’s best friend lives just a few blocks away. We quickly learned how great the location and community are and we never want to leave.

Have you discovered any ‘secret gems’ in Saskatoon Eastview since living here?

Well, Hearth isn’t exactly hidden, but it’s amazing.

What’s your favourite thing about being an MLA?

Just like teaching, I’m enjoying the relationships and the learning. I’ve been able to meet with groups and individuals, build trust and learn from them more than I could have imagined.

Why did you decide to run as MLA for Saskatoon Eastview?

I wanted to help people. For the last decade I’ve been telling my students to take risks, speak out and work for change. As a teacher I saw my students do brave things and I saw this as my chance to respond to the learning we did together.

Who do you look up to and why?

I really do look up to my wife and kids as role models for me. I’m also inspired by the way I see younger generations standing up for change in terms of caring for our environment and creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

What is one valuable piece of advice that you were given that changed the way you saw the world?

“The purpose of life is to find where your passions meet your abilities to do something for the better good”