Tom and Kate Taylor are celebrating 65 years of marriage.
The 87-year-olds are well known around town. Tom was the mayor from 1997 to 2006 and both he and Kate continue to be active members of the community.
They met while they were working near James Bay in Northern Ontario. Kate, who had immigrated from Holland with her family when she was 11, was a nurse.
Tom was working in a job that took him all along the coast of Hudson's Bay and James Bay. They were both there for about two years.
They realized they wanted to get married but Kate's father wanted to wait to make sure it was right.
"We wanted to get married. In those times you had to go and ask permission of the parents, you know. I went to Kate's father and he said, 'If you're still here and one year from now you're still wanting to get married, then you have my blessing.' And so we waited the full year and then we got married," Tom said.
The wedding was on May 3, 1958 in Owen Sound, where Kate's family lived.
Now they have spent 65 wonderful years together, raised four children, and have 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
"We're very blessed, honestly, because we're able to be together and we are able to, together, go each day through life," Kate said.
They cook and clean together, take care of their home in downtown Newmarket, and go out for regular walks holding hands.
"We sustain each other. We really do, you know, and we care about each other's welfare," Kate said.
The Taylors moved to Newmarket around the same time they were married, so this year also marks 65 years that they have been in town together, however Tom's family was from Newmarket.
"My parents lived here, my grandparents lived here and so it's part of my blood, I guess. And we liked the community. It's a close community, it's a respectful community," Tom said.
Eventually he got into municipal politics, which Kate said was something she never expected.
"We never, ever saw ourselves really as political people. It was a job Tom took on, a job that had to be done and we did it the best we could. That was really how we looked at it," she said. "And my job was to raise the family and to make sure to assist Tom when I could."
Which Tom said was very often.
As a couple they have been very involved with various organizations such as Inn From the Cold, which Tom founded, Habitat for Humanity, Community Living, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Neighbourhood Network and more. They said they have really enjoyed giving back.
"I think we've both seen everyone in the community as part of the community. We don't see any one part of the community as being better or special," Kate said. "It is a community of different people of different levels of income, of different backgrounds, of different jobs, but that is the community and that is the good part about it. I think people care about each other."
The Taylors marked their milestone anniversary with the community at an open house style party at Old Town Hall on April 29, with friends and family gathered together.
Tom and Kate walked to the party hand and hand and spent the time greeting guests and sharing memories.
After 65 years together, there is no end in sight for the happy couple.
"In five years come back and we'll talk to you again," Tom said.
