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Waterloo's 'romance detective' is on the case Local woman helps her clients find the perfect mate

Date: 2006-09-28

After Katherine Clark got divorced, she struggled to find her Mr. Right.

"It was really challenging. It's hard to know where to go, what to do, and I think there are a lot of people in that position," she said.

Katherine eventually moved to Bermuda, where she met her future husband by chance after calling a friend's house, only to be greeted by a house-sitter named Nigel Clark.

Her story ends happily, as the couple wed two years ago.

But, the difficulties she faced before meeting Nigel led this former French-immersion teacher towards a different career: matchmaking.

Fifteen months ago, she began running her new company - meant2be - from her west-side Waterloo home.

Her matchmaking philosophy revolves around being proactive about finding a mate, and to suit her clients' busy lifestyles, she takes this approach, goes into the community and meets prospective suitors for them.

Many of her clients are people who don't have time to find their special person.

Just as they would hire a headhunter to find them a job, they solicit her services to find a mate.

Some of her clientele are cynical about dating, having been let down by impersonal Internet dating services and not knowing where to go to meet potential mates.

"And I think some people just give up and decide it wasn't meant to be."

That's when she steps in.

Initially, she meets with prospective clients twice, once at a coffee shop and once at their home.

She tells them about her proactive philosophy on dating, and if they share it, she begins her matchmaking search.

"I personally feel it's unrealistic to hire a matchmaker and then sit at home and read a book while she's out there looking for the perfect person."

Katherine's next job is to "network, network, network."

And she is willing to go to extreme measures to meet her clients' perfect person.

"I sneak into golf clubs. I eavesdrop at Chapters. I give cards to people in line at Vincenzo's.

"If I see someone I think is a match for one of my clients, I really think that's what it's all about.

"It's not about waiting for something to happen. It's about being proactive and acting on it."

In return, she expects her clients to be proactive too.

She suggests they attend local activities, charity events and even speed-dating sessions.

And she also gives them "suggestions for success," which can include books to read or a visit with her colleague, image consultant Sylvia Stutz.

Stutz, the owner of Silhouette Image Consulting, assists Katherine's clients with everything from their wardrobe to their table manners.

First impressions leave a lasting mark, which is why Stutz works hard to ensure her clients make a positive one.

Her clients discover which clothing styles and colours flatter their body types, so when they meet their date initially, they come across looking as though they care about their appearance.

"And when you know you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you're more confident," Stutz said.

Katherine's next step is to set her clients up on dates - generally for coffee or drinks to start.

And if the first one isn't a match, she finds another.

Katherine provides all these services to her clients for $1,195 per year.

The majority of her clientele live in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge or Guelph.

She said she's picky about whom she accepts to represent.

Most are professionals, although that's not a criterion. She looks for people with integrity, honesty, financial stability and a positive attitude.

"I deal with quality people," she said. "I'm really proud of my clients."

Katherine won't divulge how many clients she has, but she said she has made some matches and has clients who are now in relationships she set up.

"It's going really well," she said. "I get lots of happy phone calls and people may say, 'Maybe this wasn't a match, but I had a great time and it was really interesting.'"

One of the reasons she thinks her clients are generally happy with their set-ups is because she's so discerning about whom she represents.

And if her matches don't result in a love connection, this self-proclaimed "romance detective" persistently looks for new dates.

"Eventually it's going to work out. It did for me."

Katherine's clients - some of whom have sad stories about being a widow, widower or divorcee - must be willing to take some risks when it comes to finding what she refers to as "life mates," as her service looks for partners, not dates for a party.

"Sometimes it's hard for people to change, but I need people to be open to change and ready to take a risk.

"Here's my motto: If you don't take a risk, nothing happens."

And even if sparks don't fly on the first date, she encourages her clients to go out a second time to be sure.

"People are very influenced by Hollywood movies - they think they'll walk into the room, the music will play and the lights will dim. That's not how it goes," she said.

"So I do urge a realistic approach to romance."

Stutz, who has been married for many years, admits she wouldn't want to "be out there in that dating scene" again.

She's heard many horror stories from clients; some can't find the right person to date and others seem to only meet married people looking for a fling.

That's why she thinks Katherine's services are so valuable.

"What Katherine's doing is getting past all of that for you (her clients).

"She's weeding it out and getting to the people that would best meet what her clients are looking for in an individual."

For more information about meant2be, go to Katherine's website at www.meant2be.ca.





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