Sassy Singleton

I guess if you’re a guy living in Saskatchewan, Alberta or Manitoba, you better put a ring on it if you wanna get some. Of the 13% of Canadians who put off putting out till marriage, most of them are from the prairies.

Conversely, Quebecers are of the school of thought as soon as you feel the “hello from below” it’s time to make your move. Of the 32% who want to get it on as soon as they feel an attraction, most were from Quebec.

And I guess it’s not surprising that so many Canadians believe the best way to meet a committed partner is through a pal. They do, after all, know you, best. Besides that’s what friends are for.

— Sarah Rowland, newly single

Newlywed game

When is the right time to begin a sexual relationship? Whenever you feel ready. Be it after a night out or after three months of dating. Definitely before marriage though -- it’s all part of the getting-to-know-each-other process.

I also believe the best way to meet your ideal mate is through friends or common networks. And while I believe in true love, I believe much more in timing. Women seem to think they’re ready in their 20s, but I think late 20s or 30s is much better.

When it comes to aging, my hubby gets more attractive to me all the time. The closer we get, the more we get to know each other, the more in love we seem to be.

Great conversation and one-on-one time is most important, great sex is just a bonus. But I don't have the blinders on: Body odour and bad breath are least appealing, and too much booze also not romantic at all.

— Married 2 months

Mr. Been-There-Done-That

Most guys are good to go if there’s a stiff breeze — and it doesn’t matter who it is as long as you find them hot, or, let’s be honest, passable. Waiting for marriage seems about as relevant as the monarchy but then again, we’re not all able to do the one-night stand thing.

You never know where lightning will strike but you’ll definitely find more tire kickers looking for a test drive than serious buyers at the traditional meat markets. Friends are more likely to hook you up with someone at least outwardly compatible if you are looking for the long haul. The whole online thing is daunting with so many parasites, predators and outright nutjobs lurking behind a screen of lies and deception. And many of them are probably married, too.

We can’t be comfortable in a relationship until we’re comfortable with ourselves — so that rules out high school and likely our 20s, too. And the only time we actually know if it was true love is with our dying breath.

We all love that new-car smell, but it always goes away. As they lose the battle with time and gravity, so do we, so it’s more likely a massive weight gain or some such thing will drastically alter your physical attraction rather than the reality of aging.

Whatever gets you through the night is all right. Sometimes you just want to be alone, too.

The more mood killers in a relationship, the worse it is. If we are too lazy or oblivious to notice our personal shortcomings, it’s clear we don’t care enough to care.

— Ed Grant, married 12 years

Practised Paramour

I think the majority of Canadians are wrong. At least when they believe you’re most likely to fall in love. Marrying my high school girlfriend 20 years ago — almost to the day this month — I argue that most of us find true love while we’re still in school.

Though, we’re just too young to understand it.

According to the Leger poll, a relatively small percentage of those surveyed felt this way.

More thought there was a better chance of bonding with someone for life in your 20s or 30s.

But my evidence that our school years formulate our strongest love connections go beyond the fact I first fell in love with a new Francophone student who suddenly appeared in my English class.

If you ask most men whether there is a girl who still haunts their memories — an image that still springs to mind years later — it’s usually someone they met in high school or university. I suspect women likely feel the same.

It’s there that most of us find true love. We just usually don’t see this, as we’re still trying to find ourselves at the same time.

— Thane Burnett, married 20 years