Spencer Griffin-Beale turned 40 this year and decided that if marriage matters, it's worth doing something about it.
So he bought billboards.
Several appeared along major Edmonton commuter routes earlier this year, each directing people to marryspencer.ca. The Spruce Grove oilfield and construction worker built the site himself. It has photos, a personal statement, friend testimonials, and a contact form.
He answers every message personally.
"Marriage is very important to me," he wrote on the site. "I'm not looking for something temporary. I want to build a life with someone and share the years ahead together. Turning 40 made me realize that if something matters, it's worth being intentional about it."
About Spencer
Griffin-Beale is 40, works in the oilfield and construction industries, and lives a fully substance-free life no smoking, no drinking, no drugs. He's working toward his Class 3 licence. He went to see Brujeria and Cattle Decapitation at the Starlite Room in Edmonton on April 26. He has English, Scottish, and Ukrainian heritage, has travelled and lived in Europe, and enjoys concerts, photography, and film.
He works out of town and in camp periodically and is upfront about it.
He's looking for someone ideally between 35 and 45, child-free and comfortable staying that way, based in Edmonton or surrounding areas, and comfortable with a partner who spends time away for work.
"I'm not looking for perfection," he wrote. "Just someone genuine who wants a real partnership."
A friend of 11 years submitted a testimonial: "Spencer has a genuine kindness that is rare to find these days. He is incredibly patient, always taking the time to truly listen and understand where someone is coming from."
His sister-in-law added: "He is genuine, patient, devoted and a strong source of support for others."
Why billboards
Griffin-Beale still uses conventional routes blind dates, bars, speed dating, apps. But he wanted something that would actually get noticed.
The idea came from personal ads in newspapers a format that ran for over a century before apps replaced them. His version of that is a billboard on a commuter route with a website attached.
"I know my method is quite unconventional, but I had to think outside the box and think of a way that I can stick out more than all the online profiles," he wrote. "A lot of people don't read the newspaper in 2026, so I thought, what's the way I can get myself out there that a lot of single women would see it?"
The billboard sends people to the website. The website sends people to a contact form. He reads everything that comes in.
What he's looking for
The site describes what a relationship would actually look like: travel and road trips, concerts, supporting each other through challenges, a calm and stable home life built over time.
"I also don't expect anyone to match everything perfectly, so don't let that stop you from reaching out," he wrote.
How it's going
So far: one date, one troll, and a lot of encouragement. He was featured on CBC Radio Edmonton on May 19 and says continued coverage is part of the strategy more people who know he exists means a wider playing field.
Online reaction has ranged from supportive to skeptical, with some calling the approach refreshing and others questioning whether a billboard can actually lead to marriage. Griffin-Beale isn't particularly concerned either way.
Some contact form submissions came through blank due to a technical glitch. If you reached out and didn't hear back, he's asking people to try again.
"Don't be afraid to reach out. My pictures on the site may look mean, but I'm not mean."
The site is marryspencer.ca. The billboards are still up.
Sources:
marryspencer.ca — Spencer Griffin-Beale personal website (primary)
CBC Radio Edmonton — MarrySpencer interview, May 19, 2026
