Homeless, scared.... facing addiction or abuse. For the vulnerable people in our community, the Salvation Army is always there to lend a helping hand. I was honoured to be one of four photographers participating in a very special photo exhibit called, 'There Is More to Us than We Can See'. Each of us were tasked with capturing the faces of men, women and children who were now on a better path thanks to the Salvation Army. Throughout this journey, we learned so much about one simple word: "Hope". With much admiration to fellow photographers Nadine de Lange, Urszula Kozak and Brittany Gawley! And thanks for the heavy lifting, since I broke my collarbone falling over my dog Dude.
A Visit to the RCMP Horse Breeding Facility
It was a fabulous fall day, a perfect afternoon to visit the iconic horses at the RCMP breeding facility in Pakenham Ontario. My good friends Dorothea von Ow and Jerry Demetriadis pulled some strings for me (the farm is closed to the public) and for that I am eternally grateful! A small group of us enjoyed a tour of the barns and the paddocks where true Canadian stars are bred, the Hanoverian/Thoroughbred horses that thrill audiences from coast to coast in the RCMP Musical Ride- as well as other RCMP duties and public appearances. Thank you to trainer/manager John Phillips for an inside peek at some of the most magnificent horses I have ever seen!
Kindred Farm Horse Rescue
Tanya Boyd is a bundle of energy with an easy smile and a twinkle in her eye. She also saves unwanted horses from the slaughterhouse. The owner of Kindred Farm in North Gower Ontario, Tanya does everything she can to rescue the horses and ponies that are sent to auction and often purchased by meat buyers. These are once-loved family pets, racehorses, trail riding horses, even petting farm ponies....they all have a story, and they all deserve much more than this. I first visited Kindred Farm this past spring and met the whirlwhind that is Tanya Boyd. Together with an army of volunteers, Tanya addresses any medical issues the horses may have. Once the horses settle in at Kindred Farm, they are re-trained with care and compassion, and eventually they are re-homed to spend the rest of their lives with loving families.
Tanya Boyd with rescued horse Demi
This summer, Tanya Boyd was a guest of honour at a luncheon hosted by Ladies Who Lunch. The women in attendance raised $680 for Kindred Farm.... and Tanya did a beautiful thing with that money. She went to the livestock auction and rescued 'Red' the thoroughbred racehorse and 'Lucy' the pony from the slaughterhouse. Red and Lucy fit right in at Kindred Farm! Ladies Who Lunch founder Catherine Landry (and our dogs Heidi and Dude) visited the farm to see how the newcomers were doing. At the time of this writing, Red was adopted by horse lover Ashley, and Lucy is going to stay at Kindred Farm as a sweet pony for children. For information about Kindred Farm, click here.
Catherine Landry with 'Red', rescued from slaughter
Rescued horse Red, rescued pony Lucy with Tanya, Catherine and Red's new owner Ashley
Jordan McIntosh Photo Shoot
Jordan McIntosh is one of my favourite subjects to shoot, because he has so much energy and he is a ton of fun to spend the day with! Jordan is a wildly talented singer/songwriter - he was recently nominated for the Canadian Country Music Association's 'Rising Star Award' - and at just 19 years old, he has a huge career ahead of him. And he's one of the nicest guys I've ever worked with!
Watch for Jordan on a major Canadian tour with Brett Kissel this fall. Check out Jordan's official website here.
Eddie and The Dude Dig A Hole
My husband Rob and I needed to fill our lives once again with the joy that is a DOG. No other dog could replace our beloved Ringo. But our new Bernese Mountain Dog puppy Dude certainly gave us the distraction that we so desperately needed. Our first trip with Dude was to visit our friends Mauri and Mike, who live on the Ottawa River with their kids Maya and Connor and a gorgeous doberman named Eddie. Well, Eddie and the Dude hit it off that day, and worked on a project together. They dug a hole. The best hole ever.
'Horses' at The Table Vegetarian Restaurant
The Table Restaurant is one of my favourite places in Ottawa for fresh, delicious vegetarian cuisine. Thank you to owner Cheryl Ayoub for inviting my 'Horses' photo exhibit/sale ot your fine establishment!
My Dog Was My Greatest Teacher
My dog Ringo lived every day with the same enthusiasm. He loved life, he was silly and fun and kind and filled with joy. He was my constant companion and my partner in adventure. He loved everything and everyone. At just 14 months old, on June 21st, my dog Ringo passed away from cancer. Two days later, my husband Rob and I got on a plane, landed in San Francisco and began a road trip through the American northwest. We were on the Pacific coastline, we were driving through majestic redwood trees....we were surrounded by breathtaking beauty.... but we saw none of it. We discovered that you can't outrun grief. We had no destination. As we put more and more miles against the heartache of losing our beloved dog, one day we found ourselves at Crater Lake Oregon.
I had read about Crater Lake in Cheryl Strayed's excellent book, 'Wild'. It is deep (second deepest lake in North America) and as blue as the sky.
But it wasn't the grandness of Crater Lake that took away some clouds for me that day. It was the chipmunks. The tiny little busy-bodies on the lakeside cliffs that went about their day, collecting flower pods, popping up from driftwood crevices, chasing each other from rockface to tree stump.
My dog Ringo appreciated each and every little thing that came his way. He lived in the moment. And each day of his short life, Ringo was teaching me to do the same.
Ottawa Horse Day
It was a beautiful day at Wesley Clover Park as hundreds of people came out to celebrate horses! Ottawa Horse Day gives horse owners/trainers/riders a chance to show off their beautiful mounts, showcase demonstrations of the many equine disciplines, and increase the awareness about all the local clubs and riding rings that people may want to join! It's one of my favourite days of the year and I was happy to be back as the emcee! Looking forward to the next Ottawa Horse Day! For info on the year round equine program and events at Wesley Clover Parks, click here.
Nature Canada Bird Fair
Bird is the word! Had a blast emceeing Nature Canada's Bird Fair at Andrew Haydon Park. It was fantastic to see so many children fascinated by the bird displays. Not to mention the wonderful 'flamingo dance' from local school kids, and the unveiling of 'Ottawa's official bird' by Mayor Watson and Giacomo from CBC. And the winner is...... the chicadee!
Nature Canada's 'Women For Nature'
This week I was asked to be a member of Nature Canada's 'Women For Nature'. Such an honour, and I will do my best to promote the beauty of nature. It surrounds us. Each leaf on a tree, each rippling creek, the wildflowers in a field, the chatter from a songbird.... these are all gifts for us to enjoy. It's more important than ever for children to appreciate nature, to leave the computer, put on some rubber boots. Why? Because nature is FUN. Nature is COOL. And nature is right outside our doorstep! Which is why I chose this gull photo. I've heard people say that gulls are 'dull'. 'boring', and they are 'everywhere'. The next time you see a gull, take a few minutes to really watch what it does. They are masters at aerobatics, speed, even hovering in one spot. They are all attitude. They are snow white and gorgeous. And you will quickly see how entertaining that 'boring' gull really is. Far better than reality tv! We don't have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature. We just have to open our eyes, because it's right there waiting for us.
Manotick Art Show
So much fun at the Manotick Art Show! Met some great people and especially enjoyed chatting about the wild horses of Sable Island!
Thank You Galerie Old Chelsea
I thoroughly enjoyed my time as an associate at beautiful Galerie Old Chelsea. It was such a pleasure to get to know the artists and meet so many art lovers! I highly recommend a visit to this gorgeous gallery tucked away in the Gatineau Hills.
Winter Goes to the Dogs
It's one of my favourite ways to get through winter: experience it through your dog! Ringo can't get enough of it.
Return to 'Return to Freedom'
My husband and I planned a trip with friends to Palm Desert California. But hubby Rob had a fantastic surprise in store.... a quick off-route stop to one of my favourite places on earth, Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary in Lompoc California. Owner Neda de Mayo and her team of volunteers and supporters rescue family bands of American wild horses that have been removed from public lands due to pressures from cattle ranchers and oil drilling companies. Neda was a warm and inviting host and we so enjoyed our evening over a bottle of red wine. Waking up to a California sunrise, rolling hills dotted with wild horses, truly magical. I continue my promise to make a donation to Return to Freedom for any American wild horse image purchased from Cabin Road Art. For more information on how you can support Return to Freedom, click here.
Return to Freedom's Neda de Mayo with one of the residents
Big Sky Ranch Animal Sanctuary
It was a wonderful visit to Big Sky Ranch in Kemptville! Owner Andy Parent, his family and volunteers care for abandoned and abused animals, all shapes and sizes! When Ladies Who Lunch member Chelsey Donohue needed a home for a wee piglet, Big Sky was the answer. My good friend (Ladies Who Lunch founder) Catherine Landry and I (plus Ringo the wonder dog) spent an afternoon with the animals.
Ottawa Humane Society Furball Committee
Each year, The Ottawa Humane Society cares for over 10,000 injured, abused and abandoned animals. We are so lucky to have Mrs Laureen Harper as honorary chair for the Furball, one of the Ottawa Humane Society's biggest fundraisers. Always fun to get together with the Furball committee at the Prime Minister's official residence! This year I was thrilled to have one of my wild horse images auctionned off for the animals!
Laureen Harper is a huge supporter of the Humane Society. She has adopted and fostered many kittens, including Stanley (pictured here), who's name was chosen by the Canadian public (after the Stanley Cup). She also adopted a chinchilla named Charlie, getting some love (in photo above) from my good friend and fellow Furball committee member Wendy Daniels.
My wild horse image, 'Amante' was auctionned off, raising $770 for the animals.
Winter Magic
It's tempting to hibernate by the fireplace when it's -20 degrees outside, but for the small effort it takes to bundle up in warm clothes, the payoff can be spectacular. Temperature and precipitation fluctuations are a dream come true when we are gifted with an ice-covered setting. Not great for walking, but beautiful to photograph!
Jenna Glatt Photo Shoot
Singer/songwriter/musician Jenna Glatt has it all- the whole package. I first saw Jenna perform at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival in 2013 and she had the audience in the palm of her hand. Earning her Bachelor's Degree in Music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Jenna's musical styles and influences include jazz, pop, r&b, and soul. On Christmas Eve morning, I had the chance to photograph Jenna at the Museum of Nature and the Museum of Natural History in Ottawa. She is such a joy, a beautiful girl with warmth and charm and a true musical talent. For more about Jenna, click here.
Thank You for the Honourable Mention!
The City of Ottawa held a 'Winter is For the Birds' photo contest, in conjunction with the 'Wildlife Speaker Series'. I was so excited to place 4th, getting an 'honourable mention' for my image titled 'Crows in a Snowstorm'. Bird nerds with cameras know how hard it can be to photograph crows. The second they spot you and your photography gear, they are in flight and gone in an instant. I was driving down Leitrim Road during a snowstorm (it had hit fast- just moments before, it was a sunny afternoon). I had my camera with me and spotted several crows in a field, completely oblivious to the weather, gobbling up frozen kernels of corn from the previous season's cornstalks. As soon as I pulled my car over to the shoulder, of course the crows took flight- but I was able to grab this shot. I think crows are hilarious because they act so tough, like the biker gangs of the bird world. But in reality they are one of the most chicken-like-scaredy-cat birds out there. A tiny chicadee won't even flinch if you get close, even perching on your hand to eat sunflower seeds. But a crow? Gone in an instant. Oh well, I guess I got lucky with these corn-snatching crows, because two seconds later they were a distant memory. p.s. big congratulations to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners Al Robinson, Daniel Parent, and Jim Cumming!
Me with Canadian Geographic photo editor, Jessica Finn
Joy To Their World - In Aid of Community Vet Outreach
The less fortunate in our community may not have much- not even a place to call home- but the love they share with their companion animals is one of the purest that I have ever witnessed. Karla Briones, the owner of two Global Pet Food stores in Ottawa, wanted to help low-income and homeless people with a 'Christmas wish list' for their animals. She asked me if I would consider photographing those who wished to be part of the project, so she could place the photographs in a special 'Giving Tree' in each of her stores. What began as a few simple photo shoots quickly turned into much more than that! When we met with these people, heard their stories, watched the beautiful interaction they had with their animals, we realized just how special the human/animal bond can be for those who may have nothing else but each other. Karla quickly organized a photo exhibit/fundraiser called 'Joy to Their World' which took place at Holland's Cake and Shake on Nov 22nd, with all proceeds to Dr Michelle Lem's Community Vet Outreach, providing veterinary care to the animals of those in need. It was truly an amazing night of community and goodwill, with close to $4500 raised for Community Vet Outreach. Thank you to Canvas Pop for printing the images, Mike Holland for providing the venue, Councillor Jeff Leiper, Catherine Landry and 'Ladies Who Lunch', Collette Beardall, and all the donors of gifts and prizes...Karla Briones for her beautiful heart and to all the less fortunate in our community, who showed us that the love they have for their animals should never be judged, but instead celebrated.
