Happy 150th Canada!

Thinking back to 1967, it was a big deal when Canada turned 100. I was 8 years old when I received my centennial coin at school. It was also the year my Dad’s company printed a book called Canada – A Year of the Land. The book celebrated Canada’s 100th birthday.

Dad brought home tear sheets for me to put up on my walls. The photos really stuck with me. I wanted to be one of those photographers travelling across Canada taking wonderful images of the landscape.

That desire really never left me. I still love what I do and hope to continue for many more years.

As Canada celebrates it’s 150th birthday, I will continue to travel and capture images. I’m fortunate to be in two books that celebrate Canada's sesquicentennial. The first book is called The Colour of Canada by Roy MacGregor:

Here are my images from The Colour of Canada:

Red Canoe

Covered Bridge in Wakefield, Quebec

Iles de la Madeleine, Quebec

The second book is called, True North: The Canadian Song Book by Eleanor McCain:

Included with the publication of this coffee table book are two CDs Eleanor has recorded of classic Canadian songs. She is performing these songs across Canada with a slide show of the images from the book.

Here are my images from True North: The Canadian Song Book:

Fundy Mudflats in New Brunswick

Bison, Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba

Of course our self-published book “Canada through our Eyes” is still available on Blurb:

I have spent the last 27 years travelling across our great country. I’m proud to be a Canadian and I’m proud to help celebrate its 150th.

Happy Birthday Canada!

The Adventure Continued - Day 1-3

It was an uneventful trip to Winnipeg. I sailed through check in and Security in spite of my slightly overweight carry-on. I was in Winnipeg and sitting in the rental car by 10:30 local time. But I wasn't sure what to do. So I looked at the map and decided to head to Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park. It was a nice drive but not much to photograph. I shot some images in Hecla and headed back to Winnipeg. There was a farmer baling straw. I think that was the best shot of the day.

Baling - click for larger

Back in Winnipeg I checked into my Hotel and had dinner in the lobby bar. There was a group just back from Churchill exchanging bear stories. Sounds like they had a great time.

I went up to my room and rearranged my gear for the next part of the trip. My friends and fellow adventure seekers, Robert, Scott and John arrived around 8pm. We made plans to get up the next day at 5 a.m. and head to Riding Mountain National Park for first light. Then we went to bed.

We drove an hour before stopping for Breakfast. It was mild and the roads were clear. Along the way we saw a few things including a Bald Eagle and a Snowy Owl. We didn’t get "keeper" images but it was great to see these birds!

Over the next couple of days we worked Riding Mountain National Park. It's so great to be out working with other photographers. We are all very passionate and driven to get images. At the same time we are all very supportive of each other. We all tried to make sure the other guys would get their shot as well.

We saw so much in the Park. Here are a few highlights:

Bison - click for larger

Spruce Grouse - click for larger

Northern Hawk Owl - click for larger

Ruffed Grouse - click for larger

Coyote - click for larger

Wetlands - click for larger

Tomorrow we leave for Churchill and then on to the Seal River. Can’t wait!