Posts Tagged ‘Alberta
Hutterites are a communal branch of Anabaptists who, like the Amish and Mennonites, trace their roots to the Radical Reformation of the 16th century. Since the death of their founder Jakob Hutter in 1536, the beliefs of the Hutterites, especially living in a community of goods and absolute pacifism, has resulted in hundreds of years of odyssey through many countries. Nearly extinct by the 18th and 19th century, the Hutterites found a new home in North America. Over 125 years their population grew from 400 to around 50,000. The Hutterite community has one of the highest fertility rates.[1]
You might think these folks were having a garage sale but it actually was their yard display which they setup each spring. This brings kitsch to a whole new level, never mind trying to keep up with the Jones, how about making them pack their bags and head out-of-town or at least for a new neighbourhood? Nevertheless, they loved their yard and without question these two newlyweds were the most colorful characters I met in Bonnyville, if not in the region.
Living on the road is an amazing adventure. It is hard to believe that we are at day 109 already! We have been shooting in so many places that October feels like more than a year ago. We thought that we would give you a break from the winter, and give you a look at some of the places that we’ve been so far.
This trip is one of those things that we will look back on with fondness and romantic remembrances for years to come. We meet new people everyday, and we come to understand what it means to be Canadian a little bit more with each new place that we visit. It isn’t always easy, but then there are challenges in anything worthwhile that we do.
Some days it really hits me…wow, we are in Ottawa! We are in Montreal! Wow, we are living in a van down by the river! Not only does this excursion enable us to get to know our country better, it allows us to record history, and to showcase everyday Canadian moments so that we can share them with you. Interesting things are happening all around us, and what we experience in each moment will never be repeated. Let’s enjoy life for the little, precious moments, for they are there for a nanosecond, and then they are gone.
That is the beauty of photography – we get to capture that fleeting moment and make it last. Thank you so much to all of you who are reading our blog and sharing it with others. We appreciate all the comments and the tips that we have received so far! This project is nothing without viewership and your participation.
Tim taking a picture of the Dorothy Grain Elevator
Heide shooting in Marathon
Tim from the inside of a grain truck on a farm in Alberta
Heide taping the graffiti boys in Ottawa
Tim finds the best vantage point for the graffiti under the overpass
Inside the National Air Force Museum in Trenton
Capturing the vast expanse of Dinosaur Provincial Park
Toronto Fashion Week – photog style
Tim shows off the gigapan with a panorama of downtown Montreal
You Never Know What You’ll Find
Being embedded in the field means that you find the best places from which to shoot
Thus far we have embraced two wonderful Canadian seasons…
Fall near Upsala
Guess which season this is?!
Tim and I first met Marsha Lecour by happenstance at a Toronto pizza place called “the Mystic Oven.” During our lovely conversation, we found out that Marsha Lecour is related to someone very special in Canadian history. We arranged to meet up with Marsha at the school where she teaches the next time we came through town.
Marsha works at the Notre Dame High School in the Beaches area of Toronto. It is a lovely old building situated about half a mile north of Lake Ontario. She been teaching there since 1981 – and even though this is her year to retire, (after 28 years), she is enjoying herself so much that she is going to keep teaching. When asked how long she might continue she says, “I don’t know. I don’t want to put a time limit on it, I still love what I do.”
Since 1990, Marsha has been teaching senior girls in grade 11 and 12 in a course called “Co-op” where students go out into the community to work for part of the school day. She finds it very rewarding as a lot of “at risk” students who do not always like to be in school flourish in this course.
“You put them (the students) in the workplace, in an area that they thrive in, and they do a 360; they turn around dramatically. It is so satisfying to see that.. As long as I can keep doing that, I will stay here.”
Students are placed in all sorts of jobs, from daycare centers to retail, hospitality, high-end restaurants, schools, massage therapist’s, doctor’s offices and veteraniarn clinics. The students come up with a list of five possible placements, and then Mrs. Lecour helps them to follow up.
During our conversation with this inspiring teacher, we also discovered that Marsha is related to a key figure and past teacher: Marguerite Bourgeoys. She calls the circumstances “serendipity.” Marguerite Bourgeoys is in the family tree as a distant aunt.
“I started teaching here in 1981, at a school (Notre Dame as I pointed out), and this school was founded by the Congregation of Notre Dame, which was founded by Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys. I didn’t know the connection at all. Until after my Grandmother kept saying to me, you know Marsha, Marguerite Bourgeoys is in the family tree. And I would just say politely, yes Grandma. Then I saw it in the family tree which my uncle passed on to me.“
“When you really get know Marguerite Bourgeoys and what she is, she really is a hero, for anybody. She is someone that you can aspire to be. She started the first school in Canada, and she is very highly respected in education in Canada.“
We are posting this on story on Marguerite Bourgeoys’ feast day, January 12th in appreciation for what Saint Marguerite did and in thanks for dedicated teachers like Marsha Lecour who make a difference in many lives everyday.
Throughout our cross-Canada trip we have been gathering a number of Canadian flag photos from all sorts of interesting places. In some ways it is like a study; observing the variety of ways that the flag is displayed. Many flags are tattered and torn or twisted around a pole, barely recognizeable from a distance. Some are at half-mast in rememberance of individuals no longer with us. Others are so brand-new the fold lines are still apparent. This iconic symbol of Canada patriotism comes in all sizes and shades of red (fire engine brilliant or faded nearly to a translucent orange). The Canadian flag fluttering in the wind unites us all.
And now, for your viewing pleasure, here are a few sample shots (we plan on having hundreds by the end of our journey).
This is an aerial shot of Calgary out of my Air Canada airplane window. I took an early-morning flight to Calgary from Grande Prairie (where I was visiting my sweet children) on my way back to Montreal. Rows upon rows of houses were laid out neatly like a massive embroidered doilee on the outskirts of the city. These tightly-packed residences must have gone on for at least 20 minutes of flight time, sprawling across what were once open fields and forests. The human impact on the environment is even more visible with the flour-like snowfall.
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Day 3 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: Checking his stocks at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta
We met this man and his family camping at the park. This is an annual visit for them, and it was clear that they thoroughly enjoyed spending time in this breathtaking World Heritage Site.
“Some of the most extensive dinosaur fossil fields in the world are found here; the Badlands & cottonwood river habitat are the other significant features that resulted in the park’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Strange land formations rise up on all sides, sculpted by wind and water into hauntingly beautiful shapes sunbathed in terra cotta, bronze and amber.” (taken from the Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation site on Dinosaur Provincial Park)
Canadian Mosaic 