Miss Elvis Lee

On August 13, 2011, towards the end of a long Saturday shift in the city, I decided to take my chances and check out the Elvis Festival in Gimli, Manitoba, about an hour and a half drive outside of Winnipeg. I ended up extending my shift by several hours when I found the opportunity to follow Marnie Lee Gudz, the only female Elvis impersonator in the Elvis Festival of Manitoba.

 You can view the online photo essay here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/multimedia/pov/Miss-Elvis-Lee-127717343.html

And here is the page I got the next day, complete with the story I wrote for it:

Canadian Wheat Board Rally

Bill Acheson, of Somerset, Manitoba, takes part in a rally outside the Canadian Wheat Board Forum which was having a directors meeting in Oak Bluff, Wednesday, August 10, 2011, to discuss the wheat board's future. (HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

All smiles

Goal keeper, Mackenzie Neufeld (left), and captains Enrique Garcea (center) and Justin Sarides during their soccer training for the Western Canada Summer Games in Kamloops starting this week. August 2, 2011. (HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

To start off the first week of August after the long weekend, Saul Henteleff (right) and Fadi Ennab cool off in a neighbourhood watergun fight, Tuesday evening. August 2, 2011. (HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) 

Viking Fest

Leo Speary-Bedard, 11, of Winnipeg, eats traditional viking food during the Gimli Icelandic Festival of Manitoba, Friday, July 29, 2011 (HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Get your cowboy hats.

It's the Manitoba Stampede.

4-year-old George (left) and 6-year-old Jacob Friesen sport matching outfits for the Manitoba Stampede in Morris, Saturday, July 23, 2011. (HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Hadas Parush / Winnipeg Free Press

Hitting the ground running

July 21, 2011

In addition to having her neck broken several years ago riding in the U.S.A.,  Jocelyn Kenny had her horse flipped over backwards just before entering the starting gate at Assiniboia Downs, and landed right on top of her. A tough woman, Kenny returned to the sport with a vengeance, overcoming any scares or injuries. (HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Cirque du Soleil

July 20, 2011

Cirque du Soleil Dralion show at the MTS Centre, Winnipeg

Hadas Parush / Winnipeg Free Press

Teenage Dreams

Katy Perry in concert at the MTS center in Winnipeg, Thursday, July 14, 2011. (HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Laser Tech

July 13, 2011

Monteris Medical Inc. CEO, Jim Duncan, demonstrates the AutoLITT system, a technology of zapping deep-seated brain tumours with a laser. The Winnipeg company has raised $9 million for marketing the new tumour-treating system. (Hadas Parush / Winnipeg Free Press)

Winnipeg Folk Fest

July 9, 2011

Dan Mangan

 kd Lang

Page spread:

July 9, 2011

 Asked by organizers not to run, people skip and hop their way over the grass to set down their tarps by the main stage of the Folk Fest on Saturday before the evening shows. July 9, 2011 (HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

 Erin Vosters is one of the volunteers running the Red Tent at the Folk Festival's camp grounds. This is the first year the Red Tent was set up in an effort to offer support and guidance to women and to raise awareness of the risks to women staying at the campgrounds. July 9, 2011(HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Page spread:

Makeover

Oh no, Im so white.

Model Chelsey Anseeuw looks at her pale skin in the mirror before getting a makeover at the Vixin salon to get her ready and confident to enjoy the summer on the beach. 

July 7, 2011 (HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Love the variety I get here. A one-day makeover, above.

Hip

Gordon Downie performs during the Tragically Hip concert at Shaw Park, Thursday, July 7, 2011 (HADAS PARUSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)