Grete Hale

OTTAWA, Ont. (01/03/11)-- Grete Hale, 81, stands in the drawing room of the 183-year-old house, which she grew up in. The Bayne-Morrison house that is Hale's home is the oldest inhabited house in Ottawa, just one of the things that make her a notable figure in Canadian society. Hale is chairman of her father's company Morrison Lamothe Foods Inc., is most famed for her volunteer work, and is a board member of about 20 charitable organizations. She also welcomes hundreds of groups in her home for their fundraising events. Her most recent contribution, a book she wrote in her 80th year about her life experiences and encounters, Baker's Daughter: The Story of a long, rich, and very Canadian life, the proceeds of which all go to the Ottawa-based foundation CANHAVE Children's Centre, helping educate youth in Uganda. “The last thing my wonderful 89-year-old father has said when he was dying upstairs on his deathbed, he said to my sisters and I, ‘all I ask of you is that you be contributors.’ Isn’t that a wonderful thing for a father to say to his children?” Hale said in an interview on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. Photo by Hadas Parush. 

International Women's Day

Staff class photo for International Women's Day. I had to photograph a teenage young adult female.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (08/03/11)-- Stephanie Reid, 16, of Waterloo, Ontario, is in her first year at the Quinte Ballet School of Canada, but has been a ballet dancer since she was 3 years old. She said she is very much a typical teenager, likes to hang out with friends and be energetic. Besides dancing, Stephanie is into sports such as soccer and is a big hockey fan. 

And there was a march.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (08/03/11)-- Elissa Robertson, 17, of Belleville, Ontario, marches among other women with signs on Pinnacle Street in downtown Belleville for the 100th International Women's Day, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Robertson came to the march with her mother who works at the Three Oaks Foundation women’s shelter in Belleville. "I think it's tough for everyone at this age, but women have different pressures put on them, and I don't think that's fair," she said. Robertson hopes to go into police foundation studies when she graduates high school.

Rick Ball

February 27, 2011

Rick Ball, of Orillia, Ontario, is the world's fastest single-leg amputee marathon runner.

Rick lost his left leg in a motorcycle accident in 1986. He began long distance running in 2007.

He is currently training to compete as a sprint runner at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Bulls 1,000th Home Game

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (16/02/11)-- Johnny Wilson is locally known as the Cymbal Man. Wilson was voted as the best fan of the year last year. He comes to almost every Bulls game and plays his marching band cymbals at every goal. “Win or lose, I’m behind them,” Wilson said during the Bulls’ 1000th home game Wednesday night against the Ottawa 67’s.

Candle light vigil

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (11/02/11)-- Brett Cartmill is among the hundreds who gathered Friday night, Feb. 11, 2011, in memory of Alex Brooks, whose body was found Feb. 5, beside the Via train station, in Belleville. Cartmill has known Brooks for a few years, he said. "He's a really good friend, he's loved by everybody."

Highway 62

is Mennonite country

January 28, 2011
Somewhere between Belleville and Madoc

Crazzy Dave

OTTAWA, Ont. (06/02/11)-- Dave Dessler, locally known as Crazzy Dave, in his apartment at the La Fayette in the Byward Market. Dessler spent three years living on the streets of the Market area, and supported himself by selling poetry, which he wrote on pieces of cardboard paper. Ontario Works helped Dessler get off the streets and get this apartment in which he has been living for over a year now. He recently acquired a computer and is now taking courses in Algonquin College for computer software, along with digitizing his creative writing. Dessler will have his own art show this summer at La Petite Mort Gallery in Ottawa.

Hopes for Egypt

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (01/02/11)-- Muhammad Saleh in his convenient store, on Bridge street West. Saleh was kicked out of Egypt shortly after he completed his university studies in Cairo. After being kicked out of Egypt and jailed for days in Jordan for reasons he still does not understand, he moved to Edmonton, Alta., before settling down in Belleville. Saleh said the people of Egypt have woken up and he hopes Mubarak will step down so that freedom and democracy can finally take his place.

My full story on our college newspaper, the Pioneer

Joys of Winter

Small Pond Arts

PICTON, Ont. (29/01/11)-- Mile Murtanovski and Krista Dalby moved to Picton last year to create an artists' playground. Their home, Small Pond Arts, is now a gallery, studio, and artists' residence. On their property, they host the Festival of the Stick, a music festival, shadow puppetry show, and other events around spring and summer time. "Moving here was the best long term decision we made," Mile said. Krista said "one of my dreams of coming here was creating our own universe and inviting people to come play with us in our universe."