Nathan and Tyne Peto

From Thursday to Sunday last week I was in the small Manitoba city of Brandon.  Nathan Peto and I were roommates for a week of our two-week battlefield study tour through France in 2006.  Since then we've kept in touch, more so since Facebook linked us up again a few years ago.  There are certain people in this world that you just immediately get along with - That was Nathan.  In August, Nathan asked if I could come and photograph his October wedding.  I didn't hesitate.

Nathan is a member of the Brandon Barbarians Rugby Club

When I arrived in Brandon, it was like 4 years had wilted away and the ease of conversation was apparent immediately.  Nathan, his year and half old son, and I went for a walk.  As we passed the community rinks, I couldn't help but think of the years my family spent in Kenora and the cold rinks where I first started playing hockey.

I arrived a few days early to spend a bit of time with Nathan and Tyne and was injected into the wild days leading up to a wedding.  Though I would normally stay in a hotel, in stereotypical small town fashion Tyne's parents wanted to make sure that everything was taken care and instead I stayed at the family's house.  The unforeseen benefit of staying with the Carmichael's and spending time with the guys of the wedding was that by the time the wedding rolled around they were so used to me that the ease and comfort that normally takes a little while was instantaneous.  The licence plates in the prairie province read "Friendly Manitoba."  Nathan and Tyne, your families and friends certainly proved the province's motto. A special thanks to Doug and Shelly for being such wonderful hosts.

The wedding was beautiful.  The bridal party and the groomsmen were all smiles and laughs which made for such authentic smiles.  The families were both so proud. Even with over 250 guests, it had a genuine small wedding feel.  I'm thrilled you asked me to capture your special day.

click on the video for a larger version

Nathan and Tyne are off to the Bahamas now on their Honeymoon and I sure hope it isn't another 4 years before I get to see them and Noah again.

Little Claire in the Fall

Every time I'm in New Brunswick, Jessica finds a way to get little Claire in front of my lens.  Today was a wonderful October day in Moncton and little Claire, despite the lack of nap, was all smiles.

Though she loves puddles, mommy has taught her that only with her rain boots on is it time to jump in the puddles.

The airplanes whizzed above and the sound was met with an enthusiastic finger point toward the sky.  

She really is a precious young girl.  After Claire's first shoot, Jessica looked at me and said "You know you're going to photograph her entire life right?"

I don't think I could have anticipated just how serious she was.  22 months and 7 shoots later, It's been a great ride.  Because months separate the time I see Claire, there is just such a huge difference in her little personality every time I see her.

Now she is laughing and talking and most importantly always smiling...  Until the next time Claire.

Conservative Jake Stewart wins Southwest Miramichi Riding as Tory's Dominate at the Polls

New Brunswickers made their way to the polls Monday 27th, 2010.  the small province of just over 700,000 residents made their collective voice heard loud and clear.  Time for a change.

Jake's team stares intently at the TV looking for any early signs of the election

I was in Miramichi on election day to spend time with a great friend and conservative nominee Jake Stewart.  Since our time in Rome, Jake and I have stayed in contact and our friendship has grown over the years.  He played guitar at my graduation party and we both taught in Korea at the same time and with his wife Shannon, we found a way to meet up, experience Busan, Ulsan, and Seoul even though we worked at opposites ends of the tiny peninsula.

Jake as he first heard the news that he was elected MLA for the Southwest Miramichi

As a councilor from Blackville NB, Jake found himself at the heart of an arsenic scare.  With his youngest son suffering from various illnesses, Jake found himself taking on the province and the Liberal government.  With his son making trips to the IWK and with no answers from the Liberal government, Jake was irate and let the Liberal party know his frustrations through the media and every other avenue available to him.  As a result, he has grown a reputation for being quick tempered but this is far from the Jake I know.  A kind intellectual and a father of three who is fiercely loyal and will always battle for what he feels is right. The kind of no-nonsense you'd like to see from all elected politicians.

Jake, with 40 other Tories swept into power on Monday and to see the community support was incredible.  The biggest cheer during Jake's speech was reserved for his blunt assertion that "I may not be able to do everything you ask but if I can't I will tell you to your face."  For a community, and our country for that matter, the honesty of his statement was a welcome change from the usual rhetoric of too many politicians.

Though I'm not usually a supporter of the Conservative party, I am always supportive of friends who aim to make a difference and in this case Jake has a real chance.  I look forward to following his political career.