Wednesday 31 December 2014

Photos of the Year 2014

All the photographers at the Whig-Standard got the opportunity to show off their favourite shots captured over the past 12 months. It was fun looking back through the year and recalling all the events/stories/people I took pictures of since starting at the paper last December.

I've included a link to all the articles on the Whig's website:
Whig-Standard - Julia McKay - Photos of the Year 2014

Whig-Standard - Ian MacAlpine - What They Said - Photos of the Year 2014

Whig-Standard - Michael Lea - Year in Review Column

Whig-Standard - Elliot Ferguson - Photos of the Year 2014

Happy New Year and hope 2015 is just as picture perfect.

-30-

Monday 1 December 2014

365 - December 2014

"Happy Birthday month to me!"

Things to look forward to this month:
Changes at work - hopefully positive ones
Spending holiday time with family & friends
More birthday's - best friend, uncle & cousin
Taking my new car for a spin in the winter wonderland that is Canada in December
The possibility of a safe, white December without blizzards, ice storms and power outages
Christmas cookies and carols, along with the New Years countdown and fireworks
Making the decision to either continue on with the 365 challenge for a third year or not.

The one thing I will miss is participating in Operation Red Nose this year.  My dad and I have volunteered every year for the last 16 years - we only missed the first year it was held in Kingston.

December 1, 2014 - Mom is about half way through baking all her Christmas cookies, only a few more types to go. (These marshmallow ones are my dad's favourite)
December 2, 2014 - I helped take some old computers, TV's and other electronic stuff to the e-waste place
December 3, 2014 - I'm just hooked on this app
*EXTRA* December 3, 2014 - I love the glow-in-the-dark eyes and spots
December 4, 2014 - Spay Neuter Kingston Initiative (SNKI) needs the community's support, and online votes, to make it to the finals and get $5,000 from the Aviva Community Fund Challenge to help the feral cat population, like the one seen here on Thursday December 4, 2014 in Kingston, Ont.. Through SNKI's Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return program they have been able to neuter more than 450 cats since 2009.
*EXTRA* December 4, 2014 - More SNKI colony cats.  You can tell they've been through SNKI's Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return program because their right ear has been tipped. SNKI has been able to neuter more than 450 cats since 2009.
*EXTRA* December 4, 2014 - Lunchtime with more SNKI colony cats. 
*EXTRA* December 4, 2014 - When I started working on a story about cycling, I just knew I needed to speak with Christine.
December 5, 2014 - Kingston Frontenacs Juho Lammikko made it rain bears, frogs and other assorted animals in the Roger's K-Rock Centre when he scored the Fronts first goal of the game against the Belleville Bulls to tie it up in the second period. Fan brought the plushy toys to donate to the Salvation Army annual Teddy bear toss. They get to toss the toys on the ice after the home team scores, in this seasonal toy drive held at the Rogers K-Rock Centre
*EXTRA* December 5, 2014 - Fronts players help the volunteers collect all the donations for the annual Teddy Bear toss.
December 6, 2014 - Kingston Humane Society employees Mallory Hart and Jessica Mallen show off the new fundraising Best of Friends calendar during the KHS Open House
*EXTRA* December 6, 2014 - Tessa is just one of the many cats available for adoption during the Kingston Humane Society's Cat Adoption Event, which is running until Jan. 3, 2015
*EXTRA* December 6, 2014 - Close to 200 people shared candles memory of women who have lost their lives in gender-based violence, during the local National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women memorial and candle light vigil at Sydenham Street United Church
*EXTRA* December 6, 2014 - Close to 200 people shared candles memory of women who have lost their lives in gender-based violence, during the local National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women memorial and candle light vigil at Sydenham Street United Church
*EXTRA* December 6, 2014 - Sticks, skates and stripes
December 7, 2014 - Setting up some office Christmas decorations at my desk
December 8, 2014 - frozen bubbles
*EXTRA* December 8, 2014 - frozen bubbles
December 9, 2014 - When I need a break at home I like to light one of my peppermint/vanilla candle
December 10, 2014 - Santa gets a trim and a some pampering from Josie Mitchell, left, Jaimie Keyes, Michael Marrello,Tabitha Grandmond and Haley Wood during the at the 23rd annual Cut-A-Thon Toy Drive on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at the Frontenac Mall, centre court in Kingston, Ont.. The annual event has students from the Queen Elizabeth Collegiate Academy of Hair focus program exchanging hair cuts and manicures for toys, which helps bring in a few $1,000 in donations for the 98.3 Fly Fm Toy Drive.
December 11, 2014 - Whether by shovel or snowblower, Kingstonians were digging themselves out this morning after the first winter storm of December dropped 18 centimetres of snow on the area.
December 12, 2014 - Students from the Mulberry Waldorf School Choir sang Jingle Bells for the crowd gathered in the amphitheater during the Snow Much Fun event in Springer Market Square.
*EXTRA* December 12, 2014 - Queen's students Victoria Donovan, left and Brianne Scott, right, were introducing Catherine Brogan, centre, an exchange student from Australia, to the wonders of ice skating during the Snow Much Fun event in Springer Market Square.
*EXTRA* December 12, 2014 - Springer Market Square was the place to be to have Snow Much Fun on Friday night. The family friendly event had free ice skating, warming stations, live holiday music along with and a chance to for the kids to see Santa Claus and his live reindeer. Hot chocolate was available by donations with the funds going to Paws 4 Kingston Service Dog, and organizers were accepting new unwrapped toys for the toy drive.
*EXTRA* December 12, 2014 - Local singer/songwriter Abby Stewart played her biggest concert to date, as one of the two opening act for country star Hunter Hayes at the Roger's K-Rock Centre on Friday.
December 13, 2014 - Volunteer Chris McBain, left, and Lise-Anne LePage-McBain, Fill the Ambulance organizer, hands out  a list of the high volume items the food bank needs, to customers during the Kingston Frontenac Paramedic Association and Frontenac Paramedic Services food drive at the Fresh Co on Princess Street on Saturday December 13, 2014. The event is in its third year and LePage-McBain is expecting to meet last years totals of 3,000 lbs of food.
*EXTRA* December 13, 2014 - Volunteer Michelle McCaugherty, left and staff member Brita Owen help serve dessert along with more than 140 meals at the annual Christmas Dinner at the Salvation Army Community and Family Services location on Patrick Street
*EXTRA* December 13, 2014 - Bonita McCourt, left, and volunteers Glen Owen and Lynn Barkley help serve more than 140 meals at the annual Christmas Dinner at the Salvation Army Community and Family Services location on Patrick Street
December 14, 2014 - Hanging out on a wire
*EXTRA* December 14, 2014 - Kingston Voyageurs Ryan Watson and Spencer Green battle for the puck with Oakville Blades Brandon Hughes and Max Lindsay during the first period of Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Invista Centre on Sunday, December 14, 2014.  The Voyageurs won 5-1 over the visiting Blades.
December 15, 2014 - Nighttime visitors left their footprints in the snow
*EXTRA* December 15, 2014 - Nighttime visitors left their footprints in the snow
December 16, 2014 - Boy does she want those feathers
*EXTRA* December 16, 2014 - Found my soft kitty plushy and my Santa hat while cleaning
December 17, 2014 - first rain after getting aquapel on my new car windows.
December 17, 2014 - An army of volunteers spent the day helping packing 25,000 food hampers for the 2014 Jerome Taylor Memorial Whig-Standard/Salvation Army Christmas Hamper Fund at the Princess of Wales Own Regiment parade square.
*EXTRA* December 17, 2014 - An army of volunteers spent the day helping packing 25,000 food hampers for the 2014 Jerome Taylor Memorial Whig-Standard/Salvation Army Christmas Hamper Fund at the Princess of Wales Own Regiment parade square
December 18, 2014 - My traditional DQ ice cream Birthday cake
*EXTRA* December 18, 2014 - first snow after getting aquapel on my new car windows.
December 19, 2014 - A Bella burrito, This is what I need to do this to be able to clip her nails.
December 20, 2014 - More than 100 parents, children and community members attend a candlelight vigil and solidarity gathering on the steps of City Hall in Kingston, Ont. on Saturday December 20, 2014. It is a show of support for the families of the 132 school children and nine staff at the school in Pakistan who were killed by terrorists on Dec. 16.
December 21, 2014 - Peaceful moment by scented candle light
*EXTRA* December 21, 2014 - Testing out some extra outdoor decorations
December 22, 2014 - Six-year-old Abigail Howard volunteers with her father, Josh Howard, at one of the kettles at the Walmart Superstore in the final days of the Salvation Army Christmas Kettles campaign
*EXTRA* December 22, 2014 - Joseph and Mary and some village shepherds, portrayed by Brock and Jenna Merrill, left, Sarah Nielson, Scotty Schembri and Sydney Schembri pose for a photo in the large scale nativity set in Glenburnie before the first live show on Monday, December 22, 2014. The 38th annual Live Nativity pageant, with more than 40 volunteers and live animals, runs from Dec. 21-24 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Battersea Road, Ont.
*EXTRA* December 22, 2014 - Joseph and Mary, portrayed by Brock and Jenna Merrill, pose for a photo in the large scale nativity set in Glenburnie before the first live show on Monday
December 23, 2014 - Reflections in Kingston's Inner Harbour
December 24, 2014 - Surprise visit with my best girls
December 25, 2014 - Family portrait after Christmas dinner
*EXTRA* December 25, 2014 - New newfie ornaments added to the tree
December 26, 2014 - Boxing Day desserts
December 27, 2014 - View of my favourite tree across the road
*EXTRA* December 27, 2014 - Chloe napping
December 28, 2014 - John Aitken feeds the birds and squirrels at his favourite spot during his daily visit to Lemoine Point Conservation Area
December 29, 2014 - With the sun shining and a wind-chill of -9 C, six-year-old Keagan Fourie enjoys stopping to feed the ducks, during a walk along the waterfront trails with his parents Michelle and Johannes Fourie by Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
*EXTRA* December 29, 2014 - The ducks hanging out along the waterfront trails by Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
December 30, 2014 - Skaters of all ages bundle up to enjoyed a few spins on the ice rink in Springer Market Square
*EXTRA* December 30, 2014 - Bundled up skaters of all ages watch and wait eagerly for  the Zamboni to resurface the ice rink in Springer Market Square
*EXTRA* December 30, 2014 - Fronts home game against OHL eastern conference leading Oshawa Generals got aggressive by both teams.
December 31, 2014 - New Year's Eve fireworks in Kingston
December 31, 2014 - Peaceful sky at Lemoine Point before the snow arrived
December 31, 2014 - I saw a quite a few different birds on my walk through Lemoine Point - including this friendly Downey woodpecker
December 31, 2014 - I saw a quite a few different birds on my walk through Lemoine Point - including this friendly White-breasted Nuthatch
to be continued in 365 - January 2015

-30-