Year in Review 2022

Here's a few of my photos from 2022 photographed for various publications. Thanks to everyone who allowed me into their lives. I'm lucky to make a living doing what I love and I've meet some amazing people along the way.

Women’s freeski slopestyle qualification during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Medical staff during speed skating training at the National Speed Skating Oval for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

Snowy day at Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Centre during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

eam Canada’s Miha Fontaine and Émile Nadeau during freestyle skiing men’s aerials qualifiers at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Team Canada’s Evan McEachran advances to the men’s freeski big air finals at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Volunteers at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Canada’s Meryeta O’Dine and Eliot Grondin celebrate their bronze medal in mixed snowboard cross at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

John Carls, 83 at his home in LeHigh, Alberta on March 13, 2022. ‘This was our forever home’: floods, climate change and the end of one Alberta community Climate change could force 216 million people from their homes worldwide by 2050. In one flood-prone Alberta community, 18 people are experiencing that loss firsthand in Lehigh, Alberta.

Angela Duck Chief has been practising Muay Thai for a significant portion of her life and even wants to compete when she is older. Now that the sport has secured Olympic recognition, she has set her sights on competing at the highest level.

Parishioners at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Calgary, Alberta make thousands of perogies to raise humanitarian aid for Ukrain.

Father Patrick Yamniuk of St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor blesses traditional Easter baskets on April 23, 2022, in Calgary, Alberta.

Thunderstorm above the Grand Canyon, South Rim.

Ivanna and her nine-month-old daughter Sharlotta along with Ivanna’s mom and their pet dog, recently escaped Ukraine and arrived in Calgary. Ivanna’s husband is still in Ukraine.

Ivanna and her ten-month-old daughter Sharlotta, recently escaped Ukraine and arrived in Calgary. Ivanna’s husband is still in Ukraine. The family enjoyed a morning at the Calgary Stampede on July 10, 2022.

Mohamed Eldaher plants tomatoes and cucumbers in his homemade greenhouse on his small farm outside of Calgary. Mohamed and his wife came to Canada as refugees from Syria in 2016.

Mohamed Eldaher with the cucumbers that he planted in May at his homemade greenhouse on the family’s small farm outside of Calgary. Mohamed and his wife came to Canada as refugees from Syria in 2016.

Writing-On-Stone Rodeo on July 31, 2022.

Calgary-based drag performer Karla Marx has been a part of unofficial Stampede-themed drag events in previous years but they have always been on the periphery of the city’s largest annual fair. That is changing this year, as the Stampede is holding a drag brunch for the first time at its wild Nashville North party tent this Sunday. Karla Marx, the stage name of performer Victoria Bucholtz, will co-host the brunch alongside Drag Race France host Nicky Doll, with performances by two-spirited queen Argintina Hailey-Lawrence, Valerie Hunt and Felicia Bonée, among others. “As a lifelong Albertan, being a part of this celebration of our culture and heritage is important, but it is also important that this reflects Alberta today,” Ms. Bucholtz says. “The ideal we need to keep striving towards: a diverse, inclusive, vibrant community.”

Women’s Fancy dance during the Stampede Powwow at the Calgary Stampede on July 14.

Charles Woods of Siksika Nation competes in Men’s Traditional during the Calgary Stampede Powwow held inside the Saddledome.

Abby Goertzen and Madison Smith dance while waiting in a long line to get into Nashville North at the Calgary Stampede.

After competing in the First Nations Relay Race at the Calgary Stampede, Rufus Pretty Young Man Jr. holds his nephew Oryan, 3, while they watch another heat.

Whitefish Warriors jockey Kashmere Wuttunee, and team warm up before racing during the first night of First Nations Relay Racing at the Calgary Stampede.

Lights on the midway.

Women’s Ranch Bronc competitors from left to right; Sierra Schmunk, 24, Josey Millward, 24, Rae Snider, 24, Ali Wilkie, 30, and Caitlin Langhofer, 26, before they compete in Women’s Ranch Bronc championship at Pete Knight Days in Crossfield, Alberta on June 11, 2022. The women are competing for a spot at the finals in Cheyenne, Wyoming at the Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 24, 2022.

Rae Snider, 24, from Warburg, Alta., visualizes her ride before competing in Women’s Ranch Bronc championship at Pete Knight Days in Crossfield, Alberta.

Sierra Schmunk, 24, from Maple Creek Saskatchewan on Crushed Velvet during Women’s Ranch Bronc championship at Pete Knight Days in Crossfield, Alberta

Sierra Schmunk, 24, from Maple Creek Saskatchewan at Pete Knight Days in Crossfield, Alberta on June 11, 2022. Schmunk is competing in her first Women’s Ranch Bronc championship.

Chelsa Bull and her son Wazea Bull, 12, form Little Pine First Nation, wait in line for a cool treat during Samson Cree Nation Powwow at Maskwacis, Alberta, on August 13, 2022.

Keegan Rattlesnake during the the Samson Cree Nation Powwow at Maskwacis, Alberta on August 12, 2022.

Dancing goes into the late evening during the Samson Cree Nation Powwow at Maskwacis, Alberta on August 12, 2022.

Kawi Morin braids his daughter’s, Kaliana, 6, hair during the the Samson Cree Nation Powwow at Maskwacis, Alberta on August 12, 2022. Kawi is competing in Men’s Grass at the powwow.

Alyrika Buffalo, 5, in her fancy dance regalia, left, and her cousins during the Samson Cree Nation Powwow at Maskwacis, Alberta on August 13, 2022.

Mersadez Swampy, 12, in her jingle dress regalia before the grand entry during Samson Cree Nation Powwow at Maskwacis, Alberta on August 12, 2022.

Tyleen Big Child from Sun Child First Nation wearing fancy dance regalia during the Samson Cree Nation Powwow at Maskwacis, Alberta on August 12, 2022.

Irene Crowchild from Tsuu’tina Nation is the two-time Canadian women’s long-ball driving champion.

Amaya Mohammed, 7, practices her form on the family's trampoline as her mom Madiha looks on at their home in Calgary, Alberta. Madiha, says: “I wish more people – especially from a lot of cultures that really don’t see their daughters do so – (would) see and say, ‘Wow, there is room for us. There is a place where we can go try. We could see our daughters doing what Safiya is doing, what Amaya is doing.’

Rae Marie First Charger, 10, skateboarding in her ribbon skirt at a skate park in Lethbridge, Alta., on Oct. 8, 2022. Skateboarding appeals to Rae Marie First Charger. For starters, the 10-year-old appreciates the diverse nature of the pastime. “It doesn’t matter who you are,” says Rae Marie, a member of the Blackfoot Nation. “Your race doesn’t matter, (nor) your age. You can skateboard.” First Charger’s dad, Husky First Charger, is from Moses Lake, Alta., part of the Kainai Nation. He started a group, Nitokska, to help get youth in his Indigenous community involved in sports such as boxing and skateboarding – especially kids who are at risk or normally can’t afford to participate. His daughter helps him with the program, which operates on the weekends. “If you really want it, there’s no pressure on it,” Rae Marie adds. “And it’s all about fun. No one needs to judge you. Just remember that: You do what you want to do.”

Like most weddings, there was an outpouring of joy when Amanda Morley and Gordie Shaver tied the knot Wednesday evening. But this ceremony, which took place on the patio outside the Peter Lougheed Centre ICU, packed extra emotional punch — for the newlyweds, for their family members, and for the on-site healthcare staff. Together for nine years, the couple decided to get married when they learned earlier this week that Gordie, an inpatient suffering organ failure, is terminally ill. "It's been a dream of ours to make everything official," Amanda said, her voice catching. “We don’t know how long he has — whether it’s until Christmas, five days, 10 days. So we wanted to expedite the process.” Hearing of their intentions, healthcare workers offered the contact details of an officiant, then transformed the unit by decorating room dividers and placing them to line the corridor. Others donated flowers, bought cakes and arranged candles. Gordie, 52, was blown away. "To see how much love and kindness they put in," he said. "Wherever you go in this hospital — not to mention especially here in the ICU — the care and attention is just so incredible." Registered nurse Rianne Pater was the groom's nurse on the big day. "Everyone is just so excited to have a happy moment in our ICU," she said. "I feel incredibly lucky because what an incredible experience. “Gordie was talking about it this morning. He said, 'Life is so fragile and I want to take advantage of every moment that I have.' He and I bonded a lot over making sure that we take advantage of every opportunity that we have in life."

Kaitlyn Walter, 5, has her hair braided at Spring Point Hutterite Colony in Southern Alberta.

Three- to six-year-old children at Spring Point's kindergarten get treats after waking up from their daily nap.

Lenore Bews McLean, 83.

My biggest highlight of 2022 was dancing with my son, Hunter at his high school graduation.

And receiving an honorary degree from SAIT was up there too.

Created By

Leah Hennel

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