The Daily Mulligan

Barry and Shannon

2012-01-22T14:06:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful couple - Shannon and Barry. Congratulations!

Downey / Chapman

2011-07-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

Back to the old stomping grounds: On Friday night, T and I headed for my old hangout to take in a comedy show, hosted by old friends Adam Wallace Downey and Andrew McLean Chapman. Despite countless bugs, hot spotlights and loud pickup trucks tearing by in the background, the two pulled off a hilarious show for the hometown crowd. Long story short: It was awesome.

Thanks guys!

The write stuff

2011-07-19T17:42:00.000-07:00

Oddly enough, this has not been a wedding-filled summer. The original plan was to take a break from writing and spend more time shooting, both for fun and for hire. So, what am I doing? Outside of my day job, I'm doing just as much freelance writing as shooting.

I suppose that's the way the cookie crumbles.

That said, I have been fortunate to have opportunities to work for a number of publications and organizations over the past few months. The above photo is from a recent story near downtown Ottawa, which is outside of my normal "coverage" zone. Checking out areas I am not as familiar with has been a lot of fun.

What out for new Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival photos next month. Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact I have way too much fun at that event. Needless to say, I'm excited my old paper has asked me to take on that assignment in August.

Amy and Tom

2011-05-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

I think it's safe to say it: Winter is officially gone.

With that in mind, wedding season has officially arrived. Last night (May 28), I had the pleasure of shooting the wedding of Amy and Tom. From the couple surprising their guests with a well-choreographed rhumba for their first dance to seeing the entire guest list on the dance floor during some classic rock numbers, this wedding was a blast for everyone. Congratulations, guys - this was truly a day to remember.

A little bragging

2011-05-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

Less than a year after joining the newspaper world full time, part of the editorial team (the editor and I) won a 2006 Metroland Editorial Excellence Award for best front page in our category. It was a pretty exciting way to kick off my time at that job. Just shy of five years later, not even a few months after leaving that job for a new adventure, I received an email from the managing editor: I had won two 2010 Metroland Editorial Excellence Awards. What thrilling news -- too bad I was at my desk at the new job with no one to tell who would really appreciate what it means to me. Nonetheless, I felt pure glee reading over the list of results: First place for best photo layout and second place for best news story. Since this blog is more about images, here is a look at the layout that bagged that award for me.

Images from the 2010 Battle of the Atlantic memorial ceremony in Almonte.

People, places, canines with braces

2011-05-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

OK, so I haven't seen any dogs with braces. But here are a few more images from Toronto. Here, you'll see dear friends (and fellow image makers) Ren and Eric, as well as a girly drink and a yawning dog.

T-dot-Oh

2011-04-11T15:47:00.000-07:00

I may be a little behind on updates.
OK, I may be a lot behind on updates. I started a new job in January, which is going very well, so shooting is a little different again. While the camera is not necessarily in my hands on a daily basis, it's great to be getting back to "shooting for fun" more often
This weekend, a short trip to The Big Smoke was a great photo adventure for me. Time was spent with some amazing people, such as the always-delightful Andrew McLean Chapman (in photo). He waited for me in the arcade at the train station, then took me to a pub with books (not to be confused with drinking in a public library).
It was a great weekend. And it's great to be back online a little more these days. Stay tuned for wedding season.

© Katie Mulligan / 2011

Little kids, big hearts

2010-11-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

Kids learning about the spirit of giving is awesome. I'm pretty sure this little guy's facial expression can be summed up as being incredibly proud, while paralyzed with fear. Love it.

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

Remember

2010-11-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

This post is a bit late, but I wanted to include some photos from Remembrance Day 2010. While the other reporter covered Mississippi Mills events, I attended the Carleton Place ceremony in the morning and the Beckwith one in the afternoon. The weather was brilliant, which hopefully made the day a little easier for the veterans who were able to make it out.

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

Roomies

2010-10-24T18:17:00.001-07:00

On Oct. 23, I hopped in the car and headed to Kingston for a mini reunion with two of my college room mates, who I haven't seen for six years. Sadly, the other three could not make it, but we still had a lot of laughs.

Fact No. 1: Cranium is an extremely fun game.
Fact No. 2: The drawing on the left does look like Christmas lights. The drawing on the right does not. Therefore, Ashley cannot be mad that I did not guess what her drawing was.

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

Jennifer and John

2010-10-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

Oct. 9/2010 -- Congratulations, Jennifer and John! A beautiful wedding on the perfect October day.

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

The McNally/James crew

2010-09-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, Cathy and Toby!

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

Stella-Ella-Ola (clap clap clap)

2010-09-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

Mini love: Six-and-a-half-month-old Stella, our sweet schnoodlese (poodle, schnauzer, maltese mix).

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

Helen and Joel II

2010-08-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

Helen and Joel Part 2: A gorgeous gown, speeches and more dancing.

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

Helen and Joel

2010-08-22T10:34:00.001-07:00

Aug. 19, 2010: Sharing their first dance as a married couple.

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

Ella

2010-07-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

After two years of waiting, I finally got to meet beautiful Ella, daughter of a very, very good friend. The pair visited Canada recently before making their big move to the Netherlands. Bon voyage, my friends.

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

Scott and Laura

2010-07-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

July 9/2010 -- Scott and Laura.

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

Wedding bells

2010-06-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

Wedding season is here! Because of working at the newspaper, I was only able to book four weddings for the 2010 summer. That being said, they are all going to be wonderful, unique weddings. Two in Perth, one downtown Ottawa and a backyard barbecue wedding in Carleton Place. Congratulations to all soon-to-be newlyweds!

© Katie Mulligan / 2010

Prepping for the big leagues

2010-06-25T06:31:00.000-07:00

I find it very interesting to watch the younger football players in the area. Before the minor league was created a few years ago, there was no place for elementary players to play the game. Now, they can play in a structured league with professional coaches, preparing them for the high school football leagues. And let's face it. Around here, high school football is huge. Talented players become small-town celebrities during their time as high school seniors.

© Katie Mulligan / ORMG 2010

At attention...almost

2010-06-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

A young lad with the sea cadets has trouble with his poppy during a ceremony to remember on the 65th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.

© Katie Mulligan / ORMG 2010

On a roll

2010-05-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

Soccer season comes and goes in the blink of an eye. Seriously, I think it will last a total of three weeks, including playoffs. It's a shame, really, because it's a lot of fun to shoot.

© Katie Mulligan / ORMG 2010

For Mueller

2010-05-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

This one's for Mueller.
In the past year or so, I've become a real fire truck chaser. This is not to be confused with ambulance chasers; HUGE difference.
Anyway, I don't know why I didn't have a more keen interest in the sport before. No matter, I dig it now.
These photos are from the Appleton Mill Fire of...2006? 2007? I don't remember at the moment.
By the end of the day, I smelled like a stale ashtray and my feet were soggy from standing in ankle-deep water from the hoses. And it was awesome. Well, except for the destruction part.

© Katie Mulligan / ORMG 2006 or 7

Town hall

2010-04-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

A moment of quiet during for a local legion member during a busy military reception this past Tuesday night.

© Katie Mulligan 2010

The Dead Zone

2010-04-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

Ramones flashback? I shot some promotional photos for Ottawa Band The Dead Zone on Monday night. Lots of laughs and lots of photos. I definitely want to work with them again.

© Katie Mulligan 2010

Alyssa's kicks

2010-04-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

Trying to shoot for fun more often. I've been stuck in a rut lately, only shooting check presentations and one-minute portraits for the paper. Spring makes me want to get out there and take advantage of the nice weather, so, that's exactly the plan! Alyssa volunteered to hang out in front of the camera recently since I finally had a few minutes of downtime. Thanks, man!

© Katie Mulligan 2010

Back in action

2010-03-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

For the second year in a row, I've had the pleasure of covering a fantastic initiative: Blues in the Schools, a program where musicians perform at local schools and teach kids about, well, the blues. Artists from a number of generations have been taking the stage this week in my area, playing music for all ages. Today's performance had every single kid and teacher on their feet dancing by the end of the show. One little girl even tried to get me to dance. I love mornings like this.

© Katie Mulligan 2010

Boots on deck

2009-12-18T13:47:00.001-08:00

2009-12-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

After what seemed like an endless parade of Coke trucks and dancing Coke and RBC employees, the Olympic flame finally reached our sight line on Sunday morning, Dec. 13. Very cool.

© Katie Mulligan 2009

An early Christmas surprise

2009-12-12T16:05:00.000-08:00

Helen and Joel, December 2009. Congratulations, guys!

© Katie Mulligan 2009

I don't want to set the world... On... Fire.

2009-11-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

Barn fire on Nov. 24, 2004. Firefighters from across the county, with some help from the city, were on the scene to help battle the blazes. Initially, farm animals were trapped in a blazing barn but were freed very quickly. Whew.

© Katie Mulligan 2009 / ORMG

A dog named Bansaw.

2009-11-24T11:10:00.000-08:00

OK, so her name is not actually Bansaw. It's Bandit. Others are calling her Bandi (Ban-dee). But she's a brave little dog so I decided to rename her with something a little more... Powerful. So, I call her Bansaw whenever we visit. She was recently rescued from one of those households that should never have a dog (or any pet, for that matter) in the first place.

© Katie Mulligan 2009

Eating green

2009-11-17T09:41:00.001-08:00

When you eat local, you taste the difference. That is something I learned very quickly after beginning my adventure in the Valley. I can no longer eat at the typical chain restaurant that you find in suburban areas. There is nothing wrong with these places; but with my recent discovery of immune system troubles and gaining a taste for food that was produced or created basically around the corner, I've become a bit of a, well, snob. Restaurants that topped my list of favourites in high school and college don't even have an honourary mention anymore. Ah well. Thankfully, I live in a small town with some fantastic restaurants.

© Katie Mulligan 2009

Final wedding of the year

2009-11-16T12:07:00.000-08:00

Gorgeous bride Tracy takes a moment to herself (with the photographer on her heels) during her September wedding reception at the canoe club.

Remembering

2009-11-16T12:01:00.001-08:00

Elementary school kids place their poppies at the cenotaph following the Remembrance Day ceremony in Beckwith Township on Nov. 11, 2009.

A Midsummer Herb Fest

2009-07-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

Despite soggy grounds and many hungry bugs, Herb Fest in the greater Almonte area was a blast. All sorts of natural attractions were there, such as a Henna girl, local producers, natural healers and, of course, random, fairy-like dancers who seemed to come and go in the blink of an eye.

Hoorah!

2009-07-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

Ingrid and Mike are getting married!

© Katie Mulligan 2009

Granny Mulligan

2009-07-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Mulligan, who I call Granny, at her care home in Stittsville, Ont. One of my favourite memories of Granny is when my brothers and I were very small, living in Kanata. As we watched a movie on Christmas eve, we saw some movement outside. Once we looked closer, we realized Santa Claus was outside, pointing as his watch to let us know it was time for bed. This particular Santa made to our house, as well as visiting my other cousins that night. Santa put a lot of mileage on her car that night, as none of us lived close together.

A blast from the past

2009-07-16T13:11:00.001-07:00

In October 2004, I visited a close friend from college, the extremely talented photographer, Mr. Cole G. In his open concept apartment in downtown Toronto, we created a makeshift studio with whatever flashes we had and the warehouse-white walls in his place. One of my favourite parts of the trip was arriving at Union Station extremely late to find him sitting on a park bench outside drinking beer from a giant can, wrapped in a paper bag. Maybe the next time he visits Ottawa, I can be waiting on a park bench, drinking chai from a paper bag.

Massive update to beg forgiveness

2009-07-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

© Katie Mulligan / Ottawa Region Media Group 2009
It's been way, way, way too long. I know that. I'm a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad updater. So here is a small selection of recent images.
I don't think I will bother going into a lot of detail about each image. I write cutlines all day long when really, I just like looking at photos. Here is a summary:
Puppets Up International Puppet Festival (Aug. 8 and 9) organizers and puppeteers took downtown Ottawa by storm in early June. Picture 20-some puppets and puppeteers walking through the market, Parliament Hill, etc. It was great.
Comedian Lorne Elliot comes to Almonte.
A therapeautic walk through a grass labyrinth is soothing and good for the soul, particularly when you leave the shoes behind.
OPP hit the streets to issue positive tickets to youths who were up to some good. The local community constable writes tickets to some youngsters who were spotted wearing helmets and following traffic signals when bicycling in town. Their tickets can be redeemed at local businesses for free treats. Their tickets also enter them into a draw to win bicycles, skateboards and other goodies.
Social services workers, part of CUPE 1521-02 (pretty much Canada's largest union), remain on the picket line on day 10 of the strike in Lanark County.
That's all for now, folks. If you happened to come by, thanks for reading.

One foot in front of the other

2009-01-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

A view from a "quiet zone" in Central Park, NYC on Monday, Jan. 12.

The best package of all

2009-01-02T13:12:00.000-08:00

Kira the Destroyer on Christmas morning. Not one item of mine was left uninspected by my little champ.

Christmas in the city

2009-01-02T13:10:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning with the Halls. She knew better than to light her Sambuca shot on fire and drink it too soon after.

Art.

2008-11-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

This artist creates wonderful images with her mind and her hands. I just like to document stuff.
© Katie Mulligan

Hockey night in the Valley

2008-11-23T18:43:00.000-08:00

I used to shoot over the glass whenever I was covering the junior b hockey games. One day, I heard the crack of a stick hitting a puck. My instinct told me to duck, and I am so glad I did: a puck went sailing over my head barely moments later. I was quick and I was lucky. I'm not going to push my luck any more.
© Katie Mulligan

A cause for celebration

2008-11-20T10:33:00.000-08:00

A little victory on the volleyball court. The lads embrace each other after scoring a few points in a row during their final set in the semifinals last week at a local high school.
© Katie Mulligan

Let the sun shine in

2008-11-18T07:33:00.000-08:00

Window lighting is just plain lovely.

More remembering

2008-11-12T12:13:00.000-08:00

Images from Remembrance Day in Carleton Place, November 2008.

Remember.

2008-11-12T07:52:00.000-08:00

This always pulls at my heart strings. Remembrance Day ceremonies are generally the same, and they have the same impact on me every time.

With Remembrance Day coming and going, it has reminded me that I have much to learn about my family. I don't know any relatives that were in the war, but I think my great grandfather, my grandmother's father, was a pilot in the Second World War. I think. See? I don't even know for sure. Anyways, since my grandmother's mother passed away at a very young age, that meant the kids all stayed in an orphanage while their father was fighting overseas. One of her brothers took off to try and look for his father. It was winter, so the frostbite did a number on him and he lost a number of toes from it. It was not a happy time for my grandmother and her siblings. Anyways, I think it's high time I learn more about this because it's part of my family history and it's important that I find out more.

The great return to Montreal

2008-11-10T18:01:00.001-08:00

Tristan and I headed to Montreal to visit Lynn, just like we did last November. It felt like we took a step back season-wise, as they still have lots of leaves covering the grass, streets and sidewalks, while we've already had snow come, go, and come back again. Lots of time was spent walking around the city, which resulted in time spent at a park. A kids' park for kids aged six to 12, or so said the sign. Oh, and Juliet et Chocolat. Amazing. Apple and cheddar buckwheat crepe, followed by a hot chocolate cake with a hot chocolate sauce in the middle. Pictures were taken, and I saw the saddest looking park I'd ever seen. It was so wee and dramatic looking. Overall, the trip was a lovely success.
© Katie Mulligan

Crunch

2008-11-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

In what seems like the blink of an eye, football season has come and gone. I'm sad, because as much as football is not exactly known as a calm and relaxing sport, I found it peaceful spending time on the field covering the sport. The weather was usually comfortable because it was autumn and I got to just shoot away. Now, here comes the cold weather, which means my camera batteries will die a lot quicker. Sigh.
© Katie Mulligan

Happy birthday, Pike!

2008-11-07T17:34:00.001-08:00

We call these mail pods. There are a handful of these located in my last neighbourhood. This is my dear friend Pike in a pod. We talked about doing a pod shoot for months. It was legendary.
© Katie Mulligan

A celebration

2008-11-07T17:26:00.000-08:00

Eid al-Adha, or عيد الأضحى , known as the festival of sacrifices. Celebrations took place last winter in Ottawa with families coming together from all parts of the nation's capital to celebrate with food, music, prayer and, of course, Little Ray's Reptiles.
© Katie Mulligan

Sunny days... Sunny, sunny summer days.

2008-11-07T17:24:00.001-08:00

A sunny stop in the village of Ashton during the final days of summer.
© Katie Mulligan

Return of the blue

2008-11-07T17:20:00.000-08:00

Federal election 2008: Conservative Scott Reid, joined by wife Lynda, is all smiles moments after learning of his win on Oct. 14.
© Katie Mulligan

Basement nights

2008-11-07T17:14:00.000-08:00

Another Saturday night in Nepean.
© Katie Mulligan

Better late than never, right?

2008-11-07T17:11:00.001-08:00

I've been terrible, I know. Absolutely terrible. So, here come a whole bunch of posts to hopefully give any of my readers (I think I have four or five now!) something to keep them busy for approximately two minutes. I promise to try harder. I promise not to wait two months.
© Katie Mulligan

Crazy on the dance floor

2008-09-03T13:40:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot about this assignment. Awhile ago, I was contacted by the owner of the Killarney Hotel in Shawville about photos of his bar.

I'd never been there. I didn't know anything about it. So, clearly, when I pictured a quiet little place with the typical older crowd of Shawville drinking beers and playing pool, I was very mistaken.

When I arrived, the place was absolutely bumping. They were also EXTREMELY strict when it came to checking people's age, it was incredible.

I spoke to a group of young guys who were visiting from Wasaga Beach. That's right - a group of college-aged guys visiting Shawville from Wasaga. Seems a bit backwards, doesn't it?

Anyways, it was one crazy night. This ended up being the most fitting shot from the shoot. I was still in total shock, even as I left. The fact I was so severely mistaken about what I was shooting just blew my mind.

Blast from the past...

2008-08-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Eric has been sick with some wicked flu bug lately, so I'd like to dedicate this post to him.
Last summer, not long after I was back from Ireland, Eric and I went on a photo spree downtown Ottawa.
While there isn't much logic behind this picture, it brought us great joy. I'm not sure how it started, or why (or how I was able to keep this image sharp at such a low shutter speed while I fought the urge to keel over laughing), but it's a classic.
Good times, good times.
© Katie Mulligan

It's that time of year again...

2008-08-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Back to school season also means back to the football field season. This is my third season doing this, so I am looking forward to honing my skills even more. Hello, bone-crunching, body smashing week days.

As well, it also means it's time to remember to wear layers, because man, those fields get beaten by the wind on those chilly days.

Riding in style

2008-08-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

Horses Fleur and Grenia take members of the therapeutic riding program for a ride around the area last Wednesday in preparation for the upcoming annual show. Teens with disabilities visit the farm, located between Carleton Place and Ottawa on Mondays, kids on Tuesdays and adults on Thursdays.

We'll have nun of those puns, thank you.

2008-08-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

I wish I could say this was a lovely nun. Well, she's lovely, but she's no nun. Pat Black of the Mississippi Mudds spent the evening singing and dancing in an authentic nun outfit, which was worn for the Mudds' production of "Nunsense." My favourite part was seeing her outside of the town hall auditorium in her nun outfit, drinking booze and smoking cigarettes while waving to passing cars. "Yoohoo!" She'd yell out.

It's Puppets Up! in the Valley...

2008-08-11T13:28:00.001-07:00

Wayne Rostad and Wayne Rostad; now that's a pair you won't soon forget. Rostad (known for his local hit, Christmas in the Valley... Remember that song?) and his puppet double are shown cruising Mill Street in Almonte for the annual International Puppets Up! Festival parade on Saturday afternoon. You know you're pretty well known if Noreen Young (known for Under the Umbrella Tree) has had a puppet double made of you.

I'll admit, I wish there was a puppet Katie Mulligan. Sigh.

These eyes have seen a lot of loves

2008-08-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

I don't even have anything to say about this. It was a great moment. The end.

Thank god I'm a country boy...

2008-07-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

You wouldn't know it, but this photo is from a church lunch. Rev. Jim Ferrier sits back and enjoys a laugh with other members and volunteers.

Every year, this particular church hosts a chuckwagon dinner, which means people are welcome to dress up in their finest western gear, listen to live western music and eat the finest home cooked country meals. I suppose a lot of this is not really out of the ordinary, except for the dressing like a cowboy part. Usually, the hats and boots are reserved for the annual local fairs and horse shows.

My favourite monster

2008-07-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer had scenes filmed in two of the communities I work in. Thanks to this, I had the opportunity to meet Robert Englund (above), who most of us know better as Freddy Krueger, a classic horror movie character.

I will finally see the movie after covering it's beginning stages almost two years ago when it hits the Kanata theatre next week. I was a background extra in one of the scenes, so we'll see if that one made it into the final feature or not...

Eyes on the prize

2008-07-14T06:34:00.000-07:00

Grade five students in Almonte get up close and personal with one of the Monarch butterflies they helped raise from the very beginning. Students had a chance to examine them a little better before releasing them 'into the wild.'

This is a photo I took awhile back, and found it while going through my archives looking for something else. I really enjoyed this particular assignment, as the students were, for the most part, so wrapped up in their butterflies, they barely noticed me. The teacher in this class is fantastic, as he always puts together projects for his class that are thrilling, different and memorable.

She's my sweet little thing; she's my pride and joy

2008-07-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me is fully aware of the love I have for my favourite girl, Kira.
She's a little camera shy, (hence the concern you can see in her eyes) but she's basically used to me pestering her with a camera.
© Katie Mulligan 2008

Sunshine and smiles

2008-07-07T13:48:00.000-07:00

I should really get my face painted more often. I definitely would have at the assignment where I got the shot of the girl above; however, I had some more serious assignments to go to, and chances are good my company wouldn't want me showing up to those things with butterflies and dragons painted on my face. Ah well, next time...
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

Goodbye, Scoon...

2008-06-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

No photos in this post.
Today, I attended the funeral for one of the town's most well-known members of the community, Dale Scott.
I left my camera at home. I may have met him when I came to work here, but the last thing I wanted to do was show up in the role of 'reporter'. The other paper had a photographer there, but for today only, I didn't want to be behind the lens. I was ready to absorb the entire atmosphere as one of his friends, not as a reporter.
Firstly, there were so many people, it had to be held at the town arena. I heard there were almost 1,000 people there, to give you an idea.
The lineup to get in was through the parking lot and down the street. I do hope the family got a chance to see that, as people parked far away and cheerfully walked to the venue, all for Dale.
As I sat with a few coworkers, and we sat in the middle of it all.
Man, what a ceremony. It was a celebration of life, not a tragically sad goodbye. While Dale was only 42-years-old, the amount of stuff he has done in that short time is mind blowing.
Anyways, it was very musical, which is of course, appropriate, seeing as music was his passion. (He ran his own DJ service, was a music promoter, etc.)
The evening began with live music, featured two fantastic songs by The Bowes Brothers (well, one by the four brothers and one written by just one of them, which was phenomenal), stories of good times and laughter and so much more.
As well, this was the first funeral I have ever been to where applause was encouraged. After the first two gals finished their performance, the minister encouraged everyone to applaud and I thought that was really cool.
As the ceremony came to a close and the family/close friends began to exit with the casket, Hockey Night in Canada's theme song came on, which was just perfect.
Dale was the Detroit Red Wings' No. 1 fan, so everyone is so pleased he got to see them win the cup.
To summarize, it was a fantastic celebration of his life, and as I type this, I know the party is STILL going on at the arena, (it's after 9 p.m. right now) even though it was an afternoon ceremony.
So, thank you, Dale, for being one of the first people I met when I first started out in town. I know I am not alone when I say how much I appreciated it when you'd always be there with a smile, asking how my day was going. The fact that your funeral was 'standing room only' really shows how much the community appreciated everything you have done.

Hurdles on the track, hurdles in the yard.

2008-05-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

Track and field is something is not really something my high school did. Actually, with the amount schools are taking away play structures and anything "hazardous", it's almost amazing it exists at all. However, I'm glad to see it is in full swing out here. Students gave it their all in the recent regional track and field finals, participating in hurdles, short and long distance running, shot put, long jump, high jump, pole vault, javelin and much more. It requires major concentration, dedication, and of course, major lessons in safety. It's all extremely important, so I hope schools continue to honour the tradition of track and field.
If you happen to visit an elementary school, you'll see what I am talking about; no swings, teeter-totters, tire swings or wood play structures. The most common item you'll see is that (extremely boring) colourful bucket on top of a pole with four holes. You throw the ball up into it... Annnnnd it falls out of one of the holes.
Ooooo, which way will it go?! Sorry, kids, the fun goes away quickly when it has a 25 per cent chance of coming out of the one you stand under. Kids are often amused easily, but let's give them more credit than that. Give them a swing set.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

Swoosh screen happenings...

2008-05-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

iPod Touch: just a wee bit mind blowing.

Ol' Rockytop

2008-05-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Ricky Skaggs is a band I got into out of the blue. It was during Riverside Jam 2006, to be exact. His band was performing and I was blown away. Every single member of that band is award-winning, and they sounded fantastic. The bluegrass stuff won me over more than his more country-sounding stuff, mainly because that's the kind of music my grandfather got me into. Anyways, that performance will always be stuck in my mind, as I was really impressed with their overall performance.

The calm before the storm

2008-04-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

The local theatre group, The Valley Players, recently closed their production of Les Belles Souers. The cast, made entirely of the ladies of the group, did not disappoint as they eagerly stepped right into their characters. Here, one of the youngest cast members finds a moment of quiet during the last chaotic minutes of hair and makeup as she reads through a thank you card, emotionally written about the magnificent performance she and fellow castmates put on.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

Good food, good company

2008-04-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

The Good Food Company here in town was named one of Ottawa Magazine's top 12 restaurants in the area. The interesting part is that it usually focuses on places downtown Ottawa, with the occasional spot in the east or west end. So the fact that reviewers actually made their way to the Valley, OUTSIDE of Ottawa, and were impressed enough to return is pretty fantastic. I spent time speaking with the owner this morning, and she mentioned she is the only original restaurant owner left in town. The rest are new owners, or just plain new establishments. When I publish the piece this photo goes with, I stay neutral, but since this is my blog, I will go ahead and say that if you've ever eaten at this place, you will totally understand why it's still around. It rocks.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

Kids say the... Nicest things.

2008-04-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

A warm and fuzzy:
Today, I was taking pictures of elementary school kids taking part in Pitch In Day. Each class gets a box of gloves and a big plastic bag, so they can go out into their school yard to clean up garbage.
What a great bunch of kids. They were racing each other, making it into a competition.
"Look at how much garbage *I* am picking up!"
Amazing.
To top off the good feeling this gave me, one of the kids from the class I focused on came up to me after they were done, and said:
"Did you know you're the best photographer in the whole world?!"
I almost got teary eyed.

So, thank you to the grade five student (his name is Chevy) who made my day.

There is something in the air...

2008-04-18T06:47:00.000-07:00

There isn't anything particularly special about this picture, except for one thing; see how much he's squinting? That means the sun was shining, a warm breeze was blowing, and spring has sprung. Actually, it was borderline summer. (Taken yesterday.) And that, my friends, is just plain awesome. That's really the only reason I posted this; it's my first outdoors, warm-weathered shot of the year!
17-year-old Mike Farrell is back in the Valley to finish up the end of his last semester in high school in his home town. He was drafted into the OHL at 16, moved to Owen Sound and spent most of the later portion of his high school career at West Hill. Now that high school is almost done, he no longer has to deal with spending September to March in one high school, then finishing the last three and some months in another.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

Up and at 'em...

2008-04-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Celebrating 100 years of scouting. These young troopers were in the park by the river by 7 a.m. sharp last August (I believe) to say a few prayers, read pledges and do an official flag raising to celebrate the big event. I too was in that park for 7 a.m., and was mighty proud of myself for doing so. I'm not going to lie to you, I came back to my office and took a light nap until the rest of the world arrived at 9 a.m. That's where my talent of being able to sleep anytime, anywhere really pays off.

Music and home improvement. What more can you ask for?

2008-04-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

Ah, the 17th Pakenham Home, Lifestyle and Trade Show. It's always a hit in the area; people come from far and wide to get deals on appliances, furniture and other home improvement items, as well as make connections with local businesses (rather than the big box stores). While shopping is half of the fun, the other half is upstairs. Local musicians grace the stage of the community centre in front of a packed dance floor. McMunn Music did just that - they had the upstairs of the building rocking with their country tunes. (Note: McMunn Music: Think of "Silver Fox" Ron McMunn, a well-known face of the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame. While Ron passed away last year, his music lives on through his sons who still perform with the band.)

In and out in five minutes...

2008-04-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

Gospel music in Franktown. I knew this could be an interesting assignment, so I didn't mind the fact I had to wait around a few hours on a Saturday night to catch it. Unfortunately, however, I was given the wrong time so when I showed up, the show was, in fact, ending. The choir was basically singing the last few notes of their encore. So, while this may not be the best photo I have ever taken, I was still mighty pleased to walk away with it. I got in, snapped up a kneeling spot in between the stage and the audience and shot off less than 10 frames. Whew.

A different tune...

2008-04-01T17:15:00.000-07:00

Jazz in Almonte. There isn't much more to say about it, really. I think the mood in this photo is quite similar to what you might be feeling if you were listening to the band in person. Very deep, very mellow.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

I'll take a Mulligan on that one...

2008-04-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

A while back, I was asked to shoot magazine-style photos for my company's golf supplement. Basically, the theme was golf screw ups. The model is actually the editorial manager of my company, so he was easy to work with. I don't know much about golf, but chances are good you're not supposed to look like this during the game...

...The view from here...

2008-03-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

It was a last minute assignment; the reporter who was scheduled to cover this had a family emergency, so I volunteered to go. It sounded a bit bland; a church choir singing at a local church. Basically, men singing. Since the minister of this particular church knows me from my coverage of many previous events, he's given me full access to the place. So I after finding a tiny stairway, barely wide enough for me to fit in it with my camera bag, I come out at the top to find a wee balcony I didn't even know existed.

2008-03-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

Winter 2008. Snow shoes. Need I say more? This was taken at a maple sugar bush in the Valley last week. Maple farm workers say if they drive half an hour into the woods to do some work and realize they forgot their snow shoes back at the base, they are going back to get them.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

Making up for lost time...

2008-03-25T08:38:00.000-07:00

The Carleton Place Legion Kings shed their gear after winning game seven of the Valley Division Championship recently. After team photos with the trophy, the boys proceeded with their victory lap around the ice, leaving their gloves, helmets and sticks strewn about the place.

The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire...

2008-03-06T13:00:00.001-08:00

I decided to pull up another classic since I am not blown away by anything I shot this week. This is from this time last year, when an old mill in Appleton burned to the ground. Speculation is still going on, and charges are finally being laid against individuals. I remember it was a rather mild day for the time of year, and I smelled like a stale old ashtray by the time I got back to the newsroom because of the ankle-deep gross water I had to wade through to get the photos. Cross your fingers for me; I've entered this, as well as other pieces of work in the Community Newspaper Association Awards. (I now feel incredibly guilty for letting work get in the way of entering pieces in the Metroland awards... I could have had a great chance with some of the categories. Thankfully, a handful of others from my company have been nominated, so I can at least be proud of them for their accomplishments.)
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

La Republica Dominicana

2008-02-21T10:07:00.000-08:00

Tristan and I spent a week in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. While our main goal was to achieve ultimate relaxion, we also wanted to explore and see what non-resort life was like. So on Thursday, we booked a day trip with a company that takes visitors into towns and villages. The first stop was at a small school house (top photo), followed by a "typical house," where we met this sweet lady (above). She didn't speak a word of english. Actually, she didn't say a word at all while we were there. But she smiled and was more than happy to be in photos. Next, we visited a coffee/cocoa plantation, followed by an art market, a cigar and rum shop, and finally, a seperate beach for boogie boarding. We really enjoyed this trip, and got a kick out of our amazing tour guide, Alex (centre photo). Not only did he know absolutely everything about the country, he also stood on the back bumper of the bus and served beer and rum the entire time.

2008-02-05T09:51:00.000-08:00

Six-year-old Rusty Roy relaxes (with the help of an anesthetic) before getting an X-ray at the Almonte Veterinary Services on Friday (Feb. 1) because of pain in his nose. A generally calm dog, but not a fan of the fluids the doctors flushed through his nose to clean everything out prior to the X-ray.
This shot was included in a full broadsheet colour page photo essay I completed for the Feb. 5 edition of The Almonte Gazette.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

For Darson...

2008-02-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

Hall of Famer Johnny Bowers visited our neck of the woods to raise money for Roger's House and CHEO on Saturday (Feb. 2). The former goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs signed photo after photo, jersey after jersey, and whatever else fans brought in for him to sign his name to. While it was advertised he would be at the shop from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., crowds began to arrive before 8 a.m., and calling equally early, to find out if he had made the journey safely after the snow storm the night before. Here, Bowers is shown with quite possibly one of his youngest fans - Spencer from Carleton Place.

2008-01-29T09:54:00.000-08:00

A real head turner: Hay really can just... Combust. And that is exactly what happened here. After police investigation, it was obvious there was no foul play. The hay was fine, then it was on fire. The end.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

2008-01-29T08:45:00.000-08:00

Cruising through my archives, I came across some work I've done from various weddings. This reminds me of lovely weather and beautiful scenery, which reminds me that I am leaving for a trip down south in about two weeks. However, it's going up to 4 degrees today, which, after the freezing rain, could be quite nice.
© Katie Mulligan

2008-01-23T07:23:00.000-08:00

The senior high school band is the biggest it has ever been; 56 members from Grades 10 to 12. The high school's music director says this band's rehearsal is his favourite time of the week, despite the chaos surrounding it. Practice begins at 3:10 p.m., which leaves him about half an hour, with the help of students, to move all platforms, chairs, music stands, microphones, speakers and much more to the cafeteria and set it all up after the final bell rings at the end of the school day. This is one of 500+ photos taken for a photo essay.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

2008-01-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

Moll's Gap, a traditional Irish band, plays Tell Me Ma at Murphy's Bar in Killarney, Ireland. The music poured out of the pub and into the street, welcoming wanderers to come inside and enjoy the atmosphere.

An afternoon in St. Stephen's Green

2008-01-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

2008-01-18T06:31:00.000-08:00

Senior boys soccer, September 2007.
At this very game, I encountered one of those situations that requires a decision. While standing at the sidelines, a play started to come towards me. As I kept shooting, I realized I had to decide to assume they would be able to stop before they got to my location, or stop and step aside. I've had to deal with this countless times. This was the first time I chose poorly.
As the players came my way, I kept shooting. They got very close, and I then realized I was going to get hit. So I hid my camera and my face, and got a soccer ball in the shoulder at full force.
It wasn't even worth it... The pictures I got from that streak weren't in my final cut for what to run in the paper.
This one, however, was. And it was shot from a safe distance before that incident even happened.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

The air up there

2008-01-18T06:24:00.000-08:00

I prefer shooting the Senior sporting teams at the local high school, because they seem to set up better action shots for me. While covering the Juniors and Midgets is of course important, they tend to be just starting out and make it a bit more difficult to walk away with anything more than a generic 'running with the ball' shot or something similar.

Walk for ALS

2008-01-17T13:16:00.000-08:00

Local residents gather every year at the Civitan Centre for the Walk for ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease). The event begins with registration and mingling, followed by music and memories of those lost to the disease. After a brief warmup, participants are off, circling the entire town to show their support.

The Hungry Lunch

2008-01-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

People of all ages meet at a local church to enjoy a free hot lunch every Tuesday afternoon throughout the year. Volunteers from five of the churches in town donate their time to cook, prepare and clean up, while local restaurants donate a main course each week.
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region