2022 was an intense year. A lot has happened. That said, as much as I wanted to get in the thick of the action, circumstances would often have it that it would not often be the case this year.
For context, my main role is to back up Adam Scotti when needed to cover the Prime Minister. The rest of the time, however, my job is to highlight the work of the ministers and the rest of the team. Many major events and ministerial work related to it, happened elsewhere. Still, I sought to cover as much as I could from home base.
The following is a selection of my work for the year. They are images that spoke to me in terms of storytelling and are reminiscent of the year that passed without necessarily being the ‘best’ images.
The Day After: EA
Might as well start with Truckerfest 2022. It’s been in the news all year. While it was happening, I suddenly found myself missing the old photojournalism job and wanted to jump back in. But as much as I would have liked to, we chose to stay away from it. It would just cause more problems for the news photographers who already had plenty of hostility to deal with. Adam still got death threats out of it even though he was never there.
Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino walks down an empty Wellington Street the day after it was cleared by combined police forces, after the Emergencies Act had been invoked, ending the siege of Ottawa. Ottawa, 2022.02.21.
Flagged for removal. Ottawa, 2022.02.21.
City staff that had been kept out of the area for weeks were already on clean-up duties. Ottawa, 2022.02.21.
Winter
Frank and Tank. Tank, the long-haired german Sheppard mountie dog, beloved by all, retired this year. Frank kept Tank in retirement (who wouldn’t), but he still brings him out at work once in a while. MRC Les Collines, 2022.01.31
Member of Parliament for Dorval — Lachine — LaSalle, Anju Dhillon, had a zipper blockage with her winter jacket. I tried to help to the amusement of the other MPs and staff in the House of Commons lobby. MP Han Dong improvised himself as a photographer with my camera and documented the scene. Ottawa, 2022.02.14.
The Minister of Official Languages, Ginette Petitpas-Taylor, makes her way to the media setup for the announcement of the bill to modernize the official languages act, at the National Historic Site of Grand-Pré, in Nova Scotia, by Évangéline’s statue. Grand Pré, 2022.03.01.
Also Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, joins local Member of Parliament, Lena Diab, for breakfast at Jim’s Family Restaurant. Halifax, 2022.03.08.
Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor at Corridor Community Options for Adults, a special needs organization that does amazing work for amazing people. These are some of my favourite moments in this job. Enfield, Nova Scotia, 2022.03.09.
Minister of Indigenous Services, Patty Hajdu, along with Member of Parliament for Fredericton, Jenica Atwin, visit the Under One Sky Friendship Centre, providing family services for indigenous communities. Fredericton, 2022.03.16.
“I LOVE YOU MOM” screamed the boy, flanked by his grandparents, as she was sailing off with the HMCS Halifax, deploying for OP REASSURANCE with NATO. Halifax, 2022.03.19.
Staff have become crafty with mobile and on-site teleconferencing setups. In this case, a pile of donut boxes for Minister François-Philippe Champagne. Windsor, 2022.03.23.
Minister of Science, Industry and Innovation, François-Philippe Champagne, speaking with workers after an announcement of a large investment in the electric vehicle industry. Windsor, 2022.03.23.
Quick takeout before the next tour stop. Windsor, 2022.03.23.
Playing with light colours at night, disembarking from the RCAF plane. Ottawa, 2022.03.30.
👉 Throughout the year in the House of Commons.
Spring
Minister Chrystia Freeland participates in the traditional prelude to the budget tabling event, purchasing heels. Ottawa, 2022.04.06.
Presenting the 2022 budget to be tabled in the House of Commons. Ottawa, 2022.04.07.
A ceremony commemorating the battle of Vimy Ridge, at the National War Memorial. Ottawa, 2022.04.09.
Minister of Defence Anita Anand visits CFB Trenton where transports are being loaded with supplies destined for Ukraine. Trenton, 2022.04.14.
Minister Anand and Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre, meet before a press conference on the day the Official Report on Systemic Racism and Discrimination in the Canadian Armed Forces went public. Ottawa, 2022.04.25.
The Defence file is something that is dear to me. I did spend a decent part of my life in uniform. It’s been a big year for the file, both operationally, and culturally, and I wish I could have covered much more of it.
Minister of International Trade, Mary Ng, and her American counterpart, Trade Representative Katherine Tai, have lunch at the Xiang Li restaurant. U.S. representative staffers are always a bit wary when I’m around, not fully understanding what I’m about. Pushing through is worthwhile for everyone tough. Markham, 2022.05.06.
Late spring walks as the streets fill up again. Ottawa, 2022.05.30.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau might not approve of Minister Randy Boissonnault’s team choice, before a cabinet meeting. Ottawa, 2022.05.31.
Summer
Dusk skies and airplanes never get old. Calgary, 2022.06.01.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller after a pipe ceremony with Chief Ouray Crowfoot, of the Siksika First Nation. Blackfoot Treaty Flats, 2022.06.02.
Another press conference, but the landscape was beautiful. Blackfoot Crossing Museum, 2022.06.02.
Just Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland locking her bike at the Royal Ontario Museum before a bilateral meeting with the United States Secretary of the Treasury. 2022.06.20.
Day camp. Vaughn, 2022.07.06.
Selfies are getting old, but you still get funny ones. CFB North Bay, 2022.07.06.
Covering a meeting with Jane Goodall was definitely a highlight this year. Sudbury, 2022.07.07.
POV: You’re a wedding photographer and the Prime Minister and Masai Ujiri photobomb your wedding party. Ottawa, 2022.08.05.
Some reactions are just always priceless. Scarborough, 2022.07.16.
On lunch stops, he always tours the patrons, but also always drops by to say hi to the staff, even the cooks. Scarborough, 2022.07.16.
Giant LED monitors are all the rage now, but they do not play well with mirrorless cameras. And both technologies have somewhat grown prevalent at the same time. Bradford, 2022.07.16.
I spent a few days selecting images and cutting out a lot. As much as I keep saying that my thing is really the ministers, I ended up keeping four images from that same day with the PM. Looks like it was a good day.
TWIZZLER! Indigenous Services and Crown-Indigenous Relations are some of my favourite files. You get to meet amazing people around the country in places you’d probably never get to go otherwise. Extra bonus when the minister is a hoot. I’m always down for work with Patty.
The Moosehide Festival is rather hard to get to, but it was definitely another highlight of my year. Moosehide, near Dawson City, Yukon, 2022.07.29.
Sneaky flag, Ottawa, 2022.08.29.
Lunch hangs at the bar. Winnipeg, 2022.09.01.
School staff reacts. Winnipeg, 2022.09.01.
She’s ready for all that ruckus. Winnipeg, 2022.09.01.
2022, as told by clumsy children. Everyone was ok. Winnipeg, 2022.09.01.
Protests
Samples throughout the year. They have become a bit of a staple on tour. Top left image, the Prime Minister stopped and gave them a few seconds to make their point. Any point… There’s an argument to be made about not including those here, but I think they’re definitely part of the story and should be here.
The Queen’s Passing
Whatever your stand on the British Monarchy, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II was one of the biggest events of any constitutional monarchy this year.
Ministers sign condolences before a special cabinet meeting to officialize the accession to the throne of King Charles III, at Rideau Hall. Ottawa, 2022.09.10.
Albeit at different times, Minister Marc Miller and I served in the same reserve regiment in Montréal, the Canadian Grenadier Guards. Minister Miller is a great guy, but I appreciate this common tie we both share. While the Queen was the “commander-in-chief” of the entirety of the Canadian Armed Forces, as a guards regiment, she was also its direct commander of the regiment. On the ceremony of accession, Minister Miller was wearing his regimental cuffs, representing the regimental badge, two monograms of the letters ER. Ottawa, 2022.09.01.
Ministers at the commemoration ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II. Ottawa, 2022.09.19.
Margaret at the commemoration ceremony. Ottawa, 2022.09.19.
Fall
The 1972 Team Canada visited Parliament for the 50th Anniversary of the Summit Series. Cournoyer, Savard, these were my dad and grampa’s heroes. These legends asked me what to do with their hands, which caught me a bit off guard. ‘What did they tell you to do on team photos back in the days? Hands on knees?’ ‘Hands on knees!’ they said without hesitation. ‘Let’s make this a team photo then.’ Ottawa, 2022.09.22.
Team member Peter Mahovlich showed up in Parliament with purple Crocs with his big toenails painted in red and white. Ottawa, 2022.09.22.
Shortcut through the empty House of Commons in West Block with South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol. Ottawa, 2022.09.23.
Minister Mona Fortier sees Hyrdo One workers off, headed to Nova Scotia to assist with Hurricane Fiona damage repairs. Cornwall, 2022.09.27.
Beatrice Deer performs at the Ottawa ceremony for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Ottawa, 2022.09.30.
Lunch at Canteen on Portland. Dartmouth, 2022.10.04.
Diwali with Minister Sean Fraser. Etobicoke, 2022.10.24.
Minister Fraser leaves an impression. Toronto, 2022.10.24.
A very smart man, but also a very humorous person. Fun to work with. Toronto, 2022.11.01.
Minister Wilkinson at the Canadian Embassy. Washington, 2022.10.26.
Member of Parliament for Whitby, Ryan Turnbull, joking about Minister Champagne’s verticality, during his Sustainable Finance Forum. Ottawa, 2022.11.02.
Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland uses a makeshift podium for speech practice before the Fall Economic Statement. Ottawa, 2022.11.03.
North York, 2022.11.04.
North York, 2022.11.04.
North York, 2022.11.04.
Closed school with Minister Miller and Chief Levasseur. Nisichawayashik Cree Nation, 2022.11.07.
Minister Miller joins Nisichawayashik youth for some quick badminton. Nisichawayashik Cree Nation, 2022.11.07.
Minister Miller and Chief Morris Beardy by a Manitoba Hydro generating station near Gillam and Fox Lake Cree Nation in Manitoba. 2022.11.08.
Crossing over these dams and generating stations felt very eerie and ominous with the reduced visibility when it snowed. Gillam, 2022.11.08.
First Nations Coverage Challenges
One of the best parts of my job is visiting and meeting with First Nations communities. Such a rich cultural, environmental, and visual heritage.
The nature of the tours, however, does present a particular challenge. Most visits are structured where the ministers will be welcomed and then meet with community elders and officials and then led to a quick tour of facilities that bring pride to the community, such as a school or a band office. This is then usually followed by a tour of the rest of the community from inside a vehicle.
Kwanlin Dun First Nation, Whitehorse, Yukon. 2022.07.28.
It’s just the way it is, there is a lot to talk about, and there are a lot of communities to meet and see.
You cover a lot of distance to reach an often remote and beautiful location. Visually, you don’t necessarily think of ‘boardroom’ or ‘school gym’, or ‘tight medical facility hallways’. It definitely forces you to try and be creative about it.
One of those ways was to try and capture portraits of community members that caught my attention, for whatever reason.
More portraits. Flagged for possible removal.
Portraits
I feel I said this in a previous review before, but I should do more portraits. It’s hard to squeeze them in and there really isn’t much time for posing, but I think it’s worth trying more for 2023.
Sample of 2022 portraits. Definitely wishing to push this further as my side project in 2023.
Circling the globe
On the last big international trip, Adam tested positive in Belgium and ended up quarantined for 10 days and could not complete the trip. This time around, it was decided that I should go along as a backup in case it happened again, to get alternative angles when access allowed, and also cover the ministers when possible. Phnom Penh, 2022.11.12.
Offices are hotel rooms. Your meeting/briefing room is the one that is available. Phnom Penh, 2022.11.12.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, about the Cambodian genocide of the 70s. Phnom Penh, 2022.11.13.
Minister Mary Ng gets her own selfie while the Prime Minister gets rushed by the crowd, also for selfies, at the G20 Summit. Bali, 2022.11.14.
Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and Rishi Sunak phoned Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on the final day of the G20 summit, soon after a missile exploded in Poland. Official photographers and videographers seen at work. Bali, 2022.11.16.
Bali, 2022.11.16.
Bali, 2022.11.17.
Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau, Jacinda Ardern, and President Gabriel Boric at the Asia Pacific Cooperation Summit. I’m a big fan of Ardern. Bangkok, 2022.11.18.
Random hotel areas as briefing locations. Djerba, Tunisia, 2022.11.19.
A reflection in a mirror of Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly listening to Haiti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Victor Généus, during a joint press conference. Djerba, Tunisia, 2022.11.20.
Whenever I get to talk about my job with people, one of the comments that often comes up is ‘you must see a lot of the country/world!’
Yes. But also no. I like to call it the ultimate sampler. I get to see tiny bits of a lot of places. Hotel to location via cars or motorcades. Not a lot of exploring, not a lot of in-between.
So you make do with that. I took inspiration from Adam and Tom Brenner’s occasional motorcade photos and tried to get as much as I could from whatever window I was sitting by. Phnom Penh and Bali.
Door scenes from Dejrba and Bangkok.
Jim Carr
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, and former Minister, Jim Carr, died on December 12th this year.
Carr’s last address to the House of Commons. Ottawa, 2022.11.02.
Various moments from September and November.
Photographers
Another great part of this job is meeting all the photographers, everywhere, and just being generally inspired by them. And then also simultaneously hating your own work in comparison.
Top left: Adrian Wyld, David Kawai, Blair Gable. Top right: Carlos Osorio, Nathan Denette. Middle left: Darryl Dyck. Middle right: Chris Catsarov. Bottom left: Paul Chiasson, Émilie Nadeau. Bottom right: Cole Burston, Evan Mitsui.
Top left: Andrew Meade, Blair Gable. Top Right: Dave Chan, David Kawai, James Park. Middle left: Sean Kilpatrick, Blair Gable, David Kawai. Middle right: Justin Tang, Andrew Meade, Blair Gable. Bottom left: Carlos Osorio, Nick Iwanyshyn. Bottom right: Sean Kilpatrick.
Staff
There’s an old unwritten rule for political staffers that they should never be seen in photos. I tend to disagree. They are part of what’s happening, they are part of the story.
There are some moments when they should definitely not be there, however. If you’re only going in to snapshots with your phone, no, just no. GET. OUT.
Top left: Deliah Bernard. Top right: Bronwen Jarvis. Middle left: James Armbruster. Middle right: Thierry Guillon. Bottom left: Emily Grant and the RCMP jolly bunch. Bottom right: Alex Axiotis-Perez
Top left: Ben Sparks. Top right: Victor Esposito. Bottom left: Annabelle Archambault. Bottom right: Ann-Clara Vaillancourt.
Most of it is the same as Adam’s, which I assume you have read already (if you haven’t definitely do, over here. I only differ slightly from him as I can never trust what I see on the back of a camera for focus and shut eyes. It’s a bit of a speed sacrifice but I’m not there yet.
Storage is also similar. I use a Network Attached Storage device for archiving, which is then backed up to an attached external drive AND another NAS in a different location. 3–2–1, always.
Gear is also the same, except I still have a set of prime lenses I’ll bring out once in a while. When we switched from Canon to Sony, I swapped my EF set for a Sigma set. 20mm 1.4, 35mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4, 135mm 1.8. I tend to believe the Sigmas render better colours and contrast.
Thank yous
The first person I need to thank is my wife/partner/spouse (not sure what the correct term is these days), Christine. Without her support, I could’ve never made it in this business. Also, my job is not fair to her. She’s the smart accomplished money-making executive with a big job. Mine might be more flashy, but it’s much lower pay, can’t be done from home, and takes me out of town often. She always ends up with kid duties for most of the pedagogical/sick/snow days. Yet, she will never tell me it’s too much or ask me to get another job, even though it would entirely be within her damn right.
The second person is my other wife, Adam Scotti. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned something similar in previous reviews, but to date, I still don’t understand or see what he saw back then to give me this chance. But damn, what a chance it’s been. Plus the coaching and inspiration, throughout the years, to constantly push me to improve. I can only hope I’ve lived up to this faith.
Adam has covered our office’s credits well, but I’d like to extend mine to Ashley Fearnall and Kirsten Strom, who handle travel claims back at the office. Not to get into details but I believe I’m the only one in government who has to deal with all the departments when it comes to travel, and these two are forced into this administrative headache because of me and are just wizards at making it all happen while being incredibly nice and patient about it.
For the same reasons, Scott McCord. This travel legend also has to deal with all my logistical needs between 38 different offices to get me where and when I need to be.
Finally, cheers to all my ministers for letting me into their circles, sometimes their personal lives, to let and help me do what I do.
AMA
As per usual, reach out if you have questions about anything, always happy to chat about what we do. Be warned, I tend to get verbose.
On the look for another platform to better convey photo essays. All of you that went over to Post with the Great Twitter Upheavals, how’s that one looking for long-form photo essays?
-30-
The now traditional Bonus Scotti Gallery. Takes skills to make this guy look good. You’re welcome.
