Educator | Communicator | Photographer
“His name is Milo. He’s got a personality like Eor from Winnie The Pooh. He wears the vest because he gets separation anxiety if he’s away from people too long. Milo is eight years-old and we get to dog-sit him pretty regularly. He’s a great dog to have around the house.”
Among the words, quotations, and art installations at Poppy Plaza on Memorial Drive is this word.
‘Solace’ is a word that can be defined as comfort in a time of stress, support in a time of sadness, or to share cheer in order to raise one’s spirits.
My wish for this new year is to have a peaceful home, community, city, country, and world. If any of us should feel distress, we can turn to one another for solace.
The City of Calgary moves. On foot, on bike, public transit, car; and all the while, the Bow river keeps flowing through it all.
I think there’s a metaphor in there, but I’ll wade into it another time.
At the end of 2015, I’d like to thank all my followers. Since June 21, they’ve pushed me to seek out 194 photo subjects. I’d also like to thank all the people who have participated: the folks I’ve chatted with in coffee shops, the local business owners, the members of the community, Druh Farrell (Ward 7 City Council), the HSCA, and all the people who have inspired me to shoot better photos, seek out new places, as well as all the little nooks and crannies that Sunnyside and Hillhurst have to offer.
Most of all, I’d like to thank all the people who have lived in this neighbourhood, served as business owners, residents and community builders. This city owes it to you.
Built in 1921, the Louise Bridge was constructed to move street cars and pedestrian traffic over the Bow River between downtown Calgary and the Kensington Area. The bridge was named after William Henry Cushing’s daughter, Louise.
William Henry Cushing served Calgary for six terms as a City Councillor, and a short term as Mayor in 1900-1901. He also served as an Albertan MLA.
The Louise Bridge is a beloved feature of Calgary’s riverscape and sees over 30’000 cars travelling on it per day, as well as countless pedestrians and cyclists.
“Is it me or are those geese flying the wrong way? It makes you wonder, ‘What do they know that we don’t?'”
There are many traditions in many cultures for placing statues of lions outside one’s property. In aspects of Asian culture, lions are bestowed on valued members of the community, or placed as a protective symbol. Some European cultures place lion statues outside their home as a representation of pride, nobility, or status. A North American tradition is to place lion statues on one’s property as a sign that the home is paid off.
I like to think that these lions, whatever the reason for their placement, add yet another interesting characteristic of this neighbourhood that I love so much.
“Wait a sec, are you that guy who’s doing the photo-a-day thing? I thought it was you, there’s not too many people who would be happy to be out this late in this kind of weather. Have a wonderful night! Happy New Year!”
“Originally, I’m from Saskatchewan, but I’ve been practicing Optometry since ’78. I bought up this office on Kensington Road 16 years ago. I have another office in the Southwest, and one in Regina. I’ve got 5 associates and over 30 employees. I love this eclectic area.
I’ve been dressing like this since the day I was born.
I was born in rural Saskatchewan. My mom was a nurse, my dad was a hunter/trapper, and we were dirt poor. My father had all these furs that he would sell to Hudson Bay. I used to snip off little pieces and dress my dolls in them.
When I was ten years-old, we got a Sears Catalogue and on it’s cover was this fur coat with this beautiful fur collar. I wanted it so badly. You see, back then my father made us raise these calfs. I took such good care of mine. I worked so hard to make sure it was nice and fattened up. I bought the market report magazine and found out exactly the right time to sell it and pushed my father to take the calf to market. He told me that it was too soon, but I convinced him and we sold the calf for $100. I took the money and bought myself that coat. I got it and wore it for so long!
I’m like Cher. People ask me, “What’s the occasion?” and I say that every day is the occasion. But really, I dress for the kids. I think you should have fun because life is really short you know? Bring a laugh to people’s face. I have this new associate who gets all his fashion tips from a Men’s Health Magazine and I tell him, ‘You need to get your own style, you’re own personality.’
I’m on the Children’s Vision Committee for Alberta. A lot of the kids I saw back in ’78 have kids of their own now and I see them. They don’t want to go anywhere else because ‘Dr. Monea is so much fun!’
My designer, Michelle, has been making these outfits for me. We’ve been working together since 2005. She had a collection at this little place downtown, I walked in and just said, “I’ll take that, this, those, and these.” Now she designs things for me to wear every day like this outfit. But the hats are really special… I wear them to visit the ladies at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and they just love them. I wear the hats for them.
It’s not a runway modelling thing for me. You’ll see me in Safeway with my groceries dressed like this. I actually wear this shit. Ha, Ha, Ha!” Dr. Diana Monea, Eye Health Centre, Kensington Road
“Police statistics reveal 3,002 bicycles were reported stolen in 2,554 separate incidents from Jan. 1 to Dec. 15, 2015. But it’s believed even more bikes have been lifted this year, noting ‘a tremendous’ amount of bike thefts are not reported.” A vandalized bicycle remains chained to a rack on Kensington Road
“Take time to enjoy the company of people you love, check in on the people you haven’t heard from lately. Look fondly back on past celebrations and find ways to celebrate with people in the future. We really need some more kindness in the world–it doesn’t matter what religion you are or what your upbringing is, people just need to be kind to each other: That’s what Christmas is about.”
“Twas the night before Christmas…” Lights set the Sunnyside Project site aglow during the holidays.
© 2025 Ara Shimoon
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