Farewell Photos: The Toronto Star’s Photos of the Year

Oliver2022-12-31

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1a smokey convoy

In a year marked by the « Freedom Convoy » that shut down a city and the re-election of Doug Ford, 2022 has also been punctuated with moments of pure joy and heartbreaking sadness.

And the Star’s photojournalists were there to capture it all.

PARADE READY One of the joys of living in a giant multicultural city like Toronto are those giant multicultural events. Even the Junior Caribbean Carnival is a time of giant events. Costumes, makeup, music. It's incredible. JULY 16

SOMEWHERE OVER TORONTO... After leaving a personal event, I noticed people looking south. I moved towards them and, through the college stadium fence, I saw a rainbow like I had never seen. I ran to my car, grabbed a camera, climbed to the top of the Varsity fence and took the picture. June 9

LOVE ON PARADE It's 2022, soon 2023. I don't know what the protesters' goal is at some events, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't achieved at the Dyke March on Church Street . Pride Weekend and the history behind it is a big part of Toronto and part of how we move forward. June 25

A LOST FAMILY Covering a child's funeral is always difficult, especially as a family of six is taken like the O'Dea and Ali family to a fire in Brampton. I spent the morning at the mosque for the funeral and followed the mourners to the burial site, respectfully keeping my distance. I was walking back to my car when I noticed a relative carrying a larger family portrait? a painful reminder of such heartbreaking loss. April 2

A WIDOW'S GRIEF Killed Toronto Police Constable Andrew Hong was laid to rest and given a full police funeral at the Toronto Convention Center attended by 8,000 officers. Police events are full of pageantry and ceremony, but ultimately Hong is a husband, father, son. Hong's widow, Jenny, stares at her husband's cap as she follows his coffin. September 21

BOOZE BROTHER Actor Dan Aykroyd was in town promoting Signal Hill Whiskey and I knew we wouldn't have much time for filming. I asked if it would be OK if he uncorked a bottle for the portrait, and Dan Aykroyd being Dan Aykroyd, he quickly played along. November 23

HOT AIR, NO BALLOONS Doug Ford had just finished his election victory speech at the Toronto Convention Center and the balloons were supposed to drop. They did not do it. Suddenly, the re-elected Prime Minister was leaving the stage and was overwhelmed by media and supporters. I knew I needed to have at least a few photos of Ford other than him standing on stage. Luckily he was heading my way and I made my way into the middle of the fray. By stepping back and firing, I managed to capture a moment. Then, just like that, he left. June 2

SHOWDOWN Protesters from the truck convoy clash online against police who will eventually disperse the rally. For just over a month, Ottawa came to a standstill as trucks blocked streets in and around Parliament Hill to protest vaccines and masks. February 19

WAITING IN THE WINGS I love the moments behind the scenes. When the "American Ballet Idol" Back in Toronto for the first time since the COVID pandemic began, hundreds of talented dancers between the ages of 9 and 19 auditioned for the Youth America Grand Prix in hopes of receiving scholarships. Of course, I also photographed the performances, but what was perhaps even more interesting for me were the moments before the dancers took the stage. The moments of waiting.

THE WARMTH OF A FAMILY We are often given press positions where we go to court after a trial. Most of the time we struggle to get a picture. On this occasion, visibly distraught, Ketan Chaudhari and Binta Patel made an emotional statement after the conviction of a teenage driver who killed their children, Anaya and Jax. There wasn't a single hardened reporter who didn't mourn with the parents over their loss. April 4

THE AVIATOR A passion that has accompanied me all my life is flight. I love all things aviation and as a private pilot any chance to fly - for work or pleasure - is a priority. This year, with the return of the International Air Show to the CNE, I was able to fly with the Pitts aerobatic team. I had never flown in a high performance biplane, so the experience was exhilarating. Rarely do you get an inverted view of Toronto at 1,500 feet and the joy and happiness etched on pilot Greg Hume-Powell's face as we fly over the east end mirrors mine.

BREATHTAKING I love my job, well, maybe I love what I do when I do my job. I'm in one of those unique situations where my work sometimes overlaps perfectly with my hobby and suddenly I take my cameras everywhere. Even underwater at Killbear Provincial Park!

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Oliver2022-12-31

3