Globe & Mail: Hurricane Fiona

On my last or second last day, one of the photo editors from the Globe & Mail called. She asked if I’d stay and do a few more images for an upcoming Saturday edition of the Globe and Mail. Greg Mercer was coming flying in and I’d be teamed up with Greg. I said sure and offered to introduce him to whomever and if needed, tell him the stories of the community prior to introducing him to the victims.

I had previously watched as some impacted victims walked away from others in the media sphere declining interviews or comment requests, in one case the interviewee immediately walked up to me afterward asking me if I needed anything and if not he was gonna head to his sister’s. I always assumed it was because they were at the breaking point till the last day, someone outright said it, “we trust you. You’ve been here since day one..”

I recalled this happening in South West Nova during the Indigenous Lobster dispute where I was offered unlimited access by both the commercial fisherman and the indigenous. A fellow journalist tried to create some drama in South West Nova but the indigenous I was working with recognized this immediately, chatted about it in front of me with someone else and all was well again.

On the last day, I met with Greg Mercer and we walked through the impacted areas. Explaining to him the three worst coves and the stories. Greg, being a great journalist, walked up and spoke with people caring and compassionately like Elias Osmond (above).

As we walked through the community, it was my first time meeting Jamie Young (above). Jamie’s basement was completely flooded and the front of his house was heavily damaged.

We also ran into Don Loder (below) who exchanged some choice words with me. Don had always been upbeat and somehow his attitude after days upon days of no end, he was still upbeat.

Lastly, I photographed Brian “smokey” Osmond.

As shot, on assignment with the great folks from The Globe & Mail.