I have wanted to post more African images – but I haven’t even gone through all 8850+ images as yet!

But on Monday, October 20th, I attended the Awards Banquet of the Professional Photographers of Canada-Manitoba. I drove in to Winnipeg, still quite jet-lagged. It was great seeing old friends.

The banquet dinner was excellent and one of my jobs as Honours Chair was to present three very deserving photographers with their Honour of Fellowship Ribbons and Certificate.

For the first time since 2004 I entered images into the competition (in the past few years I either was judging the competition or was Jury Chair and then you can’t enter). So I was a bit hesitant about sending in my 4 images as we are getting some wonderful new photographers that are doing some great stuff!

I was thrilled to receive 2 Accepted Images and 1 Merit Image. Two of the judges chose two of my images as their “Judges Choice” and I also received 2 Major Awards! I was blown away!

Needless to say – I’m still grinning from ear to ear!

But that wasn’t all. The President of Professional Photographers of Canada, Chris Stambaugh, as well as Nelson Simard, PPOC National Accreditation Chair, and very good friend, were both there to present one more Certificate. I was stunned and honoured to receive the “Honourary Life Member” Certificate and designation. It was completely unexpected and so special to have Nelson present it to me and to have Chris representing the National Association!

I can now proudly add HLM to my credentials!

Marlene Fast, MPA, SPA, F.Ph., HLM