Downtown Calgary

I spent my first days off in Calgary at my cousin's. After three weeks in isolation, I was looking forward to the hustle and bustle of the city. Calgary was surprisingly warm for that time of year, and it was fantastic to take my camera and walk downtown in a city that seemingly was made to be draped in snow.

 

I think I could learn to love the city again.

Camp Life: A Whole New World

On January 25, 2015, I got on a bus in Edmonton and made my way to Grande Prairie in northwest Alberta. I was to be picked up by the company vehicle the next morning and would spend that night in a hotel before heading out. I was glued to the window for the entire four-hour bus ride. The prairies are stunning and the skies here blow my mind.
 

 

From my hotel room in Grande Prairie, I discovered where the town got its name. It's very grand... and very, very prairie.
 

 The next morning, I headed to the dining room for breakfast at the hotel before my ride arrived. The room was packed full and there were very few empty seats. I chose one at a table with the only other female in the room. "First time in camp?" she asked. "Yes." "I've been going for years. The van will be here soon. Which camp are you going to?" and when I told her, she, to my absolute surprise, replied, "Me too. I'm Brandy. I'm your Camp Manager."

So THAT's how this is going to go.

I spent the next three weeks here:
 

I worked dayshift, 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 7 days a week, cleaning rooms, stocking shelves, and learning about life in isolation. My camp was small: it housed about 60 people, most of whom were men, and all of whom were tradespeople aside from the 7 or so of us who were there as staff.

Despite having 12-hour shifts, I did get a few minutes outside with my cameras, where I fell in love with the pure white beauty of the untouched snow that is northern Alberta in the winter.

This is the road that goes past my camp. It's actually straight, but the panoramic nature of the photo makes it appear curved, but other than that, this is it: this stunning reminder of just how much world is out there is where I lived day in, day out.

It's a life that is not for the faint of heart, but I learned that I am made to live out of a suitcase, to be constantly moving, not knowing where I will be living from week to week. It's stressful and exhausting, and it's not a life I could live on a long-term basis. But I'm here for the adventure, and that makes it all worth it in the end.

West Edmonton Mall

Edmonton, Alberta is home to the largest shopping mall in North America. It's called the West Edmonton Mall and it was the first place I wanted to go when I arrived in Edmonton prior to my first trip to the remote camps. My friend that I was staying with happily obliged.

Inside the mall, there is an ice rink.

 

 

There is a wave pool.

 

 

There is a pirate ship, including seals in the surrounding moat and pool area (the mall is also accredited as a zoo)

 

 

and there is a full-sized theme park.

 

 

 The roller coasters looked absolutely terrifying but made for some great photos!

 

 

 

 

 Of course, there are also stores and services: over 800 of them to be exact. We managed to make it through without spending much other than time, but although it was my first trip there, I could guarantee it wasn't going to be the last.

Some Other Beginning's End

"Closing time. Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." ~ Semisonic, 'Closing Time'

In January of 2015, I was preparing for yet another new beginning. My new job would take me to remote camps in the north of the province for up to three weeks at a time starting at the end of the month. I was excited to take on this whole new way of life: that was, after all, what I had come here for. But in the weeks leading up to my first day, I knew that I had already become adjusted to living under the mountains. I made the ten minute walk every day to my favourite perch, usually lugging my camera in case this was the day I could somehow get a different angle. Most often, I visited at sunset, sometimes rushing out of the house as I realized it was almost dusk in order to capture the majesty, the spectacular beauty, the.... well.... this...