Some portraits taken last week for feature articles published in Oshawa This Week, Whitby This Week, The Canadian Statesman, Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser

Video artist Melissa Pauw stands by one of her drawings 'imaginary friends' which is on display as part of a collaborative exhibition entitled 'Mind Map' at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery with three other artists. Melissa also has one of her videos exhibited, also entitled 'imaginary friends', in which she drew by hand on every frame of the video. Her work came about through the idea that as children, people had imaginary friends which disappeared over time as they became adults. Through her video animation peice she wanted to bring back a little bit of that childhood, and give it back to some unsuspecting adults.
July 19, 2006

Andy Kozak was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was just five and a half years-old. He was also the first diabetic racer for Team Diabetes Canada to complete a solo 24-hour mountain bike race. Andy is now getting ready to race solo in the 24 Hours of Hot August Nights race on August 19 at the Albion Hills Conservation Area, where he will be spearheading the fundraiser 'Get Pumped', which will see relay teams racing for 24-hours to raise money for the Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre in Whitby. The fundraising for the C. H. Best Centre will help people with type 1 diabetes get access to insulin pumps, which are the newest form of diabetes management and are also not subsidised by the government after the age of 18. "The idea for the fundraiser was to help people on a local level, raise awareness of type 1 diabetes, and prove that with proper diabetes management people afflicted by the condition, can do pretty much anything," says Andy.
July 20, 2006


Joanne Elawar's brother, Saady Elawar went on vacation to Lebanon, to visit family and friends. He left on May 27th, and was to return at the end of July, but now with escalating violence in Lebanon, thousands of Canadians like him are trapped and are trying desperatly to get back home to Canada. Joanne is hoping that the Canadian Government and the Canadian Embassy in Lebanon will help Canadian citizens get back quickly and safely.
July 17, 2006