In the end:
- 1,000 beautiful, 2019 calendars that celebrate the beauty of Nova Scotia's trees and forest found a home
- Just over $3,700 will be donated to the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute to carry on the fight against invasive species
And a very big shout out to the following for their help with the project:
- Awesome South Shore for the initial boost of dollars and confidence to get it going
- The Instagram Community for allowing me to repost your awesome photos
- All the media for helping get out the message about our photo contest and then the calendar being for sale including CBC, CKBW, LighthouseNow, Radio 95.7 and The Chronicle Herald
- All the photographers who submitted their awesome images.
- And my children for selecting the pictures to include in the calendar (I'd still be trying to decide!) from Mike Bayer, Mark Brennan, Karen Cooke, James J Doucette, Sarah Foote, Linda Hall, Sara Harley, Donna MacNeil, Paul Newton, Beatrice Schuler, Lori Simmonds and Ron Smith
- The incredible design (patience and guidance) from Anna Nibby-Wood and the first class production of Bounty Print
- All the local Farmer’s Markets who generously made space available including Bridgewater, Lunenburg, Wolfville, Hubbards, Halifax Brewery and Dartmouth Alderney Landing
- Groups for letting me attend and speak about the project and invasive species including the Bridgewater Photo Society, Council of Canadians, the Halifax Central Library and the Mahone Bay Forest Fair & Market
- Thanks to Ron Neville from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for his help and guidance and Matt Smith from Keji Park for his encouragement and photos
- The gang at Mersey Tobeatic for their help and encouragement including Amanda, Colin, Jane, Nicole, Wendy and Wesley
- All the retailers who helped us make the calendar more accessible including Caledonia Pharmachoice, Comfort & Joy, Fancy Pants Cafe, JA Turners, LaHave Books, Lanes Privateers, Lexicon Books, Lucky Rabbit Pottery, Maritime Foot Clinic, Sissiboo Coffee Roasters, Village Glassworks, Windhorse Farm, WindyWood Publishing and White Point
- And people who just jumped in to help including Sherry Hudson, Charlene Morton and Lunar Rogue
- Its never a positive thing when the main delivery method goes on national strike in the middle of the sales cycle! A big shout out to the folk at Canada Post in Bridgewater and New Germany for your help and guidance
So many people were supportive at the meetings and by email. And so many people stepped up to purchase the calendar. There were some anxious moments when I wondered if 1,000 were 500 too many!
And finally, my life-long thanks to Jen, my biggest supporter and partner in this journey.
Tom Rogers
www.giantsofnovascotia.com
January 2019