Week Six

It was a slow week. I worked a long, long weekend beforehand so I got a couple of days off, but it meant that I had very few actual photo things to do. Here's what I did on my own time (Calgary Stampede things) and for the paper.

Duchess of Cambridge waves as they drive the Calgary Stampede Parade route far too quickly and in the dark. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Buildings at 6th Ave SE and 6th St SE are reflected in the tuba of a member of a marching band in the Calgary Stampede Parade. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

A young Blackfoot boy falls asleep midway through the Calgary Stampede Parade. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Jack Tucker, 9, keeps his eye on the ball while getting in a game of tennis at the Brent Boulevard tennis courts in Strathmore on July 4. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

Town of Strathmore Council has decided to replace the decrepit fence at East Lake Road with a post and cable version, angering many area residents. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

Week Five

Time is flying/crawling by. This weekend was busy with a gay rodeo, Canada Day, and Strathmore's centennial. Here are a few favourites.

Aaron Granley (right) of Edmonton decorates a steer as Andrew Clapperton of Calgary holds on at the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo on Sunday, July 3. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

Shawn Carnes of Joliet, Illinois has a near miss during the junior bull riding at the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo on Sunday, July 3. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

Chute dogging at the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo on Sunday, July 3. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

The Agricultural Society grounds were evacuated and the remainder of the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo cancelled when sudden strong winds and rain as well as reports of a tornado came through. The cancelling of the remainder of the rodeo meant that Sunday did not see the remainder of the barrel racing, goat dressing, flag race, bull riding, or the wild drag race. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

The Calgary Dance Express performed on Friday, July 1. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

The Shirtwaist Kings performed on Saturday, July 2 as part of Strathmore's Centennial celebrations. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

Two girls enjoy Kinsmen Park lake and a sunny Canada Day. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

Fireworks concluded Canada Day in Strathmore. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

Week Four

This was a weird week, most definitely. I'm learning that every week is different, and this one was hard. Our editor is on vacation now for four weeks, and our pages came in late and wrong on Monday so we didn't get to start layout until noon. Cue Tuesday at county council and I'm supposed to have Friday off since I worked the previous weekend, and all of a sudden you get a two-day workweek with the regular number of assignments. Again, more stories, but here are some of the photos.

School's out! Some of the grade six students at Westmount Elementary in Strathmore, Alberta celebrate on one of the last days of classes. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

Jim Cammaert of The Fireworks Factory near Rockyford displays some of the fireworks that are set to light up the night sky at the Canada Day celebrations in Strathmore. Cammaert says it will be the biggest ever done in the town, with thousands of fireworks set to go off in an extravagant display lasting twenty minutes. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

Fish and Wildlife Officer Garry Shmorong and student Sarah Trettwer show off some of the animals on display at Kinsmen Park during the annual fishing derby on Saturday, June 25. The Fish and Wildlife Division was on hand to give out fishing licences and show the public some examples of wildlife in the area. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

And just for fun, a Saturday drive led to me cavorting with cattle...

A cow grazes in a field east of Strathmore. RACHEL PSUTKA/STRATHMORE STANDARD/QMi AGENCY

My nephew James turned 6 on Saturday. This one didn't make the paper...Photo by Rachel Psutka.