What is captured in the moment when a photograph is taken? Starting in the spring of 2020 and moving with the waves of the pandemic, photographic artist Maureen MacMillan created 50 portraits each capturing a moment in the diverse experiences of seniors living in the western Ottawa Valley.
Honouring Seniors Photographic Portraits is accompanied by a sound art compilation by Kathy Blomquist and Tristan Whiston .
Anastasia “Tessie” Whelan, Round Lake Centre, age 103. Tessie is sitting at home in Round Lake Centre. She was living on her own, in her own home, at 102 years of age.
Andrew “Della”
Dombroskie, Barry’s Bay, age 67 (1954-2022). Della at his homestead/farm
outside of Barry’s Bay. He passed away in January of 2022. He will be remembered for his big laugh, wide smile and kind, open heart.
Ann Pohl, Killaloe, age 71. A long-time activist, Ann is pictured here with some of the signs that
showcase the causes she’s been involved with over the years.
Betty Shalla, Barrys Bay, age 100. Sitting in her living room, Betty, a long-time lover of dancing and music, pulls out her fiddle to play us a tune.
Carl Kuehl, Killaloe, age 74. Carl sits with his son Jeff and grandson Dylan at the family hunt camp near Killaloe. Hunting is a long-standing family
tradition, passed down from generation to generation.
Cathy Lyons and Phil Godon, Golden Lake. Ages: Cathy 66, Phil 77. Photo taken in their wedding attire at
Shaw Woods. Phil and Cathy retired to this
area and spend their time volunteering for many community organizations.
Dan Harrington, Killaloe, age 73. Dan has lived in Killaloe all his life and once owned the Killaloe Hardware Store. Now retired, he spends his time volunteering in the
community he loves. This photo was taken on the bridge in Station Park.
Donnie Palubeskie, Barry’s Bay, age 75. Donnie is a long-time Barry’s Bay business owner, fiddle player and music teacher.
Doris Marquardt, Palmer Rapids, age 85. Doris is an active member of the local senior community in “downtown” Palmer Rapids.
Betty (Stewart) Hazelton, Killaloe, age 74. Betty stands in the doorway of the house where she first lived when she came to the area.
Ethel LaValley, Whitney, age 71. Ethel stands on the bridge that she crossed every day as a child in Whitney.
Frank Tettemer, Killaloe, age 73. Frank spent many years building and perfecting this garden and pond at his home in the Killaloe hills.
Joanna Yandernoll, Barry’s Bay, age 89 (1932-2021). Joanna was living in Barry’s Bay at the time of this photo. Joanna passed away in 2021. She was beloved by her family and all who knew her.
Carol and Joseph Van
Massenhoven, Brudenell. Ages: Carol 75, Joseph 83. Carol and Joseph at the farm and homestead they built from the ground up.
Linda Shulist, Wilno, age 66. Linda is outside of the Valley Manor, where she worked for many years before recently retiring. She is loving the freedom to pursue her many passions, like quilting.
Linda Sorensen, Wilno, age 69. Linda is at the Rockingham Church, which has long been a source of artistic inspiration for her.
Lynne Postill and Bruce Burnett, Killaloe. Ages: Lynne 80, Bruce 75. Lynne and Bruce met playing darts at the Wilno Tavern. Both are proud members and supporters of the Killaloe Lion’s Hall, where this photo was taken.
Marcella Kuehl, Killaloe, age 95. Marcella is at home crocheting a blanket, one of hundreds she has made for people in need. As well, many will attest that she makes the best pies in Killaloe.
Merita Etmanskie, Barry’s Bay, age 84. Merita had a career as a nurse, teaching and caring for others. She is currently retired and lives in Barry’s Bay.
Mary Margaret Kelly, Barry’s Bay, age 91. Once a nurse, always a nurse. Mary Margaret spent a lifetime as a nurse and was well respected in the nursing community.
Pat Foran, Killaloe, age 75. “I am an artist,” says Pat, at her home studio outside of Killaloe.
Pat Thurston, Killaloe, age 74. Pat, a local artist, is pictured here with one of her textile creations outside of her home and studio.
Red Hats: Pearl Smith, Shirley Davis, Liz Beasley and Donna Smith. The wild Red Hat women photographed in Barry’s Bay at Lakeshore Park.
Roberta Della-Pica, Eganville, age 66. Roberta, in the woods outside of her home at Lake Clear.
Joan and Robert
Archambault, Barry’s Bay. Ages: Joan 77, Robert 86. Joan and Robert sit together in the backyard of their apartment building in Barry’s Bay.
Sylvia Anne Hinrichsen, Wilno, age 73. Sylvia is known locally as a master gardener. She is pictured here in her Wilno gardens.
Glen Ford and Theresa Leandre, Barry’s Bay. Ages: Glen 71, Theresa 68. Theresa and Glen are the founders of the Hasanville Community, located outside of Barry’s Bay.
Terry and Patrice Walsh, Killaloe. Ages: Terry 74, Patrice 69. Terry and Patrice are at the homestead where they raised their family.
Yvonne Della-Pica, Eganville, age 93 (1928-2022). Yvonne at her home by Lake Clear. Yvonne passed away in January 2022. She will be long remembered for her adventurous spirit and love of life.
Dawn and Peter Cruchet, Palmer Rapids. Ages: Dawn 74, Peter 74. Dawn and Peter paddle along the Madawaska River in Palmer Rapids.
Corrine Groskleg, Golden Lake, age 77. Corrine works on a quilt. Each of her grandchilden has their own quilt, made with love by Corrine.
Dieter and Klaus Botz, Barry’s Bay and Killaoe. Ages: Dieter 67, Klaus 87
Two generations. Dieter and Klaus stand on Klaus’s property
in the hills of Killaloe.
Donna Smith, Barry’s Bay, age 82. Donna is a proud Red Hatter from Barry’s Bay. “A hat is an expression of a woman’s soul.” — Lily Doche
Ellen Musclow, Palmer Rapids, age 72. Ellen stands at the river that winds by her home in Palmer Rapids.
Ferne and Roger McElhinney, Killaloe. Ages: Ferne 77, Roger 79. Ferne and Roger, at Roger’s family homestead.
Fran Pinkerton, Killaloe, age 66. Fran stands in the water at Wadsworth Beach, a place that holds many fond memories of catching up with old friends.
Garnet Foster, Barry’s Bay, age 88. Garnet stands outside of Metro in Barry’s Bay. He took it upon himself to pick up garbage for many years in the downtown core. He’s known for his efforts to keep Barry’s Bay beautiful.
Johanna Zomers, Eganville, age 68. Johanna sits at Lake Dore and enjoys some quiet time writing. Joanna is a local author and also writes for the Eganville Leader.
Joyce Burkholder, Wilno, age 69. Joyce mid-bike ride in the Wilno hills.
Liz Beasley, Barrys Bay, age 74. Liz is a proud Red Hatter from Barry’s Bay. “Beneath every great hat is a great woman.” —?Red Hat Society.
Pearl Smith, Barry’s Bay, age 83. Pearl is a proud Red Hatter from Barry’s Bay. “Leave a little sparkle wherever you go.” — Red Hat Society
Raymond D. Nicholls
and Linda Splaine, Killaloe. Ages: Raymond 84, Linda 73. Raymond and Linda at home with their beloved pets, Babe the dog and Boo the cat.
Charles Belair, Barry’s Bay, age 77. Charles brings the Christmas
spirit to his Barry’s Bay community every day of the year.
Gloria Marrujo, Barry’s Bay, age 70. Gloria, a designer by trade, helped
design bomb suits, and later worked at Black Water Designs in Foymont. She now lives in Barry’s Bay.
Lloyd and Irene Tennant, Palmer Rapids. Ages: Lloyd 81, Irene 81. Lloyd and Irene in their home. Lloyd says when he first laid eyes on Irene, “She was the most beautiful girl in the room.”
Lesley MacDonald and
Peter Ritchie, Combermere. Ages: Ledley 69 , Peter 67. Peter and Lesley sit in the stone garden (complete with stone oven), that Peter built.
Shirley Davis, Combermere, age 83. Shirley is a proud Red Hatter from Combermere.
Here she is photographed at the lakeshore in Barry’s Bay. “Good friends and a Red Hat, life don’t get much better than that!” —Anon
Aurelia Skebo and Betty
Mullin, Killaloe. Ages: Aurelia 93, Betty 85. Sisters Aurelia and Betty sit outside of their family homestead, where Betty was born.
Ursula R. Golka, golden Lake, age 86. Ursula is on a swing outside of her
apartment. She originally wanted the photo taken with her husband, but he passed away shortly before we had a chance to get together. This photo represents her love for her husband and family.
William “Billy” O’Malley, Brudenell, age 74. William standing on his family farm outside of Brudenell.
The Story Behind The Portraits
A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words
Split Second
Place Names
Place Names is an ongoing art inquiry with local schools, exploring the history, meaning and imaginative possibilities of local place names. What are the names of the places we live in and near? Who named these places and what do these names mean? What other names have these places been called and what other names might we call them today?
Baskets for Connection
January 25, 2022: Baskets for Connection is a project that was created to connect with seniors in the Ottawa Valley.
Place Names
January 25, 2022: Information to come soon.
Pop Up Art
September 29, 2020: Ottawa Valley Community Arts (OV-CAOS), in partnership with the Community Resource Centre, Killaloe, has received a three-year Grow Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to expand on the Pop Up Art programming, originally established in 2019. Over the next three years, Ottawa Valley residents will have the opportunity to experience Pop Up Art in a number of ways.
The Ottawa Valley will be home to three semi-permanent public art exhibition venues, located in the communities of Eganville, Garrison Petawawa and Arnprior. Each of these galleries will host up to 10 curated exhibitions between March 2021 and June 2023. The exhibition lineup will feature themed, juried, multi-artist exhibitions and open community exhibits.
OV-CAOS and our community partners are working with seniors to honour their lives and contributions to our community. We are doing this by collecting stories and taking photographic portraits of up to fifty seniors. The portraits are taken in a location chosen by the participants.
The stories and portraits will be exhibited publicly at the end of the project and will also be turned into a printed book.
OV-CAOS and our community partners are working with seniors to honour their lives and contributions to our community. We are doing this by collecting stories and taking photographic portraits of up to fifty seniors. The portraits are taken in a location chosen by the participants.