Wow! Thank you!

What a great turn-out we had for the "Photo Fiesta" on Monday night--more than 75 people came out (on time!!!) to SoBo's to view all the photos, drink mini-margaritas, devour delicious tapas and find out who won the prizes. By all accounts, it was a very fun evening!

I would like to thank EVERYONE who made this event happen successfully:

Thanks to the 26 participants whose photographs were all wonderful and VERY appreciated by the Raincoast Education Society (RES). Even if you did not win a prize this time, your credited photos will continue to live on with the RES on their new website, in pamphlets, posters, calendars, etc.

Thanks to the funders of this project, the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund and Clayoquot Biosphere Trust.

Thanks to the very generous prize sponsors, Aftanas Surf Designs, Pentax Canada, Pete Clarkson, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Tofino Botanical Gardens Foundation, Raincoast Education Society, Jacqueline Windh and Jen Pukonen!

Thanks to "magic-fingers" Lisa Ahier, Amazing Artie Ahier and the Super SoBo crew (Aaron, Katharine, Rick) who provided incredible food, margaritas, and seamless service, like always! Great juggling act too!

Thanks to Barb Beasley and Jen Pukonen for helping me set up and take down the exhibit (bravely hammering holes in newly painted walls and scaling sketchy ladders).

Thanks to the panel of judges (2 professional photographers and the RES Board).

Thanks to Barb Beasley, Josie Osborne, Jen Pukonen and Caron Olive for all their instant feedback and support.

Thanks to Keven Drews and Lloyd Samson at the Westcoaster, and Jen Dart and the Westerly crew for your coverage, interest and technical assistance.

Thanks to Sherrie and Jennifer Aftanas for hurrying and couriering prints from London Drugs to the Nanaimo Bus Depot so we had a photo exhibit!

Thanks to Houle Printing in Port Alberni for their friendly, helpful and expeditious service!

Thanks to Sarah Buga and Kat at the Clayoquot Field Station for all their braun in preparing SoBo's for the fiesta.

Thanks to London Drugs for hastily re-printing for free 85 of the 112 pictures they forgot to put borders on so that all the pictures could look the same.

Thanks to Adam Buskard for letting me submit the photo fiesta event in the Tofino Time well after the deadline for submissions!

Thanks to all the residents along the mudflats for the interesting conversations and friendly faces I encountered as I delivered your invitations.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support friends, family and local community members from as far away as Port Alberni (Thanks Denise!) to as close as next door, from as young as Katie Arnet to as old as....the rest of us!

This event would not have been possible without you! Thank you so much!