Letters /Theme Pic Contributor Spotlight

PAULA BROWN

Paula is originally from southwest Ontario and currently a longtime, happy resident of Ottawa. She has always loved taking pictures, from her career in x-ray technology to her passion for photography. She has won many competitions and awards both locally and worldwide and has been featured in numerous venues and magazines. Snapping pictures of her granddaughters is a highlight for her. Paula has travelled extensively with her family and loves the photo opportunities it presents. She is also an enthusiastic quilter and gardener, and snaps photos of both, combining her hobbies. Turn to page 8 to enjoy her photo essay, “Hometown Explorer.”

ISABELLA MINDAK

Isabella has been a constant writer ever since childhood. Born and raised in Ottawa, she earned an honours diploma in journalism and went on to work as a newspaper reporter, and as an editorial, business and creative writer. After a few years in British Columbia, Isabella now lives in Ottawa with her partner and, coming soon, two French bulldogs. Read her touching tribute to recently deceased Canadian businessman, philanthropist and Order of Canada recipient Dave Smith in Cause for Applause on page 18. Isabella’s first children’s book, titled The Lie That Multiplied, is due to be available on Amazon.com as this issue goes to press.

MARIA POWELL

Maria grew up in Dartmouth, N.S., and spent 11 years in Saint John, N.B., before moving to Calgary in 2007.

Her longtime hospitality career is in hotel sales, and she is also a professional photographer. To see some of Maria’s pics and read about her trip to beautiful Victoria, turn to page 20 to enjoy her story “Talk to Strangers” in this issue’s Our Travels department. Maria is passionate about many things including music, travel, good grammar, kindness, trivia and especially listening to other people’s stories. Maria is a devoted “cat mom” to the charmingly named Olivia Spaceboots, Oliver Moonshoes and

Joe Spade.

GAURAV GHOSE

When Gaurav was given the news that his submission would be published in this issue, he shared with us that he “grew up on Reader’s Digest in India and is proud to see that his efforts and spirit to keep going in his writer’s journey have born new fruit.” Previously a journalist and communications consultant in Dubai, he and his wife Sananda moved to London, Ont., in August 2018, with their twin boys, Rudra and Karna. Sananda pursues a PH.D degree at Western University and Gourav is proudly working on the front lines during the pandemic. Read his My Hometown story, “The Cart Cleaner with Cufflinks,” on page 42.