“Keep Cool” is stamped on the side of every box of three hundred saplings that must be planted in Northern Alberta. It’s also a tribute to the grit of the young Canadians reforesting the country, one tree at a time.
Lola Drewery’s lens offers a first-hand view into the spirit of tree planting. These images capture just a few of the thousands who venture into the wilderness each summer in a labour-intensive rite of passage.
Taken during Drewery’s rookie season, the photographs reveal the raw intensity of backbreaking labour—mud-caked clothes, damaged skin, and long stretches of isolation. While at the same time, expressing the peace, rugged beauty, and explosive vibrancy of life in the bush.
'Keep Cool' is on display at Rooster Coffee House, 479 Broadview Ave, Toronto, as part of the Contact Photography Festival.
Planter Portraits
Cyrus Thumm, AB
Emy Lachman, Fort St. James BC
Willem Leonard, Fort St. James BC
Jackson Bonn, High Prairie AB
Emma Segar, Fort St James BC
THE WILDERNESS
Block Treasure
Heli Pickup
Block Treat
35mm Film
Castle Mountain, On the Road to the Season
Cache Creek Camp, Day 1
Danny, Jade, and Ella
Bridgette and Emma gearing up
Dylan Bagging Up
View from my Tent in Cache Creek
Rookie Training
William outside the Motel, Prince George of the Econo Lodge
Prince George Gas station
Dylan, Cyrus and I
Emma and Jackson at Lesser Slave Lake
Beach Day
William Chillin
Crew Stunt
Sophie and Juno
Cash Monkey
Cribbage
Tally Line
Heli Pickup
Emy and Emma out the way out
Rainy Day
The block from the Helicopter
weeeeeeee
Mission Impossible
Josh lookin Cheeky
Nordegg Camp
High Prairie Camp
Danny
William Bday!
Family Band
Someone is probably saying something very interesting
Noah the music man
Sophie and I
Juno
Fun day at the reefer
Oli oli
Miika and Bridgette
Beach day lineup
Will, Dylan, and Cyrus pretending to read
a big ol' hole
suntannin
Bush Haircut
Dust storm
get to the choppa!
Cashin n cheesin
Will and Adam
Cowboy Campin
Sophie and Juno at Abraham Lake
Picnic at Abraham
Josh and Emma
getting Boxes ready for the pickup
Nordegg Sunset
Smiles
Jackson's Angels - Todd's Camp 2024