Our Manitoba Photo Contest Winner Unveiled

Alysa Ferguson of Thompson is the winner of this year’s Sunrise Credit Union Our Manitoba Photo Contest.

Alysa’s photo ‘Minosiw’ (below) emerged as the winner from over 400 entries for this year’s contest. A shortlist of 30 images was put through one-week public voting last month through the ourmanitoba.org website. The week-long voting period saw close to 9,300 votes cast, with the 12 finalists and the grand prize winner receiving the most votes.

Ferguson, who is originally from Minnedosa, took the winning photo at Fish Lake, Manitoba, on September 25, 2020. The name ‘Minosiw’ (pronounced min-NOOSE-sue) is Cree for ‘Beauty.’

“That picture, we were out moose-hunting, so we were out sleeping on an island, and the lights were out all around us.” said Ferguson, “They’re usually out when we go out moose-hunting, so I knew they (the Northern Lights) would be out. But the clouds had just cleared off, and they came dancing.”

A self-taught photographer, Ferguson moved to Thompson in 2007 but still maintains her account at the Minnedosa branch and vacations frequently with her family at their cottage at Minnedosa Lake.

“Just the last few years, I got into it when the kids were young because I needed a hobby.” Said Ferguson, “It seemed the only time I had to myself was nighttime. Some friends took me out to do aurora shooting, and I just fell in love with it.”

All 13 finalists will also receive a canvas print of the winning photograph, be featured in the 2022 Sunrise Credit Union calendar, and appear on Sunrise Credit Union’s branch TVs and social media channels. In addition, Alysa Ferguson earned the Grant Prize of a $500 One-Year Term Deposit from Sunrise Credit Union.

2021 marked the ninth edition of the Our Manitoba Photo Contest, and the unveiling of the grand prize winner on Wednesday (May 12) coincided with Manitoba Day.

(submitted)