Pictures worth a thousand words

By Melissa Piche Times Contributor

Mike Drew kicked off the Vault Cultural Collective Speaker Series on Jan. 23 with stunning photos displayed in the Upper Gallery for all to see.

The award-winning photographer shared decades of work and stories drawn from a life spent watching Southern Alberta closely.

Drew, who had spent more than 35 years photographing and documenting his On the Road column for the Calgary Sun, brought a deeply personal collection to Strathmore. His images celebrated wildlife, prairie landscapes and quiet corners of the region that often went unnoticed. 

“Basically, I photograph whatever I see,” Drew said. “If I’m out in the country and I’m driving along and something catches my eye, I’ll photograph it. In general terms, I photograph Southern Alberta.”

Over decades on the road, Drew developed a reputation for noticing details others passed by. 

“I would much rather be out on the prairie looking around and looking for things that people might just pass by and not even notice, and then try to bring some attention to them,” he said. 

Many of the photographs he shared did exactly that, transforming familiar land into something fresh and compelling.

Drew told the crowd his curiosity was rooted in a lifelong connection to the region. Now 73, he had lived in Southern Alberta since infancy and paid close attention to how it looked and felt over time. 

“I’ve essentially lived my entire life in Southern Alberta,” he said. “I’ve paid attention to stuff around me through that whole time.” 

That attentiveness, honed during years of newspaper work, had shaped his desire to help people understand where they lived. 

“Most people know almost nothing about where anything is,” he said. “It made me want to educate people a little bit and spark their curiosity.”

As visitors listened intently, Drew spoke about travelling back roads without rigid plans, letting the land guide him. 

“Every time I go out, even if it’s to the same place on the same route, it’s always different,” he added. “There’s always something else to see, or something familiar in a different way.”

That philosophy resonated with the audience, many of whom recognized the places Drew described. He spoke enthusiastically about prairie valleys, parkland transitions and historic terrain shaped thousands of years ago, all within driving distance of home. 

“Most people don’t even know it exists, let alone go there,” he said. “I guess maybe an appreciation of what they have that’s right around them …when I talk, I hope people take away the idea to get out and explore around where they live.”

Judging by the full gallery and captivated audience at The Vault, many left inspired to do just that.