Pictures of the Year – Ian Martens

Herald photo by Ian Martens A junior competitor is carried over the sticky mud before competing in the steer riding event during a cold and rainy evening for the CPRA Pro Rodeo during Whoop-Up Days at Exhibition Park.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Immanuel Christian Eagles’ Donovan Scholten and FP Walshe Flyers’ Shody Perry battle for the ball during 2A South Zone basketball action at Lethbridge College.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Paige Day, on Quincey, and Stephanie Lofgren, on Skye, ride across a crosswalk after traveling up 26th Avenue North from Edgewood Stables near Pavan Park on their way to pick up a pizza.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Piita Manyfeathers performs an honour dance in front of the casket of his cousin Kyle Devine during his funeral at Cornerstone Funeral Home. Devine, along with Clarissa English and her brother Dakota, were victims of the city’s first triple homicide.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Butterflies hang from the sides of a screen enclosure before being released by a class of Grade 1 and 2 students at Westminster Elementary School. Students at the school have been watching the insectsÕ life cycle over the past few weeks from caterpillar to butterfly before releasing them to flit into the surrounding neighbourhood.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Hendric Tronsson, from Crescent Heights High School, soars above the pit for a new zone record of 7.05 metres in the senior boys long jump event during the south zone track and field meet at the University of Lethbridge Stadium.

Herald photo by Ian Martens A train crosses the high level bridge as a combination of misty rain and a smokey haze blown in from wildfires in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan hangs over the river valley.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Ten-year-old Griffin McCulloch, along with his steer Iggy, calls out as he gets pumped up to enter the arena with the rest of the Milk River 4-H Multi Club during the Lethbridge and District 4-H Steer Show at Exhibition Park.

Herald photo by Ian Martens A character from Katt Panic Makeup Artistry blows bubbles while walking in the Whoop-Up Days parade.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Combines harvest a field of barley north of Chin as part of the annual Canadian Foodgrains Bank Coaldale-Lethbridge Community Growing Project. Money raised from the sale of the grain and straw is used to provide food aid overseas to people in need, with organizers saying approximately $1 million has been raised locally over the nine years of harvests.

Herald photo by Ian Martens A rain dappled photo of two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette rests next to a memorial display at a playground near her home a day after her remains were found in a rural area north of Blairmore.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Karna Adhikari casts his ballot in a federal election mock vote at the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization as part of the Bhutanese Conversation Class and the Lethbridge Public LibraryÕs Read On program. The mock vote followed a civic literacy orientation session for the group of Bhutanese seniors, some of whom will be voting for the first time as new Canadian citizens.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Ice spray fills the air next to Japanese skater Yuzuru Hanyu during his routine in the Gala Exhibition as part of Skate Canada International at the Enmax Centre.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Patrick Chan holds a Canadian flag as he takes a victory skate after winning the gold medal during Skate Canada International at the Enmax Centre. Chan came from behind after being in second place after the short program the day before.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Minister Oneil Carlier is surrounded by farmers and ranchers during a question and answer session following the Bill 6 town hall meeting Thursday outside of the Lethbridge Lodge.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Six-year-old Abby Bjornson sits on her uncle Derek CampbellÕs shoulders as they watch the lighted floats pass by during the Country Christmas Night of Lights in Coaldale. The annual event featured the parade, hay rides, late night shopping and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Lethbridge HurricanesÕ Cory Millette skates back to the bench through a minefield of teddy bears after scoring four minutes into the first period against the Red Deer Rebels during the annual teddy bear toss game at the Enmax Centre.

Herald photo by Ian Martens Ken Butler sails his catamaran across Henderson Lake against the backdrop of the changing fall colours in Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden.