A tearful anthem, a rock-inspired cellist, and a blazing heatwave — these photos tell Ottawa’s story in ways words never could.
Ottawa Citizen photographer Julie Oliver looks back on her top photos of 2024 and the stories behind them, as told to Sofia Misenheimer. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
A year of emotion
This photo was taken on May 14 during Israel’s Independence Day celebrations. I had met Floralove before at the Holocaust Memorial, so I recognized her immediately. During the anthem, she broke down in tears, overcome by emotion, while a friend embraced her.
For many, the attack in Israel months earlier was still fresh. In such a small country, everyone knows someone who was personally affected.
Teen mania at Jazz Fest
Laufey’s performance at Jazz Fest brought a level of excitement I didn’t expect. Teenage girls were losing their minds over this petite cellist.
The festival usually has an older crowd, but Laufey brought out a younger audience. Her music almost sounds like old standards. She’s singing about breaking up with boys, very much like Taylor Swift, but in a jazz style.
Jazz Fest was thrilled. If they could get her back next year, they would probably be beyond themselves.
Connection at Shepherds of Good Hope
This was at the Shepherds of Good Hope’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. The volunteer in the photo has known Colin for years. She was delighted to see him and relieved that he was okay.
Colin is someone who’s fallen through the cracks. He’s not an addict or visibly struggling with substance abuse; he’s just down on his luck, like so many people these days. You can feel the love between the volunteers and the people they serve at this shelter.
Evening Update
The housing crisis has pushed more people to the edge, and shelters like this are brimming at the seams. It just gets worse as you go all the way down the line.
Chamber music meets Metallica
This portrait of Ottawa’s rock cellist, Raphael Weinroth-Browne, was taken in the alley behind his apartment. His studio was unbearably hot — no air conditioning — and it was so cramped, there wasn’t even room to move. I asked him, “Can we take this outside?” He agreed, carefully carrying his cello because it’s such an expensive instrument.
We ended up with this great mural as the backdrop. He started playing, completely immersed in the music. At one point, sweat dripping, he flicked his hair out of his eyes — exactly what you’d expect from a rock musician.
Child’s play at Eid al-Fitr
This photo was taken at the EY Centre during the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. The crowd exceeded expectations, with over 15,000 attendees. Men and women prayed in separate sections.
A little boy balancing his water bottle on his dad’s back caught my eye. It was such a typical kid moment — completely in his own world against the symmetry of men in prayer.
An organ transplant in action
The inside of a church organ is not something you see every day. It’s a whole world within itself — layers of pipes and walkways, some barely wide enough to stand on. The repairman, Sylvain, was in there swinging around like a monkey, replacing a part while explaining to me where I could and couldn’t step. He’s not a young guy, so watching him maneuver through this massive instrument was something else.
The organ is four storeys tall, with parts stretching into the basement. Sylvain was swapping out a component. There’s no room for error — one misstep, and you’d fall right through, causing thousands of dollars in damage. I clamped a light near a pipe to get enough visibility in the near-darkness and then just waited for him to do his thing.
Working through a heat wave
Ottawa’s summer heat waves are no joke, but road crews have it the worst. Watching these men lay asphalt in 40-degree heat while I complained about sweating through my shirt put things into perspective.
This shot was taken after I had been on the street for hours. The workers barely stopped.
Documenting dissent in Ottawa
This was one of the most difficult photos to take this year. Covering protests in Ottawa has become more charged, and this one was no different.
The man’s expression in this photo captures his level of anger and frustration. It’s reflective of a year where the division was sharper than ever. No matter the topic — the convoy trials, pro-Palestinian rallies, or liberal versus conservative politics — everything felt more polarized.
I could feel it in day-to-day interactions. There’s a different energy in the city now.
What I love about my job is that no two days are ever the same. That’s the beauty of it. Every day brings something new.
Next year, I want to keep being surprised by my work. The unexpected moments make this job exciting and remind you why you do it.
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