The playback reel for 2024 won’t be lacking and if most of it seems a blur to you, well, you wouldn’t be alone. We packed a lot of stuff into 2024! Between celebrating an anniversary, a grand opening, and multiple events in between, we rounded our year off sponsoring some pretty unforgettable engagements. Join us as we journey through the moments that imprinted our hearts and minds in 2024.
Our whirlwind move marked a pivotal change for McBain. In May of this year, McBain said goodbye to the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood. It was the location that grew alongside us for 42 years and one we fondly remember as the second home for some of our longest serving staff. And while it was a bittersweet goodbye, we eagerly embrace our future at our new Mayfield Square location.This move took our headquarters from a 9,000-square-foot facility to laying roots in a modern 11,000 square foot site – designed purposefully with our customer’s needs in mind. We’re incredibly thankful for all the patience our customers showed during our transitional move. We’re not only proud to give our customers more space, but to also provide them with better tools to explore the expanse of their own creativity. We’ve done this not only by offering a new additional McBain classroom, where we’ve already hosted numerous workshops. We remain committed to our customer’s progression by connecting them with high profile educators and photographers.
Shortly after our move, we hit the ground running by celebrating our 75th anniversary. What a milestone to sit back and reflect on the pride and privilege that we’ve had in serving our customers for so many years. We remain grateful to all of the communities we serve (Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Red Deer, and Lethbridge) as community has always been one of McBain’s foundations. It is a distinction that honours us and one we celebrated with gift bags, new merch, discounts and giveaways.
Fresh off the excitement of our anniversary, we kept the momentum going with a back-to-back celebration, marking the launch of our Grand Opening. It was a huge success –seeing over $10,000 worth in prizes given away along with gift cards, and amazing deals. Hundreds of attendees gathered for the chance to participate in raffles and giveaways, while also connecting with some of the industry’s top representatives. Many of our guests had the chance to take part in workshops hosted by McBain, featuring prominent photographers and educators, including Shane Turgeon, Erica Robinson, and Larry Louie.
Education is at the heart of what we do, and this year, we were thrilled to also showcase the expertise of seasoned photographers like Renee Robyn, Nicole Ashley, Pam Lau, Jonathan Gillingham, and many others. The invaluable insights and skills shared by our educators have had a transformative impact on our clients, and their contributions are deeply appreciated. As we look to 2025, we're excited to offer even more opportunities for creative growth and learning. Additionally, we want to acknowledge the cross-disciplinary work that these talented professionals bring to our sponsored events, enriching the experience for all involved.
Light Chasers, as always, was a hugely successful event that McBain was thrilled to sponsor as it beautifully connected photographers across multiple communities dedicated to their craft. McBain got to also support yet again the Edmonton Folk Fest, Gotta Minute Film Festival, Yikes Fest, the Art Gallery of Alberta, and for the first time this year, we proudly supported the Edmonton Humane Society with their annual Pet Picks with Santa. It was an incredibly successful event where pet owners got the chance to bring their furry friends for a photo with the one and only. It was festive. It was fun. Pet lovers got to delight in a joyful unique experience while contributing to the well-being of animals in our area. It was such a purrfect ending to close out our year.
Even though we will look back at 2024 with nostalgia, we will begin 2025 with a huge sense of excitement and possibility. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting your creative journey, there’s no shortage of inspiration waiting for you. We will continue to connect you with the best professional talent, the finest expert education, and to ignite your creativity, and ensure you’re always equipped with the best tools to elevate your craft.
Thank you to those who supported our journey this year and we can’t wait to see you in the New Year.