The 3rd annual Vancouver Island Dogs Calendar is hot off the press!
Here are the calendar portraits of the 12 winners with a little backstory of each fun session. It’s safe to say that in 2024 you’re going to be smiling every single day of the year!
Download all these images through a link at the bottom of this post.
And now to the winning dogs!
Alik at parksville Beach
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 Calendar_Alik the overall winner and Dog of the Month at Parksville Beach by Pauliina Saarinen Photography
We will begin with a massive dose of corgi dapperness with Alik on the cover. As the overall winner of the calendar contest, Alik is also the poster boy for the Month of March. During his calendar session, I photographed Alik with his pawrents playing and wading in the shallow water as warm as bathwater, all nicely heated by the sand as the tide rolled in. With his blue merle markings, which include odd colour eyes and pink mottles on the nose, Alik is perfection on four feet.
Kona in Grandpa's ‘64 Chevrolet Impala
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 Calendar_Kona the Dog of the Month_Saanich Peninsula, Victoria BC by Pauliina Saarinen Photography
As a calendar winner three year’s in a row, Kona is an old hand at calendar sessions. This time I photographed him in his Grandpa’s 1964 Impala and captured two apples of Grandpa’s eye in one shot. After a lot of circling around the huge car, I settled on this view of smiling Kona, nicely framed by the wide window opening. Kona as Mr. January begins your New Year just right.
Jasper in salmon point
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 Calendar_Jasper the Dog of the Month in Campbell River BC by Pauliina Saarinen Photography
Jasper’s calendar session took us to Salmon Point where there are a lot of opportunities for pretty images on the beach and along the meandering walking paths. Not only did I photograph Jasper there but also his furry brother, a sweet tabby cat named Felix, together with their pet mom. When I clicked the shutter as Jasper was barreling along the path toward me, I knew that I had captured his calendar image. His smiling face puts a smile on your face for the whole month of February, I’m sure of it!
Sophie at Playfair Park
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 Calendar Sophie the Dog of the Month_Portuguese Waterdog_ Pauliina Saarinen Photography
Sophie the Portuguese Water Dog looked her absolute best in a brand-new groom for her calendar session at Playfair Park. There were pink and purple rhododendrons in bloom in the park, which made a pretty backdrop for Sophie’s portrait. The glorious evening sun gives it a warm summery feel. It’ll be much needed in April, when Sophies’s images comes up. You’re most welcome!
Arthur Andrew at Oyster River Beach
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 CalendarArthur Andrew the Dog of the Month, Black Creek Courtenay BC _ Pauliina Saarinen Photography
When I saw that this sparkly-eyed beau gives me the most wonderful head tilts and gorgeous smiles, I knew that you had to see it too. As a chihuahua cross, silky-coated Arthur is tiny. He’d easily get lost in the big world so I lifted him on the log and made him look as big as he can be to reflect the huge impact this little guy makes in the world!
Yugi at Beacon Hill Park
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 Calendar Yugi the Dog of the Month_Beacon Hill Park in Victoria BC_ Pauliina Saarinen Photography
Are you ready for this cuteness coming at you in June? With a monocle and a patch over her eyes, her big ears and cute corgi paws, Yugi is going make you feel weak from love. Evening sun shining through the garry oaks created a pretty backdrop for this adorable puppy’s calendar portrait. I’m sure she slept like a log after her action-packed session.
CHUCK AT KOKSILAH RIVER
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 Calendar Chuck the Dog of the MonthDuncan BC in Cowichan Valley_Pauliina Saarinen Photography
Sometimes the perfect photo location is bit of an adventure away but it didn’t face thirteen years young Chuck! While we long legged people waded across the river in knee height water, Chuck crossed it swimming. We then hiked on the far side to this pretty location behind the river bend. Chuck swam across the river again to pose on these rocks for his portrait, which I captured over the river with my long lens. It must be Chuck’s adventurous personality that keeps him young! This is Chuck’s 2nd calendar appearance, by the way.
BRACKEN AT ISLAND VIEW BEACH
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 Calendar_Bracken the Dog of the Month at Island View Beach, Victoria BC by Pauliina Saarinen Photography
The artsy drift wood construction offered a great setting for Bracken’s calendar portrait. He struck a perfect pose and gave me his signature smile in a true Samoyed style. We had a great time romping on the beach and capturing images of him and his pawrents along the way.
Andy at High rock cairn park
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 Calendar_Andy the Dog of the Month in High Rock Cairn Park, Victoria BC by Pauliina Saarinen Photography
This beautiful boy with a golden heart is a rescue from Afghanistan. The hardships that he endured earlier in life are far in the past as he now enjoys his best life on Vancouver Island. On the evening of Andy’s session, the sun was streaming through the boughs of the conifers, turning the forest golden. The light suits perfectly for this loving 4-legged treasure who brightens the day of everyone who gets to meet him.
Sophie at Sidney Pier
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 CalendarSophie the Dog of the Month_ Sidney Pier in Sidney BC by Pauliina Saarinen Photography
On a summer evening, Sidney Pier is a bustling place. There were people - and dogs - coming and going as everyone wanted to take in the scenery in summery warmth. That’s when we were there too, photographing Sophie for the calendar. Her portrait has a great seaside holiday vibe, don’t you agree?
Archie at tsolum river
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 CalendarArchie the Dog of the Month _ Tsolum River, Courtenay BC in Comox Valley by Pauliina Saarinen Photography
I sure got my butt wet, sitting in the river for this image! Archie loves to play in the water and fetch sticks, giving me an abundance of opportunities to capture the action at the river. In the evening light, the water droplets in the air turn into round circles, giving Archie’s image a happy playful look. That’s how Archie looks too!
Olivia at Balmacarra Park
Vancouver Island Dogs 2024 CalendarOlivia the Dog of the Month _ Balmacarra Park in Saanich, Victoria BC _ Pauliina Saarinen Photography
Olivia likes to run along a narrow seawall at her favourite park. But to get there, it’s a real obstacle course! As I have found that great images often require more effort, it was worth a try. We got our feet wet crossing a steep and deep crevice in the rocks that fills with seawater with every wave. Then we climbed the jagged rocks to the far side to get to the photography location. It was so worth the effort! I came home with this image of Olivia on the seawall and the orangey sunset skies reflected on the water on either side of her. Olivia the parkour dog appears in December. Wait a sec! It’s BARKour when Olivia is doing it.
I hope you enjoy the images in the calendar as much as I enjoyed taking them! Thank you to all dog owners for your effort in making them happen.
You can DOWNLOAD these calendar images from a gallery HERE. They are resized perfectly for you to share them as is on Instagram, Facebook or in e-mails to friends.
Order your copies of the calendar directly from Operation Freedom Paws Canada by clicking HERE, scanning the QR code on the image, or by sending an e-mail to info@ofpcanada.org. The calendars are $20 each plus postage. All proceeds from the sale of this calendar supports OFPC Service Dog Program.
Will we see your dog in the Vancouver Island Dogs Calendar Contest next year? If you are not on my list yet, subscribe to my newsletter HERE to be the first to know when the next contest kicks off in the spring of 2024.