Category: Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 4, 2024

Enchanted Tails: 2025 Calendar Celebrates Patients and Therapy Pets from BC Children’s & Women’s Hospitals

VANCOUVER, BC — BC Children’s Hospital, BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, and Jane Thomson Photography are thrilled to announce the release of the “Enchanted Tails” 2025 charity calendar.

This heartwarming calendar showcases a storybook collection of portraits featuring patients and their beloved therapy pets, offering a glimpse into the special bond between furry companions and those receiving care.

Proceeds from the calendar will support the Pet Therapy Program at both hospitals, which provides comfort, joy, and healing through visits from friendly dogs, cats, and other pets.

“These volunteer pet therapy teams bring light to some of the most challenging days for patients, families, and staff.” says Jane Thomson, the photographer who produced the calendar. “This inaugural calendar captures the magic these animals bring to our hospitals.”

The photography highlights both patients and therapy pets in enchanting storybook-style scenes. The project emphasizes the power of love and kindness shared through the pet therapy program.

How to Purchase

The “Enchanted Tails” calendar is available now for purchase at the hospital gift shop or by emailing PetTherapy@cw.bc.ca. Each copy is $28, including all taxes.

How to Volunteer with your Pet

Please contact Stacy McCririck, the Pet Therapy Program Coordinator, to enquire about volunteer opportunities at PetTherapy@cw.bc.ca or PatientExperience@cw.bc.ca

About the Hospitals

BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre provide specialized healthcare services for children, women, and families across British Columbia. The hospitals are committed to fostering a positive environment through innovative care programs, including the Pet Therapy Program.

Media Contacts

Contacts available for further information:

Calendar Project Producer

Jane Thomson

‭1 (778) 869-9777‬

jane@janethomsonphotography.com

BC Children’s Hospital Communications Department

comm@cw.bc.ca

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation Media Contact

Email: media@bcchf.ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BCCHF

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bcchf/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/bc-children’s-hospital-foundation

Attachments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vancouver Photographer Jane Thomson Wins 1st Place in International Dog Photography Awards

VANCOUVER, October 23, 2024 – Local Vancouver photographer Jane Thomson has been awarded 1st Place in the prestigious Dog Photography Awards in the “Dogs & People” category for her captivating portrait titled The Princess & the Pea. This international competition celebrates the world’s best in dog photography and has over 25K followers on Instagram. Thomson’s work will be featured in the Dog Photography Awards’ highly anticipated annual coffee table book, showcasing some of the finest images from around the world.

The winning photograph, The Princess & the Pea, was part of a larger charitable initiative for the BC Children’s Hospital Pet Therapy program. Thomson’s enchanting portrait, created for the 2025 Pet Therapy Calendar, is one of over a dozen captivating images created for the calendar. Jane developed a fairy tale theme for the project, brought to life by featuring young patients as storybook characters alongside therapy animals. The calendar raises awareness of the healing role therapy dogs (and cats, and rabbits) play in the lives of children undergoing medical treatment.

In reflecting on her work creating all the images for the calendar project, Thomson shared, “I wanted to bring children’s fairy tale stories to life with my studio portraiture for the BC Children’s Hospital Pet Therapy program calendar for 2025. Celebrating the strength of these incredibly brave young hospital patients, shown alongside some of the beautiful dogs enrolled in the pet therapy program, was the most enriching project I have ever worked on.”

Dog Photography Award Competition

The Dog Photography Awards is an international competition that receives entries from professional photographers worldwide. The annual competition was founded by high-profile professional dog photographers Audrey Bellot (France) and Claudio Piccoli (Italy).

The Dogs & People category specifically highlights the bond between humans and their canine companions. Thomson’s ability to capture this unique connection, coupled with her storytelling skills, earned her the top prize in this category.

Pet Therapy Charity Calendar

The 2025 BC Children’s Hospital Pet Therapy calendar, featuring The Princess & the Pea and other portraits by Thomson, is set to be released in November 2024. Proceeds from the calendar will directly support the pet therapy program, which provides comfort and companionship to young patients at BC Children’s Hospital and the attached BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre.

To learn more about Jane Thomson’s work or to follow her photography journey, visit her website or follow her on social media (@portraitsofdogs on Instagram).

Media Contacts

Jane Thomson, Professional Photographer

Links

Jane Thomson Photography:

https://www.janethomsonphotography.com

Dog Photography Awards:

https://www.dogphotographyawards.com/winners-2024/

Press Release:

https://duforddigital.com/vancouver-photographer-jane-thomson-wins-international-award-for-childrens-hospital-charity-portrait/

Vancouver Photographer’s Charity Portrait for Children’s Hospital Wins International Award

Awards 2024

Image

The Princess and the Pea, 1st Place, Dogs & People, Dog Photography Awards